How To Practice Volley And Smash
Master the volley and smash - here you get our step by step guide to what it takes to play brilliant tennis! Improve your net game in tennis by practicing the volley and smash.
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Step 1:
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Practice the Shots
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A good simple practice drill to start with involves playing each shot in turn.
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Start by the net and take three steps back to reach your ideal practice position.
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With your coach or training partner playing you the balls, hit a forehand volley, touch the net softly with your racquet and move back for a forehand smash.
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Return to your starting position to play a backhand volley, touch the net and then smash the ball again.
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Repeat the whole sequence ten times.
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Prepare to play the smash with your racquet behind your neck, and racquet, right elbow and left arm all pointing at the ball.
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Step 2:
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Harder Work
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When you are ready to up the pace a little, play one forehand volley, one backhand volley, touch the net softly and then hit a smash.
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Again, repeat the whole exercise ten times.
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Step 3:
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Very Hard Work
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For a still more demanding sequence, play the forehand volley, backhand volley, touch the net, smash, touch the net and hit a second smash, repeating the whole thing ten times.
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Step 4:
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Concentrated Smashing
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A final drill is to play runs of only smashes, building up from one to five.
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Start by hitting one full-blooded smash, as if trying to win the point.
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Next step up to two. In the first shot, emphasise control and accurate technique. In the second, emphasise power and speed.
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Then hit two controlled followed by one winning smash, then three controlled smashes and one winner, and finally four with control, topped off with your most devastating smash.
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If at any point you miss a shot, go back to one and start the sequence again.
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You can use cones to mark the places in the opposite court where it is most difficult for your opponent to reach a smash, and aim for them every time you go for a winner.
