Frequently Asked Technical Questions:

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VOLLEY CONTACT MOVES

Question: Compare and contrast a forward transfer volley with a drive transfer volley?
 
Answer:

Comparing:

1. Both contact moves transfer the weight from the back foot to the front foot
2. Both have a leg curl balance move
3. Both are hit off  a high floating ball that would land mid court
4. Both have a contact point around chest level
5. Both have finish with the racket finishing at shoulder level
6. The aim is to finish the point with both these volleys. They are the most effective and aggressive of all volleys.

Contrasting:

1. The drive transfer is hit off a semi-open stable stance/ the approach transfer is hit off an open stance.
2. With the forward transfer volley you punch the volley with a much shorter backswing. With the drive volley you have a bigger backswing a bigger follow through thus more chance of an error.
3.  You tend to hit the drive volley much further back from the net than the forward transfer volley

Question: Do you teach all the volley moves in isolation first? If yes, can you please list these in order of difficulty!

Answer:

I would teach the low volley or step down volley first because it is the simplest and the best to also practice the racket technique and grips.

Next I would teach the forward transfer as it is a put away volley followed by the power move defensive volley. Half volleys and balls that are at the body require better footwork and racket control and are much more speciality volleys.

Each volley should be taught in isolation and then I like the ADD ON PHILOSOPHY where you learn and add a volley on, so all are put together in a fun athletic sequence like in the video clip (month 14).

Below is a list of increasing order of difficulty (in my opinion) of the volleys in the article and as seen in the video. The list is also based on decreasing commonality when playing a match...

1st     Low volley
2nd    Forward Transfer volley
3rd    Power move volley
4th     F/h shift volley
5th     B/h carioca
6th     B/h body ball
7th     Drive transfer volley -advanced
8th     Front foot hop (half volley) – advanced
9th     Lateral hop (half volley) -advanced

Question: When do you teach the volley contact moves?

Answer:

I teach volleys after the 12 groundstroke contact moves and approach shot contact moves have been taught as the language has already been introduced and the student(s) have already knowledge of the various hitting stances and timing of the moves.

I will then start to combine similar moves i.e.  For instance hitting a run around forward transfer groundstroke, followed by a transfer approach and finishing with a transfer volley is a great sequence to “feel” the transfer but also work on the different subtleties that distinguish the groundstroke from the approach and volley.

The combination of contact moves really is limitless.

Question: What are the different athletic demands placed on a volley in comparison to a groundstroke?

Answer:

Because you have less time when volleying there is much more reaction time training required. Less time also requires more power and explosiveness in the legs  when playing volleys compared to ground strokes plus also a great  strength base as you have to bend your knees lower on volleys than you do on ground strokes.

Question:  Name some common footwork errors made when volleying?

Answer:

1.) Not split stepping when the opponent makes contact with the ball
2.) Not moving the foot closest to the ball first i.e. move from the back foot to the front foot
3.) Bending at the waist instead at the knees
4.) Not shifting sideways with the feet apart when the ball is heading towards the body
5.) Not gliding forward with the legs through the first low volley
6.) Keeping  the feet too close together
7.) Letting the ball come to you on the floating volley instead of attacking the ball with small adjustment steps