1. Sharapova stands sideways to the net with a wide base and her weight on her back foot.
Few players hit the swinging forehand volley as often, or as well, as Maria Sharapova. She has practiced it since she was a child, and it has become an even more important shot since she suffered a shoulder injury more than five years ago, because it puts less stress on her shoulder than an overhead. She starts with her head and eyes up and looking at the ball. Her racquet is back and her left arm is extended to help maintain her balance.
2. As she begins to shift her weight forward, her eyes remain fixed on the ball.
A lot of club players lead with the racquet head when they swing. If you’re swinging freely and properly, the butt cap of the racquet is going to accelerate first, as shown here, and the rest of the frame will whip around. Notice that the butt cap points up at the ball, which is now in view above Sharapova’s head and out in front of her. Her left arm drops to the side as her body rotates into the shot.
