Is the serve and volley dedicated player a dying breed among casual/tournament players 4.0 and up?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Mark / The Mayor on
-
Definitely. The returns come off the racquets too fast these days and you are way too easy to pass unless your first serve is a monster. Now, if you take doubles, the answer is definitely not. Most of the guys I meet in 4.5 doubles are serving-and-volleying. You just can't win tournaments without taking control of the net. This is what has helped me move from a 4.0 to a 4.5 dubs player.
-
Permalink Reply by Hal Wagner on
-
Nope, the average 4.0 cannot unleash returns on a big server, but most 4.0's are not monster serves. 4.5's on the other hand can be strong returners and cause problems. Problem is, most 4.0-4.5 players that serve and volley really do not know how to do it effectively nowadays.
-
-
You are definitely right Hal - some 4.0 and 4.5 players can not hit a passing shot off of the return. It depends on the player, and it depends on the server too. How big is your first serve? How accurate is the returner? These questions have to be taken into account to be effective with the S&V.
-
Permalink Reply by Michael Tucci on
-
I was thinking of the psychological angle of the game that will be lost if that strategy goes by the wayside..... like when you approach the net against your opponent, you have radically changed his perceived shot selection at that point. And increased the mental pressure against him...he no longer has the luxury of just getting the ball back, now he has to contend with a dizzying array of shot options [pass(crosscourt/down the line)] body shot, lob, dink, etc. He may start with one shot in mind, then midway into the stroke change his mind based on your body behavior(head fake anyone?) and flub the whole thing. Just the simple additional pressure may be enough to influence his shot (dump it in the net, go for the 10% shot on the lines, misjudge the wind on a lob, etc) The general idea by coming to the net (not only after a serve)is to FORCE your opponent to play his BEST shot, and play it under ADDITIONAL pressure above and beyond what is normally occuring during a typical match. What about the aftermath? Say he/she gives you an easy put away....and you crush it. The next time you come in that will haunt his thoughts. Then maybe he will start deterioting his own game by self remarking that he hates the serve and volley type. That he never plays them. This my friend, is the beginning of a very slippery slope , usually leading downhill. God forbid you chip and charge off a good service return of your own and take the point. Dynamically, you have done a great deal of damage to your opponents ego, let alone his game. My point is these strategic tools are far too powerful to be placed in recycle bin quite yet.
I enjoy a good baseline match (and it is my preference by leaps and bounds), but if I find out that you are a intimidated by a few powerful approaches, foot stomps/shuffles, and crisply angled volleys/overheads, you may just find yourself playing a completely different opponent than the one you are used to. Its still me, I just adapted to a more compelling style to beat you in the most efficient manner possible. And if I find out YOU are uncomfortable at the net, there is a reason why I practice drop shots/volleys as much as any other stroke in my arsenal. Get comfy my friend, because after you run helter skelter to the net to retreive these well disguised little gems, you will then meet the shot my father told/taught me when I was ten to be the game winner: a heavily spun topspin semi-lob that is near impossible to run down, unless you are comfortable scaling the back fence behind your baseline, as it often bounces over it. Enjoy......
True tactical tennis, played well, is why some players (myself included) who really do not have one or two huge weapons to speak of in their goody bag can sometimes beat players who are technically more proficient in the stroke department, or have a unusually strong stroke that they tend to rely on. We players of this ilk are not as flashy nor as crowd pleasing, but the last time I checked, I am trying to have fun and posssibly be the victor, not win a popularity contest. Sorry for going off topic.....I be rambling! Good night fellow tennis fanatics, sleep well, and dream of large score deficits in your favor...
-
Permalink Reply by Tim Prapong on
-
Lotsa strategy there, Michael! Well, I had the experience of playing a true bonafide serve and volleyer, a coach who is a ranked USTA 55 player. I hadn't played a serve and volleyer who could serve on the T and smack away the safe crosscourt returns. But eventually, I forced him to hit high forehand volleys and I drove my slice backhand whenever he tried to serve there. I also hit more inside out forehands in succession and then went down the line to his weak forehand. I began pinning him to that forehand corner as well. I did a bunch of lobs to keep him honest, including a one hander backhand topspin lob. I still remember winning the match with a drive slice backhand return which he didn't bother covering. Instead, he threw his racquet at the side in disgust as the ball was bouncing away down the line.
On the other hand, I have used my old crafty back-in-the-day serve and volley game against community college players. They definitely did not like me coming in and forcing them to hit passing shots. I would win those sets handily. But if they got a good lob in, I had to concede to that, and if they got a strong down the line passing shot or crosscourt yank, thanks to poly technology, I have to concede the point there. It is a gamble at that point if they got all three options on a roll, to which I then try to yo yo, left and right from the backcourt and make them lose their wheels. Or jam them with big serves to the hip and come in again. So I think it's best to vary strategies depending on what is succeeding at the moment. Serve and volley happens to still be a great tool for me, even when I am 40 years old!
-
Permalink Reply by Mark T. on
-
I have to agree with Tim here, it is a great way to throw off your opponent, especially if he/she has gotten into a groove. I will play a few serve and volley points to change the flow, and sometimes it even changes the momentum. As an older player though, it is much more difficult to maintain that style of play than it used to be when in my 20s.
-
-
Good input guys, I appreciate it!
© 2024 Created by Mark / The Mayor.
Powered by
