Volley and No I Am Not Talking About Volleyball

               With a volley, I found that it is a lot simpler and easier to get down versus the rest of the techniques. The volley is very repetitive shot and personally, I was able to get the shot down after a couple practices. Therefore, you will most likely get it down within that same time as well. In the beginning, I would always want to swing at the ball, but with a volley, it is different from the other shots because you should not swing with it and you have to hit the ball in the air before it touches the ground. Typically, this is a shot used up at the net because it is a quick shot that can be very aggressive if you hit it correctly.  

The first thing you need to understand with this shot is that you should always watch the ball when you are trying to make this shot or just with any shot; however I found this to be crucial with this move in particular. As well as, you need to meet your body to the ball when you want to do a volley. The book “The Top 100 Best Things That You Can Do to Greatly Improve Your Tennis Game” said, “Controlling volleys is a lot easier if you meet the ball before it has reached your body. It is very difficult to control a volley if he ball has begun to go past you” (McCloud 32). When you are trying to make this shot aggressive and powerful, you need to fight against the power of the ball coming at you. If you hit the ball when it is still in front you, then you don’t need to reach for the ball, but you can push the ball, which gives you that aggressiveness and power that you need. If you try to hit the ball going past you, then you will have to reach for the ball and make a weak shot back to your opponent making them have the advantage.

Another thing that you need to know in order to master your volley is that you have to make sure you turn your body for the volley. Ace McCloud says, “It is important not to take the ball square on, so be prepared move rapidly to one side” (McCloud 32). With this shot, it is very quick so you have very little time to make a decision on what you want to do, so always be ready to think quickly. You want to move to one side because you have more control on how you angle the ball and you can have a better push motion. If you are hitting the ball straight on you will have no control and it probably won’t go where you would like the ball to go, which could make your shot very weak and help your opponent win the game.

Before, I mentioned how you shouldn’t swing on a volley because with a volley it is a shot made up close, so you have no room to swing, but that’s not the main reason. When you hit a volley, you need to act like your racquet is a “wall”, because you want the racquet to be hard and sturdy like a wall. The reason why you don’t want to swing is because you lose the momentum of the ball when you add a swing to the ball coming at you. If you hit the ball with a simple push of your racquet, you will just push the momentum of the ball going back to your opponent’s court. Therefore, with the push you get the fast and aggressive hit, with just a simple hit.

Anyways, with a volley just remember to act as if the racquet is a wall, always be prepared to shift to one side and have your body face sideways. I really do hope my tips have helped you, if you want to pursue in the sport of tennis. I love tennis and I found that these tips have helped me prepare for the season coming up. Thank you for reading my post!

 

Question: What do you find is the hardest thing for you to understand or actually do when you do a volley? Like what challenges you when doing this shot?

 

McCloud, Ace. The Top 100 Best Things That You Can Do to Greatly Improve Your Tennis Game. San Bernardino: n.p., 2016. Print.

 Back- At You

 

               Some people find that the backhand can be difficult to master because it is hard to learn how to gain control and have accuracy with this shot. In the beginning I struggled with this technique as well because I felt like I never had control. This shot can be hard to master if you don’t know the best tips and techniques for getting the shot down.

 

               One thing, I learned on how to make a backhand shot easier to control and how to create more force is the way you position/ place your hands on the racquet. Most people will place their hands apart on the racquet which makes the racquet go against itself, so when you do hit the ball with this shot, your swing won’t be controlled since one hand is trying to hit the ball one way and the other hand is trying to hit the ball in a different direction. So in other words, they are going against each other when your hands are apart on the racquet like the image on the left.

 

 

 

 

               I learned that when you are doing a backhand shot is that you should either interlock your hands together or have them right on top of each other. This will cause more control and force when you hit a ball coming at you. When you have your hands together this will have them work together as “one”. They will hit the ball from the same direction and not go against each other like they would if you were to have your hands spread apart on a racquet. This will create stronger support when the racquet comes into contact with the ball, as well as give you an easier shot. Once, I began using this technique more I found it to be more successful and easier to gain control on where I want my balls to return. Some people found that with this technique of interlocking your hands with this shot, it may seem a little more difficult for you to be ready for the next shot after the backhand, when you may need a different position, but with time and practice you will soon get used to the transition of your placement with your hands.

  

Another thing that you should do when you are coming into contact with the ball on your backhand shot, is that you need your arms to be extended/straight and not crammed against your body. If your arms are straight, it allows more room for your swinging motion and to be able to do your follow-through. When your arms are close against your body you won’t get the full swing, which can cause a weak shot or end up going out.

 

               An additional tip, I found useful when reading the book was that, “If you have a rotation right, you will rotate through the stroke so that your follow-through takes you back to facing the net” (McCloud 24). When you do your backhand you want to be in a stance that allows you to feel balanced, as well as powerful. So, what he is saying is that when you rotate, you want to have that stance and your arms swinging all the way through in order for it to be powerful and a successful shot. When they say follow-through, that typically means that you will start your swing down by your side with the racquet facing its strings down and when you are about to hit the ball you will gradually raise your racquet up and have the racquet string’s face to the side to carry the shot upward as the ball comes into contact, then you will come up with the swing and even after the ball has been shot over the net you are going to continue with that swing. The racquet should end up by your ear for an effective shot.

 

 

 

 

               For me, that was something I struggled with because I kept forgetting to follow-through with my swing, which led to a weak shot. Once, you continually practice with the follow-through it will become more natural and you will notice your shots becoming more successful and they will glide over the net, which will give you an advantage. With the backhand you will also need to get your timing down as well because you need to prepare for when the ball comes. If you aren’t prepared and don’t have your racquet facing down and ready to carry the ball up, then it will either pass you or you will swing randomly, which I bet will be an easy shot for your opponent or the ball will go out making you lose the point.

 

               I know I have repeatedly mentioned timing with each post, but that is very crucial in the game of tennis, whether it’s preparing for a shot or serving. Also, don’t get frustrated right away, when your backhands don’t make it over or they aren’t controlled, it takes time to get your backhand shot down. That is something I struggled with in the beginning, but with time and consistent practicing I began to feel better with my shots. I hope these tips are helpful for you, like they have been for me.

 

Question: When you do a backhand shot, which do you prefer, your hands apart or close together on the racquet’s handle and why one over the other?

Techniques to Remember With a Forehand Shot 

 

               There is a lot more to a forehand then just picking up a racquet and hitting a tennis ball. You have to think about your swing, foundation and how you step into it. Many people think it’s easy to master a forehand shot, for some it can be, depending on if you can get the technique down right away, but for others it takes time. Personally, it’s still taking me time to master a certain technique, which is hitting the ball low to high (I will explain that in a little bit). So like I said for some this might be an easy thing to master, but for others like me this isn’t as simple as it seems. I found that the hardest part is remembering how you get the technique down, like how your arm is supposed positioned, your foot work and just how you hit the ball with that technique. However, after a while it becomes easier to remember with practice.

               The first thing you need to remember with a great stroke is your stance. In order to have a strong hit you need to have an excellent foundation. In the book, The Top 100 Best Things That You Can Do to Greatly Improve Your Tennis Game, Ace McCloud says, “The most important element of creating a forehand stroke you can rely on is ensuring that you are playing the shot from a solid base. This means establishing the correct stance that gives you the best foundation to enable you to play your forehand shots with confidence and power” (McCloud 17). It’s important to have a reliable base because then you start off strong and will still be able to move to your next position/ shot needed to be successful. If you didn’t have a reliable base, then it will be harder to follow through with your next shot. When I learned the strong stance people use in tennis, it helped my shots be more successful and a lot easier. Since, before I just stood there waiting on a shot and then when the ball came to me I didn’t have the correct foot work to follow through with the shot making it either too powerful of a swing, which means it goes out or not powerful enough, which is when I hit the net. Basically, your starting stance is very important in tennis if you want to have a powerful and accurate shot with your forehand or just any shot you use.

               Ace McCloud also discusses what is a solid base you have when you play tennis. In the book it says, “Feet should be positioned shoulder-width apart. Do not plant your feet squarely down on the court, but keep them relaxed so you can bounce on the balls of your feet. Your knees should be a little bent so that you can feel the flex in the muscles at the front of your highs, calf muscles and lower back” (McCloud 17). With this stance you shouldn’t have your feet flat on the ground, your heels shouldn’t be touching the ground, so you can be ready to move because if they are on the ground that means that you aren’t ready to move and can’t maneuver to a new position. As well as it makes it harder for you to move to a shot or just be ready for it. In the picture to the side you will notice that my feet are flat on the ground, which means I am not prepared yet for any shot coming at me. With my feet like this I will not be able to move or shift my body as quickly to a new shot as I would be with my heels in the air. Also my knees are slightly bent so I can be ready for any low balls shot towards my area. Having this stance can make your game play more effective than without starting with this foundation.

               A technique I find difficult for me to perfect is the low to high aspect of a forehand. This is when you hit the ball coming from a low angle and carrying it up with your racquet to a higher angle. Sounds a lot easier than when you actually do it. For most people when they hit a ball they automatically want to hit the ball with the racquet strings facing to the sides and having the racquet be vertical. However, with this shot you need it slightly at angle in order for it to be a more effective shot. Also so it can barely go over the net making it difficult for your opponent to return the ball back to you. During the game I find it hard to remember this when the ball is coming straight at me because it’s so sudden and it’s hard to think of what to do rather than just hitting the ball. With this technique the position of your arm and racquet is very important, as well as the timing of the hit, so like I said there’s a lot to think about in those very few seconds when your opponent hits the ball in your direction.

                One thing that is easier to remember when playing tennis and also benefits your tennis game greatly is how you position your body when you hit the ball. When a ball comes at you, your body should be parallel to the net. This means that your body is sideways and your foot should be pointed towards the net while the other is facing straight off the court. This allows you to have more power when you follow through with your hit. Since, you give enough power off of your front leg to release your swing on the ball. Also, this allows you to move around the ball and not have an awkward hand position and tight swing space, like you would if you stood facing the net when the ball comes at you. With this movement of your body it also allows arm extension, which I will discuss in the following paragraph. I suggest using this technique because it is a small movement that helps your game profoundly. As well as it’s much easier to remember and doesn’t take very long to understand how to do.

               It is also very important to have an outstretched arm when hitting the ball because then you have more room to swing, which can give you a more power hit on your return to your opponent. If your arm is cramped close to your body, then that doesn’t leave you enough room to swing on the ball. This was something that I struggled with in the beginning because when you run to go get the ball your arm becomes closer to you and all I could think about was hitting the ball rather than the position and extension of my arm. After some practice, I began to have a natural reaction of having my arm extended when I hit the ball. Another thing that is important in tennis is timing. This is obvious, but is also another thing hard to master because everyone hits the ball at different speeds, so learning your opponents timing of when they hit a ball will always be new. You just always have to consider how you will apply how they play to your game as well. With all of these techniques and steps on perfecting your forehand shot will take time, so don’t get frustrated when you can’t get it down right away. I hope these steps are very helpful when you are learning a more effective forehand shot in tennis.

 

Question: What do you struggle the most with on your forehand shot and how will you apply these steps in order to make your forehand shot more effective?

 

McCloud, Ace. The Top 100 Best Things That You Can Do to Greatly Improve Your Tennis Game. San Bernardino: n.p., 2016. Print.

                                                                           Serving It Up

               In tennis it is very important to master your serve. Or to at least be able to get it over the net. Being able to have a good serve is very crucial in the game of tennis. This is because it is the starting point of the game, as well as it is a point that you can either miss, since you couldn’t get it over the net or win because you fought after having the ball go over the net. This also shows your opponent your game play at the beginning of the game. If you have a very strong serve then you can psych your opponent out, but if you have a weak serve your opponent will think that it can be an easy win for them, so you will have to have great strokes and game play to make up for a weak serve.

               Typically, beginners in tennis will start out with the easy serve known as the “pancake” serve. This is the name of the serve because the racquet is faced outward and flat like a pancake. With this serve it isn’t a strong serve, but it is an easy serve if you are just trying to get the ball over. This is how I started out when playing tennis because I struggled with the stronger serve, which I will discuss later on. The advantages with this serve is basically that it is the easiest serve to learn first and also it is a lot easier to get the ball over the net in the designated square. The disadvantages with the “pancake” serve is that it isn’t a very strong serve and it is an easy return for your opponent, which means you have to work harder when they return it back to you in order to win the point.

Many people use this as their “safety” serve. In tennis you get two tries in order to have your serve successfully go over the net in the correct square before you lose a point. So a “safety” serve is your second try at serving, when you mess up the first time. Usually people won’t try to do their difficult serve again on the second try if they already messed up, so they will use the “pancake” serve as their second try so they know they won’t lose that point. Like I said this serve is usually for beginners that are still working on their serving.

The serve that is more forceful and gives you an advantage is more difficult to learn and it takes a lot of practice to master. When I was learning this serve I heard it being called by two different names. One was a “topspin” serve, which has a grip like a top spin. That is when your index knuckle is in between the first and second bevel. The other name I heard it get called is the “hammer”, since it gives you more power and feels like you are holding a hammer. At first this serve will be very uncomfortable on your wrist, but after a while of practicing you will soon feel a little more comfortable. With this serve it will be harder for your opponent to return the ball, since the serve has a quicker pace and glides over the net barely, which means your opponent needs to get low and lift the ball higher in order to return. This is also an advantage because if they pop the ball up it’s an easier return for you and more forceful.

 

 

Many people have a routine that they typically do before they serve in order to make it successful. What I do, is hit the ball against my racquet to the ground to see if it going diagonal, so I know that it is in the correct grip. After that you can either rock back and forth on your feet or bend your knees. In the book, “The Top 100 Best Things That You Can DO to Greatly Improve Your Tennis Game” it discusses the most common mistake when you bend your knees before a serve. Ace McCloud says, “Common mistake made when players are attempting to improve their serve is to bend their legs too early. The legs must only be bent after the upward motion of the toss is complete, trying to simultaneously bend down and reach up will only be counterproductive.” This means that many players bend their knees as they toss the ball up, which is not god because this will cause your toss to come short and then when you come down on your ball it won’t be forceful nor will it go over the net, due to the fact that the serve wasn’t high enough. Personally, I rock before I serve in order to avoid this mistake typically made. You don’t necessarily need to do either of these things, but it helps you prepare your serve and your mindset.

Another thing that is crucial to a great serve is your toss. With your toss it needs to be high but also within the “strike zone”, which is where you will hit. The ball can’t be tossed way in front of you or you will have to come down on it making the ball not go over the net and losing your first try of serving or the point. Also if you toss it behind you, you will have to reach and pop it, which won’t be a successful serve and will help your opponent win the point. The best place to toss the ball is high in front of you, so you can be slightly on top of the ball enough for it to glide over the net. Getting in the rhythm of the perfect toss also can take a bit of practice, but once you get in the rhythm of it, it will be easier for you. The book also discusses how to give a better toss by releasing “the ball with relaxed fingers, as this will prevent the ball from going off course” (McCloud 28). By having a more relaxed grip will actually help the ball in a way “float” more and get your ball at the perfect height needed.

The next thing to focus on with your serve is the way you come down on the ball with your racquet in order for it to successfully go over the net and go into the designated square. If you have a good throw the way you hit the ball should be easier. The book says, “Do not be tempted to force the racquet through the strike zone with your elbow or wrist….it may damage your arm” (McCloud 29). Basically, when you come in contact with the ball on your serve, don’t try to hit the ball as hard as you can to gain more power. This will only cause less control and can eventually damage your wrist and arm. Ace McCloud suggests that, “By keeping your elbow and wrist relaxed, you allow the serve to be controlled by the major muscles, which increases its reliability” (McCloud 29). Having your body feel more relaxed can actually make your serve more effective and controlled, since your wrist isn’t locked and uncomfortable. Also when hitting the ball, you need a straight arm when coming into contact the ball, so you have a full extension as you hit the ball, which allows more power and stability on your serve. If you follow through with these tips, you will be able to have a more effective and powerful serve against your opponent.

 

 

Question: If you play tennis what is your “routine” when you serve? Like what do you do to prepare your serve?

 

 

McCloud, Ace. The Top 100 Best Things That You Can Do to Greatly Improve Your Tennis Game. San Bernardino: n.p., 2016. Print.