5 Reasons Why You’re Missing Tennis Volleys & How To Fix The Mistakes

In this video I'll show you how to correct the 5 Most Common Volley Mistakes at Club level.
1) Did you know that you can actually swing on some tennis volleys?
As a rule of thumb the higher and slower the ball is the more you have time to take the racket back and still make good contact in front of your body. Just think of the swing volley. The lower and harder the ball is the more you have to shorten the take back and in some instances you'll just block the ball.
2) Instead of having the tip of the tennis racket point to the sky make sure you set it out to the side. That way you can open and close the racket face as needed. Close it a bit more on higher volleys. Open it to lift the ball more on low volleys.
3) If you have the wrong footwork you're losing control and the chance to get power on your volley. Set the outside leg behind the incoming ball and stride forward off that leg. Any pace on volleys comes from the legs not from the arm.
4) YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CONTINENTAL GRIP. PERIOD. Watch the video on how to find it and a simple drill you can do by yourself to get more comfortable with it.
5) Have you ever heard the cue "chop the volley like a karate chop"? Throw that out! Immediately! Yes, there is certainly a downward component on the swing path of the volley but not nearly as steep as a "chop" implies. It depends on what kind of ball you're getting. If you're close to the net on a higher ball, yes, you can hit down on the ball more. But the lower the ball and the further back you are the swing path levels out until you actually see a lift on very low balls.
Have fun practicing your tennis volleys! Grab a partner and do these drills: • Dominate The Net - Imp...
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[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Have fun practicing your tennis volleys! Grab a partner and do these drills: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnumg4hrm7JgeM0

[@cesarfernandezlopez5063]

Have fun MEIKE 😉 🤣 kzbin.infoFO_osvJaCgg?feature=share

[@andrehanderson]

Best tennis coach on KZbin

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Thank you

[@eileenwang7265]

So talented. Best coaching lesson online.

[@halilbolayrl8838]

An excellent lesson as always. Thank you so much Meike !

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

You're welcome!

[@kennethbone5490]

I love your videos. They are the best tennis tutorial s on KZbin by far, especially for club players trying to improve. The split, one two footwork pattern moving forward before hitting the volley really helps me understand what I should be doing.

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Thank you so much

[@FritzHutter1]

Liebe Frau Babel! Habe Sie bereits als Profispielerin für Ihre feine Technik geschätzt. Heute halte ich Ihre Tipps als Trainerin für mit das Beste - weil so praxisorientiert und fix umsetzbar -, was es zu sehen gibt. Kompliment und Grüße aus good old Vienna, Fritz

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Das freut mich riesig zu hoeren. Dankeschön!

[@jonathanchen1026]

Great video and instructions! Taking these tips with me into 2023 season!

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Awesome and thank you for your support

[@oceanbronze8399]

Really helped me improve my volleys Thanks!

[@angelagallegos4106]

Just what I was looking for!! Excellent as usual🎾🎾

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Thank you, thank you!

[@lauraotto6942]

Thanks Meike for another great lesson! This is super helpful. As always, clear and concise👍🎾

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

That’s what I’m going for

[@michellem9392]

I can't wait to practice these tips this weekend. Thanks for an awesome video!😊

[@oregoneyes6673]

Great video. You are a fantastic teacher.

[@ivvavav]

Best tennis channel. Period. Your videos are a gem, Meike!

[@sdmq4614]

Thank you, very informative volley video.

[@jeffm8420]

Outstanding video!

[@Better_Call_Raul]

05:00 "Don't use two grips." I used Eastern FH and Eastern BH for forehand and backhand volleys respectively. It worked very well at 3.0/3.5 level. Felt sooo much more comfortable and *stronger* than the Continental grip. It is true. The palm is behind the ball and you have more support... But as you move up to 4.0 level, the balls are coming in faster and there is less time to switch grips. Hence the Continental grip has to be used. A single grip for all volleys. But most club players will struggle with the Continental grip as it feels much weaker.

[@tennisisforlife]

Awesome!

[@ElLa-ek5rn]

Another really helpful lesson - thanks Meike 🙏

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Glad you liked it!

[@steveshvartsberg1312]

What’s a great lesson! Thanks 🙏

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Thanks! 😃

[@mellx8124]

great vid cant wait to practice. love the bullet point summary too. thank you :)

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Thank you

[@markchan006]

One of my coaches taught me all the wrong things you mentioned in the vid: racket tip up, cross-step, chopping BH volley. And my volley was so bad. Luckily I watched this vid and also rebuilt some correct volley fundamentals with the help of another coach. At least I am not messing up the ball with less pace now.

[@NickNeras]

Love your technique Thank you, for showing that 👍👌👏

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

You're welcome!

[@hanseat7950]

Hallo Meike, tolle Tipps wie immer. Der DTB empfiehlt im Trainerlehrgang den leichten Vorhand- und Rückhandgriff für Volleys. Ihr Begründung ist: mit diesen Griffen ergibt sich einen früheren Treffpunkt und bessere Kraftübertragung. Ich bin allerdings deiner Meinung: für Vereinsmitglieder und Hobbyspielerinnen und -spieler empfehle ich den Mittelgriff (Contintental). Für die Leistungsportlerinnen und -sportler versuche ich schon darauf zu achten, dass sie den Griff wechseln. Der DTB meint, frau/man hätte genügend Zeit den Griff bei den Volleys zu wechseln, was ich so nicht immer bestätigen kann. Übrigens: meine Damenmannschaft hat ihr erstes Punktspiel in der Geschichte des Vereins gewonnen dank deiner Tipps beim Aufschlag und Return. Wir üben deine Tipps für den Aufschlag und Returns seit Ende August. Sie wirken tatsächlich. Vielen, vielen Dank!!!

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Das freut mich riesig!!!! Sag den Damen einen schönen Gruss und Glückwunsch, natürlich auch an Dich! Das stimmt natürlich schon, das man mit dem leichteren VH und BH (und die Betonung liegt auf leicht) knackigere Volleys spielt. Wenn ich spiele, bin ich auch nicht immer im Mittelgriff, aber ich hab halt auch schon ein paar Millionen volleys gespielt. Ich hab das mal bei ein paar Clubspielern versucht, den Griff sachte zu verschieben und das war eine totale Katastrophe. Die Spieler waren verwirrt und super frustriert, weil sie meist im falschen Griff steckengeblieben waren. Und dann waren wir alle froh, dass wir doch nur einen Griff finden muessen :-) Die Videos, die ich angesprochen habe, meinen, dass man einen Eastern (also a la Federer) VH und RH Griff haben sollte, was garnicht geht.

[@hanseat7950]

@@MeikeBabelTennis genau so sehe ich das auch. Wie gesagt, ich folge deinem Rat: Hobbyspielerinnen und -spieler Mittelgriff für Volleys. Leistungsportlerinnen und -sportler empfehle ich den leichten Vorhand- und Rückhandgriff

[@hanseat7950]

@@MeikeBabelTennis Die Glückwünsche gehen alle an meine Mädels (so nennen sie sich). Sie haben die Arbeit geleistet und waren fleißig dabei, ich habe sie beim Punktspiel begleitet und sie angelächelt und versuchte sie einfach zu beruhigen.

[@riosrios5466]

Im DTB-Trainerportal (trainer.tennis.de) wird bei der Volleygriffhaltung stets die Wahl zwischen leichtem VH-/RH-Griff und Mittelgriff offengelassen. Zum Mittelgriff steht dort zudem, dass dies der Standardgriff für Volleys und Schmetterbälle ist. Ich selber volliere mit Mittelgriff weil ich denke, dass ich für Griffwechsel zu langsam wäre. Mein Vereinstrainer - ehemalig Bundeswehrsportfördergruppe Tennis - lehrt nicht den Mittelgriff weil man bei 90% aller Volleys genügend Zeit zum Wechsel hätte. Da muss wohl jeder seinen eigenen Weg gehen/finden.

[@followme9330]

Great❤❤❤❤❤

[@la33ib]

Merci Meike... très claire comme d'habitude 👏👏👏

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Merci beaucoup!

[@nathanmiller6051]

Wonderful lesson 🙏 always excellent!! Thank You

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Thank you!

[@Magical_DoReMi]

Thank you so much ma'am for this valuable lesson. You addressed such important issues in detail because I'm an absolute beginner and I am rarely able to hit the ball in the volley and ralley plus even if I do hit, it's full of mistakes. It's been 20 days and I've never learnt so much as I did in these 10 minutes. No one ever (since a month when I started playing tennis first time ever) taught me these lessons which makes me think why am I even paying for my classes? Yes, for consistent routine, getting up early, improving stamina and concentration, overall health and well being but I don't have a decent coach who spots and correct my mistakes for faster and efficient learning. Getting a personal coach is out of the question tho 😆

[@thomasmedeiros5722]

Excellent lesson on volley. You really covered all the essentials. I am a big advocate of proper footwork, movement and body position. Loved the way you demonstrated especially leading with the foot on the side of the direction of the ball. I hope players watching noticed how you constantly moved forward. When I coached I always used drills that fed several balls and the player had to move forward from mid court to service box and close in to finish the third ball. I would encourage players to use your lesson and practice and drill with a partner. Do drills to build skills and practice the way you want to play. Do this at least once a week.

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Thanks so much! And I will totally steal the :"Do drills to build skills and practice the way you want to play" :-)

[@raulrodrigueznyc]

Meike, You need to put a microphone cover on your mic as it is picking up a lot of wind noise. You can find for all kinds of mics. Thanks for the great content. Raul

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Yes, I have to get on of those fuzzy things.

[@raulrodrigueznyc]

Hello, I am a right hand and OHBH player and when playing at them net, I have this habit that I am not sure is correct or not but when my opponent hits a ball to my back hand close to my body - meaning I don't have to move -, I use both hands to volley. My left hand (non-dominant) stays on the throat but gripped in a way that reinforces the racquet and sometimes pushes forward to punch the ball back. This to me is usefull when my opponent tries to hit a hard winner at me. I would like your thoughts on this. Thanks again for the great content. Raul

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

There are many top players now that do the same (maybe more on the women's side) but I think it's totally legitimate if you use the off hand to stabilize the racket.

[@bmanbusee3812]

Nice vid. What about between continental and eastern grip though? Also what’s your thoughts about choking higher up on racquet for volleys for more control?

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

I have to be honest I sometimes Slide Over from the continental grip but I feel very confident that I can control that at all times bc I’ve done it a million times. If you can came back into a good grip for bh volley you can flatten it out a bit. Choking up for learning is great, don’t know if I wold recommend it for matchplay.

[@vladimirvidov6202]

excellent lesson thank you very much

[@dennisthegreek5336]

Chopping down the ball makes volleys inconsistent because you limit the contact time frame so much, that it gets very hard to hit the ball on the sweet spot!

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Another good reason, yes

[@spooky1304]

Hi Meike - can you tell us what you think is the greatest tennis sin..? My personal one is when I hit the ball long from a shot behind my baseline. There's absolutely no excuse for that and every time I do it I feel like a complete klunk.

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

I think that’s definitely a big one. Mine is when someone tries to go for a winner when they’re way out of position.

[@tennisbum7527]

Hard to believe that anybody today would be teaching hitting a forehand volley with an eastern forehand grip, since that technique is so outdated that you can find it in historical instructional films (in black and white that can be found on youtube). Many are so old that the only thing missing is the original lassie trotting onto the court. Great point on chopping down on volleys and potentially dissipating power on that shot, obviously when you do that it also moves through the court slower and gives your opponent a chance to catch up to it

[@sergiosimbula]

Jup unfortunately there is one KZbinr (with even more unfortunately A LOT of subscribers) that gives a lot of misinformation.

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

Haha, the original Lassie. I have to be honest, I did move my grip EVER SO SLIGHTLY over on some volleys when I competed. But I had nothing better to do than practice tennis 8 hours a day and it was my job. The top players do move the grip a bit. But I have yet to see anyone in full blown Eastern on either side! Trying to teach that to players who come out and play 2-3 times a week and maybe hit 30 volleys in each session doesn't make sense. I never even tried to work on that with top level college players because they just don't volley enough.

[@danlee7379]

0:44 what do you mean by "you just have to make sure that as you are moving through you keep your legs under your upper body"?

[@MeikeBabelTennis]

You don’t want to bend at the hips, lean over to reach for the ball. If you keep your legs under your body you’re balanced

[@danlee7379]

@@MeikeBabelTennis got it!! thank you!!

[@elgoro12]

Niceee

[@melatomic]

“The Grip”

[@corbin6356]

𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓶 😓