The Volley: An Essential Stroke in Tennis
Hey Everyone! Coach Mike here.
Mastering the volley can take your tennis game to the next level. When it comes to playing tennis, the volley is an essential stroke that can give you a significant advantage on the court. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, mastering the volley can help you become a more versatile and confident player. In this article, we'll go over what the volley is, how to execute it properly, and how it can benefit your game.
The Volley: An Essential Stroke in Tennis
Mastering the volley can take your tennis game to the next level.
What is the Volley?
The volley is a stroke that is hit while the ball is in the air, before it bounces on the court. It is typically used when the ball is hit towards the net, and the player is close enough to the net to reach it before it bounces. The goal of the volley is to hit the ball back over the net and into the opponent's court, before they have a chance to get to it.
How to Execute the Volley
There are a few key things to keep in mind when executing the volley:
Stand close to the net: To be able to reach the ball before it bounces, you need to be as close to the net as possible. This will also give you more control over the shot, as you'll have less distance to cover.
Keep your racket head up: When volleying, it's important to keep your racket head up, as this will give you more control over the shot. If the racket head is down, it will be harder to get under the ball and hit it with power.
Use a shorter backswing: Since you'll be hitting the ball while it's in the air, you won't have as much time to set up for the shot. As a result, it's important to use a shorter backswing to conserve time and be ready to hit the ball as soon as it comes towards you.
Hit through the ball: When volleying, it's important to hit through the ball, rather than just stopping the racket at the point of contact. This will generate more power and help you hit the ball deeper into your opponent's court.
Benefits of the Volley
The volley is a powerful stroke that can give you a significant advantage in a tennis match. Here are a few benefits of mastering the volley:
It allows you to control the point: When you're able to hit a good volley, you'll be able to dictate the pace of the point. This can be especially useful if your opponent has a strong groundstroke game, as it will take them out of their comfort zone and force them to hit a less effective shot.
It can be used as an offensive or defensive shot: The volley can be used as both an offensive and defensive shot, depending on the situation. If you're on the defensive, you can use the volley to keep the ball in play and buy yourself some time. If you're on the offensive, you can use the volley to put pressure on your opponent and force them to make a mistake.
It can help you finish off a point: When you're at the net, you'll have a better chance of finishing off a point with a volley than with a groundstroke. This is because the ball will be closer to you, and you'll have more control over it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the volley is an essential stroke in tennis that can give you a significant advantage on the court. By mastering the volley, you'll become a more versatile and confident player, able to control the pace of the game and finish off points with ease. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, it's never too late to work on your volleys and improve your game. So next time you're on the court, don't be afraid to move up to the net and try out this powerful stroke.
My name is Michael and I am the founder of CityTennis, located in Los Angeles, CA. Our classes take place in West LA, Culver City and DTLA (Downtown Los Angeles). We are the #1 tennis organization on Classpass. Come try out a class with us, or feel free to text us to set up a private lesson.