March 4th, 2009 
admin Tennis is one of the biggest sports around and thousands of kids pick up a racquet for the first time every day. Most just play for fun, but there are those who are desperate to improve their game. We have put a list of shots and skills together in an attempt to help you with your game.
The backhand
Overview
The Backhand Shot might feel like an unnatural one but when it is mastered it can elevate a player’s game into the highest realms. It’s an unnatural stroke to play because, when a right-handed person attempts any kind of body movement, they instinctively move towards their favoured side (right for right-handed and left for left-handed). We all do this because we often have the time in which to do so but, on the tennis court, there is often no time in which to chose your natural side so a Backhand Shot is used to give the player more versatility on court.
The Backhand Shot is simply when a ball approaches the player on the opposite side to their favoured hand and is returned over the net by moving the racket and playing it across their body. It is often used as a defensive move, with only top professionals able to generate the sort of power and accuracy necessary to end the rally conclusively. However, with enough practice, it can become an integral part of your arsenal and add another dimension to your game.
Technique
The technique adopted for a successful backhand requires very accurate and rehearsed body movements. As the ball approaches the player at waist-height, they are usually positioned between the base-line and the centre-line. Before the ball arrives at the player, they must position their body on their toes, with their knees bent, gripping the racket with their preferred grip. The grip in preparation for a Backhand Stroke will normally be with their favoured hand at the base of the grip, holding the racket as though they were shaking hands with it and the other hand just above it, touching the neck of the racket to give the player more control and power.
The shoulders are then turned forward and sideways, with the body’s weight pivoting on the opposite foot to their favoured hand (left foot for right-handed players etc). Their toes turn with the body so that they end up at around 90 degrees to the net. The dominant foot (right for right-handed etc) should then step slightly in front of the other foot to produce a shielding posture (the right side of the body being the shield for right-handed etc).
The elbow of the dominant arm is close to the body, around the waist, and the racket is brought back behind the opposite side of the body, with the face of the racket looking at the net ready to strike.
The big tip for a successful backhand is that the entire body should do all of the work collectively when pulling back and when striking the ball. When the ball reaches about a foot in front of the player’s body, the racket swings forward and should meet it there. The racket must meet the ball face on and not be tilted in any direction. If it is tilted then it could make the ball fly off in an unexpected direction.
When the ball is struck, the favoured arm propels it forward but the entire body provides the force. The eyes of the player must remain on the ball at all times, even just after the ball has been struck, to ensure it remains on course. The follow-through then mirrors that of the forehand and results in the racket rising over and above the opposite shoulder.
Here is a good example of a Backhand Stroke.
Variations
A One Handed backhand shot is very similar except the non-favoured hand acts as a balance rather than adding more force to the shot by holding the racket. The body movement doesn’t differ though.
Many players use the Backhand Shot (especially One Handed) to generate spin on the ball. By providing topspin, the ball will rise dramatically at first but drop rapidly towards the end. This is achieved by using the racket to clip the top of the ball and almost push it down.
Alternatively, to give the ball backspin, the racket is brought under the ball and shaves it. This slows the ball down considerably but it will land while still spinning in the air, making it hard for your opponent to return.
Bankhand
The Drop Shot
The drop shot is one of the most stylish and subtle shots in the game and also one of the most surefire ways of winning a point. A drop shot is used when a player and their opponent have been striking the ball from the back of the court, around the base-line, and one player surprises the other by hitting a much slower ball that ‘drops’ just over the net making it impossible for their opponent to return it before it bounces for a second time.
It is a shot that will catch the opponent off guard and will force them to adjust their position rapidly. If they do manage to reach the ball near the net in time, then the chances are they will be wrong-footed, off balance and running towards the net at speed, making it unlikely that they will win the point. The key to a successful drop shot is disguising it so that the opponent doesn’t know it is coming forcing them to rush towards the net suddenly.
The techniques used for a good drop shot might seem simple but they require a great deal of practice. Firstly there will normally be a series of deep shots that have been played at pace from around the base-line. It is this fast pace which is required in order to apply the necessary spin to the ball. As the ball approaches the player around the base-line they position themselves and their body to make it look as though they are about to return the ball with a conventional forehand or backhand drive shot.
Right at the last second though, the player shortens their swing considerably and the racket is brought to meet the ball at a much slower and fuller pace. The player’s grip becomes much looser and the face of the racket meets the oncoming ball full on and without much force. The existing pace of the ball will propel it over the net so only a small amount of additional force is then needed to help it over the net and then ‘drop’. It will look like a shot-gone-wrong if it doesn’t work but if it does then it will certainly look the complete opposite.
Another important part of the drop shot is the spin on the ball. In order to make absolutely certain that the ball will be unreachable for the opponent, many players apply spin to the ball to ‘kill it dead’ when it lands preventing it from travelling deeper into the court and nearer the opponent.
Back spin is used to make the ball drop over the net and bounce where it lands, or in some instances even back towards the net again. To apply back spin, a back hand stroke is often used and the ball is sliced underneath the base, as though it were having the underside shaved off mid-air. With enough follow-through, the player raising the racket high above their shoulders afterwards, it will then send the ball over the net, spinning backwards in the air and land over the net out of the opponent’s reach. The legs are stationary during this shot and all of the force comes from the arms and shoulders.
Here is an example of a successful drop shot
Drop Shot
Drop Shot 2
The Forehand
The forehand shot in Tennis is the game’s principle and most frequently used weapon. Most points are won on a forehand and the majority of players will seek to perfect this stroke before others. The forehand seems the most natural of shots, as it moves the body in its most obvious way when holding a racket and creates the maximum amount of power, apart from a serve.
The One Handed Static Forehand is chosen when the player’s body is in the position whereby the ball approaches them at around waist-height, on the same side that they hold their racket. The player will usually be positioned in between the base line and the centre line for this shot as the power provided will then keep it in play.
The grip on the racket is loose but still requires sufficient firmness to avoid it slipping, as though the player is going to be catching the ball and slinging it back at the same time in one motion. The most common forehand grip is called an Eastern Grip and it involves the player’s fingers being curled around the base of the grip in a handshake-like position.
When the ball approaches the player, their feet must be slightly apart, their knees slightly bent and in a position where they look ready to drive forward. As the ball approaches the player the shoulder with which they hit the ball (right if right handed, left if left handed) rotates back towards the base-line and the opposite foot steps in front of the body in a shielding position. It’s the shoulders that rotate the body not the arms.
The arm holding the racket then slowly swings back from the net and stops around the height of the player’s waist behind them, with the face of the racket facing the net.
Seconds before the ball passes the player’s body, the racket is brought into this swinging motion and when the ball is just in front of the player’s body the racket connects with the ball around waist height. The ball should land on the ‘sweet-spot’ of the racket, which is found at the very centre of the strings. This is where the most power, control and accuracy will come from.
When the ball has been hit, the racket then follows through and finishes around the area above the shoulders of the opposite arm, facing the sky. This follow through is what will often give the ball more power.
The Two Handed Static Forehand is sometimes used when a player wishes to apply more power to the shot, but it can sometimes mean that accuracy is sacrificed. The grip is similar to a back-hand whereby the principle hand of the player is higher up on the grip and the other hand just under it at the base. The movement of the body here is roughly the same as in the One Handed Forehand except when the shoulders rotate, the hips rotate with them and in the same direction. The whole body then pivots on the left foot if right handed and right foot if left handed.
The Moving Forehand is simply when the shot is played while a player is running to reach an oncoming ball. It will follow all the same rules as the Static Forehand in terms of the area above the waist of the player but the position of the feet and knees will differ as the player is moving to reach the ball.
Here is an example of an excellent forehand technique by Roger Federer in slow motion.
Forehand
Half-volley
Overview
The half-volley in tennis is a shot where you hit the ball as soon as it bounces on your side of the court. It is perhaps one of the most difficult techniques to master and usually a half-volley only happens by accident! However, professional tennis players such as Pete Sampras and Roger Federer have been known to occasionally deliberately use it to their advantage as well. As tennis is all about being prepared for anything, mastering the half-volley will add something extra to your game and, if you are particularly ambitious, could prove an important part in your arsenal.
Though it is one of the most neglected shots in tennis, often players will have to perform the half-volley when caught off guard, particularly around the baseline. The key determinant is the length of the return from your opponent. If the ball falls too close to your feet, you will be both unable to hit a full volley and an ordinary groundstroke. In these situations, hitting a half-volley will, if it is successful, send the ball back neatly in an upwards path and prolong the rally.
Technique
Experts say that the best technique for the half-volley is to keep a stiff wrist and follow the ball through with a quick bounce close to the court’s surface as soon as it arrives. When hitting the ball you should also make sure you keep your posture low by bending your knees to make sure it doesn’t go too high up.
Other tips include keeping the racquet just above the wrist before you attempt the half-volley, and keeping your arm extended while you perform the follow-through. Good timing is absolutely crucial to playing the shot well so it is perhaps useful to think of the half-volley’s common nickname which is the “Ba-Boom” shot. This should give you a rough idea of the way it is returned and the speed which you should aim for. If you say “Ba-Boom” out loud, it will sound similar to the consecutive bounce and hit of a good half-volley. Make sure you remain relaxed and maintain this rhythm, trying not to rush forward when you hit the ball but calmly controlling it.
There are a number of ways you can grip the racquet to make your half-volley more likely to be successful. Many believe that the best grip is a standard continental (also called the service grip). This is the usual way of holding the racquet and it means that the racquet will be tilted up slightly. Alternatively, some believe that the best grip is actually the Eastern grip because of the natural angle for the return. Every player is different so it is advisable for you to practise and work out which grip feels best for you and produces better results.
Since half-volleying is such a difficult shot to achieve, practice is vital. One good method is to get someone to feed the ball to you so that it lands near your feet. This can be difficult, however, as it really depends on how good your partner is at getting it in the right place. Some professional players believe the best practice is simply to drop the ball yourself and keep sending it over the net as demonstrated in this video.
Overall, the half-volley is an incredibly complex and often unnatural stroke with a very small margin of error. The shot requires patience, concentration and very accurate hand-eye coordination to return the ball effectively. It is worth remembering that the half-volley is more of a defensive stroke for when your opponent makes a particularly tricky shot and you need to return the ball without retreating or changing your position. It should be used at all other times with caution.
Half Volley
The Lob
A lob is one of the strangest shots in the game but also a great crowd-pleaser. A tennis lob is simply when the ball is struck underneath the very base (or at no more than 45 degrees from the ground) and sent into the air, without much speed, to land at the back of the opponent’s half of the court and bounce just inside their base-line. It is a strange shot because it can be used both offensively and defensively, the difference being not one of technique but of player positioning.
When lobbing the ball, it is struck on the underside of the ball’s surface. It is hit with much less power than any other stroke in the game but the technique of watching the ball at all times and following through with as much power as you want the ball to have, are the same.
Once the ball is struck, the follow-through brings the racket up into the air and over the opposite shoulder, as though the player were slinging the ball behind them. Ideally the ball will be struck when the player is motionless but this isn’t always possible, especially with a defensive lob.
The Offensive Lob is usually used when the player’s opponent is near to the net, in a position where they hope to volley the ball without it bouncing. The player about to lob the ball, will strike it on its underside with either backspin or topspin, depending on their preference and where their opponent is positioned.
The ball then rises high into the air travelling over the head of the opponent and then dips and drops behind them. The opponent is then forced to run backwards or perhaps even turn and run in order to get behind the ball to return it. If the shot is a success then the opponent will not be able to reach the ball to return it. The lob shot is quite a gamble since the opponent may well reach it and return the ball with even more power.
Here is a clip of a successful offensive lob
The Defensive Lob is quite different in terms of purpose but identical in terms of technique. With this shot the player about to lob the ball is likely to be in a bad position on the court, meaning they have been forced far onto one side of the court or perhaps off balance. They are also very likely to be moving when they try to lob the ball.
Either way the player will then use a defensive lob in order to give them more time to readjust and return to a more useful position on the court. In lobbing the ball high into the air, wherever their opponent is positioned, it gives them the vital seconds in which they can return to the middle of the court. The downside to this choice of shot is that their opponent is then presented with a weak and slow ball that they could easily return at speed and with precision.
Lob
The Serve
A player’s game can often be measured by their service (or serve). A serve is often the indicator of how skilled a player’s game is, how strong they are and how much they have practised. A serve is one of the most important areas of the entire game, being the point at which a player is given the most opportunity to score points, but it is also one of the hardest to master.
Two things make up a good serve, power and accuracy. There are two opportunities to serve a ball and more often than not the player’s first serve will be more powerful than their second attempt. There will always be accuracy in the first but there will predominantly be more power, as the player can afford to risk the chance of it not landing inside the court.
If the player’s first serve is out, then their second serve will often be slower and more accurate to avoid losing a point by being given a double fault. The key is to practice until the first serve blends both power and accuracy and avoids the need for a second serve altogether.
From a standing start the non-favoured foot is placed forward just behind the base-line. The ball is held in the non-favoured hand and often bounced to soften the ball (and to make sure it’s a good one). The favoured hand holds the racket loosely but with a steady grip. The racket is held at the base of the grip as though shaking hands with it.
The ball is then gently thrown into the air, reaching no more than a foot above the tip of the outstretched arm. The further the ball is thrown in front of the player, the harder the player will end up hitting it as they fall into the ball more. When the ball is released from the throwing hand, the player’s knees are slightly bent and their body leans on the non-favoured leg balancing their entire body weight on it as though the player might fall over.
Just before the player hits the ball, all of the muscles rise up through the player’s legs, especially from the non-favoured leg, as though the player is pushing all their force up at the floating ball. Just before the ball starts to drop from its ‘throw-up’, the player brings the elbow of their racket arm in up towards the net, then brings the racket back and behind their head, towards the back of their neck, and finally swings it forward and strikes the ball in the very middle of the racket (the ‘sweet-spot’) with very little spin and with a final flick of the wrist.
The power from the stretch and the pulling back of the arm has now been transferred into the ball but most of it is still in the player’s body on the base-line, enabling them to be propelled forward closer to the net ready to return the ball.
Ideally the return from the serve will be a ball that the serving player can volley (i.e hit without a bounce, see Volleying) and therefore have more chance of gaining the point. This is called a Serve and Volley Game. If the serve has been particularly powerful and accurate then it will be impossible to return (an Ace).
Here is an example of a good serving technique.
Serving
Slice
Although not as popular as it used to be, slice can be a very effective weapon, particularly if playing a ‘drop shot’. A slice is a shot played with backspin, which is effectively the opposite of topspin. The racquet, once again, should be almost parallel to the court, and ‘sliced’ underneath the ball. The more friction you get against the bottom of the ball, the more backspin will be applied to the ball. This has the effect of returning the ball whilst keeping it spinning in the same direction as your opponent’s shot. This means that when the ball bounces, it should not bounce to a height comfortable for your opponent; they will have to stoop, and should have difficulty in playing an aggressive returning shot.
The slice is particularly effective when combined with a drop shot, as the ball ‘dies’ when it bounces, meaning your opponent will have to be very quick on their feet to play the return.
Players also make good use of slice as an approach shot; they can be played with accuracy, and it gives the player time to get to the net. If the slice is played effectively, the receiving player should find it difficult to make an aggressive return, and the player poised at the net may be able to play a winning volley.
If you are able to anticipate a sliced shot being played against you, move towards where the ball will bounce – if you get to it in time, as the ball ‘sits up’, you might be poised to make an aggressive return.
Slice
Slice
Overview
The smash is often a spectacular shot to watch in tennis, a shot that can stir the spirits of the crowd. A well executed smash also raises the adrenaline of the player and inevitably wins the point. Although, the smash would appear to be a relatively simple and frequently used shot, it is in fact very difficult to execute well.
Pete Sampras possessed a great smash technique and was especially renowned for his athletic “Jump smash shot”. Other smash greats include, Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and of old, Rod Laver and Jimmy Connors, both of whom were left-handers who curiously mastered a devastating backhand smash.
Technique
A smash is a shot that is hit above the head utilising a motion similar to a serve. Hit effectively, a smash more often than not clinches the point for a player. It is a shot that can be hit with great force, but also accurately directed, as seen in the above video of Pete Sampras. If you observe a typical game of tennis, the majority of overhead shots will be struck near the net or mid-court, before the ball bounces, usually in response to a lob shot that has not achieved the elevation or depth of court to win the point.
Court position
It is also possible to smash a ball near to the service line, though this usually follows a very high and deep lob and in this case, it is probably advisable to allow the ball to bounce before executing the smash. Generally speaking, the higher a ball is lobbed, the more difficult it is to time your smash, and therefore the more likely it is that you will be unable to control your smash efficiently. Allowing the ball to bounce gives you time to pick your shot and placing of the ball, often a ground stroke, is the more effective shot in these circumstances.
Experienced and very skilful players can execute an overhead shot most of the time from 3/4 court or the service line. However, a deep smash shot can lack force and allowing the ball to bounce and choosing another type of shot is favoured by even the most experienced of players.
Moving into position
Generally, an overhead shot is hit in response to a lob shot, that goes high and over your head. It is therefore usually required to move back quickly to assume a striking position. When moving backwards it is important not to lose your balance and coordination, and the easiest way to achieve this is to keep your racket close to your body, down by your leg. Keeping your other arm by your side will help maintain your balance and alter your positioning efficiently.
In fact, most players will move backwards using sidesteps, opposed to “back pedalling”. Turning your torso slightly and sidestepping or cross-stepping will not only allow you to move back into position with more speed, but will also avoid a loss of balance.
Swinging the racket
Raise your racket on the last backward pace you make into position. Keep your racket close to your body when raising it upwards, which will also help to maintain your centre of gravity. In an overhead shot, your judgement and timing on the ball are all important. Do not move backwards with your arms and racket elevated upwards as this will unbalance you and probably make you misjudge the timing of the ball completely. What’s more, you will not be able to move backwards with as much speed and agility with your arms raised in the “trophy position”.
As you raise your racket to swing at the ball, begin from a raised and bent elbow position. The swing on an overhead shot is not the same as the wind-up for a serve. It would be too difficult to time with such a long wind-up. Keeping your arm relatively relaxed will naturally result in a flick of the wrist when you strike the ball and assist in its direction.
Aim to hit the ball deep into your opponent’s court. As a less experienced player, it is useful to aim a few feet beyond the service line of your opponent and this will help ensure that you do not drive the ball into the net.
Striking the ball
You should ideally strike the ball when your arm is fully extended and with the ball a little forward of the position of your head. It is highly important that you keep your head still as you strike the ball and keep your eyes on the position of the ball until half a second after making connection, therefore ruling out the possibility of misjudging your shot a split second before striking the ball.
Smash
Top-spin
Top-spin is the most common type of spin seen on courts today; the majority of ground shots played at higher level games will have some degree of top-spin. It is used to keep the ball low over the net whilst hitting with power, and gives the ball an extra ‘kick’ as it bounces, making for an uncomfortable return shot for your opponent.
It is achieved by whipping up the back of the ball, hitting from low to high. Your racquet face should be more or less parallel to the court as the stroke finishes, whereas it would be perpendicular if there was no spin. The racquet rolls over the top of the ball, causing the ball to spin through the air in the direction it is travelling.
It is called top-spin because the spin comes from friction with the racquet at the top of the ball. When playing a top-spin shot, you are effectively reversing the direction that the ball is spinning in, so greater energy is used in topspin than in hitting flat (ie, with no spin). Top-spin is used as a way of controlling powerful strokes; if you hit a ball flat with the same amount of power, it would have no force to make it dip over the net, and would just rocket out of the court.
Sergi Brugera, a former professional tennis player, was able to hit a tennis ball with top-spin of 3300 rpm, meaning the ball would turn 70-80 times between the time Brugera played the stroke and his opponent received it.
They key element to a successful return of a top-spin shot is your positioning on the court. You should be aware that a top-spin shot will bounce much higher than a flat shot, and it will also dip sooner. As a general rule, the greater the arc of the ball, the greater amount of top-spin is on the shot. If you are able to step up to the ball and take it while it is rising off the bounce, you may be able to hit an aggressive return. If you take the easier option and wait for the ball to reach the top of the arc, you will have been forced further towards the back of the court, giving your opponent more time to recover their position.
Top Spin
Top spin
The Volley
Overview
A volley in any sport is a shot that is hit before the ball hits the ground. In tennis, generally a player hits a volley when in a position near to the net, though there are certain volley shots that can be executed from mid-court or nearer the baseline.
A volley in tennis, as in many other sports is an attacking shot, reducing significantly the time your opponent has to return the ball. It is usually a pretty powerful shot and when well directed, can win a point outright. Being near the net means that the volleyer is able to direct the ball through a wide variety of angles and can make it impossible for the opponent to return the shot.
A volley is generally played as a player is advancing to the net in order to try and close the point. Often what you see in a game of tennis is a player volleying the ball twice in succession to win the point, the second volley a ‘put away shot’ and moving closer to the net in the process. For this reason, it is unusual that a volley is hit in the ‘last quarter’, in the area between the base and service lines.
Great volleyers of recent times include; Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and our very own Brit, Tim Henman, who is widely touted to be the best volleyer in the modern game. Sampras was a great athlete and was particularly famous for his spectacular “diving volley”.
Some great volleyers of old include; Vinnie Richards, Rod Laver, John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Martina Navrátilová.
Technique
Perhaps most important of all when preparing to execute a volley shot is the positioning of the feet. As seen in the video by Brent Abel it is very important to align your position with the incoming ball by moving your feet, rather than reaching out to the ball with your arm. Stretching your racquet out in this way can cause you to unbalance, resulting in a poor connection with the ball.
As explained in the following video from Rick Macci the amount of racket swing that you put into a volley shot is also highly important. A ball that approaches you at speed should be volleyed using the racket to simply block the ball, often referred to as a stop volley. If you turn the racket head slightly in a stop volley, you can achieve some backspin which will cause the ball to fall short with little bounce. A slower moving ball however, can require a much deeper swing and is often called a deep volley.
There are various types of volley shots that can be played in a game of tennis. Volleys can be roughly divided into four groups: high volleys, low volleys, backhand and forehand volleys.
High and low volleys
High volleys are taken when the incoming ball is over waist height and can be either hit or blocked. Low volleys are almost always invariably blocked. As seen in the previous video, although you can take a short swing at a volley shot, there is actually very little follow through on the ball.
It is important to maintain the wrist in a tense position when dealing with either a high or low ball and to keep the wrist position behind the line of the racquet head. Maintaining a strong racket head should be enough to return the ball back over the net to your opponent, without having to swing at the shot.
As a rule, most high volleys should be hit with length and speed, whereas low volleys usually demand a softer touch and consequently fall a little shorter. A volley hit with more swing and speed can be driven aggressively downward, as in a normal ground shot. Drive volleys of this nature, if well executed, are an excellent means to reduce the time your opponent has to react and an opportunity to approach the net for that point winning shot.
Forehand and backhand volleys
Forehand volley shots more or less mirror a conventional forehand shot. The continental grip is often favoured when executing a forehand volley as the hand position does not have to be changed. An eastern grip could, however, offer more possibilities in terms of putting topspin or backspin on the ball, that can make that volley an even more devastating shot. To give your forehand volley shot more power, a two handed grip could be adopted, something used to devastating effect by Pancho Segura in the 1940s and 50s.
The backhand is a difficult shot to master in terms of shot consistency and accuracy, as you are “pulling” across the ball and it is therefore more tricky to time. It can be prudent to use a two-handed backhand shot when starting out as a player, until you have the strength in your backhand to rely solely on one hand. Many top tennis players chose to use a two handed backhand when volleying the ball.
The purpose of a volley shot is to be attacking and aggressive and hopefully force your opponent into a weak reply shot, or none at all. Overall, there is little swing in a volley shot. A strong, stable racket head must be offered and a punchy shot delivered as a result.
Volleying
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