Best serve for a serve and volley?

[wfudeac]

I was playing with someone last night who told me that whenever I try to hit a hard, flat serve, then come in behind it, that it really is a disadvantage, since the other person just has to block it, and it comes over almost as fast as I served it. In addition, the ball takes less time to get there, which means I have less time to get to the net before the ball comes back. No wonder all my volleys were low volleys, or I got passed before I even knew what happened!

In light of this, what types of serves are best to come in on? If I hit a slow serve and try to come in on it, won't my opponent see this and try to lob me right away? Where in the service box should I try and aim my serve?

Thanks! No wonder I was getting passed so often when trying to serve and volley!!!

 

[x Southpaw x]

Best serve for S&V is one that you keep changing. At least it's what makes my S&V successful. One serve topspin-slice, one serve twist, one serve topspin kick, one serve slice, one serve flat. I use topspin-slice and twist the most because they both kick high and into uncomfortable zones and kick in opposite directions.

Oh and if he says he can block flat bombs easily, try aiming slightly wider on his backhand side.

 

[AngeloDS]

Kick to their backhand is usually the best one.

 

[theace21]

Getting in a high percentage of first serves is the key, if puts pressure on your opponent. Variety is important, but putting pressure on your opponent by getting in the first serve is the most important. Hard flat serves don't allow you to get in as close to the net, that is why they can block them back at your feet, a slight topspin serve will let you get another step closer = easier first volley = more pressure on opponent = more cheap points...

 

[TennsDog]

Topspin serves are the best. As stated above, it is rather crucial that you change your serve (type and placement) to be effective with s/v, but I recommend using more topspin serves than anything else. You can hit it higher and slower and still have it be an effective serve overall, and those two things also give you much more time to get into net before making your first volley. Also, a topspin serve will kick up higher, making it harder for your opponent to get as much pace and placement on the return, again making it easier to make a good first volley. A flat serve will get there fast and be right in most people's strike zones, making for a good return...unless you can get it well away from them to make them chase after it and scramble to get it in play. I think slice serves are the best after topspin. Twist serve would be, but that serve tends to lack control and consistancy for most people, so it isn't a go-to serve to s/v. Obviously, anything to the backhand side will also be better for you.

 

[Serve-And-Volley]

There really is no best serve to serve and volley on. You have to keep mixing things up, a slice or kick serve are always good to use if you place them well enough. I guess if I had to pick the best one it would be the kicker into the body.

 

[thejackal]

I third variety. My friend has a decent kicker but almost never uses anything else, plus he puts it to my fh 80% of the time. When he serve and volleys, he's dogmeat.