Evolution of the Volley

[Feet of Clay]

I noticed watching Gasquet vs. Wawrinka, a great match with a lot of approach shots and beautiful net forays: the winning volley is often a cross-court drop volley. The baseline player can’t get to it, or if they do they can’t take a full swing. Bread and butter play for Dustin Brown as well.

It’s not as easy to hit a deep penetrating volley with polyester strings. Dead strings and slower surfaces change the percentage play at the net.

Another trend, maybe related, a similar shot selection: the go-to response to a drop shot now is often a cross-court drop shot, right along the net. It either dies for a winner, or leaves a wide-open court and a sure point if the opponent can get to it.

It used to be a push up the line, and then crowd the net for the volley. Maybe that’s not the percentage play anymore.

 

[scotus]

Another trend, maybe related, a similar shot selection: the go-to response to a drop shot now is often a cross-court drop shot, right along the net. It either dies for a winner, or leaves a wide-open court and a sure point if the opponent can get to it.

It used to be a push up the line, and then crowd the net for the volley. Maybe that’s not the percentage play anymore.

The cross-court drop shot in response to a drop shot is overdone, especially by Djokovic. He does it even when it is wide open down-the-line and his opponent is nowhere near to cover the down-the-line shot. The cross-court counter can be done in order to surprise the opponent and hit behind him. But I think Djokovic loses too many points by making this play too predictable.

 

[JSummers]

Btw, I think OP is referring to volleys after approaching the net voluntarily, not after responding to an opponent's drop shot.
Anyway, I've observed the same thing too. But as Murray did it against Cilic and Fed so many times (aka his running forehand up the line), indeed if someone reaches the ball, it's over for the volleyer. I think it should be factored whether it is a backend or forehand side. Arguably running forehand up the line is easier to do.

 

[Pahansuopa]

Cross-court or down the line depends mainly on ball height and how close to the net you are when hitting. If you are scrambling to get to the ball and it is almost double bouncing near the net it is much easier to hit cross-court. Specially on low bouncing grass where it is also quite difficult to control your balance when moving as fast as you can. When the bounce is higher or farther from the net they do hit down the line. It is just the case that many times the drop shots are so good that it is just almost impossible to hit down the line.