Tennis Tips: Making Serving and Volleying Work for You

It's not uncommon for club players to attempt to emulate their favorite players. When Monica Seles came on the scene with her trademark grunt, the club courts where full of shrieking. And it's not difficult to find someone wearing a bandana like Roger Federer.

Most coaches would dissuade their pupils from copying off of the pros. However, emulating professional players can be a wise move if you use some wisdom. It's all about understanding your limitations as a player and prospering translating those skills in a way that works for you.

Let's start with the serve and volley style of tennis. It's a dying breed, and even those that use it only use it sparingly. It can take years for this style to mature, but there are some great benefits to using this style of play. Following are some things to keep in mind when attempting to add serve and volley to your game.

Surprise

If anything, following your serve up to the net adds an element of surprise to your opponent's return game. Whether you are actually an adept serve and volley player doesn't matter, it gives your opponent something to think about when they are returning. They still have to adjust themselves to pass you at the net.

So don't think that if you aren't all the way there yet with your skills that you need to stay back. You may be bluffing, but they don't know that. Throw in some serve and volley in various points of the game and you'll keep your opponent guessing.

Serving Around the Box

You need to get a good serve going. Your serve doesn't necessarily need to be a bomb like Andy Roddick's, however. A sound delivery with proper technique will do the trick. Learn how to hit solid serves in all areas of the box with different spins. A solid slice out wide should be a shot that you're constantly working on. Of course, if you can hit a bombing serve, do it. Just remember: the faster you hit your serve, the faster it will come back to you. It's always easier to past someone than to hit through someone. Try to use your serve to get yourself in position.

Positioning