Serve and Volley: Implementation Drills

In the last four articles, we have discussed serve and volley inspiration, mentality, tactics, and critical shots. (Click Here.) Now in the next two articles we’ll look at a series of original drills I have developed to incorporate serve and volley into your own game. I have found them powerful, effective, and fun. See if you agree!

Soft Catch

A big issue in serve and volley is touch and feel. It’s difficult for players to transition from the kinesthetic feel of hitting a hard serve to a looser grip and the soft hands needed for a controlled volley.

Inexperienced players think of the volley as a powerful kill shot, and if the volley is a floater, than that may be the case. When many players think power, they also think strong death grips and tightening of the body

But a serve and volley player sees a variety of return speeds and placements over a course of a match, some of which won’t be conducive to pounding the volley.. You must be able to relax and develop a feel for the ball. This sense of relaxation and control, despite the urgency of the situation, is a vital skill that takes time…