S&V off yesterday

[Manus Domini]

I had three perfect S&V opportunities yesterday playing someone who is at a higher level. One of them I won, the other two I lost the points cause I could not put away the overheads. How should one approach the net to S&V?

 

[LeeD]

Learn to put away any overhead within 5' of the service line. Practice overheads.
Normal first volley is just behind the service line, to just inside the service line. If you hit a strong, deep, and penetrating volley from there, move in another full step. If you hit a weak sitter volley from there, move in TWO full steps. If you hit an average volley, stay in position and anticipate a passing shot, you moving forwards. If they lob, you ANTICIPATED the pass, not moved forwards, and now standing at the service line.
Learn to hit overheads.

 

[Essential Tennis]

I had three perfect S&V opportunities yesterday playing someone who is at a higher level. One of them I won, the other two I lost the points cause I could not put away the overheads. How should one approach the net to S&V?

In my experience recreational players mess up when trying to serve and volley in one of two ways:

1) Lack of split step and balance on the way into the net. So many players hit their serve and then just bum rush into the net, thinking that they have to get as close as possible before their first volley is hit. I often hear players comment that they were too slow moving forwards after trying to hit a half volley and missing it. Don't get me wrong, being closer to the net is usually better, but not at the sacrifice of balance and preparedness when your opponent hits their return of serve or passing shot attempt. Be sure to incorporate a split step each and every time your opponent hits a shot as you move forwards and try to win the point, it's much better to be a little farther away and in balance than closer to the net and off balance.

2) Poor skills at reading the lob and closing too close to the net at the wrong time as a result. How many times have you heard doubles players or serve and volliers complain about lobs? Most of the time it's due to poor anticipation and reading of the situation that they're in, poor positioning as a result, and very often poor footwork when going back for the overhead once the lob has been hit as well. Learn to read what's coming from your opponents so that you can get a good jump on the lobs that they put up.

I've devoted full half hour podcast episodes to both of these topics! The addition or improvement of both of these skills would benefit your game a ton! Episode #90 covers serve and volley footwork and #118 covers lob anticipation and footwork. Both are in the podcast archives which is completely free.

http://www.essentialtennis.com/podcast/

Cheers

 

[LeeD]

Thanks, FREE is good.
However, easier to say...turn your stance sideways, then move back to for the ball.

 

[Manus Domini]

I'll look at (well, listen as the case may be) the podcasts tomorrow, thank you for them

Thank you, any tips on how to improve overheads/anticipation/timing split-step?

 

[Essential Tennis]

Thanks, FREE is good.
However, easier to say...turn your stance sideways, then move back to for the ball.

I agree! That is a lot easier, however there's a lot more to it than that

 

[LeeD]

Yes, alas, there is a lot more.
But the whole theory on teaching is based on attention span. If you make it too detailed and too long, your student barely remembers nothing at all!
One step at a time, KISS, make it short, make it fun.

 

[Manus Domini]

Well, I do better with more detail. Lack of detail actually confuses me.

 

[fuzz nation]

The thing about the split-step is that you either do it or you don't. As a tennis player, you want to get to the point that you do that habitual planting on the balls of your feet every time your opponent hits the ball, no matter where you are on the court.

Even when you're having and easy knockaround on the practice courts, insist on split-stepping right as the ball is being hit from the other end and you will develop a better first move toward the spot where you need to set up for your shot. I think it's important to focus on this in the same way that we all need to spend time focusing on keeping our eye on the ball. Do it enough that it becomes one of your ingrained habits.

Among other things, your split-step will allow you to turn sideways more quickly when those lobs go up in the air. Two good things happen when you get sideways. One is that you can move away from the net more effectively and get set up behind the ball in a hurry compared with facing the net and trying to back-pedal. The other is that when you get sideways and also get your racquet up around your back shoulder, your backswing is already done!

One thought I'll also throw in concerning effective serve and volley play is that you want to learn to go to net in a strong position where you have more of the initiative than your opponent. Much of this advantage will come to you if you can hit good approach shots that are nice and deep. These will often put opponents on their heels as you move forward and a deep approach will deny the other guys as much of an open angle to hit away from you.

Hope I'm not mastering the obvious on you, but I love the craftwork of S&V. If some of my ramblings above are murky or you have more questions, ask away.

 

[Manus Domini]

Thanks, couple of questions.

1} What do you mean balls of feet? do you mean back or front of feet? (I use front for split-stepping, so I'm just wondering)

2} Also, why side-step? Wouldn't running backwards when your opponent lobs make it easier to get to?

 

[jjs891]

Hey Manus Domini,
Try running backward while facing the net, then try running backward after turning your body sideways. Turning sideways wins by a mile, you can run much faster .....no comparison, really.

 

[fuzz nation]

Yep, the balls of my feet are the front halves of my feet. If my heels are unweighted and my knees flexed, I'm more ready to burst more quickly to the ball. An earlier setup makes it easier to hit a more natural, un-rushed shot more often.

 

[Blake0]

Thanks, couple of questions.

1} What do you mean balls of feet? do you mean back or front of feet? (I use front for split-stepping, so I'm just wondering)

2} Also, why side-step? Wouldn't running backwards when your opponent lobs make it easier to get to?

1. Balls of your feet means stay on your toes.

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVlr2iZa0MU. Here once federer comes in and sees the lob, his first reaction is to get sideways and take the racket up. That's what you should do right away when you see a lob. Then you get your left hand up like federer, and point at the ball. Next move your feet to get into position so you hit the ball out in front of you. Sidestepping is the easiest way to move forward and back on the court when you are facing sideways.

Moving back first and then turning sideways to hit a overhead could go wrong quite easily. You could forget to turn sideways or not have enough time to and hit the ball late/miss (whiff or out).

And the keys to serve and volleying is what essentialtennis has said. Split step and anticipating (reading). Another thing to note is to have the majority of the court covered depending on where you serve, and covering angles by moving forward diagonally instead of going sideways.

 

[Manus Domini]

Hey Manus Domini,
Try running backward while facing the net, then try running backward after turning your body sideways. Turning sideways wins by a mile, you can run much faster .....no comparison, really.

I mean sprint backwards as in sprint towards back court