Portal:Tennis/Selected article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A volley is a tennis shot undertaken prior to a ball's contacting the court, most often employed proximate to the net as an offensive tactic, in order that an opponent should have to react with celerity, that an opponent should better be able to strike the ball at angles, and that a player should not be disadvantaged by an unlikely bounce on an uneven surface (as on a grass or hard court). Such a shot requires that the player volleying possess superb hand-eye coordination and generally short reaction time, inasmuch as, in singles play, an opponent make himself seek to strike angular shots past the player at the net (a passing shot), who, should he initially miss the ball, will be unable to reach the ball once more, or make seek to hit a shot above the player at the net toward the baseline (a lob).
A volley is struck, either as a forehand or backhand, with a short backswing and, most often, a punching stroke; less frequently a player make seek to impart spin, especially backspin, in order that reaching or properly striking the played ball should be more difficult for the opponent, or to strike a softly-hit ball with some backswing (as in a swing volley). Where a ball approaches a player low to the ground, he sometimes allows it to bounce before striking it whilst it is near to the ground; because he nevertheless uses the punch form of a volley, such a shot is known as a half volley. Where a volley is struck from midcourt, with a substantial backswing, and with topspin, the term drive volley is often ascribed, and such volleys are often used to allow a player time to approach the net in order that he might subsequently play a traditional volley.
The volley is often used as a finishing component in the serve-and-volley strategy in which a player, most often on a fast surface, such as grass (as against clay), having completed his service—especially where such service is flat (i.e., with the ball hit squarely with a racquet gripped in the Continental or Eastern fashion so that the ball is hit low to the net and with much power but little spin) or sliced (i.e., with the ball hit with a racquet gripped in the Continental or Eastern backhand style, so that much lateral spin is imparted)—moves immediately to the net in order that he might volley a service return so as quickly to end a point and, ultimately, to claim the game he serves (holding serve); such style has often been practiced by Americans Pancho Gonzales, John McEnroe, and Pete Sampras; Australians Rod Laver and Patrick Rafter; and Britons Tim Henman, pictured at left playing a backhand volley at the net after serve, and Greg Rusedski.
In his 1979 autobiography The Game, My 40 Years in Tennis, American Jack Kramer, ranked by American journalist Bud Collins as having been the world's best player for six seasons between 1947 and 1953, ranked players against whom he played and whom he observed in various categories, focusing on those who developed or improved certain shots or strategies. As the best forehand volley players, Kramer named countrymates Wilmer Allison and Budge Patty and Australian John Newcombe; as the best backhand volley players, countrymate Don Budge and Australians Ken Rosewall and Frank Sedgman; and as other superb volleyers from amongst his twenty-one best-ever players, Australian Jack Crawford, pictured at right completing a forehand volley, and Americans Ted Schroeder and Tony Trabert.
