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The Art of the Approach

by Jim McLennan

The approach, transition game, moving forward, chip and charge, taking the net, forcing the opponent to pass. What once was routine on the professional circuit (Ashe, Laver, Connors, Smith, etc.) is now rarely seen. Yes, the racquets and players are more powerful. Yes, the forehand and backhand passes are struck with such topspin making the fast dipping balls more difficult to volley than those in the 70’s. But this old fashioned game still works for Patrick Rafter, and certainly there will be others coming forward who will perfect the chip and charge. 

Skills developed when you make a commitment to move forward include the volley, half volley, overhead, a well-practiced split step, and a keener awareness of time and the angle of play. And when you are at the net at match point, you don't have to move very far to shake the hand of your vanquished opponent.

Truly, in the finals of the 1981 US Open, Mac was serving to Borg for the match at 40-15; he served to the body, Borg duffed the return, and McEnroe moved to within two feet of the net to put away the match on his first volley. Two feet from the net on the first volley! Check the highlights.

Strategy 

Strategy is all about time and angle. Back the opponent up; their hitting angle is reduced. So the approach shot is played deep to minimize the passers angle of play, and the volleyer has more time to blanket the net. When the approach shot is short, the passer has a wider angle of play and the volleyer has less time to move. The closer the volleyer to the net, the less the distance to cover either of the passing shots. So taking the approach shot on the rise from inside the baseline reduces the distance to move into optimal volleying position. 

Cornering the opponent on the approach enables the net player to volley to the open court, and in most instances the baseliner will not have time to retrieve a sharply angled volley. 

Finally, the net player positions to the midline of the opponent’s angle of play, and times the split step along this line to the moment the opponent makes contact. In most instances (though not all) approaches are placed down the line to position the volleyer closer to the midline of the opponent’s angle of play.

Execution

McEnroe makes the approach and volley look simple. Incredibly simple (Lessons Learned). He takes the ball early, on the rise, and well inside the baseline. From this spot he can easily move inside the service line for the volley. He controls the speed of his approach to create adequate time to position at the net (interestingly, most of the current professional crop over hit their approaches and thereby reduce their time to capture good volleying position). 

Timing the speed of the approach to one’s movement needs after contact is critical. Too slow an approach and the opponent has time to set up and pass. Too fast an approach and the volleyer cannot get into good volleying position.

McEnroe waits for the opponent to move, and responds to the pass rather than guessing or committing prior to their hit. His movements to the ball routinely employ an initial gravity step. He clearly turns his hips to the ball, steps under with the foot closest to the ball, and continues with short and quick steps. Then McEnroe deftly angles the volley to the open court, denying the opponent time for a reply.    

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