TennisOne Lessons

Approach and Split-Step to
Gain a Strategic Advantage

Advertising Space

Dan Leon
Wimbledon Woods Racquet Club
Photographs by Steve Margheim

Table of Contents

---

Introduction

Many beginning and even intermediate club players are reluctant to come to the net. If they get a short ball, they come in and then beat a hasty retreat to the baseline. In singles, this strategy leaves them vulnerable to a drop-shotter, who pulls them into the net where they're not comfortable. This strategy also robs them of their offensive initiative, as they can't come in behind a short ball and put their opponent on the defensive. This hug-the-baseline-at-all-costs strategy is even worse for doubles. As has been said, singles is a game of ground strokes and volleys; doubles is a game more of volleys. That's an oversimplification, but it reflects a real difference between singles and doubles. In doubles, if you are afraid to come in and volley, you're giving your opponents a tremendous strategic advantage. So this lesson is going to teach you how to come into the net and properly execute that first volley.

Back to TennisONE Home Page

What's New | Tennis Lessons | Tennis in Your Area
Tennis Fitness | Tennis Products | Sponsors/Advertisers/Consultants

TennisONE© is a trademark of TennisONE© and SportsWeb ONE©. Copyright© 1995. All rights reserved.