Short Court Hitting

Improve your volley game (and more) with this simple warm-up tip

Good volleying is the lifeblood of 1st rate club doubles play. Also, a few trips to the net can mean the difference between victory and defeat in a singles match; regardless of the player’s level of expertise.

However, most players (including our fine One Health Clubs tennis members) spend most of their time well inside the service box when they warm-up their volleys.

Club players of all levels would be very well served to begin their match warm-up standing just behind the service line, and outside the service box, by 3 to 4 feet. This is generally the point at which a serve-and-volley player (sadly, a dying breed) will play their first shot as they attempt to approach the net. Hitting from this position with a partner, in warm-up or practice, is called “Short Court” hitting. It will help build confidence in your net play, as well as expose you to a variety of mid-court situations.

Variety of short court shots:

• Hard volleys
• Drop volleys
• Overheads
• Half volleys
• Drop shots
• Ground strokes off an opponent’s short ball

If you begin your warm-up with some short court hitting, before progressing to baseline ground strokes and tight-to-the-net volleys, you will buoy your overall net-play confidence and help your game rise to new heights.