When Should You Approach The Net To Hit A Tennis Volley?
A Refresher On Grip And Footwork
To execute a proper tennis volley, you should use the continental grip. It is also important to keep your racket head up and make contact with the ball in the sweet spot to get a clean hit. Another important tip is to "punch" the ball rather than trying to hit it hard. This will give you more control over your shot and help to keep it from going long or into the net.
Proper footwork is essential. You should start in a ready position, with your feet shoulder-width apart and your weight balanced evenly on both feet. From there, for right handers, you will want to take a small step forward with your left foot for the forehand volley and with your right foot for the backhand volley.
5 Situations When You Should Approach the Net
In tennis, there are times when you should stay back and hit groundstrokes, and there are other times when you should come to the net. Approaching the net can be a great way to win a point quickly, but only if you do it at the right time. Here are three situations when you should approach the net for a tennis volley.
1. When Your Opponent Is Far Behind The Baseline
If your opponent is positioned far behind the baseline, they will have a difficult time hitting a winning shot past you if you approach the net. This is because they will have to generate a lot of power with precision to get the ball past you, and they may not be able to do that from such a deep position.
2. When Your Opponent Hits A Weak Shot
If your opponent hits a weak shot and the ball lands short, approaching the net is a great way to take advantage of the situation. You should hit an approach shot on your opponent’s weak ball and then move up to the net for a volley.
3. Serve And Volley
Approaching the net after your serve can be a great way to put pressure on your opponent. This is because they will have to hit a passing shot past you, which can be difficult to do when they are rushed. As your opponent might not expect you to move to the net for a volley after your serve, you can surprise them and win the point.
4. When Your Opponent Is On The Run
It is a good opportunity to approach the net if your opponent is running side to side trying to hit a baseline shot. They won’t be able to generate as much power on their shot, so you’ll have an easy volley to put away. Just make sure you don’t give them too much time to get set or they may pass you by for an easy winner.
5. Surprise Your Opponent
One of the most important things to remember when deciding when to come to the net is that you want to catch your opponent off guard. If they are expecting you to stay back, they will likely not be prepared for you to come up. This can give you an advantage and help you win the point.
One thing to consider when approaching the net is the surface you are playing on. If you are playing on a slower surface, like clay, it might not be as effective to come to the net since your opponent will have more time to get to the ball. On a faster surface, like hard court, coming to the net can be more effective since there will be less time for your opponent to react.
Approaching the net can be a great way to win points in tennis, but only if you do it at the right time. The next time you are playing tennis, try approaching the net in these five situations and see how it goes!
"The Philosophical Tennis Player: Thinking Your Way To Winning" offers a unique perspective on the sport of tennis. This book provides guidance inspired by philosophy to help you rethink the game and reach your peak performance. The author breathes life into abstract philosophical concepts, transforming them into tangible strategies everyone can use to become a successful player. Readers will gain insight into the psychological aspects of tennis and recognise the timeless values that extend beyond the confines of the court.
About The Author
Darren Teo is the founder of Play! Tennis, the most Google reviewed tennis academy in Singapore. His passion for making tennis accessible to everyone regardless of their age, experience and ability continues to drive his work at the school. He is a thought leader in LinkedIn with 14,000 followers.