The Volley (Part II)

Tactical Training For the Volley

By Khan, M.

Tennis Program Director, Islamabad Club Coaching Center, Islamabad, Pakistan. Coach to national and internationally ranked juniors, professional and Davis Cup players

We have seen an often-practiced scenario: Player ‘A’ at the baseline hitting ground strokes, player ‘B’ at the net hitting volleys back and forth! This may be a great workout to sweat it out or to improve technique but it is not tactical training. From a tactical point of view alone, the best training for the volley would be if it challenges and trains the entire situation i.e. the shot or combination of shots before the volley such as an approach shot, chip return of serve, and the serve itself. This article highlights three patterns of play where the volley is often used as the final shot, and implications for training.

The Approach Shot

What is Approach Shot? Approach shot is a vehicle that gets you to the net. It could be via a topspin drive or slice shot. Generally, from the forehand side the modern players use “rip and charge” tactic whereas from the backhand side “chip and charge” tactic. The purpose of the approach shot is not to win the point right away, but to extract a volleyable ball which could then be put away for a winner (hopefully). 

Where to place an Approach Shot? An approach could be placed either down the line, cross court, or deep down the middle. However, in my view the best approach is down the line for two very good reasons:

1) Cross-Court approach shot is easier to execute but puts you in a bad volleying position because it opens up the entire court for your opponent’s passing shot;

2) The distance to the other baseline is less allowing you quick access to the net and reducing your opponent’s reaction time.

In some situations cross-court approach shots are also played:

1) When you know for sure it is not possible to go down the line;

2) To confuse your opponent by giving him more options to worry about;

After you have pulled your opponent wide to his forehand side and his backhand side is wide open! In this instance you need more time to cover his BH down the line pass, but your opponent has a similar or more distance to cover as well! Thus, going cross-court in this situation is a viable option.

Here are some drills to train the approach shot and volley situations:

Drill 1: Player A comes in behind a backhand slice down the line, player B tries to pass down the line, player A hits a backhand volley in the open court (cross-court). [video 1]

Drill 2: Player A hits backhand slice approach deep down the line, player B attempts a pass down the line, player A hits a backhand volley down the line (wrong footing shot). This tactic is quite effective against the fast recovering baseliner! [video 2]

Drill 3: Player A hits backhand slice approach deep down the line, player B returns cross-court, player A hits a forehand volley in the open court (FHV inside out or down the line). [video 3]

Drill 4: Player A executes a backhand slice approach shot deep down the line, player B returns cross-court, player A wrong foots the opponent by hitting a forehand volley cross-court (behind the opponent). [video 4]

The bottom line is that the technique should be trained in real/pressure situations. However, if you feel that there is a technical flaw in your slice approach shot or in the volley itself, you can learn it in a closed situation but sooner than later the learned technique should be integrated into the game’s context. 

Chip/Rip & Charge

Chip and charge or rip and charge on the return of serve: This is the most important, but often neglected, situation to learn and train. Many game situations and matching drills are possible but I will confine myself to the following:

Drill 1: Player A puts in a weak second serve, player B has to decide whether to rip it or chip it. If the serve is relatively short, low, and to the backhand, it is better to chip it down the line followed by a volley into the open court or behind opponent. If the ball is relatively high and to the forehand, it is better to rip it down the line followed by ‘open court’ volley. If you realize that the opponent is vacating his spot quite fast, it is better to hit behind (against his momentum). The trick is to mix it up so that it will be difficult for the opponent to guess.

Serve & Volley

Serve and volley: To many tennis pundits this is an old-fashioned style of play (assuming weakness in the rally area). I feel if it is done properly and selectively this style of play is still relevant (just ask Roger Federer!). The main problem is that players generally spend hours on their ground strokes but very little time training of the serve, return of serve, and the associated situations. Granted, every body cannot be a serve and volleyer, but if you follow a logical sequence of training this style will be second nature to you. Many drills are possible here but I will confine myself to the following:

a) Player A serves wide to the deuce court, player B returns cross court, and the point is then played out. Mirror this for the ad court as well. After 11 points, swap roles.

b) Player A serves wide to the deuce court, B returns down the line, and the point is then played out. Mirror this for the ad court as well. After 11 points, swap roles.

You serve and move forward looking at the returner's racket head. An instant before your opponent is about to strike the ball, you split step, judge the ball, and move toward the ball for the first volley. If the ball is low, hit it deep in front as an “approach volley” and close in for the second. If the volley is high and easy you can put it away for a winner in the open court. Yes, it has to be a winner otherwise your opponent can pass you down the line. Although a wide serve followed by a wide volley is a winning pattern of play, if you realize that your opponent has been stretched wide enough and is recovering fast toward the center, you can volley behind against his momentum.

To emphasize the value of volleys, let the players play practice sets with a modified scoring system. For example, if a player wins the point with a volley or smash, he wins the game! Players love this format. 

Conclusion: I am sure if the attacking patterns mentioned are trained first in semi-open and then open situations, you will develop confidence to use them in match situations. Again, the bottom line is that technique should be trained in real/pressure situations.

Kind regards