7 Proven Tips To Develop Your Net Game in Tennis

The net game was the key component of tennis gameplay a few decades ago, during the serve and volley era. While power play from the baseline has dominated in recent years, the net game is still an important part of any successful attack strategy.

With these proven tennis tips, you can improve your net game in a matter of weeks and make your collection of shots more versatile.

1. Choose The Right Grip

Your grip is the foundation for every shot you make in tennis.

Strokes in your net game are very delicate, so choosing the right grip becomes a very important thing to consider.

Forehand and backhand volleys, as well as overhead volleys, should be played with a continental grip. On the forehand volleys, you can slide your palm towards the eastern grip, but only after you become more comfortable with the shots.

2. Grip Solid But Not Tight

You will want to make strong and decisive shots during your net game, but try not to hold your racquet too tight. Your wrist needs to have freedom of movement at all times, especially during volleys, so make a fair trade between strength and precision.

An adaptable grip is also very important when you decide to have more spin on your volleys, which comes naturally as your game advances.

Here Coach Tom Avery explains the best forehand grips to use in your game.

Source: CTW Academy Tennis 101

3. Non-Dominant Hand Support

Always support the head of your racquet with your non-dominant hand positioned at the throat, even if you are a two-handed backhand player. It will loosen the pressure from the dominant hand before it needs to perform a shot.

The non-dominant hand will also help you make an adequate backswing.

4. Focus

During your net game, the wrist should be solid, yet flexible, as we already said. It’s important to focus on the ball the entire time, so preparation for the stroke is essential. Try to position your body horizontally to the ball path.

Prepare for the incoming ball with your legs flexed, because most of the time, the ball will not be served perfectly to your current position. Rather, you will have to move to one side. Push from your right foot for the backhand volley, and from your left foot for the forehand – vice versa if you are a left-handed player.

5. Body Weight Moving Forward

Net game is a very offense-based approach, and your body should reflect that. Confident shots are made when you go forward and use the right amount of power in every shot.

Even while you approach the net, you need to lean forward and commit to the shot. If you approach the net right after an amazing serve, you will also intimidate your opponent, so make fast and small steps to be ready for everything that may come your way on the return.

6. Strategy

Before deciding to use your net game against someone, try to analyze their game and form a strategy. Your net attack should be precise, practiced, and intentionally focused on attacking the opponent’s weaknesses.

You will not come out as a winner in every situation, but you put a lot of pressure on your opponent. With the right mental attitude, your net game can help you get the most out of tight situations.

7. Practice Against a Wall

There is an old quote by Mitch Hedberg saying that no matter how good you are in a game of tennis, you will never be as good as the wall. Funny, but also true, and you will also experience this while improving your volleys because the best way to practice them is by playing against a wall.

While practicing, you will figure out how many different angles can be targeted with your volleys.

Conclusion

If you want to improve your attacking strategy, we definitely encourage you to work on the volleys required for a good net game. You will be amazed at how much confidence it brings you.

Focus on the ball at all times, have an adequate grip prepared, and work on your footwork. With more and more training, your net game should improve significantly.