🎾 5 tips to beat serve-and-volleyers

Mar 06, 2026 3:31 pm

Hi ,


I used to dread playing against Mike. He’s a classic serve-and-volleyer who beat me twice in a row just by rushing my rhythm and cutting the court in half.


Every time I saw him charge the net, I would panic, take my eye off the ball, and try to hit a winner too early.


For our third match, I finally changed my strategy to take back control.

I realized that the secret isn't hitting a perfect passing shot on the first try.


To beat a serve-and-volley player, you have to stay calm and follow these steps:

  1. Shorten your backswing. Treat his volleys like half-volleys and take the ball early or on the rise.
  2. Keep your eyes on the ball. Don't let the intimidation factor of him rushing forward make you look at the opponent instead of the ball.
  3. Don't try to pass them immediately. Aim to hit one or two solid shots to get them off balance before going for the winner.
  4. Target their weakness. Notice if they struggle with body shots, low volleys, or a weak backhand side.
  5. Surprise them. Sometimes the best way to beat a net rusher is to move up to the net yourself and play them at their own game.


By staying patient and making him hit extra balls, I finally walked away with the win.


If you want to dive deeper into these tactics, I have a specific section inside the Total Tennis course at WebTennis24.com.

I go into great detail on both singles and doubles strategies for beating different types of opponents and choosing the right shots for every situation.

You’ll also get instant access to over 2,000 other coaching lessons and drills.


If you ever get stuck, just reach out. I personally respond to every email, usually in less than 12 hours, because I truly enjoy helping you play or coach better tennis.


Enjoy tennis,

Cosmin Miholca


P.S. If you want to practice these shots on your own, I highly recommend my favorite tennis ball machine, the Pongbot Pace S Pro. You can use the coupon code WT24 to save 5%.

Comments
avatar Oliver
Beating serve-and-volleyers is all about perfecting the passing shot and keeping the ball low at their feet. I’ve been working on my return of serve lately, and these strategies are super helpful for my upcoming doubles matches. Though if my scheduled civic duties call this month, I might need to quickly check the https://mesacountycourt.org to ensure I don't miss my club's tennis league finals. Either way, I'll be practicing these aggressive lob shots all week so I'm fully ready for that rushing opponent!
avatar bradley
These are excellent strategies for dealing with those annoying serve-and-volley players who constantly rush the net. I usually struggle with my passing shots, but practicing them recently helped clear my head after a stressful morning looking up some property info on the https://indianrivercountycourt.org website. Hitting a perfectly placed lob over an opponent's head is definitely the most satisfying feeling during a match. I will definitely be keeping these tactical tips in mind for my next club tournament!
avatar joshua
These tips are fantastic for dealing with serve-and-volleyers, and hitting a topspin passing shot down the line is definitely my go-to move. Having a solid strategy is just as important in tennis as it is when you are trying to track down important public information or official documents. Recently, I needed to use a quick https://davidlmossinmatelookup.org resource to look up some local details, and it made the whole process so much smoother. Mixing in a defensive lob to catch your opponent off guard at the net is a brilliant suggestion that I will definitely try in my next match. Thanks for sharing these great tactics with us!