Professional Volley Technique Explained | Volley Tennis Lesson

Summary

In this tennis tutorial, John Craig from Performance Plus Tennis demonstrates how to hit volleys with professional quality technique, focusing on using underspin for control. He explains the importance of a continental grip, starting with the racket above the hand and finishing level, and maintaining an open racket face. Tips for both forehand and backhand volleys are provided, emphasizing the need for a one-handed backhand and avoiding a straight arm for versatility.

Takeaways

• 🎾 The video focuses on teaching professional-quality volley techniques in tennis.
• 🔄 Contrary to some coaching advice, advanced and professional players rarely hit flat volleys; they use volleys with underspin for better control.
• 🤚 To achieve underspin, players should use a continental grip rather than a forehand grip, which naturally positions the racket for better ball control and spin.
• 📏 The racket should start above the hand and finish level with the hand, creating a descending motion that helps apply underspin.
• 👋 The wrist should not release the racket; the motion should come from the shoulder to avoid awkward play.
• 💨 Implementing underspin allows for better control of the ball's trajectory, whether the ball is high or low.
• 👀 An open racket face is crucial for applying delicate touch and underspin to the ball.
• 📐 The trajectory of the ball is influenced by both the path the racket takes and the angle at which it makes contact with the ball.
• 🤳 For the backhand volley, maintain a one-handed approach with a continental grip for consistency and versatility.
• 🔄 The backhand volley should start with the racket above the hand and finish alongside it, with a slight flex in the arm for adaptability.
• 🔗 The principles of volleying apply to both forehand and backhand, emphasizing the importance of grip, racket angle, and underspin.

Q & A

What is the main focus of today's tennis lesson?

The main focus of today's tennis lesson is to teach how to play the volley with professional quality technique, emphasizing the importance of underspin in controlling the ball.

Why is it not recommended to hit flat volleys according to the video?

Flat volleys are not recommended because they lack control. Advanced and professional players typically hit volleys with an element of underspin, which provides better control.

What grip is suggested for hitting volleys?

A continental grip is suggested for hitting volleys as it allows for an open racket face, enabling players to put delicate touch and underspin on the ball.

How should the racket position change during a forehand volley?

During a forehand volley, the racket should start above the hand and drop in to finish level with the hand, creating an angle that allows for better control and underspin.

What is the significance of the racket's angle and path in determining the ball's trajectory?

The trajectory of the ball is a blend of the path the racket takes and the angle the racket is on when it makes contact. This combination allows players to control the ball's direction and spin.

How does the continental grip help in achieving underspin on the ball?

The continental grip naturally positions the racket face open, allowing players to clip through the ball and create underspin, which helps in controlling the ball's bounce and trajectory.

What is the recommended technique for a one-handed backhand volley?

For a one-handed backhand volley, players should maintain a continental grip, start with the racket above the hand, and finish with the racket alongside the hand, ensuring a consistent angle and underspin.

Why is it important to avoid a straight arm in volleys?

A straight arm in volleys reduces versatility. A flex in the arm allows for more adaptability and control, making it easier to adjust to different ball heights and speeds.

How can practicing volleys alone help a player?

Practicing volleys alone allows a player to focus on the feel of the racket's angle and path, helping to develop control and precision in volleying.

What additional resources are offered for those interested in improving their volley skills?

Additional resources include a video analysis program where players can send in their videos for personalized instruction, as well as links to more information in the video description.

Outlines

00:00

🎾 Mastering Volley Techniques with Underspin

In this paragraph, John Craig from Performance Plus Tennis introduces the video's focus on volley techniques, specifically addressing the misconception that professional players hit flat volleys. He emphasizes that advanced players typically use volleys with underspin for better control. Craig demonstrates the continental grip, which allows for an open racket face and the ability to impart underspin on the ball. He explains the importance of the racket's starting position above the hand and finishing level with the hand, as well as the technique of 'clipping' the ball to achieve underspin. The paragraph concludes with the notion that the trajectory of the volley is influenced by both the path of the racket and the angle at which it contacts the ball.

05:00

🏃‍♂️ Developing Versatility in Forehand and Backhand Volleys

This paragraph continues the discussion on volley techniques, highlighting the importance of maintaining a consistent continental grip for both forehand and backhand volleys to ensure versatility and comfort. Craig illustrates the correct setup for the backhand volley, noting that the racket should start above the hand and finish alongside it, and emphasizes the avoidance of a locked straight arm for better adaptability to different ball heights. He also demonstrates how to adjust the racket face for varying ball heights, whether it's low or high, to maintain control and underspin. The paragraph ends with a reminder to practice these principles to develop professional-quality volley skills, and an invitation for viewers to learn more and potentially receive personalized video analysis.

Keywords

💡Volleys

Volleys in tennis refer to shots that are returned before the ball bounces on the court. This is a crucial skill for players to control the pace and direction of the game. In the video, John Craig emphasizes the importance of mastering volleys to play like a professional, highlighting the need for control and technique in executing these shots.

💡Professional Quality Technique

This term refers to the high-level skills and techniques used by professional tennis players. The video aims to teach viewers how to achieve this level of play, specifically in volleying. Craig discusses the nuances of hitting volleys with underspin, which is a common characteristic of professional play, to gain better control over the ball.

💡Underspin

Underspin in tennis is the backward rotation of the ball, which can be achieved by striking it with a downward motion. It allows the ball to stay lower and have more control. Craig explains that advanced players rarely hit flat volleys and instead use underspin to control the ball's trajectory, which is a key concept in the video.

💡Forehand Grip

The forehand grip is the way a player holds the racket when hitting a forehand shot. In the context of the video, Craig mentions that to hit flat volleys on the forehand, one would typically need a more forward grip, but he advises against this for better control, suggesting a continental grip instead.

💡Continental Grip

The continental grip is a versatile racket grip used in various strokes, including volleys. It allows for a natural open racket face, which is crucial for adding underspin. Craig emphasizes the benefits of this grip in achieving control and versatility in volleying, as it does not require grip changes between forehand and backhand volleys.

💡Racket Angle

The angle at which the racket makes contact with the ball is critical in determining the ball's trajectory. Craig explains that starting with the racket above the hand and dropping it slightly during contact can help achieve the desired underspin and control. This angle is a fundamental aspect of the volley technique discussed in the video.

💡Backhand Volley

The backhand volley is a shot played with the back of the hand facing the net, typically using a one-handed stroke. Craig discusses the importance of maintaining a continental grip for consistency and ease in volleying, and he demonstrates how to achieve control and underspin in backhand volleys.

💡Open Racket Face

An open racket face refers to the racket being angled in such a way that the strings are facing upwards, allowing for a softer touch and the ability to add underspin. Craig uses this concept to explain how to hit volleys with control, emphasizing the importance of starting with an open face and adjusting it based on the ball's height.

💡Trajectory

Trajectory is the path that a ball follows through the air after being hit. In the video, Craig discusses how the trajectory of a volley is influenced by both the path the racket takes and the angle at which it makes contact with the ball. Understanding and controlling this trajectory is key to mastering volleys.

💡Video Analysis Program

The video analysis program mentioned by Craig is a service where he evaluates players' volleys by watching their submitted videos and providing personalized instruction. This program is an additional resource for viewers who want to improve their volley skills and receive feedback on their technique.

💡Practice

Practice is emphasized throughout the video as a necessary step to develop professional-quality volley skills. Craig suggests that viewers should take the concepts discussed in the video to the court and work on their volleys, reinforcing the idea that consistent practice is crucial for improvement.

Highlights

Introduction to the video focusing on volleys and professional quality technique.

Discussion on the misconception of hitting flat volleys and the importance of underspin for control.

Explanation of the incorrect technique of using a forehand grip for flat volleys.

Advocacy for a continental grip to achieve control and underspin in volleys.

Demonstration of how the racket should start above the hand and finish level for optimal control.

Emphasis on the importance of not releasing the racket at the wrist to maintain control.

Illustration of how to achieve underspin by clipping or knifing the ball.

Clarification that the racket face should be open to facilitate underspin and control.

Explanation of the relationship between the racket's angle and the ball's trajectory.

Demonstration of how to adjust the racket's angle and path to achieve desired ball trajectory.

Introduction to the backhand volley and the importance of a one-handed approach.

Advice on maintaining a continental grip for consistency between forehand and backhand volleys.

Instruction on how to set the racket for a backhand volley and the importance of not locking the arm.

Demonstration of how to blend underspin with a jab to control the ball's height and distance.

Emphasis on the need for practice to develop a feel for volleys and achieve professional quality.

Invitation to learn more and get personalized instruction through a video analysis program.

Encouragement to subscribe to the channel and engage with the community for further tennis improvement.

Transcripts

hello everybody John Craig here with

Performance Plus tennis welcome to

today's video where we're going to work

on volleys and I'm going to show you how

to play the volley with professional

quality technique and there is some

coaching going on here on the YouTube

channel that's advocating hitting flat

volleys but if you watch most advanced

players and professional players they

rarely hit volleys that are flat they're

hitting volleys that have an element of

underspin on them the underspin gives

control to the ball I'm going to show

you how to implement that technique on

your volley and teach you how to volley

like a pro in today's lesson so in order

to hit flat volleys on the forehand you

have to be more towards a forehand grip

and you have to racket up and be doing

something along the lines of this where

the racket stays up even if the ball

comes low I'd keep my racket up at the

same height that it starts like this and

this is that's weird I could never hit a

volley like that with this

grip so awkward right so you don't want

to be in a forehand grip you want to be

in a continental grip and what happens

is that automatically places the racket

in an angle where you can achieve

control of the ball trajectory spin

speed everything so now when I set this

up the racket is still going to be above

my hand but the racket is out on a 45°

angle from my torso with a forehand grip

I'm going to be more in front of me like

this punching at the ball extending from

the shoulder so get a continental grip

and when you get a continental grip

there's so many advantages one is that

you're naturally going to have an open

racket face that you can actually put

some delicate touch on the ball and you

can hit UND spin you can clip through

the ball make the the ball stay low on

the bounce and you can adapt to

different heights very very comfortably

so the racket's still going to start

above the hand the so the racket is

still going to start above the hand but

it's not going to stay above the hand so

I'll play when where I keep my racket

above my hand and it just is awkward so

what happens is the racket starts above

the hand but it drops in and it finishes

level with the hand it's above now it's

level okay do it again above

level above level and that is the

technique now when you're doing this you

got to make sure that the racket doesn't

go from above your hand to level with

your hand by releasing at the wrist it's

just an action from the shoulder that

drops the racket in from above to down

and you want to start with your racket

just slightly above the ball and then

come down slightly through it and feel

like you're kind of clipping it or

knifing it and that'll put the back spin

on the ball and give you control whether

the ball's up high or low it doesn't

matter if it's up a little higher I

still put under spin on it if it's

low okay if it's low I just open the

face up and look at it pop up and

there's the open recet face this grip

enables that to happen but if I'm trying

to hit flat volleys from there like if I

try to hit this volley flat it's low I'm

going to sail it way out will not work

look I have no feel and no control on

that where if I if I know I'm going to

put a little unders spin on it it's easy

I can just touch it over with the open

wrecked face and control the ball so you

you've got to make sure you have a

continental grip and you have to have

the intention of having an open racket

face and putting UND spin on the ball

and you might be thinking John if my

racket face is open isn't the ball going

to go up and just remember that the

trajectory of the ball off your racket

is a blend of the path the racket takes

and the angle the racket's on so give

you an example if my racket is on a 45

degree angle and my and it travels on a

level plane and makes contact with the

ball we know the ball is going to leave

the racket strings on a 45 degree angle

right if I start below the ball and have

a 45° angle the ball's probably even

going to get up higher but what happens

if my Rec's on a 45 degree angle but it

descends slightly into contact Watch

What Happens

now there's your trajectory so when you

get out in practice even by yourself as

I'm demonstrating here you can set the

ball and get the feel of having that 45

degree angle slightly descending and you

can control your trajectory and get the

ball to scoot down on the court and make

it really difficult to hit tossing shots

so remember the trajectory of the ball

is a combination or a blend of the path

the racket takes and the angle the

racket is on when it makes contact so

you might be thinking does these same

principles hold true in the backhand and

they definitely do so a couple things on

the backhand volley make sure first of

all that you're a one-handed backhand

volley but your left hand is very

involved there's only been a handful of

great two-handed backhand volleys in the

history of all tennis because it's so

awkward and weird to do and be

comfortable and be versatile so try to

really be a one hit and back in vol make

sure you keep the same grip keep that

Continental grip so you don't have to

make a grip change and what happens is

you can see that naturally when I go to

my forehand the wets at an angle that's

approximately the same as my forearm if

I keep the same grip and I go to this

side look how it just matches again so

you really don't have to make any grip

changes which makes voling so much

easier okay so the same thing when I set

the racket up here if I voled like this

and I kept my racket up it would be the

weirdest thing for me to keep my racket

up I can't I don't even know how to do

it because you just you're just kind of

pushing and it's weird so there's no way

you can volley like that so watch how

the racket will start above but will

finish alongside the hand here we go

ready right so it drops

in

from the shoulder and I can pop that

ball now I popped that ball through the

court and it only got that high because

I blended that UND Spin and just jabbed

it and it just sat right down on the

court and Scoot it through and that's

how you get feel on the backhand volley

see that and if the ball gets low you

can open your face more and you can be

delicate with it see that that or if

it's up high I can still hit UND Spin

and I can hit a little more crisp than

that but see the UND spin on it now

again the key thing is that you got to

practice is that this angle doesn't

change you you set this and you pull it

through from the shoulder and this is

still intact and that's a key thing to

to really get on the backand volley

because often times we feel like like we

release it and hinge at the wrist you

can't do that okay the feeling you want

to have is that you set and the pull is

from the shoulder okay now the other

thing you'll notice about my backhand

volley too is that my arm is not

straight and oftentimes you'll see

players that have very straight arms

we've even seen professionals not in

recent years but there have been

Professionals in the past that had a

very straight arm well that takes the

versatility out of the volley so my arm

is Comfortably extended but it has a

Flex in it so it can be versatile from

the shoulder and you can see that it's

not locked straight you that

okay and there it is so those are the

key principles you really want to

develop on your volleys and the feeling

you want to have and these are key

checkpoints the start the finish the

angle the open racket face and the in

part of the UND spin on the ball those

are the things you want to work on the

checkpoints you want to be looking out

for as you develop professional quality

vol thanks so much for watching today's

lesson on the volleys and I hope that

you will take these concepts of the

court and work on your volley skills and

really develop professional quality

volleys and if you'd like to learn more

and get more information click on the

link description down below and learn

the five key principles you need to

master to achieve your potential with

your volley skills and also if you'd

like me to take a look at your volleys I

also have a very um productive and

valuable video analysis program that so

many people benefit from by sending in

their videos to me and having me

evaluate them and giving them

personalized instruction so the link

down below is for that also check that

out subscribe to the channel if you've

not done so already leave your comments

down below give us a like stick around

we've got a lot more coming here at

Performance Plus tennis and we'll see

you in the next lesson