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The Net Game: The Volley Navigation   Browse Other Pages Homepage A Viewpoint on the Game How It Began A Viewpoint on the Game 2 A Viewpoint on the Game 3 Concentration; Practice Condition, Physical and Mental Keep Your Eye on the Ball Footwork and Weight Control Women's Tennis The Grips The Service The Drive The Chop and the Slice The Volley The Subtle Shots Courage Your Opponent's Weaknesses General Tactics Outside Conditions Pressure on Your Opponent Doubles and Mixed Doubles The Coaching Job Legendary Tennis Players Olympic Tennis Does Youth Rule Tennis Hall of Fame Amateurism to Open Tennis Some Defects in Tennis Doping Olympic Review Technology and Sport The Slice Service Flat Serve The American Twist The Drive The Backhand Drive Drive - The Main Uses The Volley Net Position The Volley Position The Overhead Smash The Half-Volley The Drop Shot The Mechanics of the Slice The Main Uses of a Slice The Grips Doubles and Mixed Doubles To Open the Court Doubles In Europe and US Legendary Tennis Players (1940's) Questions in Australian Tennis History of Australian Tennis History of Australian Tennis 2 History of Australian Tennis Players Women's Tennis in Australia Australian Tennis: Nature Ages of Tennis Players The Careers of Women Players The mechanics of the volley are identical on the forehand and on the backhand, with only the feet reversed. 1. The grip is the number 3 grip, the service or Continental as shown here. 2. The footwork is the same as for a ground stroke if there is time to accomplish the movement. The foot away from the ball steps directly across toward the opposite sideline, thus turning the body sideways to the net and the rear end away from the ball. In many cases a shot is coming directly at the volleyer, and in this case, step directly backward with the foot closest to the ball on the side you wish to play it. Swing that foot back and behind you toward the opposite sideline. This will produce the same result as above. Many times a shot comes so suddenly at a volleyer that there is no time to change the feet. If that happens, throw your weight on the foot closest to the ball, and lean forward. 3. Lift the racquet head above the wrist with a very short backswing. Move the racquet head forward into the line of flight of the oncoming ball, and meet it flat with a stiff wrist about six to ten inches closer to the net than the foremost line of your body. Block the ball directly to where you want it to go, and above all, do not follow through. The volley should gain its power from the opponent's shot, plus the solidity of your block and stiff wrist. This is for the ordinary volley. Later, I will mention an exception in the short drop volley. 4. The lower the shot you must volley, the more you must bend your knees, since on all volleys the racquet head should be above the wrist to the moment of meeting the ball. Do not attempt to hit through or drive any volley below the level of the head. Be content to let your racquet face make the angle, and gain the power from your opponent's shot. Volleys win by direction, placement, far more than they do by speed. The Volley Net Position The Volley Position The Overhead Smash  Next Page:  The Subtle Shots: The Lob; The Half-Volley; The Drop Shot