Missing low overhead/sitting high volley at net

[Pro Kenneth]

Several times I thought I could easily put away a "low sitter" at the net, something too low to hit an overhead but too slow to just volley back, about the level of the top of my head, but it landed well out after trying to put it away. Probably the contact point is such that it projects beyond the baseline.

I thought of choking up all the way past the grip but is there another way to put these "slow high volleys" away?

 

[styksnstryngs]

Swing volleys.

 

[SinjinCooper]

Don't think of these as "sitters." They're usually not high enough to give you a sure, full, swinging putaway, and attempting too forceful a push with a fairly open volley mechanic can easily fly these long due to the high starting point.

But that height DOES give you so much choice of angle and placement to work with, that finding the open court ought to be considerably easier than it is with a typical volley.

The key, IMO, is to simply think of these as another volley. It'll be slow (which I know, because if it's fast, just let it go long -- fast + high = long), so you'll have time to choose how and where to hit the ball. Which means you have both time enough and angle enough to choose a spot well away from your opponent, where you can hit a nice, firm volley with a good chance of ending the point. But think about winning with placement on these, not power.

 

[mad dog1]

Probably doing a couple things on these balls...

1. Late contact with the ball because you are swinging at the ball.

2. You are not taking a step forward when you are hitting the ball.

3. You are getting too excited because you see a meatball you can crush and jump the gun putting it into the net or tighten up trying to take a huge swat at the ball and send it long.

 

[styksnstryngs]

If you watch a lot of doubles, you'll notice that pros can put these balls away with ease by getting close to the net and just flicking the ball. I actually gain confidence by watching pros do these shots, and I don't think about it as much anymore.

 

[Raul_SJ]

If you watch a lot of doubles, you'll notice that pros can put these balls away with ease by getting close to the net and just flicking the ball. I actually gain confidence by watching pros do these shots, and I don't think about it as much anymore.

I have not studied how the pros handle this shot. But I would assume they do not change their normal volley mechanics. I was taught that volleys incorporate very little, if any, wrist action.

 

[styksnstryngs]

For normal volleys, yes. But if you see a high, slow ball coming in, get up as close to the net as possible. You can't miss from there. Jack sock is a prime example, he's a very good doubles player. I'll try to find some videos later. If you have access to replay of the laver cup, they do it a lot there.

 

[Nellie]

I am old school and don't like to swing. I prepare high on the volley take back and punch straight through the ball

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Several times I thought I could easily put away a "low sitter" at the net, something too low to hit an overhead but too slow to just volley back, about the level of the top of my head, but it landed well out after trying to put it away. Probably the contact point is such that it projects beyond the baseline.

I thought of choking up all the way past the grip but is there another way to put these "slow high volleys" away?

By "too slow to just volley back", do you mean it's going so slowly that you feel obligated to put it away? If so, that may be your first problem. If you're having trouble putting that kind of shot away, don't further burden yourself by thinking you have to.

 

[Pro Kenneth]

^ Yes, they are like slow motion things begging to be destroyed, and failure to put them away gets stares from doubles partners.

 

[OnTheLine]

Would get you more than stares ... but doesn't seem quite as cringe-worthy as dumping it into the net.

If going long, you are doing one of several things, maybe all of them
Hitting ball late, somewhat behind you .. need to hit it in front of you and have your shoulders turned
Looking up at where on the opposing court you are wanting to destroy the ball ....
Treating it like a ground stroke and swinging rather than hitting it cleanly like a volley

The first & third are mechanics issues ... footwork is bad, timing is off
Second one is a focus issue. don't look at the opposite court. Trust me, it is still there. Look at the ball

Can't see how choking up on the racquet is going to be of any use .... AND puts you in a bad way to respond if (when!) the ball comes back.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

^ Yes, they are like slow motion things begging to be destroyed, and failure to put them away gets stares from doubles partners.

Ignore the stares and concentrate on hitting a solid shot, not necessarily a put away. Odds are you will get an even weaker lob in return. It won't work every time but it will likely work enough times to make up for the fact that you didn't put the first one away. And you will be donating fewer points.

 

[Dragy]

There're at least 3 options:
1. Softly redirect it with as extreme angle as possible. Along the net and to the side where court is wider (say to the left from the right side of the court and vv) is best bet.
2. If opponent is positioned in such a way that he/she may get to a soft shot, need to put it deeper and away from him. Key is getting the racquet higher than the ball and cutting downwards with authority - make strings grip the ball and pull it into a descending flightpath.
3. For some balls on the FH side I'd go with sideways smash - same as OH, but motion directed to the side. Key is ensure full rotation ("pronation") and get past slicing, otherwise the ball is likely to fly out.