Simple Serve and Volley

supersmash

supersmash

Semi-Pro
What little strategies or tips do you guys use? I serve and volley nearly 80% of the time now, but I still consider myself a novice (3.5ish). I just get it in and try to volley. What are the basic fundamentals? Thanks.
 
i think serving outwide is the best way to stretch out your oponent so you can volley to open court. But on the deuce court, make sure you serve it out wide enough, otherwise you ll get a wicked return forehand from your opponent. On the ad court, a nice kick serve should do the job just fine and it always go to your opponent's backhand
 
Here's a simple rule that generally works and many ppl don't use or know: If you need to volley from below the net, keep the ball in front of you. If it's above the net, go ahead an angle the ball away.
 
Dont rush in as fast as you can, you have to remain on balance or else you're making your first volley way, way harder than it needs to be. Granted, you should be exploding towards the net, but if you don't slow/split step prior to the volley, you will not be able to hit a nice volley. Don't go for too much on your first volleys, use them to set up a simple second one. If you get a half volley, hit it topspin or you'll be in a world of hurt.

I like slice serving out wide on the deuce side, since the opponent not only is drawn off the court, but also has to hit up on the ball more, making passing that much more difficult. Plus, if you serve out wide you can move in at an angle (follow the ball path) since their hitting lanes are severly limited from out wide. Make their potential shots as risky as possible, and if they manage to pass you on the first volley just tip your hat, since you know they need to be able to hit that incredible every time in order to make you lose the point.
 
Here's a few fundamentals:

1. Vary the placement, pace and spin of the serve. Keep the opponent guessing. If he gets into a nice return rhytm you'll be in trouble.
2. Follow the ball after your stroke. If you serve out wide, don't run to the T, run a little more towards the side line. This covers possible return angles better. Same goes after you hit a volley. Follow the ball.
3. Split-step when your opponent hits the ball, both on service returns and volley returns. This gets you ready to move sideways and cover the net. Between spilt-steps, move foreward to get close to the net (but look out for lobs)

/A
 
Keep into account that, while serving out wide will let you volley into an open court, it also gives the opponent more angles for the return, both down the line and crosscourt, making it easier for him to pass you. I now s&v either to the backhand or down the T. S&V to the forehand on the deuce side can be a very risky option.
 
What I use on occasion (about 1 in every 15 deuce-side points) is send out a nice slice serve out wide (hopefully it will go in), and charge with a crosscourt volley for an easy put away.
 
Serve up the T to cut off angles and move to the middle of the net. Make sure the serve lands deep and close to the line because a short, no pace serve can leave you a sitting duck. Serve to the backhand once in a while to force weak replies and volley away.
 
Rickson said:
Thank you, Bill. I learned from the best. ;)
Click to expand...

For guys who are in Top bracket (4.5+ or may be much much better) , you can probably serve down the T or for that matter to most spots you want to go to.

Most 3.5 players i have seen (exception as always will be there) serving to spots will be tough. The serve if lacks depth and penetration would be a easy put away for the opponent.

A better strategy(in my opinion) would be to start volleying during rallies and improve volleying skills and get comfortable and then start implementing it to do S&V.

But I agree it is a good strategy whenever successfully implemented.
 
Tennis_Monk said:
For guys who are in Top bracket (4.5+ or may be much much better) , you can probably serve down the T or for that matter to most spots you want to go to.
Click to expand...

For a S&V, the bread and butter serve is down the T. It always should be. This is coming from the perspective of covering less court and havign the ability to have a better play on the ball. Especially now days since racquet technology increases a defenders ability to pass.

Most 3.5 players i have seen (exception as always will be there) serving to spots will be tough. The serve if lacks depth and penetration would be a easy put away for the opponent.
Click to expand...

Well this will be the case no matter what. In this case, if a server has a weak serve, the S&V style may not be a good idea. Still if a player chooses to S&V, the serve down the middle is the one that needs ot be practiced and mastered even if a player can serve wide and get away with poor returns.

A better strategy(in my opinion) would be to start volleying during rallies and improve volleying skills and get comfortable and then start implementing it to do S&V.
Click to expand...

A S&V strategy isn't going to be a good one unless the player has an excellent serve. It is the SERVE that sets up the volley - not the other way around.

A good serve is the best determination whether a person will use or eventually use the S&V style. Volleying is also important but it needs to be complimented by a good serve. Without that serve, volleying is volleying.

On the other hand, a player needs to develop the volley as well. They also need to develop appropriate footwork and footspeed to improve their ability to get to net quickly and cutoff potential angles.
 
pls remember:

a good serve isn't necessarily a very fast one, it's one which creates problems of any kind to the opponent in terms of returning; in the case of S-V play, it forces the opponent to say return higher or slower because of lack of control or element of surprise
 
If you are at the net and the ball gets fired at you, that means you have to react in a instant.. unless you're Tim Henman, you have to use the wrist. Don't hit with the wrist or the arm
But CONTrol ( gently push) the ball with your wrist. Do you got a lot of time and it's above net, i usually put it away, using the arm to slice volley / or smash it.
 
Mattle said:
If you are at the net and the ball gets fired at you, that means you have to react in a instant.. unless you're Tim Henman, you have to use the wrist. Don't hit with the wrist or the arm
But CONTrol ( gently push) the ball with your wrist. Do you got a lot of time and it's above net, i usually put it away, using the arm to slice volley / or smash it.
Click to expand...

Mattle,

It is hard for me to understand what you are saying here about the wrist.

If a ball is hit hard at you and you have very little time to react the last thing I would do is use my wrist. It would be extremely difficult to time the wrist movement to the precise time of contact.

Based on what you said above, the only thing I would be doing is trying to block the ball back. Can you explain what you mean?
 
Bungalo Bill said:
Based on what you said above, the only thing I would be doing is trying to block the ball back.
Click to expand...

Definitely, the only thing you should try do if a shot is fired directly at you, REALLy hard, is try to block it back.

Volleying is one technique where the "old school" technique still applies today....Keep the Wrist Fixed ! Ideally you want to move the racquet through the ball with the arm, NOT the wrist. But in tight/emergency situations, just block it back (again keep the wrist fixed).

Of course, for the swinging volley, some wrist movement may be involved but that is a different subject.
 
troytennisbum said:
Definitely, the only thing you should try do if a shot is fired directly at you, REALLy hard, is try to block it back.

Volleying is one technique where the "old school" technique still applies today....Keep the Wrist Fixed ! Ideally you want to move the racquet through the ball with the arm, NOT the wrist. But in tight/emergency situations, just block it back (again keep the wrist fixed).

Of course, for the swinging volley, some wrist movement may be involved but that is a different subject.
Click to expand...

lol, I guess you misread my response. My response was to not
"learn" the volley (I already know how to teach the volley), it was to draw out what the poster meant with using the wrist. I wanted to find out why he thinks his tip was accurate and a good one.

Slight correction on your "you want to move thorugh the ball with the arm "arm", the arm should be moved from the shoulder and care need to be taken to not roll the elbow around.
 
troytennisbum said:
Definitely, the only thing you should try do if a shot is fired directly at you, REALLy hard, is try to block it back.

Volleying is one technique where the "old school" technique still applies today....Keep the Wrist Fixed ! Ideally you want to move the racquet through the ball with the arm, NOT the wrist. But in tight/emergency situations, just block it back (again keep the wrist fixed).

Of course, for the swinging volley, some wrist movement may be involved but that is a different subject.
Click to expand...

lol, I guess you misread my response. My response was to not "learn" the volley, it was to draw out what the poster meant with using the wrist. I wanted to find out why he thinks his tip was accurate and a good one. :)

Slight correction on your "you want to move thorugh the ball with the arm "arm", the arm should be moved from the shoulder and care need to be taken to not roll the elbow around. :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
Serve and volley beginner tips
Replies
25
Views
6K
directionals
D
T
serve and volley
Replies
12
Views
906
35ft6
35ft6
P
Basic strategies for first tournament
Replies
28
Views
3K
migjam
migjam
babolat141
Serve and Volley
Replies
8
Views
988
smoothtennis
S
N
Serve and volley
Replies
10
Views
1K
Noaler
N
Back
Top