TennisOne Lessons

The Backhand Volley

Tom Downs

Click photo: Like Rennae Stubbs, Richard Gasquet also has a world class backhand volley. I gathered a lot of information about backhand volleys during my time working with Rennae.

As I stated in my last article about the forehand volley, I gathered a lot of information about volleys during my days of coaching Rennae Stubbs. Rennae has one of the finest backhand volleys in the world, and her overall discipline and dedication towards bettering her volleys was remarkable. Lets take a look at five important things that can help club players of all levels improve their backhand volleys.

The Hitting Structure

Establishing a good hitting structure with the dominant arm is key to having a solid backhand volley. Most club level players at one time or another have practiced the "non-dominant hand behind the back" drill. However, I am convinced that most players of all levels fail to practice it with the discipline required to gain maximum benefit from it.

Click photo: The idea behind this drill is to work on the hitting structure. The unit turn will set the racquet correctly and the angle between the hitting wrist and forearm must stay the same throughout the volley. To get the most out of this drill, it must be done with great discipline.

I often see this drill done incorrectly with players not stepping correctly, not turning properly, not hitting the correct part of the ball for where they want to volley, and not keeping their racquet above their wrist.

The idea of this drill is to make the hitting structure as solid as possible so that the angle between the wrist and forearm stays the same throughout the volley. Unlike the forehand volley, the backhand volley requires a bigger unit turn.

With the non-dominant hand behind your back, turn your shoulders as you pivot your outside foot. Your shoulder turn should place your shoulders parallel to the side fence. Your hitting elbow must stay in close to your body while doing this. Then, hit the outside of the ball if you choose to volley crosscourt or inside of the ball for down the line volleys.

It is important, when doing this drill, to load your weight on your outside leg when you turn and set the racquet, then shift the weight forward as you swing.

Set the Racquet Correctly

One of the best drills for club players to work on setting the racquet correctly is the "stand under the gate" drill. The only difference between doing this drill with the forehand and backhand volley, is that elite level club players can take the racquet back further for a backhand volley. So, if you are an elite level club player, stand slightly further in front of the gate when doing this drill.

Click photo: When taking the racquet back, the hitting arm should not move. The unit turn will set the racquet. The great thing about this drill is that it forces you set the racquet correctly.

The idea of this drill is to work on setting the racquet correctly. As I stated earlier, the unit turn on the backhand volley is bigger than on the forehand volley, so when you turn, the hitting arm and the racquet should not move. Rather, the turn will set the racquet against the fence. Have your playing partner stand a few feet in front of you and toss you a ball. Simply volley back to him after setting the racquet correctly.

The Roles of the Non-Hitting Hand

Rennae would talk about the importance of the non-dominant hand in adjusting the height of the racquet depending on the height of the incoming ball. Rennae is very much a classical one-handed volleyer and a very natural one at that, and I believe her ability to use the non-dominant hand to set the racquet for different types of backhand volleys is a big reason why she was so successful.

In today's pro game, we see players start the forward part of the volley with the non-dominant hand on the racquet, then allow it to come off after the start of the forward part of the volley. Others volley with two hands. The more classical volleyers, like Rennae, take the non dominant hand off at the end of the take back and use it as a counter balance. This means the non-dominant hand goes back towards the back fence. In my opinion, either of these is correct. I believe the best thing to do is to choose the one that is appropriate for you, and find a pro player who does the same thing with the non-dominant hand on their backhand volley. After all, it can never hurt to copy the pro's.

Click photo: Melzer has a traditional backhand volley. His non-dominant hand adjusts his racquet to the height of the ball, and at the end of the backswing, the non-dominant hand will act as a counter balance, meaning it goes back towards the fence behind him.

Click photo: Many WTA tour players use two hands when executing their backhand volleys as Anna Chakvetadze demonstrates here. There are different ways to execute a successful backhand volley. Choose the one that best fits your style of play.

Knuckles Toward the Target

Rennae and other great volleyers always talk about the knuckles of your hitting hand going toward your target on the backhand volley. The idea also is to go and get the ball, rather than wait for the ball to come to you. I see a lot of club players volley  the ball to close to their bodies and even behind their bodies.

It is important to have the mentality that it is you against the ball. Getting your knuckles toward your target will also help you keep your racquet above your wrist and enable the racquet head to drive through the path of the ball, resulting in a more penetrating volley.

Keep Your Elbow In and Arm Bent Before and During Contact

I see a lot of coaches teaching their players to start with both their elbows a long way in front of their bodies in the ready position. This is incorrect, and a huge reason why club players, as well as many elite junior players, have weak volleys. The idea when you volley is to use your whole arm to maximum effect, and on the forward part of the volley, the elbow should extend and be straight at contact. However, your elbow should never be stiff at contact.

Click photo: When Benneteau and other great volleyers approach the net, their hitting elbows are in close to the body and their hands are out in front. When approaching the net, the racquet is slightly pointing toward the backhand volley, as it is much easier and more natural to hit balls coming toward your body with a backhand volley. Also, notice how the arm is fully extended at contact but not stiff.

The correct thing to do is to be in the ready position with the "elbows in."

Keeping your "elbow in" means your hitting arm elbow is bent and in close to the body near your belly button. Also, when in the ready position, make sure your racquet is slightly pointing towards the backhand side, as any volleys that are coming into your body need to be hit with the backhand volley. Doing this makes it easier to get forward momentum going into your volley.

By applying the above techniques to your backhand volley, you will be guaranteed to show improvement with this shot. Obviously, you will not be volleying to the caliber of Rennae Stubbs or other touring pros. However, the idea is to become the best volleyer you can be, and the information mentioned in this article will contribute significantly towards achieving that goal.

 

Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about Tom Downs' article by emailing us here at TennisOne.

Tom Downs

Tom has and extensive coaching background, and has been a member of the Institute team for several years. He has served as our Head Staff Professional, and is currently the Traveling Coach for Institute players. He has traveled with several of our Tour players including Laura Granville and Carly Gullickson, who won the US Open Mixed Doubles title in 2009.

Tom has worked with junior and other professional players, including Sam Stosur and Rennae Stubbs, at all 4 Grand Slam events, as well as other major tournaments around the world. Tom graduated from the University of South Florida in 2005 with a degree in communications. As a successful junior player, Tom represented Australia, and was consistently ranked in the top 10 in all age groups in Australia. He played college tennis at South Carolina State University and was a member of their conference championship team in 2004.