Tennis Volley Lesson - The Foundation of Being A Solid Net Player
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- Опубліковано 2 чер 2019
- www.top-tennis-training.com/
Tennis Volley Lesson - The Foundation of Being A Solid Net Player.
In this video lesson, Coach Simon of Top Tennis Training is going to break down the foundations of becoming a solid net player, someone who finishes off points at the net on a consistent basis and whose opponents fear them coming into the net.
After we released video one we had quite a few comments online from people who were not convinced they could actually win points at the net on a consistent basis. Some of the comments were “No-one comes to the net anymore” and “technology makes it impossible to attack like in past generations”
So I found a few clips from this year’s French Open, now clay is the hardest surface to attack the net on but you’ll see Federer, Djokovic and even Nadal finishing off points at the net.
Now I’m not saying that you should rush the net after every serve or run in blindly all the time, of course you need to pick the right shots to come in on and calculate when is the best time to sneak in, as we see the pros doing here, but it’s having that mindset that will allow you to finish the point at the net. If you’re looking for those chance balls, you’ll find them.
If you’re happy to sit back and grind all day then you won’t be actively looking for those chances.
That’s a major difference here, the mindset.
Pro players are looking to finish points at the net, this is happening against the best counter punchers in the world.
So now we know the importance of getting into the net, let’s discuss the first step to becoming a solid net player.
Foundation.
This means your ready position when you get into the net.
Now that you have the correct grip, you are on the way but we need to have a solid foundation that will allow us to move in any direction and at high speeds.
Remember when you attack the net, you have half the time that you normally have when you’re on the baseline.
So your split step at the net will be slightly different to when you’re on the baseline.
I teach three different types of split steps to my students.
The first one is when they’re deep behind the baseline.
Murray uses this style of split step very often, it’s higher than normal and it’s almost like you’re using the ground as your springboard. I call this one the explosive split step.
The second is when you’re inside the baseline, normally in an aggressive position. Because you’re looking to take the ball on, you don’t want to be jumping too high otherwise you’ll be late on the ball but also the distance you have to cover is reduced.
I call this one the split squat as it tends to be lower and resembles a slight squat in the legs.
The third one is the one we will use at the net.
This tends to be lower and wider than the other two.
We use this at the net because we have less time so we don’t want to use a high split step otherwise we’ll be late but we also want to have our centre of gravity lower so that changing direction becomes easier.
At the net, our main concern is getting passed on either side or being lobbed.
So we need a ready position that will give us the best possible chance to cover all three of those shots.
This wider and lower stance gives us that.
Now, why exactly do we use a split step in tennis in the first place?
It’s very simple, tennis is a multi-directional sport, meaning that we have to move in any direction. On any given shot we might have to move forward, backwards, to either our right or left sides and anything and everything between all of those.
The split step allows us to be in that balanced position where we can move off into any direction but it also allows us to use explosive energy from our leg muscles to push off into the direction of the shot. It acts as a launch pad to the ball.
So the first two steps in becoming a better net player are to use the correct grip when at the net and to use a wide, athletic stance in our ready position and split step.
In 2017/18 over 5000 matches were analysed. These matches were at ATP, WTA, college and advanced USTA level.
The data showed that the average match winner won around 55% of total points in the match.
Which means that on average, the winner still lost around 45% of total points in the match they ended up winning.
Where it gets very interesting is that 85% of points are over in 8 shots or less, 4 shots per player. In that 85 % of points, if the player stayed on the baseline they’d win on average 46% of the points, 9% under that 55% average needed to win most matches at these levels.
Whereas if they attacked the net during those 8 shots, it could be a Serve and volley, it could be a chip and charge off a return, maybe attacking a mid-court ball, they ended up winning on average 66% of points. 11% over the 55% needed to win.
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Quality knowledge & insights as always. One thing to consider when presenting lots of stats and numbers like in the previous video is that it might be easier to digest for the viewer if there were some sort of visualisation or infographic. I know this would be extra work but something to think about for the future! Keep it up 👏
A very good and valid point mate.
Thanks for watching.
All the best
Simon
Great information many players surely doesn’t have this knowledge understanding about what are percentage involves in the game. Definitely I will share it with the new players coming on board.😋😋😋👍👍👍
Thank you for watching.
Any videos you'd like to see from us in the near future?
Simon
Thanks for awesome vids
Thanks for watching Byeon!
All the best
Simon
This is a very good video. I remember that during my progression I reached a plateau. I was a very consistent baseline player and won lots of matches. 14-2 at #1 singles. However I lost a big match at the City tournament to our long time champion. I actually had stronger ground strokes but he beat me by coming into the net. He was able to employ alternate strategies. I decided to take volley lessons with a top teacher in our area. I took lesson every week all summer. I practiced what I learned every in drill and practice sets and matches. It took two seasons and a few losses but iI improved my rating and became a solid all court player. I took my solid ground strokes and developed them into solid approach shots attacking short balls and coming into finish the point frequently. I played in my local league but USTA tournaments at 4.5 and 5.0 really brought my skills up. Eventually I became a PTA certified Professional. Actually as I got older my volley skills helped me as a 60 year old doubles player. Once you learn the proper skills to volley it lots of fun to put pressure on opponents. You will be surprised how often they make errors or give you easy shots to volley if you actually have the skills
Thanks for sharing your experience, sounds like the net game transformation really brought you up a few levels
Excellent
Thanks for watching Roger.
All the best
Simon
I like to hang to hang out on baseline, but after watching your last video, tonight, I came in ever chance I got knowing I would lose 45% of those points, so I didn’t worry about putting them wide, in the net, long etc. It totally messed up my opponents rhythm and I won 6,2 6,2. Thanks!
Great job Matt! Well done for applying our tips.
Keep it up and you'll get even better at it.
You'll just need to find some new "victims" to do it on haha
All the best
Simon
Great video. Those stats really give a great perspective on it. I’m currently working on being more aggressive at the net:)
Thanks for watching
Are there any lessons you would like to see in the near future?
All the best
Simon
Top Tennis Training - Pro Tennis Lessons Hmmm I’m currently focusing on trying to more successfully poach and to increase my racquet head speed (in both my forehand and backhand). If you have videos about that already I’ll def check them out. Thnx:)
Thanks!
Many thanks for the support 🙏
For years I was afraid of the net. At first it cam be intense. I would say - lose the fear. Second - accept that you will lose alot of points - watch the vintage matches from the 80's - even excellent net players like McEnroe would lose 40% of the net points in a match - and yet still win. You don't have to win all the net points. I get no greater satisfaction on teh court than winning a net point because I avoided it for years - I even serve and volley - get passed often - but it is a huge thrill when I get it right - so net play can be a blast - so give it a try!
Thank you for watching.
Any videos you'd like to see from us in the near future?
Simon
Hi where is video 3? Thank you !!!
Awsome
Thanks for watching
All the best
Simon
I'm a mechanic, and somehow, I'm interested and love this stuff?!?!!
Thanks for watching Kevin!
All the best
Simon
Love the video, but my net game is horrible :((((((( One day you'll see me up there ;)
Thanks for watching
Any videos you would like to see from us in the near future?
All the best
Simon
Thanks guys, men lie, women lie...numbers don't lie. ✌🎾
Thanks for watching Nicodemus.
All the best
Simon
Hello
Hi
You reference a previous video with no link. This is very irritating!
The link to lesson one is under this video. But here you go - www.top-tennis-training.com/volley-blueprint-video-1/