Reader Suggested Topic - Directional Control on Volleys

Volleying is a skill that has it's foundation in the general sports skill of catching.  The volley, more than any other stroke in tennis, requires the player to manipulate their hand in different ways to place the ball despite limited reaction time, and varying heights.  Hand dexterity and feel is essential to being a good volleyer.

Before we get into teaching you how to place a forehand and backhand volley, let me emphasize that the correct grip for a volley is a continental grip.  This is because with a continental grip, your racquet will precisely mimic your hand.  If you use another grip, the racquet face will not mimic your hand, and placing the ball becomes VERY difficult.

Placement of a volley is about making the palm of your hand (and therefore your racquet face) face the target area you wish to target prior to hitting the ball.  In order to work on your hand dexterity, eliminate the noise caused with movement of your feet.  In the videos below, note that the players are sitting in a chair, which isolates their hands.  The players move their hands to catch the ball in front of them, setting their hands where they want the ball to go, then strike the ball.  This is critical, as you must decide where to hit the ball prior to moving to and striking the ball.

Forehand Volley (Left-handed, Right-handed)

 

Backhand Volley (Left-handed, Right-handed)

Please note how little each player's hands moved during the "stroke," both before the strike, as well as after the strike.  For low volleys, sit Indian-style on the ground.  Once you are able to hit 10 in a row to each side of the court, then grab your racquet and use your trusty continental grip for the next progression. 

Forehand Volley (Left-Handed, Right-Handed)

Backhand Volley (Left-Handed, Right-Handed)

Please note how little each player's racquet moved during the stroke. If working on low or high volleys, simply adjust the height of the feed.  Once you have successfully done this alternating volley drill in the chair 10 times in a row, it is time to see if you can do this standing up, without the use of your feet.

Forehand Volley (Left-Handed, Right Handed)

Backhand Volley (Left-Handed, Right-Handed)

Again, please note how little each player's racquet moves during the stroke.  For low and high volleys, simply adjust the height of the feeds.  Once you can do this drill for ten balls in a row, you can say have pretty good command of the ball's direction.  The next progression would be to repeat the last drill from the service line.  If you are primarily a doubles player, you can repeat the same progression from each service box.

Once you master what to do with your hands on the volley, then start adding in the movement element.  If anyone would like a future blog on the movement element of volleying, please comment below.

Special thanks to Lenin Mongerie for being the left-handed guest demonstrator, and for feeding me balls for my portion of the demonstration.  Thanks to James Perrigan for being the videographer.