While practicing with a fellow editor from Tennis Magazine last Sunday, I started having problems controlling my volleys. I told myself that Caryn is a former collegiate player, and that all I had to do was block the ball back into play. But I was forgetting something critical: Move forward.

Critical：关键性的。很多网站是不是正处在＂a critical moment生死存亡的关头＂呢？下面是两个很老套的用法＂We must inherit in a critical way.我们要继承地批判。with critical eyes.具有批判眼光。＂再送一个有用的给你＂The list is by no means beyond critical.这张名单决不是无可挑剔的。＂

Even though your racquet work is minimal when you volley a hard shot, you still have to lean forward and get good balance. The temptation just to stick your racquet out and let the ball come to you is huge because the ball is moving fast -- but fight the temptation. By absorbing the impact of the ground stroke, I saw that my volleys were landing short in my opponent's court, sat up high, and were not effective. Plus, I was mis-hitting a lot of them.

Stick：伸出。＂If you stick to the study of English, you will surely be able to master it.如果你坚持不懈地学习英语，你一定会掌握它的。＂，如果你象＂He never sticks to anything for very long.他做任何事总不能持久。＂，那可就糟了。

After taking a deep breath and one step back, I focused on seeing the ball as well as I could, and keeping my racquet head high and in front of my body. Those are my mental queues to 'think forward, move forward, and attack' the oncoming ball. Presto! Within the next minute I was hitting my volleys more solidly and crisply. After a few more minutes, my confidence grew and I started getting more and more directional control. I even dug up a few tough low balls and got them back deep.

Presto：快板。这可对喜欢音乐的朋友们很有用呢。再告诉你一个好玩的＂Hey presto!（魔术师用语）变！＂

The next time your volley starts to let you down, be sure that you are moving forward, not simply letting the ball come to you. Even against hard-hitting opponents, it'll make a big-time difference.