Ultimate Fundamentals: Forehand Volley

[don_budge]

The transcript...

What are the ultimate forehand volley fundamentals? Watch Roger Federer in our new high speed footage hit this virtually perfect forehand volley. Love it. Gorgeous. Let’s see how you can develop the same impeccable technique as Roger or other world class players such as Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem on this surprisingly misunderstood shot. It’s not a punch...you’ve probably been taught the wrong grip and never taught the critical role of the shoulders. Mastering the real keys is simpler than you may think and the result can be dramatic and amazing.

Mild Grip
Most players are taught a forehand volley grip that is slightly too strong. The index knuckle should be on bevel two and the heel pad very slightly on top, just creasing the edge of bevel one. The term continental is too general and usually leads to placing too much of the heel pad on top of the frame. As we’ll see the actual forehand volley grip is what makes the fundamentals of the stroke work so beautifully.

Preparation...Unit Turn
The first fundamental is the unit turn. Watch Roger’s feet, hips and shoulders and left arm all turn together. They rotate until they are all at about a 45 degree angle to the net. (1.41) This turn automatically prepares the racquet, there is little to no independent arm movement. Often players are taught the first move is to push that racquet out front. This destroys the body turn. In reality...the arm and racquet turn with the body until the racquet face is about even with the front edge of the front shoulder.

Hitting Arm...”U” Shape
The second component in the preparation is the hitting arm shape. The upper arm, forearm and racquet form a “U”. The forearm is roughly parallel to the court with the racquet tip either straight up and down or tilted slightly to the player’s right. Watch again how the preparation happens and how compact it really is. The unitary body turn and the creation of the hitting arm shape.

Forward Swing
The forward swing is the least understood component in the forehand volley. The common idea of a punch implies arm extension from the elbow. In reality...the elbow rarely extends fully and the hitting arm keeps the fundamental “U” shape. The real driving force in the motion is a push of the entire hitting arm shape, forward and around, driven by the rotation of the shoulders. The technical end of the forward swing is with the butt of the racquet pointing just across the edge of the front leg.

Backward Arm Rotation Variations
A major additional component that causes confusion in understanding the forward swing is the backward rotation of the hitting arm structure. The “U” shape can rotate backwards as a unit in the shoulder turn. The hitting arm then rotates back forward into the hit, adding additional racquet speed to the drive already coming from the shoulder. This backward rotation can be a few degrees or it can it can continue until the racquet face is literally parallel to the court. Critically though, the racquet hand itself, stays forward. Staying close to the edge of the front shoulder or at most moving back between the shoulders. This backward and then forward rotation is a variable. A supplement to the role of the forward shoulder motion. It is typically common on high balls and virtually absent on balls that are below waist level. It also tends to happen naturally and automatically once the underlying fundamentals are sound.

Wrist
With the relatively mild grip and the rotational push from the shoulder, the wrist stays partially laid back in the forward swing before, during and after contact. This allows the body to drive the swing. It goes against the old idea of “keeping the wrist firm” and using a stronger grip which usually leads to later contact and less natural leverage.

Underspin
The forehand volley is usually hit with mild underspin. Less than a thousand rpm’s, even at the pro level, far less than any other shot in the game. This underspin is generated by pushing the racquet head through the motion...with the shoulder...with the face only slightly open. Emphasis is on moving the racquet head forwards and only slightly down.

Step
The forehand volley can be hit with a variety of stances. It can be hit with an open stance, it can be hit with a neutral stance and it can also be hit with a closed stance. The variations usually depend on the distance of the player to the ball. Closer in can be open...wider can be closed. Often the player can step directly forward. Although it is probably a positive to step forward, the step is not a fundamental power source and usually the landing is after the hit.

Modeling
To model the forehand volley you need two positions. The turn with the shoulders and feet turned about 45 degrees and the hitting arm in the “U” shape. Second...the push with the back shoulder. Work to create the feeling and the mental image of these positions using the checkpoints we’ve outlined and your forehand volley will be compact, powerful and consistent.

The video with the articles was a first rate lesson. Much food for thought. Very much looking forwards to the backhand volley. When will that be...next month I suppose?

[nickw]

Actually cms56, I meant exactly what I said. Here's our conversation so far and I am looking forwards to your response. Excuse me if I came across as being ironic...but I am honestly looking forwards to you clearly explaining each of the terms that you used and how they relate to volleying.

You made no mistake except maybe you overestimated some of the audience's vocabulary. I am anxiously and respectively asking for clarification. I didn't understand what you wrote. Thank you.

Who was it that said, "If you wish to speak with me first define your terms"?

http://liamscheff.com/2007/08/voltai...he-scientists/

I appreciate the response that you made but am truly interested in a detailed explanation of the technical thoughts you are expressing.

http://www.revolutionarytennis.com/Resources/wristandhandterm.jpeg

Reading this thread reminded me of a great pic I once saw, managed to find it. Hopefully offers some clarification of wrist movement terms.

John, great article. Beatifully simplifies the key aspects of the forehand volley, and re-inforces the way I teach this stroke.

[stotty]

http://www.revolutionarytennis.com/Resources/wristandhandterm.jpeg

Reading this thread reminded me of a great pic I once saw, managed to find it. Hopefully offers some clarification of wrist movement terms.

John, great article. Beatifully simplifies the key aspects of the forehand volley, and re-inforces the way I teach this stroke.

It's a good illustrative photo. I have often thought Tennisplayer could benefit from having a section devoted to educational photos or diagrams such as the one you posted. Tennisplayer often uses such terms but doesn't have a tennis dictionary anywhere on its website for people to reference the exact meanings. I may PM John about it.

[johnyandell]

Good idea! Some terminology clarifications here:

https://www.tennisplayer.net/members/biomechanics/greg_ryan/researching_the_serve/researching_the_serve_pg2.html

[stotty]

Good idea! Some terminology clarifications here:
https://www.tennisplayer.net/members...serve_pg2.html

Yes very useful.

I remember when I first joined the website finding the terminology confusing. I didn't know where to reach to clarify what terms such as ulnar deviation and others meant. It's not a problem now of course because over time I have become more educated and familiar with terminology, but it might be a mistake to assume visitors to the website know what these fancy terms mean.

[don_budge]

http://www.revolutionarytennis.com/Resources/wristandhandterm.jpeg

Reading this thread reminded me of a great pic I once saw, managed to find it. Hopefully offers some clarification of wrist movement terms.

Thanks nickw. Truly a great pic...worth every bit of thousands of words.

[bottle]

One can accept the terms on the ground that their consistency is very useful and still mock one of them-- the one about "extension" of the wrist-- as utter foolishness starting from the date that some irresponsible scientist coined it. An extended wrist goes up from a level table on which the arm lies flat. No it doesn't. An extended wrist would take the fingers farther out along the table. Enough to make one a LUDDITE!