Mixing Up Your Offensive and Defensive Shots
Aside from the regular forehand and backhand strokes, a good tennis player needs to include an array of offensive and defensive strokes to his armory in order to enjoy playing the game better and to give any opponent a good game. These strokes are the volley, smash and the lob.
Volley and Smash
Attacking the net is the best offensive option of any tennis player. Playing from this position means that the attacking player has the ability to go all out on the offensive and score the much needed point to win. When attacking the net, there are two indefensible shots that a player uses – the volley and the smash.
There are basically two types of volleys, the low (below the waist) and the high (above the waist). Whether high or low, all volleys must be executed with a locked wrist and holding the racquet as steady as possible. No wrist movement or racquet twist is required since the pace of the incoming ball meeting the tilted racquet is enough to send it back for a winner – depending of course on the direction you hit it to.
In making the volley stroke, always hit the ball hard but with a very limited follow through. Your tennis racquet must stop at the point of impact with the ball and the racquet although if you want to give the ball some back spin; let the racquet slide a little under the ball on contact.
A good volleyer must have a solid repertory of basic strokes in order to be able to successfully attack the net and make his volleys count otherwise it would not work against a well-rounded opponent. Even if volleys are difficult to counter, always cover your volley by covering the return at the net for a kill shot just in case. Attack with your volleys. At the net, always be on the offensive not on the defensive.
Complete your offensive arsenal with the overhead smash. Using the smash should always result in a winning point as it is an almost impossible shot to return. Executing the overhead smash is almost similar to making a slice serve, with one foot (preferably both) on the ground and hitting the ball with a twist of the wrist as hard as possible to make it bounce high!
When preparing for the smash, always keep your eye on the ball. A good technique is to track it with your free hand and hit it at appropriate hitting zone, never pull or limit your racquet swing as it would definitely negate the advantage of the smash.
In making the overhead smash, strive to make go as far into the court as possible for the point, hit with the ball with the racquet face towards the open court.
The (Defensive) Lob
The lob is used to buy you time to get back into position and to make your opponent run back and forth to break up his comfort zone and tire him out. It is commonly used in doubles play but equally effective in singles when you are attacked at the net by your opponent.
There are basically two types of lob, the chop lob which carries an under-cut spin that makes the ball hang in the air and the flat lob which packs a top spin. The chop lob is a defensive lob since it allows you to get back in position whereas the flat lob is an offensive stroke since the ball bounces lower and at great speed.
Execute the flat lob like you are setting up for a line drive and then suddenly pull back on your swing and tilt the racquet face upwards just before contact to make the ball sail up into the air over your opponent’s head for the point.
Use the lob sparingly and only when necessary. Doing so, allows you to disrupt your opponent’s game and score the needed point should he attack the net or if you are out of position in a rally.
