Nail Those High Volleys

One of the most frustrating experiences you can suffer on court is to foul up a high forehand volley that’s just sitting there waiting to be belted.

The root of the problem usually is that, in your eagerness, you take too long a swing at the ball.

What you should do when a ball comes at you fairly high on your forehand side is to think of hitting it just the way you would hammer a nail above the level of your head.

You don’t have that much time when you’re up at the net. If you rear back and try to smash a high ball, it will probably be almost past you before you can get your racquet around to meet it.

What you’ve got to do is meet the ball out in front of you. You can see the ball better there, and hit it more firmly.

So when a high shot comes toward you at the net, just reach up with your racquet and hit the ball with the same motion you’d use if you were pounding a nail into a wall above the level of your head. Keep your wrist firm and punch the ball in the direction you want it to go. Nail it for a winner.