3 Tips For Better Netplay

[thomas daniels]

I was watching some junior matches in Nara yesterday and it was so sad to see these junior players afraid to come into the net.

All day.

They were hitting short balls and then recovering back behind the baseline or missing their approach shots because they were going for too much on them.

That being the case and the reality of many juniors who may be reading this.

Here are 3 tips that can help you and THEM start playing better at the net in tennis matches.

1) Get in more reps.

In practice.

Most players never get in enough reps to develop their net game and then they wonder why they can't close out those points up at the net.

There isn't any getting around this fact that...

You have to get in tons of reps daily until you develop a solid net game.

2) Develop a great approach shot.

This is one of the most important things that you have to do to make your life more easy when you do come in during matches.

Because by developing a great approach shot... "You won't have to do that much when you get up there, but block the ball into the open court".

Spend more time in practice, working on developing your approach shot and gaining more confidence in using it in matches.

"Learn how to take all short balls and come in on them very quickly, but yet under control and set the point up for closing it out on your terms and never miss them during a match".

And last tip.

3) Develop a smooth transitioning game.

You must be able to transition from the baseline to the mid-court and then into the front-court during your matches.

When attacking the net.

You need better mobility and agility and a good sense of court movement and awareness during play.

Dynamic warmups seem to work best for doing this by the way.

Okay, those are my top 3 tips for developing a solid net game.

Please share yours in the comment section please and let's start a conversation!!

 

[Wise one]

Well, I hope someone's reading this!

 

[Hmgraphite1]

Sounds good, I need reps, balance and control in transition and more work on approach shot.
Hope to work on this year against particular sparing partners

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I think the single most important thing is not technique-related: it's adopting a mindset of "I will attack the net when I get a reasonable chance and I won't collapse like a cheap suit if I get passed because I know I'm going to get passed."

People might have the reps at the net, they may have great approaches, and be able to move through NML with grace and balance. But if they are unwilling to break out of their comfort zone and venture out into unknown territory, they will remain glued to the BL.

@tomato123, for example, simply decided he was going to S&V more and not worry about the point outcome. I think that's an excellent way to gain experience.

 

[Addxyz]

How about, don't be afraid to get hit when you're at the net.

 

[weelie]

For me, at the net, I accept a percentage of 50% won. At the back of the court, it is more like 70%...

I mean, I will go to the net, and I know I will be passed sometimes, and it is ok.

I think it is vital to work on the overhead. If you can hit it so well that opponent thinks twice before lobbing again, you are set! Also, I've practiced running after lobs, hitting them back in a couple of ways, and i think I am quite good at that, even though I don't play the 'tweener.

Too much of the practice is hitting longer volleys. Drop volleys are where it is at in singles (for me). I think it is a great drill to hit an overhead followed by a drop volley (need somebody to feed a lob and a pass, lob, pass, lob, pass...).

YMMV, I am no coach or expert.

 

[zalive]

How about three instant winner tips for rec players? We hate reps, man!

 

[Nadal shall rise again]

Start incorporating reflex-volleys into your warmup, this alone will go a long way

 

[Username_]

if anything, thomas daniels is a better teacher than TTPS

 

[tennis_balla]

This isn’t the players fault rather a coaching matter where not all aspects of the players game is worked on during training.

 

[J011yroger]

tldr: Practice gets you better.

J

 

[pencilcheck]

I would say that carelessly rush in the net will also hurt you, it is not just reps, I would say it is about practice the timing to rush in would be the most important thing to boost your confidence in net play. Then once you get the timing, then it is about the technique to slice or do approaching shots.

 

[thomas daniels]

How about, don't be afraid to get hit when you're at the net.

Yeah, I forgot that one!!

 

[thomas daniels]

This isn’t the players fault rather a coaching matter where not all aspects of the players game is worked on during training.

Same here.

 

[styksnstryngs]

Heeeeeeeeee's back!

 

[Stretchy Man]

The 3 tips are to practice, and to improve my skills, mobility and agility?! Do you think this is going to help anyone?

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I would say that carelessly rush in the net will also hurt you, it is not just reps, I would say it is about practice the timing to rush in would be the most important thing to boost your confidence in net play. Then once you get the timing, then it is about the technique to slice or do approaching shots.

At the very least, "carelessly rushing the net" will at least expose you to what NOT to do. IMO, this beats staying on the BL and waiting for the perfect opportunity.

 

[pencilcheck]

At the very least, "carelessly rushing the net" will at least expose you to what NOT to do. IMO, this beats staying on the BL and waiting for the perfect opportunity.

If you want to do the hard way, feel free. No one is stopping you from rushing the net every now and then and get passed almost all the time.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

If you want to do the hard way, feel free. No one is stopping you from rushing the net every now and then and get passed almost all the time.

You did see my username, right? I don't just rush the net "every now and then".

I think my way is the easy way, if you define "easy" as gaining as much experience as possible in the shortest amount of time.

If getting passed is a problem, then my way is definitely not "easy".

 

[pencilcheck]

You did see my username, right? I don't just rush the net "every now and then".

I think my way is the easy way, if you define "easy" as gaining as much experience as possible in the shortest amount of time.

If getting passed is a problem, then my way is definitely not "easy".

Yea, getting a very very good serve is crucial for S&V, I bet you worked really hard on your serve then

 

[zalive]

Yea, getting a very very good serve is crucial for S&V, I bet you worked really hard on your serve then

There's no s&v without a serve to back it up. It's kind of understood.
However, rushing the net outside of s&v-ing is what's particularly exciting, interesting, complex, full of art...or at least in my view

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Yea, getting a very very good serve is crucial for S&V, I bet you worked really hard on your serve then

I have a mediocre serve, which I'm striving to improve. However, even that is good enough to win points when my opponent doesn't make the return, which happens more often than you might think.

What I do have is a good net game, including OHs. So my opponent can't just hit easier, high % returns because he knows I will attack them. So he has to take more chances and that creates the "cat and mouse" dynamic that I like. I get passed plenty, believe you me.

 

[zalive]

I have a mediocre serve, which I'm striving to improve. However, even that is good enough to win points when my opponent doesn't make the return, which happens more often than you might think.

What I do have is a good net game, including OHs. So my opponent can't just hit easier, high % returns because he knows I will attack them. So he has to take more chances and that creates the "cat and mouse" dynamic that I like. I get passed plenty, believe you me.

If you control serve placement well it will serve the purpose. Returners are dangerous when ball lands in their favourite range, much less if they have to move much to return it.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

If you control serve placement well it will serve the purpose. Returners are dangerous when ball lands in their favourite range, much less if they have to move much to return it.

I try to avoid being too predictable unless my opponent has a significant weakness, in which case I will attack that weakness until he can counter. At that point, I don't care if he knows where I'm serving.

 

[zalive]

That includes mixing flat and kickers for a first serve?

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

That includes mixing flat and kickers for a first serve?

Definitely. Anything to disrupt them as long as it's not causing me to fault too much.

 

[zalive]

Definitely. Anything to disrupt them as long as it's not causing me to fault too much.

Nice tactics, this definitely disrupts any rythm of the receiver.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Nice tactics, this definitely disrupts any rhythm of the receiver.

I [4.5] played a 5.0 recently and lost 2&4 but he did tell me after that my S&V game prevented him from getting into a rhythm. I was pleased that I played one set where there was only a one break differential.

 

[pencilcheck]

How fast is your serve on average?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

How fast is your serve on average?

I've only had it clocked once: It was in the high 80s/low 90s. I concentrate more on placement and spin as I see more RoI than trying to boost speed.