The Net Game: Macro Perspective

In the modern game traditional serve and volley - the way Max Mirnyi played--isn't viable. My goal in this first article is to present a macro perspective on the net and its current and future tactical applications in the game. In future articles I will explain my technical blueprint for building invincible volleys with my players. Then we will move on to the swinging volleys and the overhead. Finally we will look at my favorite exercises for developing volley skills and net instincts. The Overview In the modern game of professional tennis, players approach the net less frequently than in decades past. Serve and volleyers are rare. Commentators say they are near extinction. My belief is that the speed of the modern serve and the improvement of the return game has made traditional serve and volley, as a game style, unviable. The serve is actually coming in too fast and the return coming back too fast to allow enough time to get in for a good classic volley play. A good volley is the basis for complimentary tactical patterns. Nevertheless, a good volley and overall net game opens up important tactical patterns for players, and they are also critical in...