Training with the ball machine
Volley
When playing the volley, players often make too much movements with
the arm. A volley should be compact with a minimum of backswing.
Especially when balls are shot very fast, the volley results in problems
due to these useless movements (long backswing) and a too late reaction
(because of the use of 2 different grips for forehand and backhand instead
of using 1 grip for the volley). Also the player often waits for the ball
instead of stepping towards the ball, one step closer to the net gives much
more succesful volleys and the ball is hit with much more speed due to
the weight of the body of the player towards the ball.
Place the ball machine in the middle of the court between the serviceline
and the baseline. The player is standing at the net position in the middle
of the court.
Set the machine at a quite high speed, dependant of the player-level (90
km/h for quite beginners, 150 km/h for high level players).
Set the vertical position in the lowest position (just above the net, is the
standard position when turning on the machine), when the machine
shoots too high some shelf or a racket could be put below the
transportation wheels of the machine so that the machine shoots just
above the net.
Set the machine on 2-line “narrow” so that the player gets a forehand and
a backhand and a forehand, etc.
The player is scared to death when he/she gets balls with such high speed
so after a few balls, lower the speed to a reasonable speed (50 km/h for
beginners, 100 km/h for high level players) and start again. The net player
could get used to the speed and keep his volley as compact as possible
with hardly any backswing and no change of grip.
When the player is used to the speed, raise the speed every time with 10
km/h and see if the player plays these volleys good. When the speed is
equal to the start speed, the player plays much more good volleys back
than in the beginning.
==> Some enhancements could be made by setting the 2-line to “among”
or “wide” and later “horizontal movement” instead of the 2-line.
Quickly and consistently from the baseline
To hit the ball consistently from the baseline with hardly any faults, a
quick preparation of the stroke should be done and immediately after
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