The Aggressive Volleyer | Counter Strategies

This is the fourth article of a series of seven

Inevitably you will encounter a player who completely frustrates you and no matter what you try, you keep failing to come up with a winning strategy.

Learn to identify your opponent’s particular style, strengths and weaknesses, and their pattern of play, and how to exploit these to your advantage.

As well, inform yourself regarding your own style of play to develop the best strategy to protect your weaknesses.

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4. The Aggressive Volleyer

The Aggressive Volleyer loves to rush the net on any given opportunity, often starting a point with a serve-and-volley combination. Often they have a better volley game than groundstroke game. An Aggressive Volleyer tends to be impatient and wants to get points over with as soon as possible. They also tend to move better forward and backward rather than side-to-side.

Strategy

Take the volleyer out of their game by forcing them to play back and, if possible, take to the net yourself to beat them to the punch. Your goal should be to take away the net from this type of player.

Hit High and Deep Balls - anticipating a serve and volley, hit your returns down the middle and inside the service line to force them to hit up on their shot. Hit high and deep balls to their backhand to keep them pinned back. Deep shots with heavy topspin can also be effective to keep the player back. Hit chip shots low at their feet forcing them to hit half-volleys rather than aggressive volley put aways. If they do get to the net, either pass them or hit topspin lobs forcing them back to the baseline. If you decide to pass, decide early which side and be decisive, don’t second guess yourself. To throw off their timing, get to balls early after they bounce, giving the volleyer less time to set up, which may be enough to make them miss or even prevent them from rushing the net.

Work on Getting Your First Serves In - Aggressive Volleyers will prey on your second serves and move up close to the service line to put your serve away as quickly as possible. If you allow them to do this, they will take you apart little by little. Of course, you can hit your second serve with the same placement, power, and pace as your first serve as a way to prevent them from doing so, but at a cost to your serves in percentage. Serve wide to stretch them and keep them further away from the net, which also will give you the opportunity to approach the net. A secondary service approach is to serve into their body forcing them back.

Reference

https://www.tennis4beginners.com/7-types-of-tennis-players-and-how-to-beat-them/

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