You know me, I love serve and volley tennis.
I simply think it’s way more fun than sitting back behind the baseline and grinding.
However, not all 1st volleys are created equal.
Especially when you have to receive a low return of serve, you can’t always just shove a deep volley deep to the open court.
Here’s another thing to think about when you play that 1st volley.
[ My apologies about the Comments having a glitch in this post. I never could figure it out. Guess this internet thing ain't an exact science quite yet 
]
What’s the longest distance you can force your opponent to run to retrieve your 1st volley?
How To Successfully Serve & Volley
Even If Your Volleys Are Only So-So
Hi guys. I’m heading down Tuesday morning early to Palm Springs to play the Babolat senior tournament at the Mission Hills CC. 1st match is this Wednesday at noon – men’s 60s doubles.
Here’s the draw – http://bit.ly/yoLZDL
About a 7 hour drive. I’ll respond to your comments once I get settled in down there.
Let me know if this tip makes sense to you – placing your 1st volley at the longest distance you could force your opponent to run, especially when you have to handle a volley that isn’t clean;y above the top of the net.
???
Brent
P.S. – If you’re around Rancho Mirage this week, please stop by the Mission Hills CC and say hi …
B-
While this might be the best volley to hit and execute, how likely is it a club player can execute this. The racket is turned to make this volley.For me, i can hit a drop volley off of forehand droping the ball over the net diagonally (to my left) As a righty, it looks more difficult executing a drop shot to the right.
Hi Rich.
“Likely” goes up when you practice this shot.
The missing ingredient for most players with their improvement is shoving regular practice time into the ir tennis schedule.
I’ve got the info that can help you, but it’s up to the player to do more than just intellectualize it.
Tinker, tinker, tinker folks …
Brent
Enjoyed the lesson…good luck at Mission Hills.
Thanks Loren. I finally figured out what was happening with these comments.
Apologies for being late getting back here.
Brent
Brent , Yes it does make a lot of sense . Thanks for this tip and also the ” bonus ” drop-volley tip. I pray that the Lord will protect you on the court from serious injury ( opponents also ) and give you safe traveling mercies on your trip back. Hope you are playing well !!
Thanks Jim.
Victory down there at Mission Hills with Paul Wulf in the 60s doubles.
Brent
Got the comments thing finally worked out.
My apologies.
Brent
Brent, Good Luck!
Open the court and let em have it!…
I was surprised that the returners second shot was so weak up the line..Maybe his better shot would have been over the top left shoulder.That said, the Servers splits were perfect making this combo look so very easy!
Hi Eric.
One of the unknowns with our videos is that we don’t what happened prior to this point.
Lots of shot selections are based on what’s happened in the past.
Brent
Well, the return was a rather casual, soft return, which was half volleyed in like manner and again struck by the receiver defensively, for any easy drop volley. It’s not often one gets such an opportunity.
Hey Ken. You’re right. We have to take advantage of those golden opportunities when they are presented to us.
Remember, it’s not always about having to win each and every point. You always want to look at the big picture in terms of are you winning a majority of the points when you come up to net.
If so, stay the course and don’t let losing a few points hold you back.
Brent
Brent! I love your instruction. Love the short videos and really really appreciate that I don’t have to listen to 5 minutes of you selling me something before you get to the good stuff. Thank you.
You got it Norm …
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
I’m with you, let’s get right to it and avoid anything that doesn’t need to be said.
Appreciate it Norm.
Brent
Brent – Play well and have fun!
Thanks George.
I’m really hoping to jump on to your Florida winter tour in Jan 2014.
Looks like a ton of fun.
Brent
Hi Brent,
Who won the match between Ken and Andrew and by what score? Poor Andrew appears very passive while Ken is aggressive. It would be interesting to see a more forceful opponent for Ken, who would be better prepared to return the serve because Ken is very vulnerable in his approach. Ken´s half volley is a set up for Andrew who only retreated to a defensive posture but should have come in and nailed Ken with a passing shot. Based on this point, I imagine Ken won this match quite easily.
Hey David.
Andrew ended up pulling it out in a 3rd set. Can’t remember the exact score, but I do recall serving for the match (maybe even having one or more match points) in the 2nd set.
Andrew hung in there and finally found a way to win …
Brent
Hi Brent – Good luck in the tournament! Hope you play as well as you did against me last year at Mauna Kea!
Great advice for doubles too, except you have to play the dropper back to the receiver if he stays back. And it doesn’t have to be just a first volley. Actually for an old guy like me, it’s usually the second volley because I am hitting the first volley pretty deep in the court!
This past weekend I hit two such droppers in our senior men’s 4.5 practice on a second volley. The opponent stayed back on his hard-struck return. I blocked the volley back deep to the receiver. Then he hit a dipper but I had closed to about six feet from the net. Both times I played a backhand volley short and wide with a lot of backspin that killed the bounce. Two winners. Love that shot!
I see that Tomic sliced his return in the video, but often if a receiver comes over the top on a hard-struck ball, the follow through prevents him from getting in to the net as quickly as he could with a slice or a slower topspin return. So when I get a hard-struck return, I usually try to put the volley back deep to the receiver who is almost always still behind the baseline. From there my net man and I are pretty comfortable at net, so that deep receiver doesn’t have a lot of choices for his second shot.
Best regards,
Dave
Aloha Dave.
Good feedback on the reality that a drop volley is often a great shot choice when an opponent is back on their baseline.
Be forewarned however, this shot takes practice folks. Leave this sitting around the service line and your partner will give you the “look” …
Brent
I love the point you are getting across and the video to illustrate it. Very good! I will use this in my matches and with the kids I teach.
Burnett
Thanks Burnett.
Awesome. Teach the kids this shot which will require the use of a continental grip.
A grip that way too many kids only use when they serve.
Brent
Good Luck, Brent,
I’m finally getting some good points on drop volleys. My regular opponent is often standing quite far in when I serve. I’ll make more of an effort when he does that to serve right at him. When someone’s standing that far forward, dare I try a serve and volley? Maybe.
Cheers, Tom
Hi Tom.
I love to serve and volley when I have the returner standing in close.
You pointed out the correct serve location – directly at them.
That will often produce a weak return which gives you plenty of choices.
Mix up that 2nd shot so they can’t anticipate and totally commit to whatever shot your brain wants to play.
Brent
Great information as usual! I know this is mainly for singles … but the drop volley I find useful in doubles especially if my opponents are both back on the baseline and we are coming in. Are you going to do any more videos on doubles? I am a 4.0 doubles player and even though I totally love the singles videos and learning a ton. I would love some more on doubles! Thanks for all your great words of wisdom!!
Good call Eka.
Check out my response to Dave a couple of comments above.
Brent
Constant and consistently brilliant insights Brent. Thank you for the encouragement inspiration. Good luck in your PS tournament!
Thanks Rob.
Glad you liked this video.
Keep workin out there
Brent
Good stuff. My drop volley needs work–the server in Brisbane hit a heck of a nice shot. And in the second video, was Ken’s half-volley the right shot or should he have moved forward and taken it in the air?
Hey John.
I choose 1/2 volley or volley depending on if I can maintain good balance.
Makes no sense to reach forward to volley if that gets you off balance and produces a lousy shot.
Brent
Hi Brent,
I was wondering what if Andrew had chipped and charged the net so that both players were at the net? What shot would be best in that situation for the server? Also in regards to the split step why was it too late was it because he didn’t time it so that he was in the air when andrew was contacting the ball or what was the reason?
Thanks
P.S. Awesome videos very helpful for a Serve and Volleyer like me.
Hi Ben.
Split steps tend to be later than what is actually taught.
What is taught is that you split step right at the moment of contact by the opponent which in my opinion is a bit too early in most cases.
My theory is that we spilt a little later when the ball is farther away from us than when we’re closer to the ball (both players approaching for example).
If both players had come in, a short lob over the backhand could have worked.
Brent
My problem is that I can’t hit a nice slow volley that lands right over the net.
Well there you have it Ben. Something specific to work on …
Brent
Brent , Yes it makes a lot of sense ! thanks for this tip and the bonus drop volley tip. I pray that the Lord will protect you and keep you free fom any serious injuries as well as for your opponents. Hope you do well !!
Thanks for your thoughts Jim.
Mai and I escaped Palm Springs without any injuries.
Brent
Hey Brent,
I posted a comment on 1/23 and nothing registered. I don’t see any others either so I am wondering if maybe something is wrong with the website?
Anyway, as I said earlier – good luck in the tournament! Hope you play as well as you did at Mauna Kea last May!
I think for doubles the drop volley works well too, especially if the receiver stays back.
Best,
Dave
Thanks for the heads up Dave. Took me awhile, but I got it resolved.
I agree. In certain situations, a drop volley in doubles is workable.
Brent
It makes sense. I also think the choice of volley depends on the skills of the net person. A soft short volley requires better control than the deep and harder volley to the corner.
You’re right Daria re: the soft short volley being tougher to control than a deeper volley.
BUT, the only reason why is that we practice the deep volley 100 times more than a short angled volley.
Flip that ratio for 6 months.
Brent
Hello Mr. Abel,
I am new tennis player of two years and I am 60. I absolutely love tennis. Thanks for time and mentoring.
I had never thought about distances before. It makes rational sense to me. I will try it this Sunday-Hopefully.
Two years ago a car hit my crossing the sidewalk. I have used tennis as a rehab tool. It’s been tough. But, I
never give up the pleasure nor the pain.
Steven – your new Japan tennis associate
Hi Steven.
Glad to have you on board here at WebTennis.
Tennis can serve a lot of purposes in out lives.
You’ve identified a great one …
Brent
Brent,
You are absolutely right that it is a longer distance for the drop shot. It is the hypoteneuse of a right triangle!
Now Joe you’re testing my intelligence which isn’t always that high.
But there’s no question that tennis strategies can be looked at as geometry opportunities.
Brent
Maybe not a volley, but…..
Here is the shortest distance using a short stroke backhand return of serve against a 140 mph return. Great to watch for technique starting at the 20 second point of the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxzFlrFfUrg&feature=related
Proves your point Brent, that power can get you into trouble, even in singles.
Definitely a serve and volley breaker.
One of the reasons Federer is so great is because he uses more grips than anyone else in my opinion.
That return of serve requires a full eastern backhand grip to be able to simply block and absorb that incoming power from Roddick.
Also, Federer seems to anticipate an opponent’s shot direction about as well as anyone out there.
Big money says Roger had a hunch that serve direction was coming and cheated a bit to get the grip over and the shoulders turned early.
Thanks for the link RS.
Brent
killer drop volley—soft hands through the ball
Howd you finish in the tourny???
Victory in the desert with Paul Wulf.
Thanks Eric.
Brent
I agree with you coach but wouldn’t you agree that the drop volley isn’t the highest percentage play especially for the weekend player?
Hi Kerry. As I mentioned above, the drop volley isn’t a high percentage play because we simply rarely practice it.
If you were to get out there for 15 minutes 2 times a week and work on your drop volley, within a few months it would be come a high percentage shot for you.
Brent