In tennis, volley is a shot that is hit before the ball bounces on the ground. Generally, a volley is hit by the player while standing near the net. But, there are also instances where the volley is executed from the middle of the court or even from the baseline. Thus, volley is a shot which is played in the air and as it is executed from the net, you have very less time to prepare. Some great volleyers of the past include: John McEnroe, Rod laver, Martina Navratilova and Boris Becker. Here are a few tips on hitting the perfect volley.
- The primary objective of the volley is to go on offensive, which cuts down the reaction time of the opponent. As there is very less time to hit the volley, you must have great reflexes and good hand-eye coordination.
- While hitting a volley, you should understand that you need not play a spectacular shot; a normal volley will do the job. Thus, you are not required to hit the ball hard, but just place it in the corners.
- You should try and get as close as possible to the ball. While hitting the volley, you should stand up and not get down.
- Relax the wrist while preparing for the shot, but maintain a firm wrist at impact. Thus, while hitting the volley, lock the hand and not the wrist.
- When the ball hit by the opponent is over the waist height, then high volleys are taken which can either be hit or blocked. In high volleys, the wrist position should be behind the line of the racquet head.
- You should wait for the ball to come in. Don’t extend out to the ball. Thus, always keep your arms closer to your body. Lower the racquet head so that it is equal to the ball’s height. Make sure that you lower the racquet and not your head.
- You should be on your toes and be ready to split step. The split step should be done as soon as your opponent makes contact with the ball.
- You should avoid a complete follow through after hitting the ball. Make sure that after hitting the ball, you react quickly. Get the racquet back in position and be ready for the next shot.