Spacing on Swing Volleys
Dave Hagler
On swing volleys I believe you should use normal approach shot footwork in most situations. This means a semi-open to neutral stance to allow easier movement through the shot and generation of topspin.
About two thirds of all pro swing volleys are hit with some type of open stance. (For an alternative view of Swing Volley footwork from Chris Lewit, Click Here.)
After contact, as with a regular approach, the outside leg will swing around the inside leg. If you are moving at an angle, this may change.
If the inside leg hits the ground prior to or almost immediately after contact, then that leg is the axis of rotation. You will see the same technique used on shots where a player serves, the opponent returns down the middle and the server steps forward and attacks the next ball.
Swing volleys and groundstrokes hit rotating around the inside leg are more prevalent in the women's game. On some swing volleys, the outside leg is the axis of rotation and the player lands on the inside leg after contact.
Swing volley spacing can depend on the direction and amount of movement and also the amount of time. If you make a spacing error and are slightly too close to the ball, this is a scenario in which changing your swing path may have minimal impact on shot quality.
Pulling the arm in so it is more bent may not have huge impact on the shot because of the player's movement and rotation. It's the same as on very high groundstrokes, where players tend to hit with slightly more arm bend and closer spacing than on lower balls.
Swing volley spacing is also at least somewhat related to ball height at contact. For shots below the shoulder, spacing seems very similar to topspin groundstrokes.
When balls hit at shoulder height to slightly over the top of the head, there tends to be significant bend in the hitting arm or arms–closer spacing. For shots hit higher than the top of the head, the hitting arm or arms are pretty straight.
When the primary direction of movement is sideways, but there is some forward or backward component to the movement, you can do drills similar to those in Part 1 (Click Here), but add the desired movement pattern. Initially you may have trouble using crossover steps, especially moving away from the baseline and laterally.
While spacing is important here, using efficient footwork patterns and making trajectory, spin, and shot selection adjustments are prioritized. With a little practice, this will become second nature.
So now that we've addressed spacing, hopefully you've tried some of these drills and techniques and had success! Stay tuned for my next series where my students show how they've learned to develop touch and feel.
