Ashley Duke Tennis

05/07/2026

14/06/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨 𝐆𝐞𝐭

Why do so many players struggle with low volleys?

The answer is usually simple: they're too upright, their body is in the wrong position, and the racket isn't set correctly. Rather than getting underneath the ball and taking charge, they let the ball dictate to them, rather than dictating it themselves.

Stefan Edberg was arguably the greatest volleyer of all time. Just look at how low he gets. Bend your knees, stay low through the shot, keep the racket in front of your body, and get underneath the ball.

The lower the ball, the lower you need to get.

Do you struggle more with low forehand volleys or backhand volleys?

07/05/2026

𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄

Most recreational players think power comes from the arm.

It doesn’t.

The real engine of the serve is shoulder over shoulder.

Watch the great servers closely and you’ll notice something:
the front shoulder lifts up… while the hitting shoulder drops underneath it.

That creates the tilt needed for upward explosion.

And no… this does NOT mean bending the back.

The shape comes from the “V” created between:
• the legs
• the trunk
• the torso

This helps the body get the power from the ground up.

The toss can still move forward.

But the body must stay loaded behind it.

Without shoulder over shoulder, the serve becomes:
• flat
• arm-dominant
• rushed
• and forced

You don’t muscle the serve.

You build the throw from the ground up.

⬆️ front shoulder up
⬇️ hitting shoulder down
➡️ then explode upward

That’s why great servers look effortless while producing huge power.

Tilt back. Drive up.

Ashley Duke Tennis

02/05/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲

Most players struggle at the net not because of their hands… but because of their shape and timing. Keep your racket head up before, during, and after contact — this alone gives you control and stops the ball dipping into the net. Step into the ball, meet it out in front, and you’ll instantly feel more solid. Add a slight touch of slice and suddenly the volley stays low, controlled, and difficult to deal with.

Simple ingredients… big difference 🎾

19/04/2026

Private/Individual coaching in a beautiful setting. Email, DM, or reply in the comment section for more details.

19/04/2026

Love this!

Play smarter, not harder 🎾

Consistency beats power every time. Focus on high-percentage shots, control the rally, and force your opponent to make mistakes. Build your points with purpose and watch your game level up.

Which of these shots do you use the most? 👇

18/04/2026

I'm here all week!

16/04/2026

🎾 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞

Most players are told to “pronate”…

But when they try?

👉 They end up pancaking the serve

🧠 The issue isn’t pronation…

👉 It’s the grip

You need a continental (chopper) grip
👉 Base knuckle on the 2nd bevel

This allows the racket to move correctly through the swing.

👀 Look at the sequence
1. Strings to the side in trophy
2. Then the racket moves to edge
3. From there, the forearm rotates
4. And the racket finishes flat through the ball

👉 That’s pronation—nothing forced, just a natural rotation

🛠️ How to practise it
Start slowly without the ball
Feel the racket go side → edge → flat
Keep the grip the same throughout

👉 Repeat it until it starts to feel natural

🎯 Keep it simple

👉 Get the grip right
👉 Train the motion

It will feel awkward at first… that’s a good thing.

👉 Practice, practice, practice

👇 You can find the full article in the comments section