Would you rather return a hard ball at chest level than a low volley with no pace? Well, you are not alone. The low volley is a shot that can pose a problem for tennis players of all levels. The key to executing a low volley, however, is simple — keep your back straight.

The most common mistake when hitting a low volley is bending from the waist, rather than your knees. By bending from the waist, you tend to lose your balance because your legs can no longer support the body’s weight. It also is more difficult to get your racket head under the ball because your center of gravity is above the ball. Bending at your knees will lower your center of gravity, help you to keep your back straight, and make it easier to get your racket head under the ball.

Bending your back knee is imperative to finding the bottom of the ball. When you bend your back knee, your front knee also will bend. However, if you bend your front knee, your back knee might stay straight. Therefore, you will have the tendency to "hunch" over from the waist. For example, if you are a right-hander and you step into a forehand volley with your left foot, you should focus on bending your right or trail knee to keep your back straight.

Leg lunges are a simple and effective way to practice bending your knees on low volleys. Lunges will help you increase leg strength, which will make it easier to hold your balance. Focus on stepping forward two to three feet with your left foot and bending your right knee all the way to the ground while keeping your back straight. Practice alternating legs, but make sure you exercise each leg the same amount.

Assignment: The next time you’re on the tennis court, do a set of lunges from the baseline to the net. Then hit a few low volleys and feel the difference.
Mike Perrotta
Sports Director
Ipswich Country Club
Ipswich, Massachusetts

Photography by David Shopper