If you wonder when to approach the net in tennis for a high success rate and if such a strategy exists, you've come to the right place.
There is a simple two step strategy you need to apply if you want around 80% success rate at the net when approaching and it works with forehand and backhand approach shots as well as with serves.
But if you want to understand this approach strategy well, we need to first unpack when NOT to approach the net!
When Not To Approach The Net
In tennis, knowing when not to approach the net is as critical as mastering your net game. There are two situations when you want to avoid coming to the net:
The Return Shot Is Not Short Enough: Without a short ball from your opponent, advancing to the net is difficult because you will not get close enough to the net by the time your opponent hits a passing shot.
And that means you will not cover the net well and likely get passed.
Your Opponent is Within The Singles Sideline: If your opponent remains well within the singles sideline, reconsider your move forward.
This positioning suggests they're not stretched wide enough to compromise their forehand or backhand passing shot and they will likely hit a powerful and precise shot and pass you.
If your opponent positions well (they are not on the run), then they will likely hit a good shot.
The key to knowing when to approach the net in tennis lies with your opponent. They should be be stretched wide and having played a short ball.
If you try to approach the net without seeing these cues, you may end up being an easy target at the net.
The Two Conditions Perfect For You To Approach The Net
In many situations, you will need these two key conditions to enhance your chances of winning the point from a net volley:
Your Opponent Steps Over The Single Sideline
Observe your opponent's position closely. When they step on or over the singles sideline, it's your cue to anticipate your approach to the net.
Because if they stepped over the singles sideline, they now have more than 8 meters (26 feet) to run to the other singles sideline to cover the court and that means they will have to hit shots on the run.
Your Opponent Returns A Short Ball
The second condition is that your opponent's shot after they have been stretched wide is short.
This scenario often arises when your opponent is off-balance or hurried by your previous shot, resulting in hitting the ball with poor control and less power.
A short ball gives you a chance to move closer to the net after the approach shot and also robs them of time since the ball flight to them will be shorter.
When these two conditions are met - your opponent's compromised position and you getting a short ball - the green light is on and you should approach the net into the open court.
The 2 key conditions to approach the net with 80% success rate - opponent stretched wide and a short ball
In most cases the opponent will return the ball cross court and you will be therefore approaching the net down the line which is ideal because you can cover the net better.
But even if they return the ball down the line and you have to approach cross court into the open court, you'll still end up in a much better position than your opponent and you'll win a high percentage of points at the net.
When To Approach The Net After The Serve
Now that you're aware of this 1-2 punch strategy you can already see how we can apply it when serving.
You will use wide serves to pull your opponent out of the court and look for a short return.
Use topspin / kick serves out wide on the ad side to pull opponent over the singles sideline.
If you see that you've pulled your opponent wide off the singles sideline, the first condition is met and in your mind's eye you can see the first green "checkmark".
If your opponent has crossed the singles sideline when returning, the first green light is on.
If you then see that the return of the serve is short, the second green "checkmark" is lit and you have the full green light to approach the net into the open court.
The return of the serve is short and the second green light is on. Approach into the open court.
You will again force your opponent to hit the attempted passing shot on the run which makes it very difficult for them to be accurate and increases the chances of you finishing the point at the net or them making an error.
Peter is attempting a passing shot on the run which will likely result in poorly controlled ball that you can finish with the volley.
The same of course applies to the deuce side where you will try to pull your opponent wide with a slice serve (for a right-hander) and then look for a short ball to attack into the open court.
If you pull your opponent wide with a slice serve (right-handers), the first green light is on.
If you do get a short ball, the second green light is on and if you approach into the open court you have 80% chance of winning the point at the net.
Summary
Having high success when approaching the net in tennis comes down to meeting two conditions:
- opponent initially crossing the singles sideline
- receiving a short ball
If the above two conditions are met and you approach the net into the open court, you will have a very high success rate at the net because your opponent will be attempting to hit a passing shot while running and that makes their shots very inaccurate.
Your goal is then to try and create situations where you can pull your opponent out of the court either with a short cross court forehand or backhand or with a wide serve, and then look for the short ball to attack it.
If of course your opponent defends well and they play the ball deep, then you have stay in a
A future post about approaching the net will cover more specifics regarding technique, target areas, and footwork, so stay tuned.
