Tip of the week: Dealing with a body shot

One of the main reasons why most players don't like being at the net is the fear of being hit by the ball and feeling that there's nothing they can do about it.

There are two keys to being able to deal with a body shot. The first is always having a good ready position at the net. It is essential that you're front-on to the net, have your knees bent, weight on the balls of your feet and that you're doing mini split-steps constantly when expecting your opponent to strike, especially from nearby. It seems counterintuitive to lean forward in this situation but you're far more likely to get hit if you're standing up straight which prevents you from being able to twist your upper body and lean to the side without losing balance.

The other key is using the continental grip so that you can fend balls off your body, primarily with backhand volleys. Using a frying-pan forehand grip may help you defend your face but that's about it! Only a proper grip will allow you to counteract shots aimed at your chest, waist, knees and feet. Yes, it is tough to get used to but the time and effort invested will pay off when you become fearless at the net. See you on the court!