Forehand Swing Volley

The swing volley—common on both tours. The swing volley—once considered a radical shot pioneered by the likes of Andre Agassi—is now commonplace on the pro tour for both men and women. Players rip the ball from all corners of the court directly out of the air, with little fear or reservation. Let's explore the technique and tactics of this modern shot. This month the forehand swing volley and next month the backhand. Positioning is Key The footwork setup is critical for this aggressive shot. Players must move quickly and urgently forward without hesitation. The mindset of attacking any high floating balls is also key. Players need to have the confidence to attack with no fear. Footwork builds this confidence. The swing volley is usually played inside the court, in the midcourt or near the service line. This means the short sprint forward to the floating ball is important. Players should explode forward and setup with a semi-open stance or a closed to neutral stance. I train both setups with my players. In any stance, it's important to setup with a wide base and good posture. In Spain this is often called the "support system." From that base of support, players...