dennis10is
Banned
Johnny Mac, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg are now competitive at the Men's 3.5 level.
Does that answer your question?
Does that answer your question?
does serve and volley have more of a place at the NTRP level? (as compared to pros)
- Thread starter barnes1172
- Start date
Steady Eddy
Legend
Serve and volley has never worked for me. I play alot of doubles, so I'm used to being at the net. But when I come to the net in singles, I nearly always get in trouble.
I'm only 5' 7", and some ground strokes are over my head. They're not lobs. I turn around to see if they'll go out, but they almost always land in. A really good player would smash 'em, but I don't even wind up making a play at it.
BTW, I don't see many week end players who can race back well for smashes. Some can do it when the ball comes right to them, but not otherwise. I think this is why charging the net doesn't work so well for most players.
I'm only 5' 7", and some ground strokes are over my head. They're not lobs. I turn around to see if they'll go out, but they almost always land in. A really good player would smash 'em, but I don't even wind up making a play at it.
BTW, I don't see many week end players who can race back well for smashes. Some can do it when the ball comes right to them, but not otherwise. I think this is why charging the net doesn't work so well for most players.
Notice the thread above, none of them are 5'7" tall.
Tough to exclusively play S/V when you're Rochus/Barasetchi tall. Not only lobs, but think of the lack of reach you have to cover passing shots. Only low volleys are easier for 5'7" people.
Now, if you're 6'10" tall, it's hard to play baseline tennis because of all the changes of direction involved, and you're really susceptible to shots hit right at your feet. Give them enough chances, they WILL hit to a tall guys feet.
Tough to exclusively play S/V when you're Rochus/Barasetchi tall. Not only lobs, but think of the lack of reach you have to cover passing shots. Only low volleys are easier for 5'7" people.
Now, if you're 6'10" tall, it's hard to play baseline tennis because of all the changes of direction involved, and you're really susceptible to shots hit right at your feet. Give them enough chances, they WILL hit to a tall guys feet.
mightyrick
Legend
And that is the take away. At your basic recreational levels... 3.0, 3.5, and most 4.0... S&V just won't work that well. In the last three years, I've played exactly one player in USTA who has managed to be moderately successful with an S&V game. He's a NTRP 4.0. He is 6 foot 4 inches tall.
I've seen many others try and fail. Most just don't have the necessary skill with serves or strokes.
I think carefully chosen opportunities to play the net are great -- especially if you pull the opponent off court. But other than that, I just can't see it.
Problem here... you guys are basing this on what YOU have seen, which is not much in the whole shebang of things.
Sure, plenty of 3.5's cannot make S/V work.
I know of one who played exclusively S/V, blew thru 3.5 in two tourneys, passed on B's (4.5), and went on to about a 50% win ratio in A/Opens, including a better win loss ratio in 2 Q's.
Some 3.5's can't volley and can't cover overheads.
Other 3.5's can't be bothered with groundstrokes, hitting passing shots no matter where the opponent is.
Sure, plenty of 3.5's cannot make S/V work.
I know of one who played exclusively S/V, blew thru 3.5 in two tourneys, passed on B's (4.5), and went on to about a 50% win ratio in A/Opens, including a better win loss ratio in 2 Q's.
Some 3.5's can't volley and can't cover overheads.
Other 3.5's can't be bothered with groundstrokes, hitting passing shots no matter where the opponent is.
Steady Eddy
Legend
I've spent nearly all my court time in doubles. I never really have a sparing partner, I do drop-in events, (or men's night), at any rate, it's always doubles. This is probably different from most people, who start out rallying and don't really get comfortable with net play.
I'm going to start playing serve & volley, (or approach & volley). Unlike most hackers, I love hitting overheads, and I can read where most people are going to hit their shot. Tennis will still be a game of errors, but being at the net, (or even at the service line), might cause opponents to make lots of errors. Even an ordinary volley comes back quicker than a ball from the baseline, that too will make many players have to hurry their shots, IMO.
(I don't really want to go to the net after my serve, but I'd be will to for any shot my opponent has to hit from behind the baseline. Maybe moonball and volley?
)
I'm going to start playing serve & volley, (or approach & volley). Unlike most hackers, I love hitting overheads, and I can read where most people are going to hit their shot. Tennis will still be a game of errors, but being at the net, (or even at the service line), might cause opponents to make lots of errors. Even an ordinary volley comes back quicker than a ball from the baseline, that too will make many players have to hurry their shots, IMO.
(I don't really want to go to the net after my serve, but I'd be will to for any shot my opponent has to hit from behind the baseline. Maybe moonball and volley?
)
Steady Eddy
Legend
^^Fridays and Saturdays I work mornings. Other days I have mornings open.
LakeSnake
Professional
Maybe we could hook up on Wednesdays. If interested, drop me a line through my profile.
dennis10is
Banned
S&V is effective at the rec level until your rev level game is better than Sampras at his peak, playing with his custom PS85 strung with gut.
Now once, you are above that level, the jury is out as to whether S&V'ing is effective.
It appears that according to most poster boaster here, they believe that their game has surpassed Sampras in his prime so they no longer consider SV'ing to be effective.
Poster boasters here believes that what works for the top 100 men's player on the tour applies to them. I guess it is because their games are so similar.
Now once, you are above that level, the jury is out as to whether S&V'ing is effective.
It appears that according to most poster boaster here, they believe that their game has surpassed Sampras in his prime so they no longer consider SV'ing to be effective.
Poster boasters here believes that what works for the top 100 men's player on the tour applies to them. I guess it is because their games are so similar.
winstonlim8
Professional
Same for me except Number 3. And my goal is a little less lofty. I just want to survive being an all-court player because I know for sure I'all have a heart attack trying to play exclusively SV or Baseline Grinding.
torpantennis
Legend
Approaching net and S&V is more effective at rec level than pro tour due to the single biggest difference between rec players and pros. And IMO that's not quality of strokes, returns or passing shots. It's the speed and the footwork, where rec players easily lack the most.
We've all seen these hard hitting 3.0-4.0 players who can hit a perfect stroke in practices when positioned properly. Put them into a match situation however and they fail miserably, due to slow movement and poor footwork. OTOH, I've seen top100 pros playing matches from the first row. Their speed and footwork is amazing!
Nadal can hit the impossible passing shots due to his speed and footwork, not due to his superior hitting technique. If I were gives Nadal's footwork, I would succeed in his passing shots 2-3/10, but if I were given Nadal's FH and BH, I'd never hit those passing shots!
We've all seen these hard hitting 3.0-4.0 players who can hit a perfect stroke in practices when positioned properly. Put them into a match situation however and they fail miserably, due to slow movement and poor footwork. OTOH, I've seen top100 pros playing matches from the first row. Their speed and footwork is amazing!
Nadal can hit the impossible passing shots due to his speed and footwork, not due to his superior hitting technique. If I were gives Nadal's footwork, I would succeed in his passing shots 2-3/10, but if I were given Nadal's FH and BH, I'd never hit those passing shots!
