Volleying from the T
Published: 17 Oct 2007 - 08:25 by SamBWFC
Updated: 24 Sep 2008 - 17:18
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Got a bit of a dilemma on here guys.
Ok, say you have played a good, straight length into either back corner, you move to the T and then your opponent then plays a pretty poor shot, so that it hits the side wall before the front wall, bounces off the front wall and comes to you around the T area, it puts you in an awkward position.
Now, the obvious thing to do here is to volley and punish your opponent, but sometimes it's got a fair bit of pace on the ball and might be in an awkward position to play a GOOD volley. There isn't enough time to get yourself prepared for a shot like this and play a good volley drive.
If you go for a volley and it doesn't pay off, it then removes you from a winning position and puts you in a bad position and can lose the rally. So my question is, is it better to gamble and play this volley, or let the ball drop, play a good drive which is more likely to go in the back corners, and then just keep the rally going until another opportunity comes along?
Many thanks
Sam
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From rippa rit - 12 Nov 2007 - 21:26
From hamburglar - 12 Nov 2007 - 05:19
From dazza_16390 - 11 Nov 2007 - 08:58
From rippa rit - 18 Oct 2007 - 08:08 - Updated: 18 Oct 2007 - 08:25
Sam - thanks for sharing.
To take your game to another level you must be able to put pressure on your opponent and do these quick interception shots, that catch the opponent off balance, and by surprise, to keep pressure on them. Hitting the ball back to the opponent is not that much pressure unless it is absolutely perfect (tight, hits nick, dies in the corner). If you always play the back of the court your opponent will be slowly edging into position before you hit the ball, so try to practice routines that take the ball into the four corners of the court, eg 2 deep, 1 short, 1 long, etc.
If you only play a drop when the ball has bounces, and you are waiting in the middle to do the drop, the opponent will most likely read that too......more variety is good.
Volley drops, volley boasts, boasts are ideal running shots that can be played during a hard rally, whereas drops are more a finishing off shot.
By the way this technical discussion really belongs in the "Technical Discussion" tab. located at the bottom of that Volley/Volley Drop page.
As well there is discussion in Tactical with a Discussion tab
From SamBWFC - 18 Oct 2007 - 05:59
Yes I understand where you're coming from Rita, it probably is the best shot to play. I'm more of a back-of-court kind of player, I usually only play drops when I know they're going to be winners because I find it difficult to play a drop, then get back to around the T area to stay in a strong position. I guess it's something I'll have to improve on.
From rippa rit - 17 Oct 2007 - 10:05
Sam - a hard tight volley to length when your opponent is behind you, is that the picture? The ball has pace on it as it is passing you, or strikes the wall?
To me a drop volley is the obvious choice of shots. Why?
- It brings the opponent forward to recover a shot that will be difficult for the opponent to return well.(Then it is your chance to hit to length keeping the opponent on the move and under pressure).
- You remain at the T.
- No swing required to stop volley drop so the pace is a good thing.
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U-tube have an excellent clip of the match between Gaultier and Lincou and in particular the use of the volley drop to finish off a long intensive rally.
Take a look.
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