Try the Swinger

When I was a kid, if my coach saw me swinging at a volley, he'd probably make me run- once he got through screaming at me ! These days, its'a different story. We probably have Andre, Serena, and Venus to thank - but for whatever reason - the swing volley is a real shot. In today's game, with the technology of new racquets and strings, it has become not only a possibility, but a necessity.

You don't want to swing at just any old volley, or certainly not at every volley. There are a few key criteria you should look for before you take a hack at it.

1- the ball should be floating pretty slowly, and on the descent

2- it should be high enough for you to make contact well above the net without rushing

3- it should bring you forward, certainly well inside the baseline

4- you should be comfortable, not rushing or off balance

Turn to the side as you move forward, and prepare early. Since you are playing this ball above the net, your stroke can be flatter than your regular groundstroke. Prepare the racket at about the height of the ball, and hit out toward your target, swinging relatively parallel to the ground -and accelerating through the ball.

This shot can be hit as an approach, or an outright winner, but you should move through it toward the net in either case.

So don't be afraid to hit the swinger, and enjoy the results!