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