Net Rushing

[lwto]

I play mostly doubles.. ok only doubles and the game is basically played at the net, its played and won at the net.

Only problem,

I usally play at the baseline, coming in only when I'm very safe

I have a huge forehand, effective slice and topspin backhand and a great topspin lob.

My volleys are very effective, my mid court game is good with my volley's.

Heres the problem..

I can never get to the net. WHY?

If I tell myself I"m going to the net after I serve.. my serve goes to crap. If I don't I never get to the net unless the play is redirect.. which is often the case, opponents start picking on my net man cause my shots are very good. I need to neutralize that.

When I rush the net, ( I'm very quick) I tend to run into the ball, which means I tend to push the ball up and out. I can never seem to remember to keep my racquet up so I'm almost going down to up on my volley, which just pushes the ball up and out..

Its perplexing, I"m not sure what to do.. anything, anybody, got an idea, all suggestions will be considered!

 

[Fedace]

go to drills or take a lesson or 2. and learn to split step and volley consistantly. Go to the net in doubles even if you lose the next 7-8 matches. Just tell your partner that you are going to be even a better player and have patience while you rush the net and learn to volley. It will take you about 3-5 month to learn to volley consistantly. That is playing like 2 times per week with real matches at least once a week.

 

[lwto]

Yeah the split step concept is good.. pause, wait for the hit and react..

My volleys are good, consistant when I'm at the net.. I just get into trouble vollying on the move going to the net.

 

[Grizvok]

Yeah the split step concept is good.. pause, wait for the hit and react..

My volleys are good, consistant when I'm at the net.. I just get into trouble vollying on the move going to the net.

I'm pretty quick so I don't know about you, but when in doubles I normally had no problem just hitting a deep and heavy forehand to the returner if it is your serve and getting to net. Make your good groundstrokes count by hitting hard shots to the returner making him unable to get to net. Work the point and take a short ball on a ride and use that opportunity to get to net.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Lotta times when you try to get to the net, the ball comes right at your feet. That's just luck on the part of your opponents. Sometimes they'll get lucky 2 or 3 times in a row. Don't bail from your plan, they really aren't going to do that every time, (if they do, then stay back). Not even the correct strategy works every time, or even 90% of the time, (or even 80% of the time). But stick with it, and you'll get your share of easy high volleys than you can put away.

 

[acehole]

if you are trying to contact the ball below the height of the net on these volleys, you may be better off to slow by one or two steps, let it hit the ground, and take the quick half volley. if that gives you a good placement, finish the approach. if you are moving forward and hitting UP to get over the net it takes a soft touch and good control. maybe, if this is the case, loosen you grip slightly.

 

[LeeD]

Rushing the net is a great formula to get topspin lobbed, or slice lobbed...
No, you don't rush the net. Yes, you move forwards into approach position, and if given a higher, slower moving ball, THEN you take 2 steps forwards inside the service line and volley into the open court.....
Your approach or groundie, if hit within 2' of the baseline, you may try to crowd inside 2' of the service line.
Your approach or groundie, if hit shorter than 4' of the baseline, better get ready for a low volley, deep lob, or to cover your netman.
Key, hit deep approaches.

 

[fuzz nation]

Good transition skills are vital for getting to the net in one piece. If you hit a slower serve with more spin and kick, you'll be giving yourself a little extra time to get another step or so forward before your opponent sends the ball back your way. Even if your serve is a little less imposing, it can give you an edge when you can get closer to the net for that return.

Practice some volleys from back at the service line where you'll need to hit a few when you're moving in. Half-volleys, too. If you can guide or even drive the ball deep to the other end and leave your opponents on their heels as you advance, you'll own the net.

Don't worry so much about "huge" strokes in doubles, since half way decent volleyers that are set up at the net against you will be able to harvest lots of those for points. Hard crosscourt returns are great, but a lot of your other groundies will need to be either away from your opponents or low enough that they can't drive them back at you. Use enough precision with your shots that your opponents can't hit aggressively and when you force them to hit up into your strike zone, that's when it's time to hit big.

 

[BullDogTennis]

you dont need a partner to practice s&v!! at least the problem you seem to be having...just got out and practice serving and going forward, you'll finnally get used to it, then you gotta get used to taking a volley around the service line. then your there at the net.

 

[lwto]

Hey,

Thanks for the replies, I think everyone of these suggestions are great. I'm going to make a list here and practice everyone, at least consider..noooo, practice cause I think you all have great points.

Today I went out, and worked on it. Though my serve toss tends to be more verticle than it should be, I was able to work myself up to the net, not always in several steps, but, I did manage to approach and make some decent volleys that caused my opponent to rush alittle and net my volleys.

So I served, not a flat serve, but a hard loopey topspin serve, gave me a few more moments.. walked in, split stepped, reacted to the next shot.. took a volley, moved up.. Voila! at net!

Good stuff folks!
thanks!

 

[Tennis Aloha]

I play mostly doubles.. ok only doubles and the game is basically played at the net, its played and won at the net.

Only problem,

I usally play at the baseline, coming in only when I'm very safe

I have a huge forehand, effective slice and topspin backhand and a great topspin lob.

My volleys are very effective, my mid court game is good with my volley's.

Heres the problem..

I can never get to the net. WHY?

If I tell myself I"m going to the net after I serve.. my serve goes to crap. If I don't I never get to the net unless the play is redirect.. which is often the case, opponents start picking on my net man cause my shots are very good. I need to neutralize that.

When I rush the net, ( I'm very quick) I tend to run into the ball, which means I tend to push the ball up and out. I can never seem to remember to keep my racquet up so I'm almost going down to up on my volley, which just pushes the ball up and out..

Its perplexing, I"m not sure what to do.. anything, anybody, got an idea, all suggestions will be considered!

It seems to me that you would benefit from practicing your approach abilities. You mentioned you are fast and have good groundstrokes, that's half the battle when it comes to rushing the net. Interestingly enough, rushing the net efficiently rarely requires power only. Placement is the name of the game. What you want to get good at, is having a shot that makes your opponents move to have to hit your ball, and not only hitting the shot, but going to the net with it as well as split stepping at the right time, to avoid "running into the ball. This will allow you to hit better volleys, with more balance and with a higher probability of success.

Again what you want to improve is your approach shot. I particularly like to use two types of approach shots, one is a topspin deep shot that my opponent has to take early and two is a chip type slice low shot that makes my opponent hit the ball upward. One very important thing is to not hesitate and go to the net WITH the shot, not after the fact, as that will make a huge difference in execution of the volleys.

On the volleys themselves do not get stressed out about hitting a winner volley right after the approach. Actually that first volley you hit should be accurately placed to create an opening for your next volley, which should be the one that is more attacking and could potentially be the winner.

Hope this works for you. Here's a video that may be of some reference. Is singles, but you can see the approach clearer.

 

[Fintft]

Someone hasn't refreshed this page in a dozen years +...

 

[zaph]

I have a huge forehand, effective slice and topspin backhand and a great topspin lob.

My volleys are very effective, my mid court game is good with my volley's.

My first advice is honesty, you are describing yourself as god gift to tennis, which really don't fit with your struggles at the net in doubles.

You aint going to fix your issues unless you can be honest about your own game.