The Secret to a KILLER Net Game in Tennis

0:00 - Intro
0:50 - Drill 1: Loose Grip
2:42 - Drill 2: Body Movement
5:15 - Drill 3: Footwork
7:29 - Drill 4: Varying Firmness
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Let's start with the obvious: we can't all have a net game like Roger Federer. What we CAN do, though, is imitate the simple and effective volley technique that makes him so deadly at the net. Here's how...
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If you can read this you have an impressive scrolling game.
:-)
#federer #tennis #volley

[@EssentialTennis]

Here's some more guidance to master your net game: Singles Net Positioning Keys: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oni7eZ2ilNSIock Doubles Net Positioning Keys: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGm0p4GZbKmpabc FREE access to Essential Tennis Academy: www.essentialtennisacademy.com/ Thank you for watching and for supporting this channel! Hopefully this lesson was a huge help.

[@Questinia1]

What is essential is Ian's articulateness. His words clarify and exactly match what is to be learned. Too often this isn't true with tennis coaches. Thanks, Ian.

[@chuckydog8668]

I totally agree. He is a great TEACHER. He could teach anything and it would still resonate better than most.

[@EssentialTennis]

Thank you both! I'm very grateful for you support.

[@JamesDavisakaRemguy]

Ian has the *best* words. *Lots* of words. *Beautiful* words. *Tremendous* words. Ian has done more for tennis than anyone else in the history of our great country. Ian knows more about tennis than Robert Federer, Raffi L. Nadal and Joe Kvetch, or "The Penquin" as they used to call him. The Great Penquin... Ian is a stable genius. A *VERY* stable genius. Stabler than all the other geniuses. Especially Obama. Who wasn't a genius at all, or even from America. Most people don't know this, but he was actually from Hawaii. Nobody knew that...

[@dennisbrowne2424]

Never thought about breaking the footwork down that way. That was helpful. And it's good to see Ol' Red back in your hands again. That racquet deserves more screen time.

[@EssentialTennis]

Old faithful!

[@tennfunn6332]

Very helpful~ I feel like that volleyer you portray as tense and rigid~ Will be working on loosening my grip and flowing more🎾

[@warehouse13-motorsports]

Very well explained!

[@paddlepower888]

Like many of your other productions, this is da bomb. I just came back from the courts. I worked on the progressions up to the footwork drill. Everything came together really well. Left for lunch. Going back later to finish! Thanks so much!

[@princessoftennis5539]

I'm getting so much help from your tennis video. Thank you very much. It's getting cold, so be careful not to catch a cold.

[@TennisLifeTV]

Loved the step by step explanation and the drills that went along with each step Ian! Most recreational players are definitely focused with their arm swing and shoulder rotation when it comes to their volleys (including myself). I definitely haven’t thought much about the hip rotation that you talked about in drill 2. Thanks for the lucid explanation! ❤️

[@beevo292]

Thanks, righty Ian. Looks just as comfortable on that. Maybe a good tactic to switch hands next match ;)

[@EssentialTennis]

If only it were that easy 🙂

[@tennisbear]

As a fellow lefty, you had me fooled there for a moment. Very well done there. If I ever do instructional videos I will use the same trick.

[@EssentialTennis]

@@tennisbear It's quite easy to do and helps 90% of people understand better!

[@evanc.2382]

Haha, yeah. Watch the numbers in background.

[@ColBol7]

When he's a righty his name is naI.

[@danjackknife]

Drop it like it’s hard! Pretty much has been my net game now. It has elevated since watching this. Thank you!

[@andyrussell3162]

Great video, Ian. Now that I understand what I need to be doing, the hard part will be "unlearning" what I've been doing for a long time ;-) Thanks for breaking this down so well.

[@nikkixox7911]

thanks for the tips ian! im glad the weather is cold now or else i’d be practicing these drills for hours 😂😂

[@felipecartagena4706]

Hey, I don't know other way fr saying this, but I really thank you, I've been watching your videos and is awesome how much my tennis level was growing up. I just wanna say is amazing for me, this is something that I couldn't find In other side, just here I found it ( great way to teach) thanks, I hope you continue doing this great job.

[@EssentialTennis]

That is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing, Felipe!

[@NeuralEngin33r]

you answered question I've always wondered and no coach before you would tell me. ty you're the best

[@EssentialTennis]

Great to hear, thanks for watching!

[@humanentity2214]

I played a tough 4.0 match today. Lost 6-7,6-7. I have big shots and create opportunities for myself but stay in my comfort zone at the baseline. If I had the net game, I could make my life so much easier. I'll need to try these steps in my next drills session. Thanks!

[@flavioarnizantdezorzi1097]

Thanks Ian, Will def have a go in my next training session 😀

[@EssentialTennis]

Awesome, good for you!

[@kevinaanspaugh9443]

Good video. Different takes on volley. I was taught three different techniques by three different coaches, all accomplished serve and volleyers. I think the simplest is the best.

[@doofusoferasmus2964]

Great stuff, Ian! I remember a lot of this from Volley Mastery; it's good to review the fundamentals from time to time. Can't wait to get out my ball machine and go through these progressions. I'm one of those players that always uses the same level of grip firmness on all my volleys, so hopefully these drills will help me develop some feel.

[@kevinaanspaugh9443]

Impressive how Ian is performing this lesson right handed.

[@abdullahosmani7140]

hey Ian, I'd like to see some new matches possibly between Mark and somebody else. Please make it happen. Really loved other matches too and the quality. so.. excited for more!

[@tenniselbow74]

Great lesson. I feel that a lot of players grip their racquet too hard on all of their shots. As someone who suffers from lots of elbow pain I typically grip my racquet at around a 4-6 level at all times. It allows the racquet to absorb the shock much more and prevents the shock from being transferred to my joints. It also makes me focus much more on striking the ball cleanly instead of striking the ball hard. I play with a heavy racquet and I let the racquet do the heavy lifting for me. I play with lots of players that are half my age and I see them swinging way too hard and with way too much tension on their grip. Your lessons are always well articulated and easy to follow. Thank you

[@philippelanthier8462]

Good video ! What about footwork on backhand side ? Same thing to time it but with left foot ?

[@michaeljordan3776]

Thanks ian

[@EssentialTennis]

You're very welcome!

[@JiraiyaSama86]

Reminds me how fun it is at times to just kind of letting the ball bounce off the racket. Kind of also partially feels like how to deal with fast balls.

[@EssentialTennis]

Absolutely!

[@joaomattos]

I struggled at the net playing doubles this morning and just got to your video by coincidence. Thanks for your tips, will remember that tomorrow.

[@EssentialTennis]

Hope it's a huge help, Joao!

[@ginnyrust6874]

I’m practicing this tomorrow with ball machine!

[@lizmailymartinez3263]

I always have trouble with control at the net. Thanks a lot Ian 😁

[@EssentialTennis]

Hope this is a huge help!

[@mrajivhere]

Love your videos Ian From India If I had a coach like you 20 years ago I would have chosen tennis as my profession🤔

[@EssentialTennis]

Thank you so much for your support, Rajiv!

[@nicholastanzola488]

Thank you your videos come perfectly timed. Yesterday I had no problem transitioning to the net yet when I was at the net I just blew it

[@EssentialTennis]

Hope this helps a lot!

[@nicholastanzola488]

Yesterday I was able to effectively able to serve and volley. Your drills helped a lot

[@evanc.2382]

Good content. In volleyball, i remember the number one goal was to learn the cushioning of the shot. That applies here. I would add then, that the way to control the cushioning is by using the legs appropriately. Legs should transfer the cushioning energy to upper body to be relaxed (hence smoothness). It is not just how loose the player consciously readies the hand/arm. Legs are key (happy feet+balance).

[@EssentialTennis]

Legs are definitely a big part!

[@pedrogdiniz]

tks for the tips Ian, really need to improve my volleys, it's my worst fundamentals. how is your ankle? you were stepping really good on the volleys.

[@EssentialTennis]

Better! I'm going to post an update video soon. Still not playing yet.

[@lcervantes8505]

@@EssentialTennis Young stud, I've turned both ankles so many times I can touch the bone to the ground and nothing happens. Get to that point and improve your flexibility and range of motion.

[@JoyceNoahVanhoucke]

Thank you for the video!! Question for you - how does volley technique change if you need to cross-step to get to the ball?

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad you enjoyed it, Joyce! Same principles RE hand pressure and use of the body when stepping across.

[@paddlepower888]

Yeah, baby, yeah! Taking this to court!

[@tenniscollaboration4369]

Great Video - you desserve Million views!

[@EssentialTennis]

🙏❤

[@kangspike7408]

This was the most well structured volley instuctional video out of all the tennis channels I've been to. The way they script. Talking fluid at the camera with no blabbering. And the first ever break down that is easy to understand. Thanks for making tennis easy to understand. i Really appreciate it

[@EssentialTennis]

Appreciate the kind words, Kang Min Kim!

[@asbestomolesto]

Amazing! I think if a player can become really acquainted with the body movements and positions ( turn, step in, follow thru), then what's left to manage is just the stiffness of the hand, to choose between a more direct strike or maybe a soft ball or a kind of dropshot. So when I'm at the net I can concentrate only of my hand grip (from 1 to 10, as you say), letting everything else flow naturally, as this is automatic. I hope I said it right, sorry for my english. So, can this simplify our life at the net? Thank you :)

[@stevenborst7780]

Do you flex your arm muscles without tightening your grip at contact? Thanks Steve

[@michaelkelly3476]

Hi Ian, why has the rest of ur tennis courts been covered in big containers? And beside the court your on why does it look messy?? Doubt it is, but just at a glance. Love the video, thank you. I watch all of them 😆

[@someshbandhu358]

How does our backhand progression different from forehand progression in case vollye

[@kuruptgt]

These are some great tips, but what about low volleys between knees and waist height? I always frame the top of the racquet. What should I focus on?

[@EssentialTennis]

All the same things apply! Just more bending involved 🙂

[@evanc.2382]

Those are either block volleys or receive volleys. How do you block a ball? How do you receive a ball? (With your hand). The principle of the "touch" explained by Ian still applies. One just needs to adjust to what the ball lets you do. Footwork is tougher for these though.

[@greg3737]

Do the same ideas (hand to back hip, body rotation, footwork) apply to the backhand volley?

[@EssentialTennis]

Great question, Greg. I'd say 90% of it is the same, difference being more pulling with the dominant shoulder on the backhand volley.

[@jamesm6377]

I am thinking the same approach can be used to "chip" the ball into play when returning serve? Take the pace off and neutralize the point.

[@EssentialTennis]

Yup, absolutely!

[@morecowbell7089]

Impressive how Ian is performing this lesson right handed.

[@EssentialTennis]

Thanks for watching!

[@AlejandroBecerra1]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@pheonixyt9148]

How much does the tennis academy cost?

[@lcervantes8505]

"It's difficult to have a friendly game with a serve & volleyer" - The S&V I played in Central Park.

[@andersonfoscarini48]

Thanks Ian, every fake righty video I see I get more impressed, and on this one 6:08 you're saying "right-foot" while actually moving with your left-foot, damn that's a good teaching effort!

[@EssentialTennis]

😆 Not my first rodeo 😉

[@anrhonywarner1932]

I find that the biggest mistake that my players make is that they have a back swing and their racquet is moving forward to catch up to the ball. The racquet should not move forward until after contact.

[@EssentialTennis]

No forward movement until after contact? I'm definitely not on the same page with you there. Best wishes!

[@tedbauer2799]

What's up with all the storage containers. Is half the facility now a storage warehouse?

[@EssentialTennis]

Used to be 4 tennis courts. Now 1 tennis court and 100+ storage pods.

[@Tlcunha81]

My secret to improving my net game is playing Beach Tennis!!!

[@fsilber330]

That's why I can't understand why Jack Kramer called serve-and-volley tennis "the power game."

[@EssentialTennis]

Coming to the net is the most offensive thing you can do in tennis. Not all attacks are based on overwhelming power and force 😉

[@Doty6String]

My volley is a shit show, I don’t even know if this can help me

[@marcesses4005]

Where’s ur ankle brace homie!?!?

[@jasrajjagdev2850]

Please make a tennis yoga video

[@EssentialTennis]

Here's one for you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5DZZppnhsedn6c

[@Javi_C]

:)

[@EssentialTennis]

🙂

[@ProfessorBoooty]

Ian mirror his nose again.

[@lcervantes8505]

Good video. Different takes on volley. I was taught three different techniques by three different coaches, all accomplished serve and volleyers. I think the simplest is the best.