ITF Coaches Education Programme - UCLM · • Most important for volleys and net shots • Lasts for only the split second your body is falling through the air • Quickly decreasing

Coach Education Series Copyright © ITF 2007

Biomechanics of the volley

ITF Coaches Education Programme

Original article: Roetert, E. P. & Groppel, J.L. (2001). ITF CSSR, 24, 10-11


IntroductionThe volley and the modern game

• Significant changes in the way tennis is played over the past 30 years

• Racket technology responsible for players hitting harder and with more open stances

• Serves hit at 130 miles per hour


IntroductionThe volley and the modern game

• Groundstrokes used as major weapons• Most tournaments played on hard- or clay

court surfaces• Grass court surfaces are becoming more rare


The volley Introduction

• So where does that leave the net game, and specifically the volley?

• The volley: – Typically played at or near the net – Contact is made before the ball bounces on your

side of the net.


The volley Preparation

• Less time to prepare for the volley

• Proper preparation is crucial for the volley

• Poor preparation leads to poor mechanics


The volley Preparation

• Experienced players: – Learn to anticipate – Become aware of the opponent’s options – Reduce the number of options opponents

have from five or six to two or three


The volley Cues to help proper anticipation

1. Your opponent’s patterns and tendencies,2. Cues from his strokes, 3. His court positioning, and 4. Proper perception of spin and trajectory.

“Anticipation mostly comes from the experience of playing many matches”

Saviano (2000)


The volley Response time

• Advantage at the net• Important to reach a passing shot at the net

or in a volleying duel in doubles• Combination of reaction time and movement

time



• Reaction time: Time it takes for your brain to process the information about what type of shot is being hit and send a message to the muscles to prepare for either a forehand or backhand volley



• Movement time: Actual time spent moving into position for the correct volley



• Use a split step to improve the response time in preparation for the volley…

• Why?…• It is slower to overcome inertia from a

stationary position


The volley Footwork preparation

• Too many players practice the volley in a static situation

• It is important to: – Practice the volley in dynamic situations– Timing the split step – Focusing on balance as soon and as much as

possible


The volley The split-step

• Why?– Establish a base of support – Move in the fastest and most balanced way

• When to do it?– Beginners: As the opponent initiates the forward

swing – Advanced: The instant just after the opponent’s

impact


The volley The split-step

• Time the split step: – Get to the net as quickly as possible, – Allow the brains to have enough time to process

the impact and – Give the signal to move toward the volley position.


The volley The technique of the split-step

• Feet should be about shoulder width apart, weight on the balls of the feet, upper body leaning slightly forward

• The racket should be kept out in front of the body


The volley The technique of the split-step

• Quickly bend the knees to get on balance and prepared to move in any direction

• The pre-stretch of specifically the quadriceps and calf (gastrocnemius and soleus) muscles helps store elastic energy to allow explosive movement upon landing


The volley Unweighting

• Most important for volleys and net shots• Lasts for only the split second your body is

falling through the air• Quickly decreasing and increasing the force

against the ground, • Get balanced and then explode to the next

shot in any direction as quickly and forcefully as possible


The volley Swing Mechanics: Grips

• Can be played with either a continental or eastern grip

• Top level players generally use a continental grip for both forehand and backhand volleys


The volley Swing Mechanics: Grips

• Eastern grip necessitates a grip change from forehand to backhand side which is somewhat more time consuming, although sufficient time is available


The volley Swing Mechanics: Backswing

• Abbreviated: – For most punch volleys

• Short: – For second volleys (hitting an angle)


The volley Swing Mechanics: Backswing

• Long: – Racket beyond the shoulder in the of both

forehand and backhand. – Hit at the service line– More specific to the 1st volley following a

serve– Keeping the ball deep in the opponent’s

court.


The volley Swing Mechanics: Energy sources

• Transfer of weight (step):– On lower volleys the weight transfer step usually

occurs before contact, – On higher volleys the step occurs after contact– Does not have to be completed before contact

with the ball is made– If the landing of the step occurs at exactly the

same time as ball contact, accuracy of the shot may be compromised (the step may cause the racket head to drop)


The volley Swing Mechanics: Energy sources

• Ground reaction forces: – Lateral movement by leaning sideward when ball

velocity was low and by a vigorous push-off of the contra lateral foot when ball velocity was high.

• Do not synchronize the hands and feet when contacting the ball


The volley Swing Mechanics: Forward swing

• The forward swing involves a weight transfer• Initiated by the soleus, gastrocnemius,

quadriceps and gluteals• Volleys typically utilise some trunk rotation

(oblique and spinal erectors) although the backhand volley involves less trunk rotation


The volley Swing Mechanics: Forehand forward

swing• Anterior deltoid, • Pectorals, • Shoulder internal rotators, • Elbow flexors (biceps) and • Serratus anterior muscles in a concentric

(shortening) fashion


The volley Swing Mechanics: Backhand forward

swing

• Rhomboids and middle trapezius, • Posterior and middle deltoid, • Shoulder external rotators, • Triceps and • Serratus anterior, also concentrically


The volley Impact

• Racket head slightly open at contact• Rotation of the upper limb laid the racket

more open on the backhand • Players should be careful not to dish the ball

when volleying


The volley Impact

• Players who “dish” the ball: – Employ no racket head rotation prior to ball

contact – Is usually a reaction to the impact; it is not

a purposeful movement.


The volley Follow through

• The opposing muscle groups for each stroke contract eccentrically (lengthening action) in the follow-through

Documents

ITF Coaches Education Programme - UCLM · • Most important for volleys and net shots • Lasts for only the split second your body is falling through the air • Quickly decreasing