Tennis Tips
Tennis is fun and great exercise. Here we will look at some tips on tennis strokes.
Volleys are of 2 classes: (1) the low volley, constituted from below the waistline; and (2) the high volley, from the waistline to the head. In contrast to the hitting plane categorization are the 2 styles called (1) the deep volley and (2) the stop volley. All low volleys will be blocked. High volleys might be either blocked or hit. Volleys ought to never be stroked. There’s no follow through on a low volley and really little with a high one.
You’ll hear a great deal of talk about “chop” volleys. A chop stroke is one where the racket travels from higher up than the line of flight of the ball, downward and through it, and the slant made behind the racket is larger than forty-five degrees, and several come near ninety degrees. Consequently no volleys should be chopped, for the inclination is to pop the ball up in the air. Slice volleys if you prefer to, or strike them flat, for both these strokes are made at a really small angle to the flight-line of the ball, the racket face moving almost on its plane.
In all volleys, high or low, the wrist ought to be locked in and utterly stiff. It should all of the time be below the racket head, hence bracing the racket against the force of the ball. Let the impact of the incoming shot, plus your own weight, return the ball, and don’t strain to “wrist” it across. The angled racquet face will present any needed angle to the return by glancing the ball off the strings, so no wrist turn is required.
Low volleys may never be strike hard. Any ball received at a higher plane than the top of the net might be hit hard. The stroke ought to be crisp, snappy, and decisive, but it ought to stop as it touches the ball. The follow through should be really small. Most low volleys should be easy and short. Most high volleys call for speed and distance.
The “stop” volley is a shot deflected short. There’s no force utilized. The racket merely meets the ball and stops it. The ball ricochets and falls of its own weight. There’s little bounce to such a shot, and that might be cut down by letting the racquet slide somewhat under the ball at the instant of impact, hence bestowing back spin to the ball.
Strive to stop your volleys immediately, but should your shot not succeed, follow the ball and again cover the straight shot. Always force the man endeavoring to pass you to play the most difficult possible shot.
Aggress with your volleys. Never defend the ball while at the net. The only defensive volley is one at your feet as you move into the net. It’s a mid-court shot. Volleys ought to win with positioning more than speed, though speed might be utilized on a high volley.