Serve and Volley: Implementation Drills

[10splayer]

I wouldn't say Michael Stich uses a pinpoint stance as the back foot doesn't move up to meet the front foot; it moves to a position alongside the front foot. Stich has a kind of crossover style which strictly speaking is neither platform nor pinpoint. It certainly doesn't have the drive up of a pinpoint...and he lands on right foot, not the left as most servers do.

I like Stich's serve a lot. It's one of my favourites. It's a really interesting serve.

LC, here in the states, we generally refer to that as a lateral pinpoint. Seen some good ones before, but can be problematic, if a player doesn't rotate the torso back, even as the hips are "opening". IF done right though, can create a tremendous differential angle between lower body and upper body..

[10splayer]

Serve Doctor's Simplified Spring-loaded Serve Technique - YouTube


Here's something you might find interesting on point.

[stotty]

LC, here in the states, we generally refer to that as a lateral pinpoint. Seen some good ones before, but can be problematic, if a player doesn't rotate the torso back, even as the hips are "opening". IF done right though, can create a tremendous differential angle between lower body and upper body..

Thanks for clearing that one up. Lateral pinpoint seems not so common these days. It was used a lot years ago. Newcombe used it. Nastase simply crossed his right leg through almost with the motion of the serve. He landed on the right foot too.

However, I feel it must involve different mechanics to the standard pinpoint stance. The drive up cannot be the same...as Newcombe, Nastase and Stich all land on their right foot and not their left.

[klacr]

10splayer,

thanks for clearing that up. Lateral pinpoint for sure with Stich. Should have clarified in my earlier post. Stotty way too quick and observant and called me on it.

Stotty,

Stich was an interesting player. If you really want to see him in the zone, you should youtube his '96 French Open semi with Marc Rosset.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[gzhpcu]

A related question is whether a crossover step is better for serve and volley in that the transition is better. Landing on the front foot instead of the back foot, though most players today land on the back foot. In the old days, since one foot had to stay in contact with the ground, you landed on the front foot, crossing over. Yes, I know McEnroe didn't crossover...

[stotty]

Cross over

A related question is whether a crossover step is better for serve and volley in that the transition is better. Landing on the front foot instead of the back foot, though most players today land on the back foot. In the old days, since one foot had to stay in contact with the ground, you landed on the front foot, crossing over. Yes, I know McEnroe didn't crossover...

I think the crossover gives a player composure more immediately once the ball has been struck. I am not sure whether it gets a player to the net any quicker or not. I am guessing no. I certainly like the smoothness of it when done well.

[klacr]

I think the crossover gives a player composure more immediately once the ball has been struck. I am not sure whether it gets a player to the net any quicker or not. I am guessing no. I certainly like the smoothness of it when done well.

As far as getting to the net quicker, it really depends on the players natural ability and quickness. The stances all have pros and cons and there is not one that is the clear favorite. As for the smoothness of the serve, it just comes down to aesthetics and our own personal tastes. Technical relevance and genius out the window, There is one player whose serve was god like that that many people respect and wax poetic about, but I'm not a fan of their motion. Then there are some motions people would criticize that I happen to love. Not from a technical side, but just pure naked eye attractiveness. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Stotty,

Stich was an interesting player. If you really want to see him in the zone, you should youtube his '96 French Open semi with Marc Rosset.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Thanks, I'll dig it out and take a look.

[gzhpcu]

A video on why serve and volley died out in Wimbledon...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3SmrwGg1gE

Nothing new, but a nice summary...

[klacr]

I've seen this video a few times Phil. Footage of some of the matches is great. There are a combination of elements that led to fall of serve and volley. I blame it mostly on the obsession with power, power, power. Players started serving huge which was great, until they realized the harder you hit, the less time you have. Staying on baseline seemed more economical and allowed for players to keep their regular ground stroke grips for majority of rallies. Sure, the physicality of players changed but that could have been the perfect moment to bring back serve and volley, instead, tennis went the opposite way. Avoiding the net like the plague. When I go to ATP events, I find myself enjoying the doubles matches. The skill involved is breathtaking. Rare to see that skill in singles anymore. Too many players and coaches shying away from learning, teach and and embracing the style. Still great to know for tactics at every level of your game.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

War is peace

I've seen this video a few times Phil. Footage of some of the matches is great. There are a combination of elements that led to fall of serve and volley. I blame it mostly on the obsession with power, power, power. Players started serving huge which was great, until they realized the harder you hit, the less time you have. Staying on baseline seemed more economical and allowed for players to keep their regular ground stroke grips for majority of rallies. Sure, the physicality of players changed but that could have been the perfect moment to bring back serve and volley, instead, tennis went the opposite way. Avoiding the net like the plague. When I go to ATP events, I find myself enjoying the doubles matches. The skill involved is breathtaking. Rare to see that skill in singles anymore. Too many players and coaches shying away from learning, teach and and embracing the style. Still great to know for tactics at every level of your game.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

If anyone does not believe that The Orwellian 1984 has truly arrived...once again tennis serves as a wonderful metaphor for life. Listen to the ominous last words of this video.

"If Wimbledon were to revert back now to the lighter balls and faster grass, despite the changes in racquets and stringing technology a genuine serve and volleyer might still stand a chance. But it is probably too late for anyone to take advantage because with the game having changed so much all of the serve and volleyers have died out."

This could not have taken place without a fully complacent and gullible public. They bought into it hook, line and sinker. People are real stinkers...I'll tell you. When the first big racquets came out you know who the first ones to make the argument for them...those that needed it to defeat the tier about them. It worked it's way up the ladder until in 1984 virtually all in the professional ranks had to switch because players right below them (tennis_chiro and company) were nipping at their heels brandishing these shiny new monstrosities.

The rooster has come home to roost. In more ways than one. The game of tennis once again serves as a brilliant metaphor for life. The public meekly accepted the new decree in racquet specs...much as they have accepted the new decree in foreign policy. War is peace.

[GeoffWilliams]

Do you think the public would allow the race car drivers to go back to model T fords? or the golfers to go back to wooden drivers the size of irons? It's a fallacious and losing argument for the sake of old times, to go back to old times tech. No one is going to go along with it, especially the manufacturers, who pay for the ads! I didn't like the t 2000, and neither did anyone but connors, but it was progress even if the size of a dime.

[don_budge]

Nuclear Power...Under Pressure

Do you think the public would allow the race car drivers to go back to model T fords? or the golfers to go back to wooden drivers the size of irons? It's a fallacious and losing argument for the sake of old times, to go back to old times tech. No one is going to go along with it, especially the manufacturers, who pay for the ads! I didn't like the t 2000, and neither did anyone but connors, but it was progress even if the size of a dime.

Some of the more informed public are willing to take "a step backwards" now since the biggest nuclear accident ever has happened. Bigger than Chernobyl? You have heard of Fukushima haven't you? You should have...some of the debris is landing as I type down at the beach where you live. Perhaps if you try and put two and two together you might realize what damage this poison is doing to OUR food chain.

With every invention comes a curse. I am merely expressing the metaphorical nature of things. The metaphysical nature of things. What goes around comes around.


The last words...

"If Wimbledon were to revert back now to the lighter balls and faster grass, despite the changes in racquets and stringing technology a genuine serve and volleyer might still stand a chance. But it is probably too late for anyone to take advantage because with the game having changed so much all of the serve and volleyers have died out."

[klacr]

Interesting article here from Craig O'Shannessy on serve and volley. It may be dead, but should it be?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/22/sp...lley.html?_r=0

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[gzhpcu]

Good article! Probably it is a mindset: players think it can't be done and don't have the courage to try (and are out of practice with it)...