Tennis Approach Shot - Not where, but when...

Brent Abel of WebTennis.net discusses and demonstrates the approach shot. It's not where you want to end up, it's when do you split step to react to your opponent's shot.

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[MxDuo]

If you hit your volley's outside of the service line, you will hit A LOT of very low and very hard to control half volley's by your feet.

[supertrex2]

thats why you dont get to be number 1 coz u always stick to basic. get out of the box. and do something amazing like Pete.

[surfjabroni]

@webtennis I am with Brent on this one. It's about the numbers. John Mac admitted that he got passed more than anyone but he was world number 1 with a serve/volley game. Think about this, if you went for a baseline winner and hit it out, does that mean you never hit a baseline winner again? Same formula.

[webtennis]

@webtennis Keep working on handling those low volleys and you'll find that there are opportunities there for you, such as drop volleys.

Again, the point of getting to net is not to always have to cut off angles, but to force your opponents into hitting passing shot winners, over and over again.

They simply cannot...

And in the end, serve & volley, chip & charge, and playing approach shots is just a helluva lot more fun than mindless ball bashing from the baseline.

[webtennis]

@webtennis You'll have to learn how to deal with lots of shots, but in the end, the pressure you put on your opponent to have to continually hot passing shots wins the day. This isn't about you having to always hit winners, it's much more about your court position that forces your opponent into passing shot situations.

Part of this strategy is that, yes, you do get passed from time to time. But this is a numbers game, so you have to be able to look at the big picture.

[webtennis]

@MxDuo All I can tell you is my experience as a serve & volleyer, chip & charger behind the 2nd serve return of serve, and always looking for approach shot opportunities. Since you and I aren't on the pro tour, sometimes it's misleading to try and copy everything they do.

In my tennis tournament experiences (I won the USA national 60s hardcourt singles in 2009), the reality is this, trying to be up at net when the point is over means that from time to time you'll have to deal with low shots.

[MxDuo]

@webtennis Yes, lets be realistic Brent. Since you're ignoring the issue, I'm going to ask you a few questions.

1) How can I hit a better volley? It's really hard to volley when balls are landing down by my feet

2) Isn't the point of getting to the net to cut off angles from my opponent? If I start hitting volleys so far away, I'll get passed easily

3) How come tennis players practice volleys with their coaches from inside the service line? Could is be that that's where they're meant to be hit?

[webtennis]

@MxDuo Let's be realistic here. You don't have to be the greatest volleyer in the world to put constant pressure on your opponent to have to hit a ton of winners.

On the pro tour, sure, that's different, but for the rest of us, if you can consistently get your approach in play and force tough passing shots, you're going to win most of the points. - Brent

[MxDuo]

@webtennis Your volley better be a darn good one if your hitting it form outside the service line. It's probably going to be even harder to hit it properly and more aggressively like it should be if your so far away. If you don't, there's no point in using an approach shot. Generally speaking also, where your standing to hit your volley is where most ground strokes will land.... so your going to hit half volley's down by your feet. Hope this help Brent.

[webtennis]

@MxDuo Wrong... If you learn how to volley correctly, you can play approach volleys from inside the baseline when you've got your opponent pulled wide. - Brent

[webtennis]

@doomsdaystrokmachine When did I say you should hit your approach shot outside of your baseline? I didn't. Maybe you've got your lines confused. And if you wait for an opponent to hit their shot inside your service line, you'll be waiting all day.

Brent

[webtennis]

@joshluo123 Yep...