The Forehand Volley

by Corky Cramer

It may be technically simple, but a good forehand volley is one of the most difficult shots for any player to master.

Most teaching pros agree that, technically speaking, the volley is the simplest shot of all. Yet for so many students, it is the most difficult part of the game to master.

Obviously, different players have their own approaches to learning the game. Some tend to learn logically or geometrically, while others excel through visual imagery and rhythms.

No matter what the learning style, however, the approach to teaching the volley should be based on the actual underlying reality of the stroke.

Thanks to the advent of digital photography we are able to examine that reality more closely. This sheds new light on some key concepts, and challenges some of the most common descriptions used in teaching the volley.

The Punch

For decades coaches around the world have been trying their best to get students to hit the ball out front and “punch” their volleys. “Punch the volley” is a prime example of how teaching language can mislead us when it does not conform to reality. If you have achieved a punching motion I can assure you that you are still trying to find that elusive volley.

I believe when we send our brain a message, we then try to follow that message. This is why semantics are so important in teaching. As the animation with the boxing glove demonstrates, an actual punching motion bears very little or no resemblance to a good forehand volley.

The initial movement of a punch comes from pulling the arm back, similar to drawing a bow, and at the same time, loading up energy on the back foot. No doubt this will generate power in delivering a blow.

Have you been punching yourself silly trying to hit forehand volleys? That’s because “punching” is the wrong message to send your brain!

But note what actually happens with the punch. The hand leads the motion with the knuckles and the thumb on top. As the punch is delivered, the knuckles continue forward, so the follow through is across the body and down.

If you were to put a racquet in your hand and simulate this action, you would see the racquet face turn totally downward, making it impossible to get the ball over the net!

In all fairness to my fellow pros I¹m sure this is not the action they are trying to have you develop so please stop trying or you¹ll punch yourself silly!

Give Yourself a Hand

Now that we know the volley is NOT A PUNCH, what actions can we most liken it to? Sit back and give yourself a round of applause if you came up with a clapping motion.

Contrary to popular belief (and the punching analogy), the hands do not extend away from the body toward the ball on a good forehand volley. Rather the hands move from the outside in. They start outside the width of the body and move back towards to center--very much like a clapping motion.

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