Being comfortable at the net can open up many strategic possibilities in tennis. On this episode of Essential Tennis Podcast, Ian presents four cooperative drills and three competitive ones designed to strengthen net play.
Target Practice – Target Practice helps players hone their accuracy by shooting at different targets on the court (cones or hula hoops). In addition, coaches call out various patterns.
1. Backhand to Forehand Volley Drill
Most players struggle with hitting backhand volleys consistently, often because they lack the footwork required to hit one properly. With this tennis drill you will work on developing footwork necessary for hitting an effective backhand volley from the net before practicing hitting short balls off it to build confidence with this form of volleying.
For this drill you’ll need a partner. One will stand on the baseline while the other stands at the net; when feeding short balls in front of the service line to their partner at the net, that person then moves forward and volleys it over onto the other side, before returning it for more shots to their partner at the net and so forth until all shots have been executed successfully. This drill provides excellent practice in timing as well as footwork when it comes to volleying over.
A challenging yet fun drill designed to build confidence in volleying and improve speedy transition to the net, this exercise requires patience from both players.
There are various variations you can add to this drill to keep yourself engaged and challenged. Try switching things up by using different height balls or including slice backhand shots into the mix for added difficulty and change up where your shots come from as well!
Being comfortable at the net can open up a world of opportunities in your game. Ian Westermann shares four cooperative tennis drills to help you become a better net player – listen below!
2. Backhand to Backhand Volley Drill
Sometimes tennis players miss their backhand volley because they get too close to the net, an issue which is easily rectifiable with specific drills. The goal of these drills is to increase your ability to volley from further back while still maintaining strong positions at the net; to do this effectively place two cones approximately 6-8 feet apart in front of them and practice various volleys from this distance with changes in pace, spin and height of each volley practiced as an added challenge for yourself.
Once players have developed a solid backhand to backhand volley, they should then work on hitting it over the net. There are various approaches for doing this but one effective approach would be having a coach stand in front of a player and feed short shots over. When ready, players should volley the ball over while making sure their racquet is set correctly and working on quick unit turns while keeping their racquet head close to their body.
Another effective volley drill involves having a partner stand just in front of the player, and hit a backhand approach shot over the net. Once hit, they should volley back and try to hit over it a certain number of times in a set amount of time – this number can be adjusted according to level or player preference.
Players looking for a more competitive drill should try playing mini-tennis or other team games which allow them to work on their volleys within an actual point situation, like “Clean the Court”, which challenges players to throw over as many balls over the net as they can in a set amount of time – this drill is perfect for younger players as it helps develop speed and dynamic balance.
3. Backhand to Backhand Volley Drill
To successfully use the net, players need to volley deep and effectively, often including having an equally potent backhand volley as their forehand volley. Achieving this allows players to be more offensive at the net as it takes away time from opponents allowing them to win more points overall.
For improving backhand volley, try this drill: have your partner stand a few feet in front of you and toss you a ball, and simply volley it back towards them. Be sure to set your racquet correctly; when hitting, your elbow should be up in front of your mid section allowing power and accuracy, plus giving a good feel for each shot.
An excellent backhand drill involves simply volleying to different parts of the court with various partners, helping players develop depth and speed variations when it comes to their volleys – something essential in match play. Have your partner stand in the deuce box, then toss the ball directly back at you from baseline; after which, volley back towards them before sending backward.
Experienced players should experiment with different depths when hitting backhand volleys with their backhand volleys, such as hitting it from the middle of the service line and moving it up or down for different depths. This will allow them to better control the depth of their volleys while also becoming more effective at the net.
These tennis drills can help improve net play. Be sure to give these a try during your next lesson to see if they help yourself or your students improve their net game. By making the effort and performing these drills, you will soon become a more proficient net player!
4. Backhand to Backhand Volley Drill
Players who struggle with hitting backhand volleys may benefit from this drill, designed to build their ability. Beginning on the baseline and hitting ground strokes to their partner at the net, this player will then volley the ball back, trying their hardest to hit as high a shot while staying balanced; doing this helps build their confidence at the net and get comfortable volleying balls back at them! This exercise helps build both skill and confidence at hitting a backhand volley!
An effective way to sharpen your backhand volley is through practicing footwork and weight shift timing. This aspect of any volley is especially challenging for new players to master; when an opponent hits an aggressive ball directly at you, step forward quickly and accept your partner’s volley with your backfoot; this will give you greater control of the ball without forcing a backhand topspin volley back at them.
Moving up to the net and hitting solid forehand or backhand volleys can open up many tactical opportunities in your game, particularly if your shots are weaker than that of your opponent; by attacking more often from this position you may be able to exploit their weakness and score more points by getting nearer the net and attacking from within your position.
As part of your goal to enhance your singles or doubles net game, having solid volleys is paramount to success. By practicing various scenarios through these tennis drills, you can add more excitement to each match you enter! For further insight on improving your tennis game, subscribe to The Essential Tennis Podcast which features top professional tennis players sharing advice for aspiring players. You can find it both iTunes and SoundCloud.