Serving and volleying are one of the most effective strategies used in tennis, which is why it is key to learn how to serve and volley. It involves taking the initiative by moving forward to the net after making a serve, then attacking with quick volleys. This tactic can be intimidating for your opponent and can help you gain an edge over them in both singles and doubles matches.

However, it requires a good understanding of technique as well as court positioning to be successful. In this article, we will discuss how to serve and volley like a pro – with strategies that will give you an advantage over your opponents. We will also cover some drills that you can use to practice serving and volleying so that you can take your game up a notch on the court.

How to Serve and Volley Quick Guide

Serving and volleying in tennis is a great way to keep your opponent on their toes. It requires quick reflexes, anticipation, and good timing. This guide will help you learn how to serve and volley in tennis. For more details, continue below.

1. Position yourself as close to the net as you can
2. The Split Step is key
3. Think about serve placement
4. Vary the speed of the serve
5. Play the first volley back behind
6. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work on the first try

How to Serve and Volley Tips

By following these steps, you can learn how to serve and volley in tennis effectively! Remember to stay focused on perfecting your technique while also having fun with the game.

Tip 1: Position yourself as close to the net as you can

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To make volleys easier, position yourself closer to the net. Standing on or behind the baseline will make it difficult to hit good volleys even if you’re skilled at it. Therefore, focus on improving your movement and approach to close the distance between you and the net. Have a clear plan in mind and start moving towards the net immediately after serving.

Tip 2: The Split Step is key

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• The split step is crucial for executing a successful serve-volley in tennis. When you’re rushing towards the net to cover both sides of the court, it can be tough to change direction quickly. That’s why it’s important to do a powerful split step as soon as your opponent makes contact with the ball. This will enable you to keep moving toward the net while also adjusting your trajectory to intersect with the ball’s path.
• This technique not only enables you to cover more ground but also gives you additional time to prepare for hitting the volley. Instead of rushing toward a fast-coming ball, you can stabilize yourself and get ready to strike the ball.

Tip 3: Think About Serve Placement 

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To execute a successful volley, it’s important to consider how you’re serving. There are three primary options – serving outside, serving to the body, and serving down the T. It’s essential to utilize all three options and give thought to each serve.

To anticipate the returner’s moves, observe their common returning patterns. For effective serve-volley play, try down the T and body serves as they give the opponent a wider angle if pulled out of court. Choose your serving spot carefully to ensure you can handle the oncoming ball.

Tip 4: Vary the speed of the serve

It can be tempting to believe that hitting a bigger serve will make it easier to serve and volley. However, hitting a harder serve will also make it harder for you to reach the net in time, as your opponent’s return will come back at you with more speed. This is why using a full-blooded flat serve may not be the best option for serve-volleying.

While it may earn you some easy points, if your opponent manages to hit the return, it could come back at you forcefully. Many players use the serve-volley technique after hitting an aggressive kick serve. This serves as a distraction for the opponent and also allows the player more time to reach the net, making it easier to hit a volley.

It is crucial to vary the pace of your serve and not allow your opponent to develop a rhythm while returning. The goal is to reach the net as quickly as possible to improve your chances of winning.

Tip 5: Play the first volley back behind

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When you are positioned correctly, deciding where to hit the first volley can be tricky. A good choice is to hit it straight back behind your opponent. This is because changing direction is difficult.

By hitting it back where it came from, you can easily place your racket behind the ball and poke it back to where it came from. Trying to change the angle adds complexity to the shot.

Playing a shot behind your opponent is effective because it forces them to change direction quickly. After hitting the ball, your opponent will begin moving back toward the center of the court.

When you hit the ball behind them, they will have to change direction suddenly and prepare for your shot, which is difficult to do in a short amount of time.

Additionally, since you have cut off half the court, your opponent will already be short on time, making it even harder for them to return a strong shot. By hitting a weak return, you will have a good chance to win the point with your second volley.

Tip 6: Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work on the first try

In tennis, you can lose points even when you win. When attempting new strategies such as serve volleying, many players give up after just one try if it doesn’t immediately result in a point.

However, if you want to make serve volleying a successful part of your game, it’s important to accept that you may lose some points in the process.

One positive aspect of using the serve-and-volley tactic is that, even if you don’t win the point, it can still affect your opponent’s playing style.

By introducing this tactic, your opponent may start to anticipate and prepare for it, which can impact their returning technique. So, it’s important not to write off this tactic too quickly.

Recommended Tools to Serve and Volley

HEAD Graphene XT Radical MP Midplus Tennis Racquet

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Take your game to the next level with the HEAD Graphene XT Radical MP Midplus Tennis Racquet.

This lighter and more maneuverable version of Andy Murray’s Radical Pro is perfect for intermediate to advanced players looking to up their serve and volley game.

It features a 98in² / 630cm² head size, 10.4oz / 295g (unstrung) weight, 27in / 68.5cm length, and 16 Mains x 19 Crosses string pattern that is professionally strung with HEAD string for optimal performance out on the court.

Common Questions About How to Serve and Volley

What is the serve and volley in tennis?

The serve and volley is a tactic commonly used in doubles where players quickly move to the net after their serve. Simply put, it involves serving and using the momentum to rush toward the net to hit a volley for the next shot.

Is learning how to serve and volley worth it?

The technology in tennis rackets today has advanced significantly compared to those used thirty years ago, leading to improvements in power, spin, and timing. This makes passing someone at the net easier but also makes the net a more perilous position to be in during modern tennis matches.

The modern tennis racquets have larger sweet spots and better power control which makes it easier for the returners to return big serves and keep them low to the volleyer’s feet.

If a player serves and volleys too often, they become predictable and easy to punish. Although there are still some players who use the serve-and-volley strategy, they are not very common.

Although serve and volley is no longer the primary strategy of many players, it remains a valuable tactic that provides them with an additional tool.

What are the three types of serve and volley?

• The most commonly used serving technique among both players and professionals is the pre-planned serve and volley. This involves committing to coming forward before initiating the serve.
• The second type of serve-volley involves anticipating a weak return and planning to come in for the volley only if the opponent fails to execute a great return. Unlike the fully committed first option, this is still a pre-planned serve-volley, as you’re anticipating a weaker return and staying prepared to make a move.
• The third scenario is when you receive a weak or easy return after serving. Initially, you didn’t intend to approach the net after serving, but because the return is simple to attack, you hit the ball while it’s still in the air with a volley.

What are common serve and volley mistakes?

• To achieve better results, take bigger strides when approaching the net instead of several small ones. Aim for one to three large strides.
• After you serve, make sure to stand upright. If you remain in a crouched position, you will need to take bigger steps to approach the net. Instead, by standing up, you can take fewer, but smaller steps to achieve a better approach.
• There is a misconception that the split step when serving and volleying should be at the service line. However, it’s acceptable for your split step to be in no man’s land as long as you move forward and hit your volley in front of the service line.

How to practice the serve and volley without a partner?

• To begin, do a shadow serve by pretending to hit a ball without actually hitting one.
• Next, recover by moving forward and doing a split step.
• Stay low and take one to three steps before splitting your feet and moving.
• After that, move forward again to mimic hitting a shadow volley.
• Step forward and pretend to hit the ball with a volley.
• Finally, recover from the shadow volley by holding your finish position while continuously moving your feet to get in the proper volley recovery position.

Video How and When To Serve and Volley in Tennis – 6 Tips

Are you looking to improve your tennis skills? Learn the basics of serving and volleying in this video! We will go over how to properly serve, return shots, and volley. This video will provide detailed instructions on techniques as well as strategies for maximizing your success. Watch now to become a master at serving and volleying!

Final Thoughts

Learning how to serve and volley is an essential skill for any competitive tennis player. With practice, patience, and dedication you can master this technique in no time. This article has provided key information on what it takes to how to serve and volley—make sure to understand the basic mechanics of the stroke so you can advance in your game.

Whether you’re just starting out or are already playing at a high level, applying these tips will help take your game up another notch. So get out there on the court with confidence knowing that now you have the skills needed to dominate your opponents with every service and volley exchange!