May 22, 2009 
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Dominant on Clay. Winners on all Surfaces
"What's New" Product Video - from Tennis Warehouse - Prince EX03 Graphite Racquet
David W. Smith Senior Editor, TennisOne For many club and recreational players the execution of the backhand volley generates a level of trepidation or even fear. It must be understood that while these qualms are nearly universal at the lower levels of the game, the fact is, the backhand volley is biomechanically very simple. So why do so many players detest this shot and even avoid hitting hit whenever possible? Ockham's Razor I always enjoy the concept of expanding one's vernacular, especially when terms or phrases can be applied to the act of teaching and learning tennis. One such phrase is "Ockham's Razor," the principle of the 14th century philosopher William of Ockham which, when simplified, states "the simplest explanation or method is best." if we compare the professional volley to the recreational player’s volley, it is common to say, "the pros make it look very easy." And, in fact, they do. So let's break down the backhand volley in terms of simplicity and look at the foundation principles of a skilled backhand volley. One of the things I see in my clinics is the tendency for players to add, modify, or overdo many elements of a stroke. For example, players add loops or large backswings to their volleys; many roll the racquet, flip the wrist, or over-rotate their bodies. Let’s apply Ockham’s Razor (keep it simple) to the backhand volley and see if we can simplify this commonly missed or poorly hit shot.
Foundation The preferred grip for the backhand volley is the continental grip. Players who use the more rudimentary eastern backhand grip tend to struggle with a variety of problems. The Eastern Backhand grip:
The use of the continental grip allows for variety and imparts a natural underspin action on the ball. Why is underspin so important on volleys? This can be discussed in a variety of situations:
Contact Point There is a commonly used phrase in tennis teaching circles that is often abused or misinterpreted. The phrase is, “hit the ball out in front.” While it is detrimental to hit balls late, the volley, and especially the backhand volley, is seldom hit way out in front. When a player turns for a backhand volley, the hitting shoulder becomes the front shoulder. So, if we are using a continental grip and simply make a unit or shoulder turn to the side, the racquet not only is automatically squared towards the target, the position of the arm is usually right off the front knee. And this is essentially where we want to make contact. Even when players are trying to learn the continental grip and hitting the ball well out in front of the body towards the target, we will tend to change the grip to accommodate the racquet’s position. Arm Position The hitting arm of skilled players hitting backhand volleys should be either straight from the moment they make the unit turn, or straightened well before contact. Pros tend to time this straightening of the arm, if they have any bend at all, smoothly. However, recreational players often try straightening the arm right at contact, almost as if they are trying to “karate chop” the ball using the shorter forearm to make this chopping motion. Instead, players who keep the arm straight have the advantage of leverage. That is, they use the longer lever of their whole arm to use as the driving force of the backhand volley. Footwork The skilled backhand volley has not changed much over the years. This also applies to the footwork patterns. While pros can occasionally be seen hitting volleys off different footwork positions, most adhere to conventional footwork patterns when possible.
For most right-handed players, the backhand volley is best hit with the weight on the front (right) foot. This footwork pattern allows the player to remain sideways through the shot. When players step with the opposite foot, the hips rotate towards the net. This opens up the shoulders and causes the player to face the net during the volley. If you watch the accompanying video clips as well as review the hundreds of clips of other pros hitting backhand volleys, you will unquestionably see this sideways position. Conclusion There are reasons most teaching pros recommend the continental grip. It provides the foundation for all the other elements to occur naturally. Of course, players need to initially recognize and practice these additional elements to make them simple and automatic. Developing a good backhand volley requires an understanding of all the elements working in a simple, coordinated motion. While it might be thought of as a complex shot, in reality, it is one of the shots that use the least amount of extraneous movements - when executed correctly! So, next time you are faced with the dreaded backhand volley, think about Ockham's Razor and keep it simple.
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