Specialty Shots (High Volley)

You’ve come to the net after an approach shot and you are ready to end the point. The opponent gives you the goofy off balance lob that is not that high and not that deep into the court. You smell a slam. You are going to punctuate this point with a vicious swing. You prepare your racket raise your non racket arm like you are going to serve. But before you know, the ball is dropping. You swing and the ball goes into the net. DAG….that stinks.

I have witnessed this a LOT. It happens to EVERYONE. What the person in the story should have done is hit a HIGH VOLLEY. It is a combination of a slam and a regular volley. You will end up playing way more high volleys than slams.

1. Continental (hammer grip)
2. Stiff wrist
3. no backswing
4. TRY to hit a forehand volley

My high volley during a match. Serve and volley clean winner.

If you play doubles, this high volley will put you up on a pedestal amongst your peers. I am not joking. The ability to recognize and hit a high volley is SUPER VALUABLE because if the ball drops lower or raises higher than you thought, you only have to make a slight adjustment either way. Try to EXPECT the high volley before you expect the slam and you should cut your errors down on that shot about 30%.

Specialty Shots (Over the Shoulder)

The scenario is very common. You are playing doubles and both of you are at the net. One of the opposing team gives you a lob and your partner sets up for the slam. But he does not have the vertical and misses the ball completely. “OH MAN!!!” you think as you run to chase down the high bouncing ball. When you get there, you hit the ball over your shoulder. The ball goes VERY high in the air and bounces on the opposing player’s side. They wind up to hit the slam and they bag it into the net. HIGH FIVE!!!



The over the shoulder move is not so common but everyone that plays double should have it in their arsenal. Turning around to hit a forehand is difficult to do and you might need something that is easier to pull off than the in betweener.

1. run down a lob.
2. continental grip
3. when the ball is in front of your face, tilt your body to the right (right hander) and hit the ball OVER YOUR SHOULDER

If you come to the net, this move is HIGHLY recommended. You can do anything from a lob to a drive depending on how close the ball is to your shoulder when you hit it.

Specialty Shots (Dip Drive)

The dip drive is one of those shots that everyone has in their arsenal but no one practices. It’s that moment when you played a good rally and the ball comes back and bounces high into the air. You are going to put this ball away. You line it up and take a big swing like they do on TV…….then the ball goes WAY OUT.

Venus Williams, the older William sister, knows how to finish
the points off with her dip drive

The shot you attempted is called a dip drive and you probably hit the ball way out because your wrist bent back. Three things to think about with the dip drive:

1. Start high finish low
2. Try not to put any spin on the ball.
3. lean forward

Here is my dip drive during a match and my 1 inch vertical in panel 10.
Personally, I like to keep my elbows in on a power forehand. I find that
it is mechanically easier. This one didn't come back.

Don’t overcook the shot if you aren’t strong enough to keep your wrist stiff. As a rule of thumb, I try not to hit dip drives hard from the baseline. If you do, make sure that you try not to do it during a point that matters. Otherwise, save your dip drives for when you are closer to the net. Also, if you can VOLLEY well then don't EVER hit the dip drive that hard. Only blast it if you don't want it to come back!!

Specialty Shots (American Twist Serve)

You have been working on your first serve huh? You hit it nice and flat. People don’t like it. Your second serve is a good serve. It goes in because you put topspin on it. But you notice now that your level of players will beat up your second serve. It needs more!!!

The American twist serve is a specialty serve. It is a combination of the slice serve (a serve that curves outward) and the kick (topspin) serve (a serve that curves down and bounces up). When you hit it, it curves toward the left like a right handed slice. But when it bounces, it jumps in the opposite direction.



1. The toss is important. Slice is out to the side. Kicker is over your head. So the Twist is somewhere in between.
2. Try to brush against the ball and not hit the ball directly like a flat serve.
3. Don't forget to snap your wrist.

A fair warning that trying to get a lot of action on this serve can be harmful to your back if done too many times. Most people's swing is stronger going straight out (slice)than straight up (kick). So a person trying to make a strong kicker will bend his/her back more to position their upper body for the angled slice swing. This is fine. Just don't make EVERY serve a twist.

If you possess a slice serve, the twist is great because the opponent will not be able to figure out where the ball is going to bounce unless he/she has learned to read your service motion. As you get better at serving, you can learn to make your different serves similar to disguise.

Specialty Shots (In Betweener)

You hit an approach shot and come to the net. Your opponent replies by laying up a soft lob over your head. Realizing that you cannot smash it into the court, you turn around to run it down. He comes to the net in anticipation of a weak shot. You let the ball bounce once and drop in between your legs. Right before it hits the ground you open your legs and hit the ball through them. You aimed down the line and just barely missed. But at least you looked good!!!



The in betweener is a controversial shot. It is definitely not needed to be a good player. But it looks SUPER NICE. If you want to look like a professional, you could learn how to play REALLY well OR you could learn the in betweener.



1. Run the ball down so that it bounces right in front of you
2. Continental grip (hammer grip)
3. open your legs facing a little to the left if you are right handed
4. hit the ball through your legs
5. Do not hit yourself in the crotch

Many coaches complain about that shot. They say that if you can run to the ball in time to do that shot than you can run past the ball, turn and hit a forehand. But many people have problems turning around and hitting a forehand. Pick your poison.

I can not do this shot. But I know how it is when coaches do not teach a stroke because they do not think you should learn it over some other stroke. Plus, once you prove to be a good overhead smash player, people don’t tend to lob you.