Serve & Volley net approach

[zdepth]

Hi...

Can any super experts on S&V here tell me how do I approach the net
after my serve & what should I do on the first & second volley. Basically
everything from right after the serve to the last winning volley. I would
like a clear explanation on the below:

1. where on the court should I move to wait for the first volley & why

2. if i'm super fast with my legs, should i move as front as possible
to the net on the first volley?

3. I find it extremely important in anticipating the incoming passing direction
by looking at my opponents body language & movements prior to their
hitting. I always lock my eyes on them after my serve & after my first
volley (if i cant kill on my 1st volley). Anyone can gimme more solid tips
on this subject especially on closing up the angles & gaps from the
opponent?


Replies from pure serve & volley players that serve & volley on every
point would be highly appreciated ... hehe

 

[TonyB]

1. where on the court should I move to wait for the first volley & why

You don't wait for the first volley. You move forward towards the center T (adjust your position towards the alley if your serve goes out wide) and split-step when your opponent hits the ball. Move forward if possible to volley the ball. Don't just stand there.

2. if i'm super fast with my legs, should i move as front as possible
to the net on the first volley?

Not always. If your opponent likes to lob, you might want to go a bit slower until you can determine the best course of action. Remember, you can CLOSE on the net a lot faster than you can back up.

Also, if your opponent is consistently pounding heavy topspin returns at your feet, you might want to take it a bit slower so you can get an easier half volley instead of trying to rush forward to dig the volley out at your feet.

3. I find it extremely important in anticipating the incoming passing direction
by looking at my opponents body language & movements prior to their
hitting. I always lock my eyes on them after my serve & after my first
volley (if i cant kill on my 1st volley). Anyone can gimme more solid tips
on this subject especially on closing up the angles & gaps from the
opponent?

Nope. As you said, just watch your opponent's movements, body position, and swing speed in order to judge the return. And try to make mental notes of his returns: how strong are they, are they usually crosscourt or DTL, how high are they, etc.



Playing a Serve & Volley style is not done "by the book." It's largely a matter of feel and experience. You can't tell someone how to do it, they just have to learn through repetition. You will get passed. A lot. You will also have to dig volleys out from your feet, as well as having to reverse course and track down a lob-return. You'll have to hit all sorts of volleys when you're off-balance, wrong-footed, and out of position. Nobody can TELL you what to do in those situations. And they happen a lot, trust me. You rarely get the textbook first volley that you can step into and drive into the open court.

 

[nfor304]

Hi...

Can any super experts on S&V here tell me how do I approach the net
after my serve & what should I do on the first & second volley. Basically
everything from right after the serve to the last winning volley. I would
like a clear explanation on the below:

1. where on the court should I move to wait for the first volley & why

2. if i'm super fast with my legs, should i move as front as possible
to the net on the first volley?

3. I find it extremely important in anticipating the incoming passing direction
by looking at my opponents body language & movements prior to their
hitting. I always lock my eyes on them after my serve & after my first
volley (if i cant kill on my 1st volley). Anyone can gimme more solid tips
on this subject especially on closing up the angles & gaps from the
opponent?


Replies from pure serve & volley players that serve & volley on every
point would be highly appreciated ... hehe

I serve and volley maybe 75% of first serves and maybe 30-40% of second serves every match I play.

1. You need to follow the serve to the net. So if you serve down the T you should be heading towards the T on your side, If you go out wide you should come in slighly wider etc. Try and close as quickly as possible then split step when your opponent strikes the ball.

2. The closer you get to the net the easier the volley will be to pick up, but if your not very tall or dont move back very well or dont hit very strong deep volleys, you may end up getting lobbed a fair bit. I personally volley about a foot inside the service line and move forward and back from that area. The only time I really get close to the net is when the opponent is stretched and is going to hit an easy shot.

3. Every player has their patterns. some people for example will hit like 90% of their returns cross court. So if you can pick something like this up and get on top of that shot, it will either cause your opponent to either push try and hit a bit harder on that same shot, or try to hit a different shot (down the line or whatever). Both outcomes are good because they will no longer be in their comfort zone hitting the shot they want to and will start making more errors.

The basic simple strategy I like to use is to hit most of my serves out wide, using the T and body serve as a change up, and then push the first volley into the opposite side of the court. If you can get it wide enough, most players will hit their returns cross court rather than attempting a low percentage shot down the line. then if you can get the first volley to the opposite side of the court then the opponent is on the run straight away and you are in control of the point. This is just what I find effective for me and my game, you may find it as effective.

Hope some of that helps


p.s: Martina Navratilova's coach once told her that if she is not getting passed 20-30 times per match, she's not coming in enough.

 

[zdepth]

thanks for the replies.

nfor304, i really like your reply. It really shows that you are a serve
& volley player. I just got into this type of gameplay, but one type
of opponent that I cant really use serve & volley are moonballers.
They are so energy sapping to play against if I were to use serve
& volley method because they just lob whatever i dish out back to
my baseline. I will be like running front & back all the time if I were
to use S&V against this type of players. But sometimes if my volley
is good, they tend to send the lob short so I can smash them away.

I guess there is always a type of gameplay to counter another but
I cant manage to counter super lobbers with S&V.