Fix Your Tennis Volley
by Randy Lynn Rutledge - a previously certified USPTA Tennis Teaching Professional
( Note: retired in good standing, but stopped making USPTA dues payments )
( Note: retired in good standing, but stopped making USPTA dues payments )
This article describes a basic block tennis volley.
A volley is the stroke or hit most often used when playing a ball from the service box areas before it bounces onto the tennis court surface; however, a volley can be used from anywhere on the tennis court. The distance and direction the tennis racquet travels from start to finish determines what kind of a volley has been used.
I teach my beginning level students the block and punch volleys before any other types of volley. The block volley is used when the incoming tennis ball has enough speed so that redirecting it is all that is required. The punch volley is used when some speed needs to be added to the tennis ball to make it reach an intended target.
The Basic Block or Punch Volley
Ready Position (1 thru 6 are variables which you can modify for personal comfort)
1). The dominant shoulder and upper arm position the lower arm and tennis racquet at about a 45 degree angle from the court surface, with the dominant hand and butt of the racquet comfortably away from the body at about belly button height.
2). The upper edge of the tennis racquet is just below the direct line of vision to the opponent. 3). The tips of the fingers and thumb of the non-dominant hand cradle the throat of the tennis racquet. |
4). The racquet face is close to being vertical.
5). The body and racquet are facing roughly in the direction of the nearest opponent.
6). Stand with feet about shoulder width apart. Unhinge the knees to lower the body by one or two inches (a variable). This positions the weight of the body over the toes so that the heels are not touching the court surface.
7). Watch the opponent for shoulder turn and racquet positioning clues to tell your feet which direction the ball will be traveling when it leaves his or her tennis racquet face. These clues will alert you to the approximate ball flight direction and depth before you can get that information from the ball. That will allow you to move to where the ball will be going before the ball gets there, much of the time.
6). Stand with feet about shoulder width apart. Unhinge the knees to lower the body by one or two inches (a variable). This positions the weight of the body over the toes so that the heels are not touching the court surface.
7). Watch the opponent for shoulder turn and racquet positioning clues to tell your feet which direction the ball will be traveling when it leaves his or her tennis racquet face. These clues will alert you to the approximate ball flight direction and depth before you can get that information from the ball. That will allow you to move to where the ball will be going before the ball gets there, much of the time.
Preparation footwork (a variable)
8). Do a split step exactly when the opponent makes tennis racquet string-to-ball contact. The split step is a slight hopping motion which unhinges the knees, lowers your body, and transfers your body weight onto your toes. This allows you to be more ready to move your body in any direction to respond to where the opponent sends the tennis ball.
Shoulder turn (a variable)
9). Turn the shoulders to present the racquet to the tennis ball according to the intended angle of ball flight.
9). Turn the shoulders to present the racquet to the tennis ball according to the intended angle of ball flight.
Forehand volley:
Initiate the shoulder turn by using the non-dominant hand to push (a variable) the tennis racquet a few inches away from the starting position. The shoulder turn continues, as necessary, and the non-dominant hand maintains a position nearly in front of the center of your chest. |
Backhand volley:
Use the non-dominant hand to pull the tennis racquet away from the starting position until the desired amount of shoulder turn has been reached. |
Enough shoulder turn is when the side of the string pattern which will be used to strike the ball (the face) can comfortably "look" in the general direction where you want your volley to travel.
Note: Sometimes this will happen without any shoulder turn, or it might even be necessary to use a slight shoulder turn in the opposite direction. |
Present the Tennis Racquet Face to the Ball
10). Use movement of the feet and knees in whatever directions are necessary to position the head and shoulders, hands, arms, elbows, and wrists in any manner which will allow you to present the tennis racquet face to the ball in such a way that the racquet face "sees" the intended tennis ball flight path when the string-to-ball contact happens. |
Forehand volley:
Use the dominant hand, arm, and wrist to position the tennis racquet tip, butt, and bevel according to the net clearance and depth in the court intended for the flight of the tennis ball. |
Backhand volley:
Use both hands, arms, and wrists to position the tennis racquet tip, butt, and bevel according to the net clearance and depth in the court intended for the flight of the tennis ball. |
Factoring an Appropriate length for the Forward Moving Portion of the Volley
11). The length of the volley hit or stroke is a variable which must match the available execution and recovery time. If time is not a vital factor, then the length of the forward moving portion of a volley must meet the requirements necessary to cause any intended outcome.
11). The length of the volley hit or stroke is a variable which must match the available execution and recovery time. If time is not a vital factor, then the length of the forward moving portion of a volley must meet the requirements necessary to cause any intended outcome.
Executing the Volley (#12 has variables which you can modify for personal comfort)
12). The forward movement of the tennis racquet requires both hands to perform variable actions according to intended outcomes.
12). The forward movement of the tennis racquet requires both hands to perform variable actions according to intended outcomes.
Forehand volley:
Use a slight movement (a variable) of the non-dominant hand, like squeezing an accordion, in the direction of the dominant hand, as necessary, to regulate the amount of shoulder rotation being used while the dominant hand moves the tennis racquet forward to meet the oncoming ball. Note:
Another option is to use movement of the non-dominant elbow away from the dominant hand, as necessary, to accelerate the amount of shoulder rotation being used while the dominant hand moves the tennis racquet forward to meet the oncoming ball. |
Backhand volley:
Pull the tennis racquet out of the non-dominant hand (a variable) using a motion which moves both hands in opposite directions (as if you are pulling on the two handles of a stretching exercise band) to execute a one hand backhand volley; the action of moving the non-dominant hand in the opposite direction prevents the shoulders from rotating forward. Note:
Another option is to use both hands during the entire backhand volley; in this case, shoulder rotation becomes optional. More shoulder turn might create more power, but it might cause a slight reduction in accuracy. |
Functional Variations of any Volley
13). Functional variations of any type of volley are necessary to neutralize, maintain, or change the actions (spin, speed, etc.) that were used on the incoming ball.
The volley grip is a topic of much argument and debate, it can be varied. The racquet ready position is another volley topic where disagreement exists, it can be varied. The topics of volleying footwork styles and degrees of shoulder turn get some tennis teachers riled up, these can be varied. The topic of positioning the tennis racquet for string-to-ball contact point can get some tennis teachers excited, it can be varied. No single type of volley is a one-size-fits-all for every possible tennis situation.
Beware of the tennis teacher who makes claims that a progressive part of any volley can only be executed correctly using a certain kind of grip, a style of footwork, or a set amount of shoulder turn. Human beings do not strictly use only one method to do ANYTHING!
Snap volley, drop volley, lob volley, swing volley, chop volley, drag volley, and drive volley are a few other types of volleys.
Functional variation can be applied to the progressive parts of any type of volley, according to playing situations, available time, and skill level.
13). Functional variations of any type of volley are necessary to neutralize, maintain, or change the actions (spin, speed, etc.) that were used on the incoming ball.
The volley grip is a topic of much argument and debate, it can be varied. The racquet ready position is another volley topic where disagreement exists, it can be varied. The topics of volleying footwork styles and degrees of shoulder turn get some tennis teachers riled up, these can be varied. The topic of positioning the tennis racquet for string-to-ball contact point can get some tennis teachers excited, it can be varied. No single type of volley is a one-size-fits-all for every possible tennis situation.
Beware of the tennis teacher who makes claims that a progressive part of any volley can only be executed correctly using a certain kind of grip, a style of footwork, or a set amount of shoulder turn. Human beings do not strictly use only one method to do ANYTHING!
Snap volley, drop volley, lob volley, swing volley, chop volley, drag volley, and drive volley are a few other types of volleys.
Functional variation can be applied to the progressive parts of any type of volley, according to playing situations, available time, and skill level.