I started trying this shot last year after watching serena. of all the pros, she's the one i see using it the most. about a year before that, i made a commitment to get into net quicker and more frequently (when playing singles). what naturally started happening is i would get floaters that i was meeting mid-court, but they would almost surprise me since i was still moving in...i'd get jammed, bunt something back, or have to let it pass me, run back, and re-set with a defensive lob. watching serena helped me to start anticipating and looking for the shot -- and i dont have to blast it, just a steady/easy stroke that no one expects... and of course, the more i started trying it, the success % goes up, and overall more comfortable with the shot. in the 3.5/4.0 circles i play in, i rarely see anyone using this shot. now i almost always get a handful of easy winners per match with it...(and a few oohs/aahs, which is nice).
tried it with 1HBH a few times, but the success% is so low for me there. im more apt to just play traditional volley/groundie on that side.