Serve & Volley is a Thing of the Past

Serve and volleying has been a staple tactic of tennis for decades, but with the evolution of the sport, it has become less and less effective in today’s game. The serve and volley approach involves serving the ball and then rushing to the net to try and put away a volley for a winner. It is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that requires excellent footwork, reflexes, and precision. This style of play was popularized in the 80s and 90s by tennis greats like Pete Sampras and Stefan Edberg, but their days were done a very long time ago.

However, despite its success in the past, serve and volleying is no longer a viable option in today's tennis. In this article, we will explore the reasons why this style of play has become obsolete, and how the game has evolved to make it difficult for players to succeed using this approach.

The Evolution of Strings and Rackets

One of the biggest reasons why serve and volleying has become less effective is the evolution of strings and rackets. In the past, the rackets used were smaller, having to hit the ball right in the sweet spot, unless you wished to always shank the ball. To add, the strings were much looser, making it easier for players to generate power, but limit the control they had over the ball. However, with the advent of new technology, the rackets have become much larger, with tighter strings, allowing players to hit heavier shots and add more precision. This means that players can hit passing shots with greater accuracy and power, making it much more difficult for a player to come to the net and put away a volley.

Increased Athleticism

Another reason why serve and volleying has become less effective is the increased athleticism of the players. Tennis players today are faster, stronger, taller, and more agile than ever before. This means that they can cover the court much more quickly and get to balls that would have been easy put-aways in the past. In fact, current two-meter-tall players like Daniil Medvedev and Sacha Zverev are moving as if they were only six feet tall. Not only are players able to reach the balls, but they are able to stay back and smack winners from the baseline. This, in turn, makes it much more difficult for someone to come to the net and put away a volley, as well as plunge their overall success rate in a match and as a player.

The Physical Demands of the Sport

The physical demands of tennis have also changed over the years. Players today are expected to play longer matches, which sometimes lead up to five hours. It has also become extremely common to have 50 shots, physically demanding exchanges from the baseline. This means that players are looking to be mentally efficient by enduring the rallies and sticking to their game plan of making their opponent miss. What’s more, players aren't likely to come to the net, as it requires a lot of energy to move quickly and put away a volley. Therefore, it is not convenient to expend energy on moving up to the net, when they are already grinding away 2 meters behind the baseline from corner to corner laterally.

The Rise of Aggressive Baseliners and Counter Punchers

With the advancements in technology and the increase in athleticism, there are two typical player types that are the most common. The first one can be constructed as someone that tries to control and dictate play by hitting powerful groundstrokes for winners, usually using their forehand to the fullest. The other type of player will return every ball, use their opponent’s pace, and rely on them making mistakes. Players like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are examples of these styles of play, and interestingly, they are the two best players to ever play the game. The power and accuracy of their groundstrokes make their opponents feel hopeless from the back of the court. Thus, why would they bother to try and come in to finish the point with a volley?

Slower Court Surfaces

In the past, the court surfaces were much faster, and dominated by grass, which made it easier for players to come to the net and put away volleys. However, with the trend towards slower court surfaces, including Wimbledon changing their grass in 2002, it has become much more difficult for players to come to the net and put away volleys. These slower court surfaces make the balls bounce higher, allow players to get to more balls and make it more difficult for a player to put away a volley. Instead, they can end up getting lobbed, passed with a dipping ball, or have to deal with an annoying half volley right at their feet.

Tactical Evolution

Another reason why serve and volleying has become less effective is the tactical evolution of the sport. Players have been forced to adjust their game to hit the shots that are the most consistent. In other words, they are most likely to hit cross court, for the court is longer and makes it a safer shot. What’s more, players have learned to play “percentage tennis”, meaning you understand your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your opponent’s. Thus, they decide to trap their opponent in a corner until they decide to change directions to give you an open court, or until they finally miss a shot. Back in the day, this was probably too much to think of for Sampras or Borg.

Doubles, Doubles, Doubles

Lastly, the increased popularity of doubles in the recreational level has also reduced the number of players who choose to serve and volley. In other words, players including myself have ended up with the mindset that the baseline player should not go up to the net. Instead, our wish is to hit the ball back cross court, and if the net player is in the way, we pray they hit it to the other net player. In fact, when the other player is at the net, they decide that they will only hit a volley if it comes within his or her wingspan. Coaches always teach us short to short, long to long. However, they forgot the part that tells you to come in after a good shot or poach anything you can up at the net.

Final Thoughts

Serve and volleying is a style of play that has fallen out of favor in the modern era of tennis. The improvement in racket technology, the change in court surfaces, the increased emphasis on fitness and athleticism, evolution of tactics, and the changing culture of our beloved sport have all contributed to its decline. While serve and volley was once a dominant strategy, it is no longer viable. The next time you play a match and decide to mix in a serve an volley, make sure your serve is on fire!!!