Try This To Improve Your Tennis Net Play

Part of your tennis strategy should be how you approach the net.

If hitting volleys at the net is one of your strengths then you will want a strategy that includes being aggressive at the net.

If your ground strokes are your best kept secret…then you may plan to spend less time at the net.

Here are a few tennis net play strategies that can be part of any doubles or singles strategy.

Try This To Improve Your Tennis Net Play

(This post contains affiliate links. To read our full disclosure policy click here.)

How do you improve volleys in tennis?

The first thing you want to make sure is that you have the correct grip on your racket for doing volleys.

The most common forehand volley grip is using the continental grip.

Volleys also take a lot of practice to master so you should make them a priority during practice if you are looking to improve your net play.

What is serve and volley in tennis?

This is a strategy is when you serve the ball and then quickly approach the net.

It is a strategy that can be used in both doubles and singles tennis.

What does volley mean in tennis?

Volley is a shot where the ball is hit before it bounces. Most of the time players are near the net when a volley takes place.

Getting Your Approach Shots In

Getting your approach shot down is crucial to getting to the net.

What is an approach shot?

It is usually a backhand or forehand shot that allows you to get to the net.

A bad approach shot would be when your opponent is able to return your shot with a winner down the baseline and you never make it to the net.

Where should your approach shot land?

Usually somewhere near the baseline.

You will want to hit a shot that is difficult for your opponent to return making it a perfect time to get up to the net.

You can read more about approach shots HERE.

Serve and Volley

Serve and volley is something that scares some tennis players.

It requires excellent footwork and speed.

How do you implement serve and volley?

Keep it simple.

You hit an amazing tennis serve and then you get to the net.

This is a strategy that can be used in doubles and singles.

I would highly suggest practicing this strategy and if you are not confident enough to do it throughout a whole match, definitely give it a try if you are down in a tennis match and are looking for a comeback.

If you suddenly charge the net after you serve and you haven’t been doing it during the match….it can provide a perfect opportunity to shake things up a bit and throw your opponent off.

Staying at the Baseline

Is net play a weakness for you?

Not everyone loves to be at the net so it may be best for you to stay back.

If you are able to hit consistent winners at the net then maybe having a net strategy is not something you want to focus on right now.

Instead focus on feeling confident at the net by practicing your hits at the net doing tennis drills by yourself or during practice until you feel confident approaching the net.

Faking a Poach

Tennis is all about strategy.

Another tactic to change the pace of a game is to fake a poach.

Make it look like you are about to take off towards the net but hang back instead.

This can surprise your opponent and you may end up snagging a winning shot because of it.

Hitting Winning Shots

Everyone wants to hit a winner.

There is nothing that beats slamming a shot and knowing that your opponent can’t touch it.

However, overconfidence and a focus on hitting big “winning shots” can also end with you hitting the ball into the net which can be a bit embarrassing.

It is ok to go for winners sometimes…but always focus on just getting the ball back.

You need to have great concentration during your tennis match and if you just focus on slamming shots it can easily distract you.