Serve and Volley Help

TennisCJC

Legend
I find that I'm better off transitioning to the net in 2 or 3 shots, rather than rushing through no man's land only to get a volley at my feet or have to ball go over my head and going to fast to turn around . What are your thoughts? What's worked and what hasn't?

A key element of S&V or just approaching the net is you must never be "going too fast to turn around". You must train yourself to split/stutter step at your opponents contact so you are balanced and ready to move in any direction based on where your opponent hits the ball. Even if you are a few feet behind the service line when you S&V or approach, you must split step at your opponents contact. After your split step, you will move toward the ball - either forward to a volley/half-volley or back for a smash. Your split step doesn't have to be a huge hop. Simply pausing and getting your weight on the balls of your feet ready to move in any direction is sufficient. This is counter intuitive to many as I've seen many players that simply run through their opponents contact. You must believe in this technique, commit to it and practice it.
 

Curious

G.O.A.T.
A key element of S&V or just approaching the net is you must never be "going too fast to turn around". You must train yourself to split/stutter step at your opponents contact so you are balanced and ready to move in any direction based on where your opponent hits the ball. Even if you are a few feet behind the service line when you S&V or approach, you must split step at your opponents contact. After your split step, you will move toward the ball - either forward to a volley/half-volley or back for a smash. Your split step doesn't have to be a huge hop. Simply pausing and getting your weight on the balls of your feet ready to move in any direction is sufficient. This is counter intuitive to many as I've seen many players that simply run through their opponents contact. You must believe in this technique, commit to it and practice it.
But there is such a tiny bit of time to realize your opponent lobs that it's usually too late to paddle back for a smash, of course unless you really pause at the split step.
 

IowaGuy

Hall of Fame
But there is such a tiny bit of time to realize your opponent lobs that it's usually too late to paddle back for a smash, of course unless you really pause at the split step.

You might be closing down too far on the net, if you're having trouble recovering for lobs.

Where is your volley position relative to the service line/net?

Over time, you'll also likely get better at anticipating lobs...

Ian has a decent video on this, his mindset is that you should welcome lobs:

 

Dan R

Professional
A key element of S&V or just approaching the net is you must never be "going too fast to turn around". You must train yourself to split/stutter step at your opponents contact so you are balanced and ready to move in any direction based on where your opponent hits the ball. Even if you are a few feet behind the service line when you S&V or approach, you must split step at your opponents contact. After your split step, you will move toward the ball - either forward to a volley/half-volley or back for a smash. Your split step doesn't have to be a huge hop. Simply pausing and getting your weight on the balls of your feet ready to move in any direction is sufficient. This is counter intuitive to many as I've seen many players that simply run through their opponents contact. You must believe in this technique, commit to it and practice it.


Key point here is that the split step isn't a big hop and two foot landing. It's not like the split step at the baseline. As you say it's to set you up to move in any direction but also to slow down a bit to hit a clean volley. I will run through a floater though without a split step sometimes. I watched every video of serve and volley players I can find and the split step is very fluid.
 

Curious

G.O.A.T.
Recent breakthrough in S&V!!
The key to success is to be able to slow down significantly approaching the net for the first volley while the opponent is making contact with the ball. I started winning most of the points focusing on this.
 
D

Deleted member 23235

Guest
Recent breakthrough in S&V!!
The key to success is to be able to slow down significantly approaching the net for the first volley while the opponent is making contact with the ball. I started winning most of the points focusing on this.

more like a “collect your balance” move to be able to change direction quickly.... I often end up doing like a shuffle rather than a split step


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S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah that’s the one. I used to run to the net like a mad bull!

There's a time and a place for that: when I hit a good volley in doubles and expect a weak reply, I'm closing to the net to be able to pounce on the next one. But I rarely do this in singles since the lob is the most obvious reply; in doubles, I can gamble since I know my partner is covering me.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
Developing tolerance and skill to having to volley from outside the box seems like an important step. I still have the hesitation as to whether I shoud try to hit a low volley or half volley.

You've hit on a very important point: practice that first transition volley a lot rather than just standing up at the net.

As to your V vs HV question, take a look at this video, especially the part starting at 8:09:

 
D

Deleted member 23235

Guest
Developing tolerance and skill to having to volley from outside the box seems like an important step. I still have the hesitation as to whether I shoud try to hit a low volley or half volley.

that’s why I practice all my warmup volleys from behind the service line.

most folks who can’t volley, either don’t come up to net or sick their nose 3in from the net... in an effort to hide the fact that they can’t volley.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
that’s why I practice all my warmup volleys from behind the service line.

most folks who can’t volley, either don’t come up to net or sick their nose 3in from the net... in an effort to hide the fact that they can’t volley.

+1

Sure signs that they won't be a factor at the net. Another one is when they want to hit OHs from only 5' from the net and if the lob goes past that they let it go and roll their eyes because "I lack control of my lobs".
 

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
If you can overcome a lob by using a overhead, then serve and volley or chip and charge like I always do at 100% to shorten the points. Not interested in rally.
 

Curious

G.O.A.T.
You've hit on a very important point: practice that first transition volley a lot rather than just standing up at the net.

As to your V vs HV question, take a look at this video, especially the part starting at 8:09:

Thanks for the video. It helps clear my hesitation about hitting a volley or a half volley.
 

IowaGuy

Hall of Fame
that’s why I practice all my warmup volleys from behind the service line.

Thanks for the video. It helps clear my hesitation about hitting a volley or a half volley.

Can also practice half-volleys during mini-tennis warmup.

Instead of topspinning everything during mini-tennis, I use a conti grip to half-volley some shots, standing around the service line, to practice my touch/control...
 

coupergear

Professional
My ground strokes are really good - my instructor says my forehand is 5.0 and my crosscourt backhand is 5.0 (down the line and slice are not as good). My volleys are probably not as good maybe 4.0 (at best), and my overhead needs a lot of work cancebut is coming along. So I"m working on those those big time. Serve is good. My decision making is not very good - I think too much.

I don't understand the difference between the various models?
If you're truly getting close to 5.0 groundies, not sure you need to develop snv game--unless just for interest sake. Most agree that 5.0 groundies neutralize snv, unless you have really special net skills. So from a competitive standpoint... stick with the groundstrokes and short putaways.
 
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