In tennis, a volley is a stroke in which the ball is hit before it bounces. A volley is usually struck from near the net, but it may also be done from farther back, in the centre of the tennis court, or even along the baseline. The term comes from the French word volée, which means flight.
What is a tennis volley and how is it executed?
Volley is a distinctive shot in the game of Tennis. Unlike other shots, a volley is a shot which is executed by striking the ball even before it touches the ground of the court, that is, before the bounce. A volley shot is exceptionally difficult in technique as well as in body’s physics.
What is the difference between volleyball and volley tennis?
What Is the Difference Between Volleyball Shoes & Regular Tennis Shoes?
- Soles. Unlike regular tennis shoes, volleyball shoes are made with gum rubber soles that facilitate better traction on the playing surface, which is typically a basketball court.
- Midsoles. Volleyball shoes are designed to facilitate safe and easy movement in the rapid side-to-side motions involved in the spot.
- Weight. ...
- Price. ...
What is the longest volley recorded in professional tennis?
This week marks the 25th anniversary of an historic tennis match. At a Virginia Slims tournament in 1984, Vicki Nelson and Jean Hepner exchanged 643 shots; it remains the longest single rally in the history of professional tennis.
Should I play volleyball or tennis?
- Beach volleyball and indoor volleyball are very different . ...
- The ball is slightly different. ...
- Blocking (in beach volleyball counts as a contact, and in indoor volleyball not )
- In indoor volleyball criteria are milder (it is harder to judge double ball)
How do you volley a tennis ball?
3:144:03Tennis Volley Technique | 3 Steps To Volley Like A Pro - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNumber two keep the swing as short as possible and think about blocking the ball don't think aboutMoreNumber two keep the swing as short as possible and think about blocking the ball don't think about swinging of the racquet think about blocking the ball as. If you were a wall.
Why are volleys important in tennis?
The volley shot is used when a tennis player wants to strike the ball over the net before it bounces. This concept allows the ball to be returned quickly and to stop their opponent from getting into position to play a perfect shot.
What is the difference between a rally and a volley in tennis?
A tennis rally occurs when players hit the ball multiple times, usually after it bounces, while a volley is a ball hit out of the air before it lands. Players rally as part of a warmup, practice or drill session or during points when playing a match.
What is the volley technique?
This involves: Inclining the body forwards, body weight resting on the soles of the feet, shoulders in front of the feet. Elbows and forearms away from the body, in front of the abdomen, forward by about 10cm. Racket pointed forward, head slightly lifted. Favoring the hammer grip.
Why is it called a volley?
The word derives from M. French volée meaning flight. The primary objective of the volley is to go on the offensive and cut the amount of time for the opponent to react. Another advantage is that a player eliminates any possibility of a bad bounce from an uneven surface such as on some grass and clay courts.
Who has the best volley in tennis?
The following slides are an attempt to recall the 10 most dominant serve-and-volley players in tennis history.Stefan Edberg. 8 of 10.Pete Sampras. 7 of 10. ... Pancho Gonzales. 6 of 10. ... Jack Kramer. 5 of 10. ... Boris Becker. 4 of 10. ... Patrick Rafter. 3 of 10. ... Tim Henman. 2 of 10. ... Richard Krajicek. 1 of 10. ... More items...
Where do you stand when volleying?
Volleying in doubles—proper court positioning Stand in the middle of your service box when your partner is serving. Stand around halfway between the doubles sideline and the net, and halfway between the net and service line (about 21 ft. or so, around 10-11 ft. from the net).
How do you drop a volley?
1:042:30How to Hit a Forehand Drop Volley | Tennis - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStep forward with your non racket leg and turn your shoulders on your forehand. Side remember toMoreStep forward with your non racket leg and turn your shoulders on your forehand. Side remember to hold the racket with a light grip pressure if you hold it too tight.
What is the difference between a volley and a groundstroke?
Technically a volley can be played from just about any position but usually it's hit when a player is closer to the net. If the ball bounces before a player makes contact the shot is considered a groundstroke or half volley.
Where do you hit a volley in tennis?
Changing directions and volleying to the open court is a good option. You are typically around the service line, and you can't put the ball away to the open court from that far back. Best to volley back behind the opponent.
What is a tennis volley?
In essence, volleys are part of your net game, which means that you will hit these shots without letting the ball touch the ground before you hit it. These shots are mainly used to finish the point, after you were able to move your opponent around by hitting successful groundstrokes.
What is the movement of the forehand volley?
The forehand volley is a fairly simple movement, in which you use only one arm to hit a ball by your dominant side, without letting the ball touch the ground. A player usually hits volleys when standing close to the net and inside the service box. It requires firm hands and fast reflexes.
What does a backhand volley look like?
The backhand volley looks a lot like a backhand slice, but without letting the ball touch the ground. Once again, a volley usually occurs when you are standing close to the net. A backhand volley always happens on your non-dominant side. While backhand volleys are normally taught as a one-handed shot, it is not uncommon to see players hitting backhand volleys using both hands.
What grip do you use for tennis volleys?
When you’re hitting tennis volleys, it all comes down to speed and control – which is why you should hit your volleys using a Continental grip . The benefits of using this grip for your volleys is that it is very quick to set up, and you won’t need to change it between your serve, forehand volley, backhand volley, and overhead. While the Continental grip doesn’t allow the player to add a lot of spin to the shot, that is not a problem since volleys do not require spin.
What is the most admirable shot in tennis?
Tennis volleys require touch, speed, skill, fast reflexes, a steady hand, and precision – which makes them one of the most admirable shots in tennis. While players and coaches tend to not spend as much time working on volleys anymore, having a solid game can give you an edge on the tennis court.
What is the trickiest shot in tennis?
Volleys are one of the trickiest shots in tennis. When watching professionals play, volleys seem very easy and automatic. On the other hand, when you’re playing tennis and you suddenly have a tennis ball rushing towards your face, volleys don’t look that easy anymore. Tennis volleys require touch, speed, skill, fast reflexes, a steady hand, ...
Why is tennis so slow?
These changes made the overall tennis game slower, which means that players are not rewarded as much for going to the net – since their opponents have more time to react.
What is a volley in tennis?
A volley is a shot in tennis where a player returns the ball before it bounces. Players typically perform volleys at the service line or closer to the net. Volleys are usually aggressive because their primary function is to run your opponent ragged or interrupt the timing of the rally, giving you a chance to catch them off guard or instantly win ...
What does Serena Williams teach?
Serena Williams Teaches Tennis. To be an efficient and effective tennis player, you must learn a specific set of shots, and the best time is to use them.
What type of volley can you hit?
For a list of different volleys you can try out on the tennis court, check out the following list: Punch volley. The punch volle y is the standard volley for netplay. For a punch volley, the player at the net punches their racket forward ...
Why do volleyballs require impeccable timing?
Volleys require impeccable timing because you are positioned much closer to the net.
Why is half volley so difficult?
For the half volley, timing is even more difficult than a regular volley because you’re hitting the ball after the bounce, not before.
How does a volley work?
The volleyer must try to softly place the ball on the other side of the net, as close to it as possible, to increase the distance your opponent must cover to reach it. When executed successfully, the ball bounces twice before your opponent can return it. A drop volley is like a drop shot, but performed at the net. Block volley.
What is swinging volley?
A swinging volley is when the player uses a full groundstroke swing to smack the incoming ball out of the air. Players typically perform a swinging volley when caught in no man’s land (the space between the service line and baseline).
What is a volley in kids?
Kids Definition of volley. (Entry 1 of 2) 1 : a group of missiles (as arrows or bullets) passing through the air. 2 : the firing of many weapons (as rifles) at the same time. 3 : a bursting forth of many things at once a volley of questions. 4 : a hit or kick of the ball while it is in the air before it touches the ground The player hit ...
What does "volley" mean in sports?
English Language Learners Definition of volley. (Entry 1 of 2) sports : a shot or kick made by hitting a ball before it touches the ground. : a large number of bullets, arrows, stones, etc., that are shot or thrown at the same time.
What does "volley" mean in volleyball?
Definition of volley. (Entry 1 of 2) 1 a (1) : the flight of the ball (as in volleyball or tennis) or its course before striking the ground also : a return of the ball before it touches the ground. (2) : a kick of the ball in soccer before it rebounds.
Is "volley" a verb?
volley. verb. volleyed; volleying. Definition of volley (Entry 2 of 2) transitive verb. 1 : to propel (an object) while in the air and before touching the ground especially : to hit (a tennis ball) on the volley. 2 : to discharge in or as if in a volley. intransitive verb.
Overview
A volley in tennis is a shot in which the ball is struck before it bounces on the ground. Generally a player hits a volley while standing near the net, although it can be executed farther back, in the middle of the tennis court or even near the baseline. The word derives from M. French volée meaning flight.
The primary objective of the volley is to go on the offensive and cut the amount of time for the op…
Hitting a volley and variants
A regular volley is hit with a short backswing and a punching stroke. While standing at the net, a player usually has no time to take a long backswing. When the ball comes at less pace, though, the volleyer can take a longer backswing to impart more force on the ball, which is called a swing volley. A player can also touch the ball lightly, so that the ball will fall just after the net. This is known as a drop volley.
Half volley
The lower the ball comes at the volleyer, the harder it is to hit an effective volley. In such cases, it can be more advantageous to let the ball bounce and immediately hit the return on the rise rather than attempt to volley it. In this case the racquet contacts the ball almost at surface level. This tennis shot is named a half volley although it is actually no longer a volley, given that the ball has not been intercepted before it bounced. It is one of the more difficult shots in tennis as it require…
Exceptional volleyers
In his 1979 autobiography, Jack Kramer, who had a fine volley himself, devoted a page to the best tennis strokes he had ever seen. He wrote:
FOREHAND VOLLEY—Wilmer Allison of Texas, who won the 1935 Forest Hills, had the best I ever saw as a kid, and I've never seen anyone since hit one better. Budge Patty came closest, then Newcombe. BACKHAND VOLLEY—Close amo…
In his 1979 autobiography, Jack Kramer, who had a fine volley himself, devoted a page to the best tennis strokes he had ever seen. He wrote:
FOREHAND VOLLEY—Wilmer Allison of Texas, who won the 1935 Forest Hills, had the best I ever saw as a kid, and I've never seen anyone since hit one better. Budge Patty came closest, then Newcombe. BACKHAND VOLLEY—Close amo…
External links
• Video: Tips for a good volley
• Video: How to volley
• Tennis Training Aids: Tip on Volley