Pat Cash on the Volley
Part 3

Interviewed by Paul Fein 2017

On most volleys the followthrough is reasonably parallel.

On the high backhand volley, should the racket end up at the same height where the ball is contacted?

First, let's describe the height zones. The high zone is above the shoulders. The medium zone is from the waist to the shoulders. And the low zone is below the waist. The volley followthrough is the same as groundstrokes in some respects. The highest volley, of course, is the smash, and like the serve, its follow-through is sharply downwards.

The opposite is true for the very low volley, though it's not a drastically sharp upwards movement because that will create a pop-up volley. But for most volleys between the chest and the waist, a reasonably level or parallel followthrough with some rotation of the shoulders and arm is good.

Which variables determine grip firmness for the volley? The strength of the player? The speed and spin of the oncoming ball? Or the intended shot of the volleyer?

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Paul Fein has observed, served, and written about the tennis world from several vantage points during his eclectic career. As a journalist, Fein has covered the great events, such as the US Open, Wimbledon, and the Davis and Fed Cups, and also written about the leading players, issues, and trends. His articles have appeared in sports and tennis publications in 30 countries and received more than 40 writing awards. Fein has authored three previous tennis books—Tennis Confidential, Tennis Confidential II, and You Can Quote Me on That—which were all ranked No. 1 among tennis books on Amazon for more than six months. In 1991, he received Tennis Week magazine's "International Tennis Writer of the Year" award.

Fein is also a longtime member of the United States Professional Tennis Association, with an Elite rating. He's served as head pro at the Candlewood Racquet Club, an indoor-outdoor facility in Brookfield, Conn., coached the girls' tennis team at The MacDuffie School in Springfield, Massachusetts, and for the past 25 years, taught tennis to children and adults for the Chicopee, Massachusetts, public parks and recreation program. In 2003, he received the New England Professional Tennis Association (NEPTA) "Western Pro of the Year" award, and in 2014, its "Senior Player of the Year" award.

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