Mastering The Forehand Volley - 3 Easy Steps

The volley is an extremely crucial shot in tennis. It is hit at the net and is used to return the ball with more pace, as well as in more strategical places on the court. Unlike other the other shots, serves, ground shots, and overheads, the volley does not require a swing. Instead, one "steps into the shot" to gain momentum and power. In order to hit a volley successfully, one must have the correct form. 

1. The Grip: Similar to the serve, the volley requires "Continental Grip." This means that you are, in a sense, "shaking hands" with the racket, because your hand is angled the same as the racket. 

2. The Stance: Hold the racket out in front of your body with a tight, firm wrist. Keeping strength in your hand in wrist will ensure a clean shot. Make sure to keep the racket about face-height and avoid angling it too far back or too far forward.

                                             

                                              

3. The Step: For any volley, forehand or backhand, you step with the opposite foot. In this case (forehand), you step with your left foot if you are right-handed, and your right foot if you are left-handed. This will give you more momentum, and therefore, more power.

  

Extra Tips: When volleying, everything moves much faster because you are closer to the net, therefore closer to the ball after the opponent hits it. This means that you must be quick on your feet and be ready to move even before the opponent hits the ball. Preparation is key. Also, be sure to attempt to strategically aim the ball to the corners of the court, or anywhere where it seems the opponent will have a hard time reaching.

Works Cited:

Gotennis100. "Tennis Tip Volley - Super Slow Motion." YouTube. YouTube, 01 Sept. 2010. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Lpth. "Is My Coach Teaching Forehand Volleys Incorrectly? - Page 3 - Talk Tennis."Talk Tennis RSS. Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

 Waite, Ron. "Tennis Server - Turbo Tennis - The Grip: Picture Perfect." Tennis Server - Turbo Tennis - The Grip: Picture Perfect. Tennis Server, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

William. "One Minute Tennis Lesson." One Minute Tennis Lesson. WordPress, 5 Jan. 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

NBL Girls' Tennis Doubles Tournament

Hi everyone! For me, this past week has been filled with much excitement and many memories. I was chosen to participate in the North Bay League Girls' Tennis Doubles Tournament with the number one singles player on my team. Since the two of us normally play singles, we knew it would be a bit of a challenge to transition into the "doubles" state of mind. We quickly learned the main doubles strategy of  "attacking the net," and were able to prepare well for the competition. On Wednesday, October 30th, we played two matches. The first was against Ukiah. Although it took us a few games to get the hang of playing together, we were able to defeat the other team by using the net to our advantage. The second match was against Casa Grande, and we used the same strategy of "coming to the net," as we did against Ukiah. From the net, we could hit volleys and overheads and win some quick points. As we played more and more with each other, we were able to communicate effortlessly and take another win. The next day, October 31, we fought for our place in the final. Our opponents were a singles player and a doubles player from Cardinal Newman. After losing the first set, 3-6, we realized that we would have to step-up our game in order to make it to the final. We encouraged each other and played smart, using more strategy than in our other two matches. Soon enough, we were able to win the second set, 6-4. During the break, we talked, and my partner told me that she knew we could win, and from then on, we played our hearts out. Two hours and 30 minutes later, we had won the match, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, and were moving on to the final championship. In that moment, I knew that no matter how the final went, I was proud of how far we'd come. We were to play Santa Rosa's one and two singles players. As the match began, we kept our spirits high and took an early lead, however, we were not able to carry it out to win the first set. In the second set, we played hard, but once again, the other team was able to beat us 2-6. Although we lost in the final championship, we were able to exceed our own expectations throughout the tournament and play some amazing tennis. I would not have traded the experience for anything, and I am grateful that I had the chance to create memories that will last a lifetime. 

Check out the article in the Press Democrat: 

http://www.pdpreps.com/news/article/47348/girls-tennis-santa-rosa-high-duo-takes-nbl-doubles-title/

The Topspin Serve: 4 Easy Steps

"Topspin" Serve

Before we begin: The serve is the most important shot in a game of tennis. It is the start of the point and has the potential to win many easy points. The topspin serve, in particular, is a very powerful serve. It gives the ball a spin that causes it to drop faster, and when power and speed are added, the ball has a larger chance of landing in. All serves are hit from the base line, which is the line at the very back of the court. They are hit to the opposite service box, on the other side of the court. Behind every amazing player, is an amazing serve. 

1. First, make sure you have the correct grip. The grip for any serve, is continental grip, which means that your fingers are positioned on the racket in a way that makes it seem like you are "shaking hands" with the racket itself. 

2. Look to your target. For the serve, the correct target is the diagonal service box. By looking to this area before you serve, you are preparing your body to aim for that exact spot, therefore increasing your chances of success.

3. Next, throw the ball vertically in the air, as high as possible, and bring the racket back behind your head.

4. Then, with your racket at an angle, hit up on and "brush" the ball, and a nice topspin will result. As stated before, this topspin will help to bring the ball down as it flies over the net. Since this step is the most confusing, this video will help to demonstrate this crucial part of the serve. Be sure to notice that as the player adds more power to his serve, it starts to become more accurate and fall right into the service box.

 

Waite, Ron. "Tennis Server - Turbo Tennis - Why Can’t I Volley?!" Tennis Server - Turbo Tennis - Why Can’t I Volley?! Tennis Server, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.

"The Ultimate Topspin Tennis Serve Video Guide." The Ultimate Topspin Tennis Serve Video Guide. TennisMindGame, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.

"Topspin Tennis Serve Part II - Develop Correct Technique." YouTube. YouTube, 1 Sept. 2007. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.

"Tennis Ebooks." Tennis Spin Serve in Modern Tennis. Optimum Tennis, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.

 "Tennis Ebooks." Tennis Kick Serve. Optimum Tennis, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.

"MOONGAMES." Various Tennis Shots. MOONGAME.ORG, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.

The U.S. Open 2013

     As some of you may know, the U.S Open took place about two weeks ago in New York City, NY. I am proud to admit that I spent the 15 days of competition with my eyes glued to the television. As always, the tennis was phenomenal, and the athletes were extremely inspiring to watch. In particular, I enjoyed watching Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal win their U.S. Open championship titles. Throughout the competition, they were able to remain strong and persevere through the many matches they played. Personally, I am able to learn a lot from watching professionals compete in my sport. From years of tennis, I know what to look for and observe, such as how they hit the ball and what different strategies they use to beat their opponents. After the U.S. Open, I found myself using better strategy in my matches and trying to mimic the form of game play I had watched professionals use.
     Many of you may agree that tennis is a sport that requires a strong mental attitude. To me, this is the most important aspect of tennis in its entirety. This aspect was clearly present in the athletes of the U.S. Open, as when they lost a point, they were able to calmly control their emotions and move on to focus on the next point. The intimidation of competing against challenging players is also a major obstacle. Take Nadal, for example. He was faced with the strenuous task of taking on the number one player in the world, Novak Djokovic. Even under extreme pressure, he was able to fight to the best of his ability and win the U.S Open title. My coach once told me, "The match is won even before it begins." I feel like this idea that "attitude is everything" is important to every athlete, no matter their level.
     I hope that everyone is able to take as much from these tennis competitions as possible and use them as opportunities to learn more about every aspect of tennis.

TennisPrimeHD. "Serena Williams Wins US Open 2013 Championship Final." YouTube. YouTube, 08
Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Sept. 2013.

TennisNowHD. "[HD] Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic Match Point US OPEN Finals 2013." YouTube. YouTube, 09 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Sept. 2013.

The Journey Begins...

Hello everyone, and welcome to my blog! For years, I have heard about this unknown concept of  "blogging," but never did it seem to spark my interest. Now, I have been given the opportunity to create a blog of my own and with the innumerable amount of possibilities before me, I start my journey with an open mind. The process of designing my blog was the first step. Little did I know, however, that the construction of the actual blog would be the easy part. What was I to focus on? Then it hit me... Tennis. The underlying purpose of my existence. The sport that has stolen the past seven years of my life. It was perfect...
To me, tennis is not just a sport. It is a way of life, a stress-reliever, a solver of all problems, and an escape for the mind. From my very first stroke of the ball, to my most recent win in a high school singles match, tennis has changed me in so many ways. Every practice, point, and game is a learning experience. Everyday, I find myself pushing to be harder, meaner, and greater. I'm sure any tennis player can relate to me when I say, "It is in no way easy. Being out on the court alone, waiting in anticipation for the opponent's serve, the scorching-hot sun beating down on your face. It does a number on you, but in the end, when the match is over and you feel that sudden rush of satisfaction, it sure is worth it."
I hope that this blog will help to bring our tennis community together and enlighten people on the nature and identity of our sport. Thank you so much for reading, and I look forward to the journey ahead.