It's not uncommon, even at the highest levels of the game, to see players with inconsistent forehand volleys. Even great volleyers such as Martina Navratilova and the late Arthur Ashe had trouble on that side, while their backhand volleys tended to be steadier and more reliable.

If you are having trouble with your forehand volley, chances are that your swing is too big. The next time you practice, try this:

Prepare for your volley as usual, but tuck in your elbow close to your body just as you make contact and keep it there as you finish the shot.

This does several things for you: First, it makes the shot more dependable by limiting excess motion around the time of impact, which is where forehand volleys often go wrong. By concentrating on keeping your elbow in close you'll curtail the movement of the rest of your arm; this will simplify your forehand volley.

Second, it helps keep your racquet face tilted slightly back, which prevents the ball from going into the net. And as a bonus, a slightly open racquet face adds that little bit of underspin that makes good volleys skid when they bounce. ©Miller Sports Group LLC