What level can you start serve/volley ? 4.5

[ferrari_827]

I think that a serve and volley style is really for advanced players, at least 4.5 and over. It's something you have to be really good at and consistent to be successful, whereas you can get by with a so-so baseline game and win matches.

First off, below 4.5 or 5.0, the serve simply isn't good enough to come in on. On top of this, you need good, accurate approach shots, another advanced skill.

So I sort of think s/v is a waste of time for those below a certain skill level, but I see people without the tools trying to become serve and volleyers. Serve/volley demands a certain level of innate skills like reflexes, quickness, hand eye coordination, otherwise it's useless.

 

[equinox]

I disagree. I've seen 4.0 players S+V very well for there level.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

disagree. this should be (and has been) taught by better coaches to kids.

this doesn't mean they should be coming at the net on each first serve, but should be prepared to do so when the proper occasion arises.

 

[kevhen]

Yes, I have played good 4.0 S&Vers. It takes a good first volley to be successful at it though. They may lack footspeed or groundstrokes to play baseline as well but make up for it with good serves and great hands at the net.

 

[johnmcc516]

I am a 3.5 and can serve and volley quite well off my first serve. If I hit a good first serve, there usually isn't a very hard return and I can put away a volley.

 

[tom-selleck]

not sure about levels of play, but i think a very underrated aspect of S/V is a good overhead... you need to put the ball away at the first opportunity, or guys will lob you to death.

overhead is a key issue for me because i play mixed L/R handed..... i change from LH serve to RH groundstrokes and i suppose i could change back to LH coming to net, but impossible to change hands at the net.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

not sure about levels of play, but i think a very underrated aspect of S/V is a good overhead... you need to put the ball away at the first opportunity, or guys will lob you to death.

well, yes, check:
Pro Secrets of Cross Training
Stage 2: Aerobic and Oncourt Day
Pat Etcheberry
if you're a member at:
http://www.tennisplayer.net

A good coach would train volley and smashes in pairs, including in simulated shots.

 

[|SLICER|]

All depends on how good your serve is IMHO.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

Yes, I have played good 4.0 S&Vers. It takes a good first volley to be successful at it though. They may lack footspeed or groundstrokes to play baseline as well but make up for it with good serves and great hands at the net.

Actually Kevhen, you need good footspeed to be a good serve and volleyer. Has nothing to do with lateral movement but has more to do with preferences and style.

 

[gustavo33]

i play so much better against S/Vs then with baseliners...
i find it more challenging...

 

[kevhen]

I have played one high 4.0 serve and volleyer and seen another play who had little footspeed, but they were very adept with the racquet and would just hunker down near the center of the court and beat you with angled vollies and good serves.

I will serve them out wide and take them off the court when I am serving but it's hard to break these guys serves. They are not fast but just very skilled with a racquet if they can get to the ball and coming to the net is the easiest way for them to get to balls.

 

[tom-selleck]

I have played one high 4.0 serve and volleyer and seen another play who had little footspeed, but they were very adept with the racquet and would just hunker down near the center of the court and beat you with angled vollies and good serves..

i've played doubles with guys who can barely even move..... and they always seem to be properly positioned... bizarre!!!! .... but probably alot to learn in that too!!!

 

[tennis-n-sc]

I think one of the most difficult aspects to learn for less advanced players to honor the split step on volleys. Most beginner and intermediate players, myself included, have the "got to get to the net to volley" mentality and the result is usually bad brought on by running through the volley. I think that is why many older players seem to be in position all the time. They realize that getting to net is not nearly as important as getting into position to volley, often at the service line.

 

[Pirc Defense]

Well, I recently played a 3.0 tournament (playing in a 3.5 doubles league, and started playing around a year ago, and this was my first tournament, and played singles) and I S&V'd my way to a win in the final, even though I'm a very poor volleyer. Thing was, my opponent gave me absolutely nothing to worry about when I was at the net. Sure he lobbed, but I was able to win those points with smashes.

I post this only to say that the decision to S&V or not should probably be made with your opponent's ability in mind. If he can't give you anything to worry about, then even a weak volleyer will win points at the net.

 

[farwellbooth]

I'm a 3.0 and play mixed doubles twice a week. I'm trying to have an "all court game" and throw in an S&V once in awhile. When you say S&V maybe you mean all the time... anyhoo I've been having a lot of very close matches with lots of dueces. Out of frustration, lack of patience, wanting to win the match and basically wanting to destroy the people on the other side of the net I now S&V when it's game point to my advantage. My other partner is up, I seal the remainder of the barricade, they rarely volley bc they don't expect me to come up and it's over.... usually

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I have played one high 4.0 serve and volleyer and seen another play who had little footspeed, but they were very adept with the racquet and would just hunker down near the center of the court and beat you with angled vollies and good serves.

I will serve them out wide and take them off the court when I am serving but it's hard to break these guys serves. They are not fast but just very skilled with a racquet if they can get to the ball and coming to the net is the easiest way for them to get to balls.

Here we go again Kevhen.

For the most part, in general, prefer to see, usually a serve and volleyer has good footspeed. A serve and volleyer in a technical sense is performing sprints. They need to get inside the service line for the first volley. That is the point of serving and volleying.

If your friend with slow foot speed is beating you, well, I dont know what to say. You should be hitting to his feet on almost every ball!!!!!

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I have played one high 4.0 serve and volleyer and seen another play who had little footspeed, but they were very adept with the racquet and would just hunker down near the center of the court and beat you with angled vollies and good serves.

I will serve them out wide and take them off the court when I am serving but it's hard to break these guys serves. They are not fast but just very skilled with a racquet if they can get to the ball and coming to the net is the easiest way for them to get to balls.

Here we go again Kevhen.

For the most part, in general, prefer to see, usually a serve and volleyer has good footspeed. A serve and volleyer in a technical sense is performing sprints. They need to get inside the service line for the first volley. That is the point of serving and volleying.

If your friend with slow foot speed is beating you, well, I dont know what to say. You should be hitting to his feet on almost every ball!!!!!

You play a serve and volleyer several ways. If he doesnt have good lateral movement - hit the ball side to side. If he does have good laterla movement but is not in quick enough - hit to his feet - hit down.

If the serve and volleyer is my kind of serve and volleyer (big serve, quick hands, and fast) - you have to mix it up and be able to go another direction - UP! Yes, lob. Build your game around these shot strategies.

 

[Kaptain Karl]

To the OP - I disagree also. I know 3.0 players who S/V quite well in their level. Remember, it "shakes up" another 3.0 to see such an unusual tactic.

S/V depends on (in no particular order)...
... being able to rely on your serve
... having quick feet
... your opponent's return of serve
... strategic timing
... etc.

- KK

 

[prince]

in lower levels (3.0-3.5) a serve and volleyer will be more successful as shots at this level does not have too much pace and the return of serve is like they just wanna put the ball in play.they can do lobs but most likely it will be long or too short that you can have a lot of easy points.

as the level goes up - serve and voley becomes harder and harder to master.

 

[alan-n]

in lower levels (3.0-3.5) a serve and volleyer will be more successful as shots at this level does not have too much pace and the return of serve is like they just wanna put the ball in play.they can do lobs but most likely it will be long or too short that you can have a lot of easy points.

as the level goes up - serve and voley becomes harder and harder to master.

I definitely agree with this. Lower levels most are just tryin to get it back and haven't developed enough pace / spin to their shots. If you can push the ball back and volley, you will win.

 

[Camilio Pascual]

I start having 2.0 players S&V. After all, who are they facing? Right, other 2.0 players. I see no reason in the world not to start S&V almost right away. I hear a lot of complaining about how tennis is played. Academy Tennis is to blame.
I see WAY more S&V played at 3.0 - 4.0 levels than in the pros.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

I start having 2.0 players S&V. After all, who are they facing? Right, other 2.0 players.

That's the point. Same with kids. One must create the excitement as early as possible.

 

[ma2t]

All depends on how good your serve is IMHO.

I think by "good" it means the server must make a very high percentage of first serves and not just hit flat bombs. Many of the best serve and volleyers put a lot of spin on their serves. For example, Rafter, Edberg, and McEnroe did not use big flat first serves.

 

[joe sch]

I think volley'ing should be one of the first skills taught in tennis. Its almost the most easy to put a beginner at the net and underhand tosses to his/her racket so they can get an instant gratification of a successful tennis hit. Also, moving forward is easier than moving laterally. I conclude that moving forward and volleying is easier than moving laterally and stroking ! Ofcourse this is quite a simplication but great flame bait for all the current tennis teachers to discredit

 

[Kaptain Karl]

I agree with Joe. (Surprised?)

In fact, volleying is how I learned at age 7. My parents would let me "patrol the net" while they were hitting. Anything I could reach, I was allowed to get. I didn't even know "technique" but I quickly learned that hitting my volley deep improved my odds of getting another chance sooner. (If I always went for winners, Mom and Dad tended not to hit as many balls within my reach. Hmmm.)

- KK

 

[Serve-And-Volley]

I think that it doesn't matter what skill level you are you just have to have quick feet and a good serve and overhead. Serve and Volleying comes with time you have to work at it and practice it more so than any other style IMO. Its very risky too. Generally its hard to serve and volley for any level player, especially when playing someone with good passing shots.

 

[troytennisbum]

My feeling is that at the higher levels of tennis it actually becomes a lot harder to win with the serve/volley technique. Good players who are in the 4.5 levels and above can hit groundies with a lot more power and pace and with a lot more consistency,so it's very difficult to take the net against them. Whereas at the beginning to intermediate levels (say 2.0-3.5) you have a good chance of forcing an error on your opponent when you apply pressure on him/her when you take the net. Players at the
2.0's and 3.0's don't really have the ability to hit powerfull passing shots with control, so they can't really hurt you when you come up and take the net.

 

[Camilio Pascual]

2.0's and 3.0's don't really have the ability to hit powerfull passing shots with control, so they can't really hurt you when you come up and take the net.

Bingo! And now is the time to teach them the value of the lob.

 

[fedex27]

when you become a 0.2