How To Improve Your Serve And Volley Game

[@TennisEvolution]

Serve myths debunked: Former Top 100 ATP Pro, Jeff Salzenstein, is exposing 3 common myths that could be crippling your serve potential. Most players make at least 1 of these 3 mistakes... Do you? goo.gl/myEUhz

[@luciobecker2637]

Thanks so much for this video, i'll watch it again and again to learn. Greetings from Rome Italy

[@TennisEvolution]

You're welcome! Thank you for watching. Regards from Denver.

[@gmwillis2000]

Truly good description of the "split step." I have never liked the formal split step and really like it the way he teaches. Feels far more natural--and much better. THANK YOU

[@neygercey7899]

I have practiced it about half an hour today with my tennis instructor and also on a friendly match and I can tell, following your tips, split step them moving forward, made me feel great, most of the volleys were correct, and I have won most of the points by doing like you said. Thanks once again!

[@TennisEvolution]

Love this Ney! That's music to my ears ;). Keep up the great work. Jeff.

[@gkilonzoh]

Great lesson, Coach!

[@TennisEvolution]

Thanks!

[@19Cluj]

Great video! Love the squirrel running on the edge of the fence à 4:50!

[@GiocareaTennis]

Great video Jeff! Many mistakes of serve&volley come from a bad transition from the serve to the first volley, thanks!

[@aymanzein7]

Thanks . I hope to see more videos on serve and volley

[@kevanashy]

Jeff, you made that look so fluid and easy. It isn't, of course. Great for visualisation as well. Gonna try and combine this with my kick serve practice you brought to us. Thanks coach.

[@TennisEvolution]

Kevan Ashmore awesome !

[@kaiwieser5819]

Thank you very much for that video and all the other ones. After a very long absence from tennis I am heading back to the court trying to develope a consistent style of playing (Serve and volley in my case). Your videos are a great inspiration and I have never seen better tutorials than yours!

[@TennisEvolution]

Kai Wieser thank you 🙏🏻. I really appreciate it! Please share his video with others :)

[@Radnally]

Great tips. Thanks. Ive also learned to see how my opponent likes to return so that i have a little game plan as to my movement towards the net.

[@TennisEvolution]

Radnally love that!

[@vubot1]

Superb lesson on serve and volley. I'm going to practice in my LR right now.

[@TennisEvolution]

Thank you! Let me know how it goes ;) Jeff.

[@brianbarrett192]

An interesting idea and ideal, continuous movement serve and volley. I have been working on my SV game for about 2 years now. The toss location is very important for balance and movement after the serve. Whenever I practice my toss and serve, I follow the serve forward. It takes a long time to develop. But it is coming together...after 2 years! Up to this point, I have probably overemphasized the split step. Now it's time to smooth it out into a transition step. I will incorporate this continuous movement concept into my toss, serve, and volley practice. The players I model are Patrick Rafter and Pete Sampras.

[@konvelanis6654]

Fantastic video, completely nailed is wrong with my approach to the service line.

[@TennisEvolution]

Kon Velanis and just about everyone else out there

[@Jasonchen1965]

I like the term “ split and keep movement “ . It explains how good service and volleyer can move into position to cover angle smoothly and effortlessly. Volley power would come from movement momentum , instead of arm punching.

[@TennisEvolution]

C Jason thank you. I feel it helps

[@LegolasD]

I think the biggest tips for serve and volley is having a good enough serve to all spots. Each opponents likes different returns so you need a serve to a spot they don't like. Most don't have enough serve spin, speed, variety and placement to SnV. Learning the half volley, putting good underspin and sidespin on the mid court volley is important. I also like to toss the ball as far forward into the court as comfortably possible. And yes I agree on not landing on both feet as it slows you down. Probably the biggest help for SnV is having a reliable spin serve, and a very good overhead as that is the default bailout shot the opponent will hit when in trouble. Also close fast as that's where you can hit effective angles, droppers and take away time, how far you can close is a function of how good your overhead covering ability and lob recognition is. Great channel I love the little nuances you teach that few people talk about. Maybe I'll run into you at BNP

[@TennisEvolution]

Legolas Dixon great perspective ! Thanks

[@EJP286CRSKW]

Agreed. Also IMO you don't want to serve too well, or you will just get them swinging at it hard, or even just blocking it back too well, and you're dead: you want to control their return with your serve. Similarly, when you volley, unless you have a great overhead you may be better off volleying something to them that they will try to pass you with, rather than just nailing something that they have no choice but to lob: again, you are controlling their next shot with your volley. You want them to feel a bit helpless. And you also need to really accept the percentages. OK they will pass you occasionally, or you will miss: but if you can get to 60% probability of winning the point, you are mostly going to win the game. And you will get quite a few love service games.

[@robinhoodwink9345]

Hi that was a fine way to explain. On many of points might be still looking at a serive or after the volley. Staying ready at that point you win points.

[@TennisEvolution]

Robin Woodward thank you 🙏🏻

[@TimTheMusicMan]

Excellent, foot work on the serve and volley, a lost art !!

[@TennisEvolution]

M CAT it sure is!

[@lordbyron3603]

Wow.... you’re a good instructor. You have an “eye” for things. This shadow serve and volley idea is very helpful. Similar to shadow boxing. What grip do you use as you approach the net? I’m experimenting with a semi-Western grip as I make my way to the net. And, on a separate topic, have you made a video on Return of Serves? Also a video on improving volleys and common mistakes made when volleying ...

[@TennisEvolution]

Lord Byron thanks. Continental grip when you run forward. All our videos are on you tube and in our premium courses

[@arned2493]

Excellent lesson from an obvious pro. Thanks Jeff!!!

[@TennisEvolution]

Arne D thank you:)

[@dstossberg]

Armed w/my new found confidence in my volley (local pro) and the footwork and smarts of this video (you rock) I am envisioning my opponent saying “Nice get” and “Great shot” and I’ll be like “I know, right?!” but say “Thank you, come check out this Utube video” 😛

[@TennisEvolution]

Thanks for the nice comment Deborah!

[@sonsoftheedelweiss72]

From a former true serve and volley player in my youth I agree 💯. I make that distinction between a true serve & volley player and an all court player which I definitely was not. My son was a D1 player who I coached as a junior but he just was not interested in this style at all and maybe with good reason .Also in my prime I was the most successful when I got into a zone and could more consistently read where my opponent was going. When I was not reading as well I had less success. 2. Serve and volley is a mindset ; you have to be ok with passing shots and not let it deter your serve and volley game. You hv to constantly look for any little opening to put pressure on your opponent and find their weakness. I can remember playing many a match where my opponent passed me consistently enough to win a many fist set but the constant pressure and getting better at reading my opponent’s shots wore my opponents down mentally. I can remember getting beat pretty soundly too unfortunately lol. But I was always ok with that becuz I truly loved the serve and volley game. I miss those days so bad. Great video Jeff!

[@monicagoldstein5413]

Awesome teaching! Thank you so much! I’m going to try this! What fun!

[@TennisEvolution]

You're welcome Monica! Let me know how it goes ;)

[@rossdickinson2541]

Thanks Jeff! Great instruction! When serving do you always go in after your serve, or do you make a judgment on the serve before committing to the full forward run, split and move? We really appreciate you!

[@evalorelei98]

Thank you and Greetings from Germany 🙋🏼‍♀️

[@TennisEvolution]

You're welcome Eva. Thanks for watching. What other type of videos you'd like to see from me in the near future? Follow us on Instagram: @tennisevolution to get more tennis tips and instruction instagram.com/tennisevolution/

[@Herman-ix7tv]

Great video! Thanks for the lesson :D

[@neygercey7899]

That’s the game for me, inspired by Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras. Trying to get back in good shape and use this strategy in my game again. Thanks a lot, great video and tips. What about the serve itself? Down in the middle?

[@TennisEvolution]

You're welcome Ney! Thank you for watching. Yes, serve down the middle to your opponent's body. Getting back in shape will definitely help you improve your whole game. What other type of lessons would you like to see next in our channel? Jeff.

[@TennisEvolution]

Serve myths debunked: Former Top 100 ATP Pro, Jeff Salzenstein, is exposing 3 common myths that could be crippling your serve potential. Most players make at least 1 of these 3 mistakes... Do you? goo.gl/GkS41Y

[@noushinkananian5033]

Many thanks for sharing your experience.

[@cybergrail]

Great video! Thanks!

[@Moari1]

Amazing. Thank you so much

[@TennisEvolution]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@waqasmood]

hi jeff Djokovic has changed his serve motion and it is looking fluid,fast and more effective.It is a pretty simple motion and looks great

[@TennisEvolution]

Ahmed Waqas i agree!

[@adlib8096]

I agree that the movement after is tricky i always feel abit of a clown trying not to stumble and splitstepping at the same time, often finding myself way too far back to make an attacking volley. But what about serve placement? Does it need to be hard? Deep? Off court? Or down the T? Thx

[@jacksonlar]

Great stiff! My problem, though, is that I am not telling myself to get off my kiester and move forward toward the net right from the get-go. Lack of courage? Laziness? How do I conquer that weakness?

[@jacksonlar]

hahaha! I'll trade ya'.

[@vijaynarsapur147]

Great video Jeff...

[@TennisEvolution]

Thank you Vijay!

[@katewang2366]

Right on the spot!!

[@TennisEvolution]

Thank you for watching Kate. What other type of videos you'd like to see from me in the near future? Get access to a free course inside our Tennis Evolution app including lessons to improve your serve. This is like having a coach in your pocket when you’re on court. Click here to register tennisevolutionapp.com/register/

[@dadmaxx8641]

I was always taught to split step the instant before my opponent strikes the ball. So in that case, if my serve is fast, I might only be able to take 2 steps before splitting, but if I hit a kicker, I might be able to take as many as 3 or 4 steps before splatting. Thoughts?

[@tavomagno5]

Thomas Michalski same here and waiting hopefully for Jeff to answer

[@apotra20xx]

Hi Jeff. Just one question. I've seen some coach in a serve and volley lesson mentioning that if you want to serve and volley, you have to toss the ball on your serve well inside the baseline to create a momentum to move forward. However, I find that if I'm trying a kicker with the tips you are giving, it seems impossible to me to have a dirty diaper finish on the right side ( I'm a righty) if I need to toss the ball well inside the court. Now in this lesson it's tough to see from the angle but when you shadow swinged your serve, I don't think you were trying to hit a ball well as inside the court as much, or am I wrong ?

[@clacleclicloclu]

Great tips!

[@TennisEvolution]

Thanks Alberto!

[@floodland99]

Great vid!

[@TennisEvolution]

floodland99 thank you!

[@dorokhovea]

Misha Zverev (one of best serve and volley players of all time) will smile watching that advice about big two steps instead of many small steps😂

[@TennisEvolution]

Evgeny Dorokhov why is that ?

[@robinreich95]

4:52 squirrel

[@pokemonwhite991]

:)

[@adlib8096]

Thought wtf is that😂

[@nathanstranges]

lol when I play next time and about to try to serve and volley will I be thinking of Jeff's instructions.....or that damn squirrel???

[@robinreich95]

@@nathanstranges you better be thinking about that beautiful squirrel!!!

[@adamromero]

Reminds me of Dug from Up.

[@colinbyer3018]

Wait, so by saying split and move, do you mean run through the volley? Don’t you stop a little before you’re going to hit the volley? Or not?

[@EJP286CRSKW]

IMO the split-step is over-rated. In a lot of the video I see it is very over-done, with jumping up too high, which misses the point completely, and with blocking up immobile-ly when you land, as Jeff describes here. I was fortunate enough to be taught (Aussie-style) right at the beginning (in 1962) to land on either foot when serving: right foot for SV, left foot to stay back (this is for right handers). See Lew Hoad or Rod Laver for examples. As a result you get a free extra step in while you're really still serving, without blocking yourself backwards with the left foot (RH again) and having to restart forwards again: and as a result of that I've never had to do a split-step in my life. There is plenty of time to get to the net and decide what to do next. Accuracy on the serve helps a lot here, as you already know where the possible returns can go off that particular serve, so if you got it exactly where you aimed it, your subconscious will take over. Accuracy is much more important than pace here. Jeff is certainly right here to say the only real way to practice it is in match play. You have to try it and fail the traditional 1000 times before it starts working. You need an accurate serve, and you need to be able to dig that first volley up from anywhere around you and get it back into play in some reasonably damaging way. After that, it's easy :-)

[@TennisEvolution]

EJP love it!

[@tavomagno5]

Question: the split is when your opponent is about to hit - at ball contact or just counting the steps ?

[@antjobert]

Split when they make contact with the ball.

[@AlanJKessler]

If you are not using the split to facilitate a change in direction, why bother to split at all? I thought the split was most effective when it occurred at the last possible moment before taking a step or possibly 2 and hitting the volley.

[@TennisEvolution]

Alan Kessler split and move not split and stop

[@Shakermaker78]

nice one

[@TennisEvolution]

Thank you! What other type of videos you'd like to see from me in the near future?

[@TennisEvolution]

Get the "11 step Checklist to the Perfect Serve" and discover the exact methods used by former Top 100 ATP Pro, Jeff Salzenstein, to dramatically improve your serve: goo.gl/QNLzKX

[@m.woodslee7655]

Amazing!!!

[@constable144]

Very illuminating. The problem that you highlighted with the split step applies to me , because when I attempt it for any shot, not just volleying) I land and remain still. Would I be better off forgetting the split step ( many of the best players at my club appear not to split step) ?

[@TennisEvolution]

Chris Constable I would try it

[@PirateTimbo68]

all 3

[@jamierlawson]

Squirrel! (4:50)

[@jellofuz1001]

flow love it!

[@bulentalkan4686]

Best

[@TennisEvolution]

Thank you!

[@pastorwademorris2492]

yaaaaaaaaaa very good

[@TennisEvolution]

Pastor Wade Morris thank you 🙏🏻

[@JohnDoe-er1zp]

And no actual example. Great...

[@TennisEvolution]

You are welcome :)