Sometimes sports fans interchange the tennis terms rally and volley, but they are quite different. A rally is the act of hitting the ball back and forth across the net using a variety of shots. The ball is hit either after one bounce or in the air. A volley is a type of shot that you might use during a rally and in most cases, the ball is hit before it bounces. There are several variations of the volley.
Rally
A rally begins after the ball has been put into play with a serve. A rally is when two singles players or four doubles players exchange a sequence of shots within a point. The ball is kept in play until an error has been made or a rule has been violated. This results with the point awarded to a player or team.
Volley
The basic volley is a shot that is typically hit when you are in the front half of the court, near the net, and the ball is hit in the air. When your opponent hits a short ball to you, a good strategy is to return the ball deep and approach the net. This puts pressure on your opponent and may cause him to hit a weak ball back toward you. With this scenario, you should move quickly to the ball and hit it in the air for a point-ending volley. The key components to a successful volley are to use a continental grip, take a short back swing, keep your racket head up and block the ball with a short follow through.
Swinging Volley
The swinging volley is a popular stroke at the professional level and is becoming more popular at the club level. This stroke is also hit before the ball bounces and is generally hit when you are in mid-court. Sometimes referred to as a drive volley, this is a more aggressive shot with a full back swing and follow through. Nick Bollettieri refers to this shot as a type of groundstroke that is hit in the air. He recommends that you use a semi-western grip, keep your wrist firm throughout the swing and to accelerate through the point of contact.
Drop Volley
The drop volley is a more difficult volley to learn. It requires you to have "soft" hands, absorb the force of the incoming ball and to impart a significant amount of backspin on the ball. It is called a drop volley because when you hit it correctly, the ball crosses over the net and drops straight down. The backspin causes the ball to bounce more vertically instead of forward. This makes it more difficult for a slower opponent to reach the ball.
Half Volley
Although this is called a half volley, it really is not a volley. It is a defensive shot where the ball is quickly hit after it contacts the court and when it is on the rise. If you find yourself hitting a half volley, you most likely have been caught in the back court and the ball has been hit down at your feet. With little time to prepare, you have to react quickly, take a short back swing and try to return the ball deep to your opponent.
References
- "Nick Bollettieri Classic Tennis Handbook"; Nick Bollettieri; 1999
- "Tennis: A Professional Guide"; U.S. Professional Tennis Association; 1984
Member Comments