TennisOne Lessons

Volleying the High Floater

By Monty Basnyat, TennisONE Associate Editor

Question

Is there a way to hit a high floater with pace and control? I seem to hit them long or into the net.

Answer

Click here to see animation of volleying the high floater.

Hitting the high floater, while looking like an easy put-away, can be a nightmare-- especially if you're moving forward towards the net. The first problem with the high floater is the obvious one of no pace: you have to generate all the pace to make an effective shot. Secondly, the classic floater comes across at head height, making it too low for an overhead smash and too high to play it as a normal volley.

To volley the high floater with pace and control, you must do two things: put spin on the ball and change your point of contact on the volley.

Spin for Control

No matter what stroke you are hitting in tennis, the best way to control the ball is by using spin. Whether you use sidespin, topspin or underspin, spin is the key to good control. All volleys, including volleying the high floater, are best hit with some degree of underspin to control the point of contact and to send low-bouncing, hard-to-pass balls back to your opponent. The best way to hit your volleys with the proper underspin is with the continental grip, as show above. A western grip closes the face of the racquet, making it difficult to hit low volleys effectively. An eastern grip opens the racquet face too much, making it difficult to hit hard, penetrating volleys. In addition, unlike the western or eastern grips, the continental grip allows you go execute the forehand and backhand volley with the same grip. This is critical because when you're volleying, you often don't have time to change grips.

Point of Contact

Take note at the frame above in which I am executing a normal or an "ideal" volley. Take a close look at two things: the point of contact and the height of the ball in which I am hitting the volley. The point of contact of the ball is just a bit out in front of my right shoulder and roughly even with my right knee. The height of the ball is about shoulder level. Now take a look at a series of photos on hitting the high floater and compare the difference on the point of contact and the height at which I am forced to volley from.

As I am moving forward notice my racquet. It's up and ready for anything my opponent might throw at me. Also take note of the middle frame. I have just hit the split step right before my opponent connects which means I will be in good balance to move towards the direction of the ball.

Here, I have recognized that my opponent has sent a floater to my forehand. Notice how far my racquet goes back compared to a normal volley. On a normal volley, the racquet should not go back more than the shoulder of your playing hand. However, when hitting the high floater, the racquet goes back and past the shoulder, enabling you to develop more racquet head speed and drive the floater with more space. Note the racquet facing up towards the sky, indicating you're going to hit the ball with underspin, which adds control to your power shot.

Take note on the first frame how I am leading with the wrist and the bottom edge of the racquet (racquet tip slightly back) as I am swinging to make connection. In the last frame notice how my racquet finishes, slightly open. Which means I used a little bit of wrist to cup the ball and impart that slight underspin for a controlled winner.

However, the second frame is the most important frame of the lesson.

Remember the normal or the "ideal" volley? What were the two most important things I asked you to remember? Answer: spin and point of contact. Compare the two pictures. The point of contact when volleying the high floater is slightly back compared to the normal or the "ideal" volley. You can really see it by how my right leg actually steps ahead of the ball as I make connection. The height at which I should make the connection is slightly above my head. This ensures that I am catching the ball before it starts dipping below the net.

Click here to see animation of volleying the high floater.

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