Change service mechanics for serve-and-volley?

[time_fly]

I hate doing serve-and-volley, and my biggest obstacle is that I feel like coming out of my natural service motion I am not immediately ready to run forward. I tend to automatically recover from my serve to more of a ready position, and that split second it takes to transition to running forward costs me court position.

What is the recommended way to follow through on a serve-and-volley to best be prepared to move forward? Does anyone use two different techniques for serve-and-volley (planning to rush forward after serve) versus normal serve (preparing to move laterally or back) and what's the difference?

 

[Enga]

I used to actually have a problem when not serve and volleying, because I used a pinpoint stance serve that would bring me far into the court, sometimes putting me out of position to cover the court. When I started having left knee issues, I started using a platform service stance to help manage the weight I was putting on my left knee, which as a side effect kept me closer to the baseline and I had a quicker recovery for side to side movement. So maybe the answer for you is to try a pinpoint service stance? I know that Edberg and Laver used that.

Otherwise, I guess getting further into the court is mostly about leaning into the court more during the ball toss. Pros who used a more wide platform stance tend to have their back to the court so they can lean into the court more while they toss the ball, you cant do that if your back is pointing to the fence as it will just take you sideways.

 

[LeeD]

Even the pros naturally stop in ready position, then force themselves to move forwards after serving.
This is due to the fact that modern tennis player's favor staying back after serving.
Old S/V types always moved forwards after serving, and were confused if they had to stay back on weak second serves.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

far from being an expert s&v'er, but i do quite a bit in singles and doubles... my service technique... is the same for s&v or baseline
regarding "costs me court position".... where do you expect to be at contact?
i used to think like you (ie. need to get to at least the service line to make my first volley), but when i studied sampras videos, i realized he was often volleying from 2-3 feet behind the service line (when he wasn't hitting outright aces or forced errors)

my guess is that you (and i used to be in this camp), aren't very good at volleying, so would rely on a "big" serve to setup an easier sitter... but in order to take advantage of the "sitter" i needed to get inside the baseline. this mode of thinking worked in the 3.5 and even 4.0 levels, but by 4.5 i was getting a decent number of my serves solidly returned to me... and they weren't sitters. So rather than think about "take advantage of the easy volley",... my mindset shifted to, "focus on the best possible serve, presume i'm getting the ball back, and be in the best balance i can be when it does"... which often meant split stepping almost immediately after the serve (unless i kick it) and making contact well before the service.

 

[SinjinCooper]

If you're hitting a decent serve, you're already landing moving forward, on the foot of your non-racquet side. A good landing on any serve makes it seem like you're striding into the court as you land.

If you want to serve and volley, just keep striding instead of going straight to a split step. Most of history's successful S&V'ers typically used a rhythm where they would land, take two steps, then split (Mac, Edberg, Rafter -- all used this footwork pattern well in excess of 90% of the time). Taller guys with a really good leans or long strides sometimes landed, then one step and a split. Sampras was the most noteworthy practitioner.

For purposes of understanding S&V footwork, it's best to just ignore everything before Mac's era, since the rules on how you were allowed to serve were different then. Still plenty to learn from watching those guys volley, but the rules crippled them as they served, so it's not footwork you want to copy -- why intentionally cripple yourself?

If you're NOT already serving so that the first sentence describes how you're landing, then you've got work to do on your service motion. But as long as you are, there's no need to change anything other than your footwork.

If you ARE, then just start working it into your practice serves. Serve-land-two-three-split...walk back to the baseline and serve again. It won't take long to make it second nature. Just assume the service motion doesn't end till you split, whichever strategy you're employing.

Typical landings...

 

[Lance L]

My comment is less about the feet, and about the serve itself.
If you have a dominant first serve that can usually generate a weak reply, then that is great.
If not my experience is serving hard is not helpful, and you want a slower serve. Let me explain.

Assumption: At the good rec level, guys are pretty good at returning hardish serves that have low spin and are not much of a reach. We all see it. Really hard serve(for us), returner sticks his racquet out, makes decent contact and is rewarded with a surprisingly good return.
I've found that a spin serve works better, most guys have a harder time returning it, and the slower pace gives more time to get to the net.
Also a moderate paced serve that is placed well in a corner. It likely won't earn a winner, but it is likely to get you a weakish return.

 

[LeeD]

Ah, the age old discussion between Dr.Ivo and David Ferrer, which serve is more effective.

 

[chikoo]

You need to serve intelligently so that the only place opponent can return is over the center net of the court. Now if one uses the body weight, it will push you to go down automatically ready for a drop volley shot.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I hate doing serve-and-volley, and my biggest obstacle is that I feel like coming out of my natural service motion I am not immediately ready to run forward. I tend to automatically recover from my serve to more of a ready position, and that split second it takes to transition to running forward costs me court position.

What is the recommended way to follow through on a serve-and-volley to best be prepared to move forward? Does anyone use two different techniques for serve-and-volley (planning to rush forward after serve) versus normal serve (preparing to move laterally or back) and what's the difference?

I think a pro's finish position is pretty much the same whether he's going to S&V or not: it's into the court and forward-leaning. If he decides to S&V, he keeps moving forward. If he doesn't, he has to stop and recover backwards.

It sounds like you have the opposite problem. You'll want to work more on throwing yourself into the ball with your legs which, in combination with a more aggressive toss, will get you moving forward.

I S&V most of the time and I don't think I have two different finishes [although I might very well get lazy when I know I'm not Sing&Ving and not push forward as much].

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

far from being an expert s&v'er, but i do quite a bit in singles and doubles... my service technique... is the same for s&v or baseline
regarding "costs me court position".... where do you expect to be at contact?
i used to think like you (ie. need to get to at least the service line to make my first volley), but when i studied sampras videos, i realized he was often volleying from 2-3 feet behind the service line (when he wasn't hitting outright aces or forced errors)

my guess is that you (and i used to be in this camp), aren't very good at volleying, so would rely on a "big" serve to setup an easier sitter... but in order to take advantage of the "sitter" i needed to get inside the baseline. this mode of thinking worked in the 3.5 and even 4.0 levels, but by 4.5 i was getting a decent number of my serves solidly returned to me... and they weren't sitters. So rather than think about "take advantage of the easy volley",... my mindset shifted to, "focus on the best possible serve, presume i'm getting the ball back, and be in the best balance i can be when it does"... which often meant split stepping almost immediately after the serve (unless i kick it) and making contact well before the service.

Well-stated. I'd rather be in balance and hitting my 1st volley from NML than out of balance in front of the SL. Many coaches will teach you that volleying in NML is a sin to be avoided which is only possible if you can teleport from the BL to the SL. Otherwise, a fast serve and a fast return guarantees you will have your share of volleys in NML. I ignore *where* I am when I split-step but *when* my opponent makes contact.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

My comment is less about the feet, and about the serve itself.
If you have a dominant first serve that can usually generate a weak reply, then that is great.
If not my experience is serving hard is not helpful, and you want a slower serve. Let me explain.

Assumption: At the good rec level, guys are pretty good at returning hardish serves that have low spin and are not much of a reach. We all see it. Really hard serve(for us), returner sticks his racquet out, makes decent contact and is rewarded with a surprisingly good return.
I've found that a spin serve works better, most guys have a harder time returning it, and the slower pace gives more time to get to the net.
Also a moderate paced serve that is placed well in a corner. It likely won't earn a winner, but it is likely to get you a weakish return.

I agree. I think this was one key variable in M. Zverev beating Murray at the AO: a well-placed, slower, spin serve that got him into the net. it was a joy to watch as a practitioner of the art.

 

[NLBwell]

For two of the best serves in history as well as two of the best serve-and-volley games, you can watch this:

Both step across with their back foot into the court as they serve.

Edberg lands on his front foot with his back foot staying back and then stepping through.

You can do it either way, but in any case, the body motion is going forward with the weight moving over the front foot. The foot landing in the court is not a brake to the motion.
(I thought it was interesting how much Edberg actually stepped across his body (parallel to the baseline) because he tosses the ball so far behind his head.)

 

[snvplayer]

I hate doing serve-and-volley, and my biggest obstacle is that I feel like coming out of my natural service motion I am not immediately ready to run forward. I tend to automatically recover from my serve to more of a ready position, and that split second it takes to transition to running forward costs me court position.

What is the recommended way to follow through on a serve-and-volley to best be prepared to move forward? Does anyone use two different techniques for serve-and-volley (planning to rush forward after serve) versus normal serve (preparing to move laterally or back) and what's the difference?

This does require some practice so that you neither rush through your motion nor retreat back to the baseline. You want to complete the service motion then move forward to the net. Some might toss a little more to the front, but you want the same technique and motion..

So the answer, i guess is no you don't change mechanics just to serve-volley, and you need to practice..

 

[PhrygianDominant]

This might be wrong, but I definitely lean in more and keep going when I serve and volley. The change is more in my upper body though. I am sort of falling into the court on purpose.

Sent from my SM-G901F using Tapatalk

 

[Bagumbawalla]

Well, to simplify things, this is what I suggest for some practice- go to a practice wall, put a mark about 6" above the "net line" and serve to that point. As the ball rebounded, follow your momentum forward and half volley the ball back up over the "net". Keep moving up and volley the ball now- and keep the volley going as long as you can. Rinse and repeat,

In actual play you would prefer to come in on a weak return. To elicit a weak return, you need to serve well. So, Wes, if you intend to serve and volley, you need to practice serving for speed and placement. Serve wide, into the body or go for an ace near the center line. If you are not up to this, I would postpone s/v until wou have more control. If, however, your opponent is not so good- then just go for it.

 

[NLBwell]

Well, to simplify things, this is what I suggest for some practice- go to a practice wall, put a mark about 6" above the "net line" and serve to that point. As the ball rebounded, follow your momentum forward and half volley the ball back up over the "net". Keep moving up and volley the ball now- and keep the volley going as long as you can. Rinse and repeat,

In actual play you would prefer to come in on a weak return. To elicit a weak return, you need to serve well. So, Wes, if you intend to serve and volley, you need to practice serving for speed and placement. Serve wide, into the body or go for an ace near the center line. If you are not up to this, I would postpone s/v until wou have more control. If, however, your opponent is not so good- then just go for it.

I actually did this all the time when I was growing up (for hours at a time). I ended up with an excellent half-volley but my normal first volleys were never good. I was much more comfortable if the opponent hit a screaming return at my feet than a soft floater. This actually became more and more of a problem as I dropped in level as I got older and more injured. I got a lot more floaters and I couldn't physically adjust as quickly.
This is great practice, but you need to maintain balance - especially on your head. Don't drop your head down and in front of your body (reaching down and forward) because you know the ball is going to be down at your feet.