TennisOne Lessons

Scenario

There are many ways to play this game, and many situations that occur. Offense, defense, lobs, drop shots, overheads, running gets, return of serve. But, perhaps the most challenging shot is the half volley. The half volley occurs generally in the midcourt area because you have either chosen to move toward the net, or your opponent has drawn you forward.

Many players immediately assume that half volley errors are caused by poor court positioning, blaming the mistake on “no man's land.” However, if you are moving to the net, the opponent is actually trying to get it at your feet, and if so, then it is up to you to make this shot, stay in the point, and look to finish off the next shot.

Up Errors

The ball is rebounding UP into your racquet, let me say it again. The ball is rebounding UP into your racquet. Were your racquet simply a wall, this UP ball would rebound UP off the wall. Generally, players lift the half volley and float the ball long as their UP swing doubled the effect of the UP ball.

Down Errors

When playing the ball below the net, and in the midcourt, there is less room to get the ball up and down (golfers term here), that is up over the net and then down and into the court. Down errors occur when the player has closed the face over the ball.

Solution

There are a few simple keys here. First try and physically stay down during contact. The ball is low, so bend your knees and get down to the ball - not bending at the waist, but always bending at the knees.

Play the ball out in front. The volley, the groundstroke, the serve, all shots are played out in front, and the half volley is no exception.

Stroke the ball firmly, with minimum backswing and minimum follow through. Ideally, prepare the racquet at the height of your intended contact point, and finish at the height of contact – this level or horizontal stroke will “shoot” the ball low and over the net (remember the effect of the UP bounding ball).

Practice

Positioned between the service line and the baseline (no man's land), start by bouncing the ball in front of you while trying to half volley it over the net. Get a feel of staying low and bumping the ball on the short hop.

Set the ball machine to shoot balls that bounce just past the service line. Position yourself a few feet back from the bounce, so you can take the ball on the short hop. Then review the keys - “Stay low – play the ball in front – stroke firmly – with a level hitting action”

David Wheaton played thirteen years on the Tour and achieved a career high world ranking of number 12 in 1991.  He won the largest prize money event in tennis--the Grand Slam Cup--in Munich in 1991. He also had his best career results in the Grand Slam events reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon and the quarterfinals of both the U.S. and Australian Opens. 

David also represented his country in Davis Cup competition. In all, David won three singles and three doubles tournaments and earned more than $5 million in prize money.