Master Tennis Style Volleys: A Brilliant Breakdown

Key Points

• Tennis-Style Volley for Singles:
• The traditional tennis volley is underused but highly effective in singles, offering more control and consistency than flick volleys.
• Proper Volley Stance & Posture – Maintain a wide base, knees bent, and good posture for balance and stability, keeping shoulders square to the net.
• Execution:
• Use a strong continental grip (chopper grip) for both forehand and backhand volleys.
• Keep your head close to the paddle and meet the ball out in front for solid contact.
• Follow Through for Control – Avoid blocking or stopping the paddle—always follow through in the direction you're hitting. Keep the paddle face slightly open for better depth and control.
• High vs. Low Volleys – Low volleys: Meet the ball early with a firm wrist, directing it into the open court. High volleys: Instead of flicking, take a controlled swing to drive down and across for accuracy.
• Strategic Volley Play – Redirect the ball into the open court to put your opponent on the run. Use your opponent’s pace to deflect the ball into space, and anticipate movement to volley behind them.
• Net Positioning & Movement – Blanket the net with multiple split steps, rather than getting stuck after one.
• Move dynamically: split, shuffle, and stretch to cover more court efficiently.
• Setup:
• Stable base, bnees bent, feet apart, racket out in front for balance.
• Smart Net Positioning – Follow the ball’s line to stay in a strong recovery position. Execution:
• Follow-Through – Drive through the ball; push low volleys deep and angle off high volleys.
• Controlled Stretch – Maintain posture on wide volleys, avoid wild swings.
• Balanced Stance – Keep weight centered for quick reactions in any direction.
• Quick Footwork – Use multiple split steps to stay active and cover more court.
• Shot Variety:
• Mix deep, angled, and down-the-line volleys for control.
• Avoid Bad Habits:
• Train solid tennis-style volleys instead of flicks or big swings.
• Stable Wrist & Grip – Keep the wrist firm, fingers slightly spread for control, and paddle face slightly open.
• Proper Positioning – Meet the ball out in front with good posture and balanced stance.
• Controlled Follow-Through – Direct the paddle in the direction of the shot for accuracy.
• Adjust for Height & Angle – Push deep when lower; create sharper angles on higher balls.
• Refining Technique – Develop traditional tennis volleys for singles play rather than relying on flick volleys.