Having
trouble putting away the easy volley at net?
You see that easy floater coming at you and feel
like you have no control when you hit? Lots of
us, even myself, have struggled with easy volleys.
But with a careful adherence to footwork your
volleys can have great control.
In the past, footwork on volleys was designed
to arrive at the ball with the opposite foot
across or out in front (for example, on a forehand
volley for someone right-handed the left foot
would be out in front). This technique is still
good, but to move forward with momentum through
the volley try stepping or arriving at the
ball with the right foot as a leading split
step and landing with the left foot after contact.
The ideal is to have a pushing feeling in the
thighs and stomach to feel the push from your
right foot to your left foot on a right-handed
forehand volley and the opposite on a backhand
volley. Better footwork on volleys will also
help you avoid swinging too much. Try this next
time you venture to the net and see how it works.
It may take some extra practice or even a lesson.
Good luck and keep swinging (just not on volleys!)
Northcliffe Tennis Club |