Quickest way to improve Serve & Volley
- Thread starter GN-001
- Start date
MajesticMoose
Hall of Fame
I typically don't like hitting deep volleys down the middle unless it's open. Good baseliners can run around and hit forehands up the line or inside out and burn ya. Or have plenty of time to setup an offensive lob.
I prefer to get them on the run by chasing the angles down.
I prefer to get them on the run by chasing the angles down.
Shouldn't you tune your volley placement based on the skills of the baseline player you're attacking?
Really quick fast dudes, volley deep directly AT them.
Really tall dudes who reach everything inside the alleys with just two steps, volley directly inside their reach.
MajesticMoose
Hall of Fame
All the short fast players I play have a hard time hitting on the run trying to hit a passer. I could go right at them or angle it. Depends on my position and the angle of the incoming ball.
Bender
G.O.A.T.
Once you really get the fact that S&V is a transition to the net, and not a kamikaze charge to the net as @SinjinCooper said, one of the first things you end up doing is split stepping at around the service line to hit transition volleys before finishing up at net. That was crucial for me to improve a nonexistent S&V game to a working one (but still mediocre).
MajesticMoose
Hall of Fame
If you can't hit a decent 1st volley from around the service line to be able to set yourself up in a winning % for the next volley, you'll be in deep schit.
Yeah great advise guys.
I'm still kamikazing into the net and hitting the volley inside the service line. It's a habit that I really need to break. I instinctly feel like I always need to kill the first volley hence I always rush to the net. Also why I never get to really practice my guiding volley.
When I watch Sampras, he doesn't even hurry into the net before split stepping. He only hurries once he sees where the ball is going and AFTER he split steps.
I'm still kamikazing into the net and hitting the volley inside the service line. It's a habit that I really need to break. I instinctly feel like I always need to kill the first volley hence I always rush to the net. Also why I never get to really practice my guiding volley.
When I watch Sampras, he doesn't even hurry into the net before split stepping. He only hurries once he sees where the ball is going and AFTER he split steps.
D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
generally agree...
just correcting to avoid perpetuating a common myth...
you are not split stepping "around the service line" you are split stepping at or around your opponents contact, which may or may not mean you're splitting around the service line (ie depending on the serve/return/foot speed)
when i "serve big" (for me
) sometimes i'm splitting 2-3ft before the service line
MajesticMoose
Hall of Fame
Yeah so you definately don't want to be picking out a spot on the court to split step. Just no no no. Like tennis addict said, your split step may vary on the court depending on how fast you're serving and when your opponent is making contact on the ROS. Sometimes it may be a step or two inside the service line which is getting close to the net or it could be a couple steps before the service line. Or anywhere in between.
Also be sure to trace the ball with your body. Don't come rushing into the very center of the court but instead trace the ball and follow the direction of it. You should be in an off-center like position.
Also be sure to trace the ball with your body. Don't come rushing into the very center of the court but instead trace the ball and follow the direction of it. You should be in an off-center like position.
SinjinCooper
Hall of Fame
I'd urge you to pop over to the "has any tw poster helped you" thread, where Yandell is dishing out free one week passes to tennisplayer.net. Go to the Tour Strokes section, and read the Peter Smith piece on "Pete Sampras and the Two-Step Volley."
I skimmed through the whole thread but dont see where he is dishing out the free one week pass? I do see his email though. Am I suppose to email him?
I remember coming across a few articles from tennisplayer.net in the past and they were indeed very helpful.
SinjinCooper
Hall of Fame
Yeah, I don't see it there any more. Musta been a limited time offer. But yeah, you could message him -- he's a real helpful guy. Or, bad comes to worse, the premium stuff on the site comes with a free trial period.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
https://www.tennisplayer.net
user=TWTplayer
password=TWTplayer
He said it was good for a week but I don't recall exactly when he posted. Start reading!
I've just finished reading pete's two step volley and The Serve and Volley mentality by Kyle Lacroix. Any recommendations on what else to read? it doesnt have to be serve and volley specific. Any article that has open your eyes in some way?
SinjinCooper
Hall of Fame
I'll take a look later, but that one stuck in my mind. But don't overread. Study few things, but the right things, then practice the bejeezus out of them.
