The Swinging Volleys

[klacr]

I am also beginning to doubt this spin business as a reason not to go to the net. I visit Wimbledon every year and plenty of players are hitting fairly flat and with no more spin than 10 years ago...or so it seems to the naked eye. Federer hits loads of backhands that only have a modicum of spin as do other players. I haven't witnessed world-class tennis on hard courts and no doubt it's different there. On grass, I still think serve and volley could be a dominant game style if someone had the skills to do it.

I think the tennis world has duped itself in to thinking that players cannot have an all out net game. Federer swarming all over Murray at the Aussie Open showed, to me, that it can be done.

Thank you Stotty. Nice post.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Self Deception...

I think the tennis world has duped itself...

Moreover...I believe in this comment.

[tennis_chiro]

I stand by this post I wrote some time ago now. I was right first time.

I watched around 5 hours worth of tennis at the Foro Italico and saw just one swinging volley, made by Djokovic. It needn't have been a swing volley as the ball was falling vertically from a height and a crouch smash would have worked out best. He nearly fluffed it.
...

Indeed Stotty is right. I watched quite a bit of the Italian Open and saw few if any swinging volleys. Interestingly, the player you might think would be one of the biggest users of this shot with his heavy forehand, Nadal, is one of the best examples of rushing as far forward as possible whenever a ball floats; and once he gets there, he knocks off either a volley or a crouch overhead, but I have yet to see him hit a swinging volley on one of those closes.

don

[stotty]

Swinging volley...a rarity

There's a place in the game for swing volleys...just a small place though. Very occasionally it's the right thing to do.

I stand by this post I wrote some time ago now. I was right first time.

I watched around 5 hours worth of tennis at the Foro Italico and saw just one swinging volley, made by Djokovic. It needn't have been a swing volley as the ball was falling vertically from a height and a crouch smash would have worked out best. He nearly fluffed it.

I am also beginning to doubt this spin business as a reason not to go to the net. I visit Wimbledon every year and plenty of players are hitting fairly flat and with no more spin than 10 years ago...or so it seems to the naked eye. Federer hits loads of backhands that only have a modicum of spin as do other players. I haven't witnessed world-class tennis on hard courts and no doubt it's different there. On grass, I still think serve and volley could be a dominant game style if someone had the skills to do it.

I think the tennis world has duped itself in to thinking that players cannot have an all out net game. Federer swarming all over Murray at the Aussie Open showed, to me, that it can be done.

[privas]

One-handed backhand swinging volley?

Scott, excellent article on de-mystifying a rare shot, and I expect a follow-up article on the "Tweener" next. But seriously, I think that this shot is probably underutilized in club play, and like the overhead smash, it sends a message to the guy on the other side of the net.

I don't think I've seen the master Federer hit a one-handed backhand swinging volley before. If anyone could hit "one," I guess it would be Fed.

Any reason, you think? Thanks, Pedro

[GeoffWilliams]

It's only a matter of time before the uni grip becomes standard at the net: full western and continental to cut down grip change time. Since I already employ it, this is something I could learn and add to my game, although it would take a lot of practice and intensity to do so. I've trained the continental so rigorously, and have hit so few swinging volleys. I'll bet someone like Stepanek could do it, or Llodra, or Isner or Harrison.

[johnyandell]

It's a great shot! If Scott can hit it at his age (technically the permanent fountain of youth stage...) no telling what some 12 year might do if he wasn't told an ankle high swinging topspin volley was not possible...or some 19 year old in a Wimbledon final....

Seriously, anything that could get more points decided at the net would be huge for tennis.

[don_budge]

It's the Poly...another good reason to reign in the technology

According to Peter McCraw a contributor on the site and the well known Australian coach, it is widely agreed on the tour that the snap back properties of poly are great for topspin but make it much more difficult to hit volleys and particularly the low tough volleys you need to deal with topspin caused (again) by poly.

The difference is in the launch angle. The ball comes on the strings at a steeper upward angle propelled by the upward snap back of the mains.

This is why you are seeing more swinging volleys--they allow players to make the poly work for them.

In fact I think it's possible that we will see a new generation of attacking players who hit almost all swing volleys.

Thanks for the explanation about the string. I pray that your last comment never comes to fruition.

I tried one swinging volley the other day. I will never do it again.

[GeoffWilliams]

Geoff:
Love the reference to court 5 at MVTC. I grew up playing at the club as my parents were lifelong members. My dad has a plaque on court 3. Anyway, my feeling is if you commit to learning a swinging volley you'll learn to make a seamless grip change though practice.

Ok. So was I right? Now I will start to use swinging volleys off both sides, as a way to add something to my game. Maybe I can also start hitting good serves to make the ball pop up more!

I am working on a piece about my serve, but have not finished it yet. Let me know if you want to practice sometime. I love the Guilleford courts in Piedmont.

[stotty]

To those who have concerns about using the swinging volley:
I, personally, use the swinging volley on a very limited basis. The ball has to be sitting up well above the net or I will always use a traditional volley. In that way there's really no indecision for me. I have tried it both in practice and in match play from all different heights and using it on balls below the tape is risky at best.
With regard to the approach, in my teaching I'm adamant about NOT approaching with topspin when the ball is decidedly below the net. Due to the lack of time and space you have to lift the ball substantially and that opens the door for an easier passing shot. I prefer to play that shot with a flat, short-in-the-back-long-in-the-front volley oriented stroke so as to keep the ball low and deep thereby forcing my opponent to hit up.
The traditional volley is my mainstay but when it's there for the taking the swinging volley can be a devastating shot.

I do believe in your concept of the swinging volley. It's a shot that may pop up occasionally. It's seize-the-opportunity type of shot...rather like Federer is doing in the video clip in your article. He cannot play a classic volley to win the point outright so goes for the swing volley instead...and that is exactly the place in the game where the swing volley belongs.

Nice article Scott...loved it...keep contributing.

[scottmurphy]

To those who have concerns about using the swinging volley:
I, personally, use the swinging volley on a very limited basis. The ball has to be sitting up well above the net or I will always use a traditional volley. In that way there's really no indecision for me. I have tried it both in practice and in match play from all different heights and using it on balls below the tape is risky at best.
With regard to the approach, in my teaching I'm adamant about NOT approaching with topspin when the ball is decidedly below the net. Due to the lack of time and space you have to lift the ball substantially and that opens the door for an easier passing shot. I prefer to play that shot with a flat, short-in-the-back-long-in-the-front volley oriented stroke so as to keep the ball low and deep thereby forcing my opponent to hit up.
The traditional volley is my mainstay but when it's there for the taking the swinging volley can be a devastating shot.

[scottmurphy]

Hey Pugs:
If you're referring to the animation of Roger used in the article the only difference between his footwork and mine is that his has alot more length, height and flair. Also note that you don't HAVE to launch when you hit a swinging volley. The launch is most often used when you're behind where you'll eventually strike the ball and then move forward to hit it. If you're right where you need to be you can stay on the ground.

[scottmurphy]

Geoff:
Love the reference to court 5 at MVTC. I grew up playing at the club as my parents were lifelong members. My dad has a plaque on court 3. Anyway, my feeling is if you commit to learning a swinging volley you'll learn to make a seamless grip change though practice.

[johnyandell]

PS: Peter is involved in the development of a new poly string that Tennisplayer will be actually testing in the fall.

[johnyandell]

According to Peter McCraw a contributor on the site and the well known Australian coach, it is widely agreed on the tour that the snap back properties of poly are great for topspin but make it much more difficult to hit volleys and particularly the low tough volleys you need to deal with topspin caused (again) by poly.

The difference is in the launch angle. The ball comes on the strings at a steeper upward angle propelled by the upward snap back of the mains.

This is why you are seeing more swinging volleys--they allow players to make the poly work for them.

In fact I think it's possible that we will see a new generation of attacking players who hit almost all swing volleys.