The Swinging Volleys

Roger Federer effectively mixes swinging volleys into his attacking game. If you didn't happen to see it in USA Today, staff tennis writer Doug Robson recently did an extensive article on the rise and the effectiveness of the swinging volley in pro tennis. The improvement in string technology, and specifically, the incredible spin producing properties of poly, he argued, allows players to hit the ball more aggressively on both sides. This is resulting in at least an incremental increase in the frequency of net approaches. Also due to the effects of poly, conventional volleys, even well placed volleys, have become more and more susceptible to the opponent's heavily spun passing shots. But attacking players can counteract this by hitting swinging volleys out of the air generating their own additional pace and heaviness to tip the balance of the exchanges their way. If you saw Roger Federer's brilliant use of net attack in the Wimbledon final against Andy Murray, you noted several instances where he used swinging volleys on his forehand side to pressure Andy or hit outright winners. The USA today article went on to talk about how coaches at IMG/Bollettieri's and at the USTA training center have now integrated...