The Half Volley

Roger Federer hits an incredible half volley return, the so-called SABR attack. The half volley has become less common in elite tennis, apparently close to extinction as a regular shot. But recently it has made some dramatic reappearances. In the 2015 US Open women’s semifinals, Roberta Vinci massaged two half-volley, drop shot winners to close out her win over Serena Williams. And Roger Federer has resurrected the half volley in the men’s game with his SABR returns, marveled at across the tennis world. (SABR stands for Sneak Attack By Roger, but you knew that right?) But is the term half volley even an accurate description of the shot? Some coaches contend the shot is not a volley at all–that it’s really an abbreviated groundstroke. Others say it’s a form of a volley. In the 1920’s Henri Cochet regularly hit half volleys from no man’s land. What everyone agrees on is that the half volley is a ball hit only a few inches off the ground, and that it is one of the most difficult shots in tennis. Historically the half volley was an established, regular part of the game. In the 1920’s French star Henri Cochet half volleyed his way…