Developing Feel, Touch, and Superior Net Play

Who wouldn't want to improve their net play?  90% of League players play exclusively doubles or mixed doubles.  Many developing juniors who wish to play at a college level or higher refuse to move to the net for fear of losing the point because net play is a weakness.

The key to developing great feel and a great volleys starts with playing all types of shots with a continental grip.  A good net player must be able to play slice backhands and forehands.  They must also be able to half volley with underspin, topspin, sidespin, and flat spin.  They need to be able to not only keep the wrist steady when needed, but also flick the wrist on certain types of balls.

In order to develop these attributes, players should force themselves to play mini tennis rallies and points using only a continental grip.  Then further restrict the types of shots that are allowed in order to work on just slices, just topspin or flat.

Once some success with the above mini tennis is achieved, players should immediately play a game called the "Touch Game" daily.  This game has two players who start one step from the net.  One player places the ball on the net and allows it to fall to his opponent's half of the court to start the point.  The only other rules are every ball must bounce, and only the service boxes are in.  Players of all levels, especially juniors LOVE this game.  Players learn through play to play half volleys, angles and use dropshots and touch lobs - all with the continental grip.  No other grip is allowed to play this game.

Quick volleys are essential to developing quick reactions and thus "quick hands."  Players should do the following exercises daily - Quick "touch" volleys from the center of the net area in order to do the following progression - Forehand to forehand, backhand to backhand, backhand to forehand, and figure eights.  Players should also be able to do the progression deuce court to deuce court, ad court to ad court, as well as doing each drill service line to service line.

Players should also play "Offense/Defense" where on half the court, both players start on opposite service lines.  One player is on "offense" and will close the net (move forward) against the other player who stays at the service line level of the court and plays "defense."  This game should also be played cross court to the ad and deuce court, as well as to each down the line side of the court.

Finally, players should play an "attack" game, where one player is at the baseline, and the other player starts at 3/4 court.  The player at 3/4 court feeds in an approach shot to his opponent, and moves forward to the net area.  The point is then played out to it's conclusion. At first restrict the baseline player to not lob.  After success for the volleyer is achieved, alter the difficulty by allowing the baseline player to lob after their first return.  Play this game for singles, or cross court to both sides of the court.

By constantly practicing with your continental grip, and putting yourself through the myriad of games described herein, your net game will become the stuff of local if not world wide legend.