Developing volley feel / fluidity / contact time

[faultsnaces]

Hi all,
I'm a (tenaciously struggling) 4.0 player, and I've been working on my volleys lately; I'm realizing that I just don't have the feel, and (consequently or also) it seems to me that the ball is really just bouncing off the face of my racket in a super short ricochet - not at all fluid, and I lack control of both depth and angle.

The advice and things I read on the volley seem so conflicting: it's a short swing, don't follow through, but don't punch it; firm grip but soft hands??

Great pro volleys really look so effortless, so super fluid - I really get the feeling they are getting a much longer contact time, carrying the ball a bit, even though they are dealing with a lot more pace, etc.

So, my question(s): what's really going on with the pro volley, and how do you develop this short-but-not-punched stroke?

Thanks for any and all advice and pointers....
-frank

[stotty]

Hi Frank,

These articles are a great way to start. They open up many of the secrets on how to volley well.

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/famouscoach/pat_cash/developing_world_class_volleys_the_backhand_volley/

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/famouscoach/pat_cash/developing_world_class_volleys_the_forehand_volley/

But, yes, "punching" is probably the wrong term. A lot of volleyers are little too compact for my liking. Take a look at the old school volleyers and see how their forward swing moves right through the ball. You cannot generate something from nothing. Those hanging dead balls need more forward swing and skilful weight transfer to get the pace required.

[GeoffWilliams]

Develop a snap back volley, short rear snap back if you have time.

[klacr]

Frank,

Hitting a volley is a tricky matter. It is an art. When a good player hits a firm volley, it is no doubt artwork that deserves recognition and a piece of real estate at the Louvre or d'Orsay.
Take solace in the fact that there are many players of all levels that struggle with their volleys. It didn't used to be that way. Some incorrect assumptions from coaches and improper understanding of what actually occurs leads to this.
The great news is that you are tenacious. Coaches can't teach that. Losing is a temporary state, giving up makes it permanent. Hang in there.

I'm in complete agreement with the recommendation of the Pat Cash articles on this site. A great way to start. Two of my favorite articles on this site.

side stepping your question a bit by focusing on you first, not on the pros.
Without watching you play and therefore no visual point of reference, there is a question that I need to ask.
What grip do you use?

Until then, start reading some tennisplayer.net articles. Learn what it feels like to hit awesome volleys. Find a solid hitting partner with no personality but relentless consistency. His name is "The Wall". Start slowly but build confidence and start backing up and striking volleys with conviction

Volley motions are compact but within that compactness are some great technical elements that are universal amongst great players. I think John Yandell does a great job on describing those in his volley articles. Here's one...
http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/...nd_volley.html

I could write pages upon pages on volleys. But I'll hold off for now.
Frank, there could be a variety of things wrong with your volley. But if we can pinpoint the exact cause, it can fix a few other elements naturally.

Practice, Pratice, Practice after reading the articles that have been provided.
Before I dive deeper into this question Frank poses, I'd love to hear from others.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

The History of Volleying…and the current lack of it

So, my question(s): what's really going on with the pro volley, and how do you develop this short-but-not-punched stroke?

Thanks for any and all advice and pointers....
-frank

What's going on with the pro volley? Not much I'm afraid. Volleying in the classical sense has been engineered out of the game as much by the equipment and court surfaces as well as a lack of coaching impetus to get to the net.

The professional game is essentially the woman's game…only the clothes are different. I didn't make this up…see this article by Ed Atkinson.

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/champions/Ed_Atkinson/Ed_Atkinson_Difference_is_the_Clothes/Ed_Atkinson_Difference_is_the_Clothes.html

Take a look at this thread to see the modern serve and volley game before the game was engineered in the present form. The serving and volleying was simply too good to allow the game to continue in that form. The points were averaging less than two shots per point…certainly less than three. Pete Sampras and Roger Federer took the game to the next level with their 85 square inch equipment. Notice how the announcers are noticing how Pete has developed a flatter forehand volley and Roger is following suit. Interesting to view these matches in a historical context. One begins to understand the influence on engineering the game to it's present form.

http://www.tennisplayer.net/bulletin/showthread.php?t=2847

Here's a thread developed around the 1980 U. S. Open final between John McEnroe and Björn Borg. Here was the end of the line of the classic game. Serve and volley and the approach game was certainly the basis of tactics.

http://www.tennisplayer.net/bulletin/showthread.php?t=2733&highlight=1980+Open

Another look at the classic game…1972 U. S. Open final between Arthur Ashe and Ilie Nastase.

http://www.tennisplayer.net/bulletin/showthread.php?t=2722&highlight=Arthur+Ashe+Ilie+Nastase

The best way to perhaps the understand the volley is within the context of match play. The three matches above are worth their weight in gold with regard to understanding how the game used to be played and how it was "engineered" to the backcourt play of today.

[don_budge]

My thoughts on volleying…and various other things.

A little food for thought as we like to say here on the forum…as my dear old tennis coach used to say. Here's a thread that I wrote about volleying and some other things…with a little help from my friends.

http://www.tennisplayer.net/bulletin/showthread.php?t=2145&highlight=thoughts+volleys

Keep moving forwards…faultsnaces. My dog's name is Frankie. An American Chocolate Labrador Retriever. He is nearing the end of the line. I offer this to you in his name and all that he means to me.

[johnyandell]

Here are a couple more volley articles:

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/avancedtennis/john_yandell/volleys/forehand_volley/forehand_volley.html

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/avancedtennis/john_yandell/volleys/backhand_volley/backhand_volley.html

[don_budge]

A couple...

Here are a couple more volley articles:

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/avancedtennis/john_yandell/volleys/forehand_volley/forehand_volley.html

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/...nd_volley.html

…of real good ones I would add. I'm on the same page…which is very confirming. Good stuff…really good stuff. The video examples give the verbiage added credence.

[GeoffWilliams]

The snap back volley, used by the Bryans and all top doubles players, when they have the least bit of time, they snap back against their own wrist, like a mini sideways over head. They only block when no time is available.

[10splayer]

Develop a snap back volley, short rear snap back if you have time.

If I understand you correctly, where by you lay the racquet head back (lag) and snap it forward, then i would disagree. In fact, I think the opposite. That is, to to try and move both ends of the racquet at the same speed, with the plane/face angle relatively constant.

[gzhpcu]

If I understand you correctly, where by you lay the racquet head back (lag) and snap it forward, then i would disagree. In fact, I think the opposite. That is, to to try and move both ends of the racquet at the same speed, with the plane/face angle relatively constant.

That is my understanding as well. A firm grip, blocking the wrist.

[bottle]

But...try it. If you've got it in you, do both.

[10splayer]

But...try it. If you've got it in you, do both.

http://youtu.be/Lfk4wRP9gvI?list=PLD0FE460FD37E5D04

What do you think of this?

[hockeyscout]

If I understand you correctly, where by you lay the racquet head back (lag) and snap it forward, then i would disagree. In fact, I think the opposite. That is, to to try and move both ends of the racquet at the same speed, with the plane/face angle relatively constant.

I'd be very reluctant to EVER question anything Geoff Williams has to say about the game of tennis.

[10splayer]

I'd be very reluctant to EVER question anything Geoff Williams has to say about the game of tennis.

You're kidding right?