Volley boasting is a great way to throw off an opponent, preventing the ball from dying in their back corner and forcing a weak return from them. When executed correctly it can force your opponent out of position and force him or her into making poor returns that can turn your advantage against them.
Hitting these volleys correctly is vital as this shot forms the basis for all subsequent ones. An error many players make when hitting this shot is raising their arm too high when making contact.
The Grip
Backhand volleys can be one of the hardest shots to execute consistently in squash. This is due to them requiring players to move into the centre of the court, leaving their opponent two possible angles from which they may respond and hitting tight against the front wall; otherwise it will either land short or pass over the net. To improve volley playability players should practice hitting different weighted shots from various parts of the court and aim for unpredictable delivery that makes their opponent hard-pressed to anticipate what kind of shot will come their way. To develop this skill further they should practice hitting different weighted shots from various areas around court with various weighted shots that confuse their opponent while trying to prevent them predicting what kind of shot will come their way and making their predictions hard work! To master this shot practice hitting different weighted shot from different areas to confuse their opponents making difficult their predictions about what type of shot will come your opponent’s expectations about what kind of shot to expect and make yours yours! To improve your volley try practicing different weighted shots from different parts of court so your opponent cannot predict what type of shot may come their way – hopefully making their predictions difficult! To improve it practice with different weights from different areas as playing from different areas to increase chances. It makes unpredictable. To enhance one’s own volley players should practice hitting different weighted shots from different areas to confuse your opponents’s expected and create surprises! To improve it more players should aim. To create confusion amongst – goal hard to guess!
An ideal grip on the racquet is essential for every shot, particularly the volley. Therefore, using a continental grip allowing fingers to spread out is vitally important to achieve power on every stroke. Furthermore, players should keep the head as low as possible in preparation as this will increase power on each shot and add momentum behind their shots. It is also crucial that players remember that volley is an attacking shot so taking too long may delay its timing and cause delays to their timing.
Once players are in place to prepare a volley they should turn their hips and shoulders inward to allow closer proximity to the net and improve effectiveness when hitting their volleys. Volleying requires quick reactions times; therefore preparation should be quick and efficient.
Players should try to avoid turning their feet, as doing so would force them into taking a backswing that will limit their ability to get the ball in position for volleying. Quick footwork into defensive position will enable players to quickly control their backswing. Also important: do not take too far back with their volley!
The Backswing
To be able to play an effective backhand volley, it requires having an excellent backswing and follow through. Your initial backswing should be short and compact in order to allow for minimal forward movement in contact with the ball. While in your follow through phase of volleying, keep your racket face open throughout so as to maintain control and stop drops out of court.
At the outset of any volley preparation phase, the player should face their hips toward the net with their hips oriented in this manner – an essential aspect of any good volley move! Furthermore, as part of this movement they should begin shifting their weight toward their intended side for that volley to provide more stable balance throughout their stroke.
Preparing to make a backhand volley requires hitting the ball at their chest in order to maintain balance while hitting their shot and prevent it from flying wide of their body or over the net. They should also ensure their shoulders are at appropriate angles during this volley; not swinging at it with their elbow.
Once players have shifted their weight towards the target and are prepared to contact the ball, they should begin preparations for their volley by performing a “ready-hop” with one foot. This step ensures they will remain balanced during their stroke and maintain a closed stance throughout.
Players preparing to hit a volley should keep their knees slightly bent, arms extended in a straighter posture than when hitting groundstrokes, and arms in a circular motion to meet the ball in what is known as the Volley Preparation Step. Do this smoothly and with control for the best results.
The Follow Through
Follow through is one of the cornerstones of an excellent backhand volley, as it enables players to contact with the ball cleanly and effectively, and use more shots when playing volleys.
Balance is key when it comes to hitting an effective follow through shot, as players should always aim to strike with their highest point of swing when hitting the ball with their follow through shot. Otherwise, it becomes impossible to control their shot properly and thus won’t hit its intended mark.
Maintaining the appropriate body position following contact is equally as essential. Players should avoid trying to snare at the ball with their arm; rather, they should aim to accelerate their racket after contact for maximum power generation with minimal effort. This will enable players to generate maximum force with minimum effort required.
One common misstep many players make with their volleys is holding their racket too high, which can reduce power and accuracy. To prevent this mistake from occurring, keep your racket low as you hit the ball.
Another frequent mistake with volleys is taking too big of a step forward, which can prove counterproductive and cause them to lose control of the shot. To prevent this from occurring, players should take only small steps forward while keeping weight balanced on both feet at once.
Final point to keep in mind when playing backhand volley is its precision nature. Stay light on your feet and use proper technique even when tired; top players often rely on this ability to volley, even when exhausted, as this allows them to execute accurate shots instead of trying to hit every ball with maximum force.
Backhand volleys are an integral component of every squash game and can be used both offensively and defensively to score points. Practice is key when perfecting this shot – try different grips, stances and swings until you find what works for you!
The Arm Position
When hitting a backhand volley it is essential that both wrist and arm remain flexed throughout contact with the ball, in order to absorb some of its impact through your wrist and create greater depth on your volley. Roger Federer uses this strategy frequently – his wrist remains flexed at contact giving him extra power on his volleys!
One important consideration when hitting a volley is keeping the racquet head closer to your eyes during contact. Many players allow it to stray off course during contact, leading them to hit “floating” volleys that fall below net height.
One way to increase the power of your volleys is by gently curving your elbow upon contact with the ball. By doing so, it allows for increased swing strength as well as harder volleys as it becomes easier to swing your racquet faster.
If you are new to tennis and lack the strength for fast backhand volley swings, try practicing two-handed backhand volley. This technique will get closer to the net without having to sacrifice too much reach; and still offer opportunities for all sorts of volleys.
Once you have practiced and mastered the two-handed backhand volley, then it is time to expand your repertoire by learning one handed backhand volley as well as variations such as drop, lob, etc. Remember that all these volleys should be executed quickly with minimal effort so as to not waste valuable time recovering from mistakes or becoming tired during matches. By practicing and honing this volley consistently you should soon be hitting powerful yet precise backhand volleys with great results! Good luck!