Nobody Tries This Shot
One of the members in my online academy recently asked a great question.
He said he struggles with those “easy” short balls that land around the middle of the court. He never knows what shot to hit.
I actually found that interesting because I don’t think this shot is easy at all.
Most players think the goal is simply to hit a winner. I see it differently.
Whenever you get a short ball, you have two objectives:
Hurt your opponent.
Get yourself into a great volley position.
The type of shot you choose depends on the height of the ball.
If the ball sits above the net, you can usually attack with pace and depth. Drive it aggressively and force your opponent onto defense.
But if the ball is below net height, I believe the slice is often the highest percentage option.
This is where I see players make the same mistake over and over.
They shovel the slice deep, sending it right back to where their opponent is already standing. The opponent stays comfortable, steps into the passing shot, and suddenly you’re playing a very difficult first volley.
Instead, try hitting a shorter slice.
A good visual is to imagine the ball bouncing a second time around the three quarter court mark instead of near the baseline.
That shorter, lower slice forces your opponent to move forward and lift the ball. Now they’re hitting up instead of through the ball, which gives you a much easier first volley.
The goal isn’t to hit the perfect approach shot.
The goal is to create an easier volley.
It’s a subtle adjustment, but it completely changes how your opponent has to respond.
I actually filmed a YouTube video breaking this down with examples, so if you’ve ever struggled with these “easy” short balls, I think it’ll completely change how you see this shot.
P.S. Want personalized coaching? Join my online academy and send me unlimited videos of your matches for 1-on-1 feedback. Start with a free 7-day trial, then get an entire month of coaching for less than the cost of a single private lesson.