Tennis Volley Transformation - Rubbish To Rock-Solid in 8 Minutes

Tennis Volley Transformation - Rubbish To Rock-Solid in 8 Minutes
In the summer of 2022, I played a few ITF Masters events and my forehand volley was letting me down at times.
I missed a few simple volleys on big points, so I got to work.
Using video analysis and studying the technique on my volleys, I quickly spotted a few key things that needed some improvements.
Flat vs Underspin Volley Technique
When it comes to the volley in tennis, we have two main types of volleys we can hit:
1. The flatter volley - this is where the strings are more flat towards the net. This produces a firmer strike zone and imparts very little spin on the volley, which is great when you're closer to the net and want to put the ball away.
2. The underspin volley - this is the volley we should be using 60-70% of the time at the net as it allows us to produce slice on the ball and keep the ball low after the bounce.
In this video, Coach Simon Konov of Top Tennis Training will show you how he transformed his forehand volley technique using some very simple net drills.
The Improvement Process
The first step to improving a stroke is to identify what the issue is and how it can be improved.
I spotted that my strings were very flat on most volleys, which caused me to hit many forehand volleys into the net when I was further back in the service box.
I also noticed that my elbow was too extended at contact, causing the swing to become a bit robotic and stiff.
The Drills:
1. Two touch drop volley drill - this drill is great for developing feel with your volleys and imparting underspin on the ball
2. Drop volley down the line drill - similar as the two touch drill in regards to improving the feel etc but more realistic to a normal volley swing
3. Service line volleys - this is a great way to work on cutting down or under the ball as you make contact to produce the slice on your volleys
4. One deep, one drop - this drill helps you to develop the feel between a power volley and a feel volley.
5. Normal volleys - working on simply applying the underspin to the volleys
Video Timeline:
00:00 - My volley problems revealed
01:20 - Flat vs Underspin volley technique
02:14 - The drills I used to transform my volley technique
05:05 - Why the underspin volley is so effective
06:40 - Racket angle on volleys
#tennis #technique #toptennistraining

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

What do you struggle with at the net? Download our FREE volley guide here - www.top-tennis-training.com/free-guide/

[@ricardofrattezi7074]

I’ve been watching your videos for a while, and i want to congratulate you guys for doing such a nice work. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! 🙏🏼🎾🇧🇷

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks for the support 🙏 shout out to 🇧🇷

[@hectorayub2594]

Great lesson!

[@juliashulgin4232]

Great video. Brings a lot of clarity. Thank you.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

My pleasure 🙏

[@feeltennis]

Good to see you pointing out the slicing of the volley as almost all rec players are unfortunately taught to only punch the volley flat. I use the same "one short - one long" volley drill in very early stages of volley development or when I correct existing volley technique in order to get that slice and control feel into the players hands and minds. By the way, I developed that feel through many years of coaching kids where they would hit groundstrokes just behind the service line (mini tennis) but I would volley the ball back to them (often a soft ball) in order to save time and have them hit more repetitions. And I had to be very precise with the volley in order for them to get a nice ball from me and those fine racket head control skills then transferred really well into matches where I could volley very accurately into smaller target areas.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Thanks for the support Tomaz The feel you develop after those countless hours of volleys to juniors is insane. Spent many hours doing that myself over the years 😂 forearm burner

[@jeffcoffey8970]

This is your best video yet. I can't wait to hit some volleys.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Vamos and thanks for the support 🙏

[@battlefort501st]

Gonna try this out today. Thank you so much, Simon!

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Good luck with the improvements 👍

[@Gabriel-MagicMusic]

Great video . Thank you , Simon 🙏

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Thanks for watching 🙏

[@hamzakarakaya7546]

greetings from Turkey

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks 🙏

[@Paul-mf8sd]

Great video! Well explained and nice gradual exercises. Having a lot of problems with volleying myself. Hopefully this can push into the right direction. Thanks, Simon!

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Good luck with the improvements Paul 👍

[@tsyf]

very, very clear and useful!

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks 🙏

[@nicholastsinonis]

Maybe your best video so far. Great Lesson!

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks 🙏

[@TylerJ.22]

Great content, well thought-out video.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks 🙏

[@K4R3N]

Great lesson coach Simon

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks 🙏

[@joclarke17]

Really great video Simon. You provided a very clear explanation of different styles of volleys and why and when they are used. The best explanation I have come across and very helpful for me. Thank you

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Thanks for the support 🙏

[@-Munditimum-]

Hi Simon...What an amazing self analysis and a great video as always. You may have just fixed my volley challenges of 40 years+...lol. Cheers and hope you're doing well. M

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Vamos 💪 Good luck with the improvements

[@tennis_sen]

Nice video Simon. Also please cover how to handle high volley.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Thanks for watching

[@floyd9223]

Best volley lesson !

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks 🙏

[@prodigychallenger660]

nice

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Thanks

[@danielladinardo8321]

Superb concise coaching per usual!! Miss our 1:1’s back at DLRP 😎🎾

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

One of my best and favourite students, was always a pleasure Daniella 🙏 I hope you’re still playing often?

[@danielladinardo8321]

@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial as much as the body will allow 😅 mixing in a bit of Padel now I’ve got Dominic to pick it up 🤩👍🏼

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

That’s great, I hear they have Padel courts at DLRP now?

[@egemenguven7772]

Hello Simon. First of all you and your friend making great job for people who trying to evolve their technique. Thanks for all videos and teaching us tennis. I am a beginner so i just wonder which grips do you use for forehand, backhand, serve and volleys. Can you please write down which grips do you use.

[@yiweizhou758]

This is very helpful and for individual practice, what server machine do you use/rec?

[@beebsan999]

Great stuff! What tennis ball,aching are you using? I’m debating buying the Proton. Thanks!

[@rogerwilco4257]

low backhand volley frameshots -- that's meeee. any vids on that?

[@HC-wt1cg]

Very helpful video. I felt so confused watching other videos about volley because they have different positions. So it helps so much that you explained distance from the net changes how you handle the volley. Two questions. 1. When I try to use low volley to save balls, most of the time the balls would go way long and high that it would be out of the court. 2. I use two hands for forehand and backhand volley to avoid further injuries on my wrist. Is it hard to do the under spin volley that you talked about when I am further away from the net?

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Low volleys: open the racket face towards the sky more but cut the bottom side of the ball as you make contact to produce underspin. This action can work on a two handed volley also

[@Mickey_McD]

Thanks for this video, Siimon! If you're hitting a volley that's below net level would you still try to use the "cupping under the ball" volley technique?

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

That’s when you’ll need it more. To get the ball over the net 👍

[@nemilperez5441]

how do you cut underspin on the forehand side without the ball popping up too much?

[@thomasc4777]

Nicely done, Simon, as always. What ball machine are you using? It appears to be one of higher quality. I ask because I'm in the market for one, and willing to pay a premium price for a better product. Thank you.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

This machine - m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3eyoqpsh6uBgpo In the comments there is a discount code with us 👍

[@thomasc4777]

Thanks Simon. You and Alex never fail to respond, no matter how elementary or complex the question. That's why you're enjoyed worldwide.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks for the support 🙏

[@richsimpson8429]

How do you know how much to open your strings? I hit balls out so much with an open face

[@FairwayJack]

like