Problem: Often hitting volleys wide.
Repairs:
- Don't aim too close to the lines. Leave a couple of feet of safety margin.
- Remember that if the ball angles into the plane of your racquet face from the left, it will naturally angle off your racquet to the right. If you aim near the right sideline without compensating for this effect, you'll hit wide. To compensate, you would aim somewhat left of where you want the ball to go. The more forward velocity you give the ball, the less its incoming angle will effect the angle at which it leaves your strings, so hitting through your volley firmly will make the ball's lateral direction stay closer to that of your racquet's forward path.
- Reaching back for the ball will often make you hit wide on the side toward which you're reaching. In other words, backhands will go wide left and forehands wide right.
Repairs:
- Make sure you're coming in on an approach shot or serve that does not give your opponent a chance to set up comfortably for the passing shot.
- Cut off angles by moving diagonally forward.
- Don't forget to do a split-step just as your opponent starts to swing. You want to be bouncing off your toes just as you see the ball coming off your opponent's racquet.
- Remember to shift your position at net so that you're in the middle of the angles your opponent might hit into your court. This means that you will shift toward the same side of the court from which your opponent is hitting.
- If you hit approach shots down the line rather than cross-court, you'll have much less distance to move to get to the proper court position for your volley.
Repairs:
- Try to make contact as close to the net as possible. Everything will be easier. Note that this doesn't mean you should park up against the net before your opponent hits the ball. If you start too close, you'll get lobbed. Instead, move forward to meet the ball while it's on its way.
- Remember that less is more on volleys. Big swings cause errors.
- To make yourself see the ball better, try to keep looking at the spot where you met the ball for a split second after it's gone.
If you have a volley problem I didn't address here, direct a message to me (abtennis) at our tennis forum. I'll answer you promptly.
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