I don’t really recall the tennis coach who came up with this idea but I’ll give credit to the late Peter Burwash who featured it in his book Tennis For Life.
An improving novice player had a misguided vision of what a forehand volley should be. For the last few weeks, he sort of lurched at it like a K-Mart shopper trying to snatch a discounted shirt off the rack before another shopper could.
Pet phrases like ‘No Drama Mama’ and Keep It Simple Silly (KISS) had little to no effect.
Taking hold of the fishing net in the accompanying picture like the famous Burwash suggested, I had another student toss me some balls and merely caught them with the net in a volley position.
The gentleman watched and then it was his turn…sure enough, the lurch disappeared and bingo, his volley was transformed. He was able to participate in drill class and the difference was immediate.
So, thank you, Mr. Burwash, if this was your idea, for it is both creative and game changing.
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