Closing (the gap)...

Of all the advice, critique, or commands I find myself giving during both High Performance and club level training, the urge to get the player to "close" is among those used most often. Closing is an important and beneficial action involved with net play that takes some practice and additional understanding. When players fully understand the need to close, their tactics and results show great benefits.

What is "closing"? Simply, it is closing the gap between the player and the net. Seems pretty obvious, right? Then why is the lack of closing such a widespread habit among club players, and tournament players alike? If we take a closer look, when players don't close, it is usually because they are moving parallel to the net. It is most obvious when players are volleying or poaching. Players move parallel, as opposed to closing, because it is a NATURAL, human response. The perception is that if they move in the parallel direction, they will get more time to get to, and play the ball. This perception is true! The problem is the things you give up for buying a fraction more time.

First of all, you lose the benefit of momentum. Forward momentum is a vital part of every volley. I am often saying, "the essence of volleying is interception." That is, taking the momentum you have gathered in the prior split step, and re-directing it (often in a diagonal forward direction) through the ball. This is a huge benefit because the momentum moves the racquet, and ultimately the ball. You can play even a frame ball volley very successfully if you move forward through the ball, not to mention the quality you can get using the strings. This is just as true when poaching in Doubles. Yes, you will gain time getting to the ball moving parallel to the net, but again, not only do you lose forward momentum, but you have further to go. A great rule of thumb when poaching is to move not parallel to the net, but diagonally forward toward the net strap. This directional path ensures both forward momentum, and taking the shortest path to the ball.

Another great benefit of closing on volleys is the height at which you will meet the ball. The further forward that you reach the ball, the higher the ball is off the court. When you play the ball at the highest point possible, you are playing it as close to, or hopefully ABOVE the height of the net. This allows the volleyer the ability to hit down on the ball from above the net, forcing the opponent's to play the next ball below the net. This is clearly a much more aggressive and offensive shot.

The third and equally beneficial result of closing well is the angles it produces. The closer you are to the net when meeting the ball. the wider your possible angles become. Closing well will end more points, and end them earlier by offering the opportunity to angle the ball off the court and out of your opponent's reach- which brings immediate improvement in competitive results.

So those are the 3 big reasons to close. Get the benefits of forward momentum, play the ball higher off the court and close to the top of the net, and play the ball further forward and closer to the net to improve your possible angles. Get out there and do a better job of closing, and you will start to enjoy the result of closing out your points and matches earlier, and more often.