Have you heard? Apparently there is a shot called a Lucore Forehand Volley! I just learned about it and I (may be a little biased) think that’s pretty cool.
Deb Harrison from The Villages, Florida contacted me and asked if, while I was in town attending the Pro Exhibition I could help her with one of her videos. I said sure, but my time was limited. So, on the last day when our event was over I jumped on the court with Deb and her videographer, hit a few volleys, talked and off I went.
Once I saw the finished product I was surprised to learn of the Lucore Forehand Volley which Deb coined and teaches to her students. Come to find out, Deb teaches a variety of shots that various players successfully use; each named after the player. The video did a good job capturing the concept, but I’m disappointed I didn’t give her viewers some solid points on the how-to of my volley.
For those of you visual learners (like me) seeing the volley a few times in slow motion is helpful and all you need. For those of you that want the written details I hope the following instructions, which are a mix of mine and Deb’s, are helpful. Here’s the video:
At the non-volley line you are always light on your feet and on your toes ready for the ball to come to you; keep your eyes and head steady.
As you determine that the ball is coming to your forehand side, prepare by aligning the face of the paddle with the ball early, be aware of the level of the ball in relation to the net and adjust the paddle rotation accordingly. Meet the ball well in front of you (look to see whether you can see the back of the paddle as you make contact with the ball), propel the ball forward and rotate your shoulders through the ball to impart the power with trunk rotation.
The finish of the stroke is toward the opposite shoulder. Maintain a firm wrist and keep the paddle head above the wrist in a cocked fashion. Try to maintain a tight and compact rotation rather than a large and loopy rotation. This volley does not make use of wrist snap and is intended to power the ball deep and forcefully into the court.
Remember to aim for the open lane (left, center or right). Anticipation is key in being prepared for the ball early. Remember, make very certain when you are hitting with pace to KEEP THE BALL IN!
Deb adds, “There are lots of other ways to administer power to the ball, but this volley is a terrific tool to possess. It is a stroke very comfortable for former tennis players, and less comfortable for players who use a lot of wrist snap (racquetball, badminton, table tennis).”
Want more behind the scenes? Word is that from Deb’s classes the most recent student to perfect the Lucore Forehand Volley was Bruce P of The Villages, FL… Kudos to you Bruce and when your winning with that volley just for fun throw in a vocal “Hiiii – Ya”!