Written by Mark Sampson
POINTS
- Volleying a serve is hitting the ball out of the air without letting it bounce and is only allowed during regular gameplay, not when serving.
- The player must stand behind the baseline between the center mark and right sideline to serve and hit the ball into the service box on one side of the net without stepping over the baseline beforehand.
- A volley in tennis is a shot where the ball is hit before it bounces on the ground, usually done closer to the net but can also be near the middle of the court or closer to the baseline. Its purpose is for offensive play or to reduce the time the opponent has to react.
- You cannot volley a serve—if you do, the server gets another chance to serve (two chances total).
Can you volley a serve in tennis? While you can volley and serve, volleying a serve is a completely different question. There are a lot of rules in tennis, which can make it tricky to find all the right answers.
This article will review the meaning of volleying a serve, the rules of the serve, the rules of a volley, and whether you can volley a serve. If you need answers to these confusing questions, keep reading.
What does it mean to volley a serve?
Volleying a serve is a style of play in tennis where the serving player moves quickly to the net after hitting the serve. Then, the server attempts to hit the ball without allowing it to bounce on the court. Typically, players use a baseline style where the server stays back after serving and tries to hit the ball after it bounces. This is called a “groundstroke.”
Rules of the serve in tennis
In tennis, the serve is the shot that starts each tennis point. You get two chances to put the ball into play. When serving the first play, you should stand behind the baseline between the center mark and the right sideline. To serve, you will hit the ball diagonally into the service box on one side of the net without stepping on or over the baseline before hitting the ball. If you miss both shots, then you lose a point.
Rules of volley in tennis
A volley in tennis is a shot where the ball is hit before it bounces on the ground. Usually, a volley occurs closer to the net, but it can also happen near the middle of the court or closer to the baseline. The primary goal of a volley is to go on the offensive and reduce the amount of time your opponent has to react.
A volley can also reduce the chances of a bad bounce, as it doesn’t have time to hit uneven surfaces such as grass or clay. Good hand-eye coordination is needed to make a volley, as it is a difficult shot.
Can you volley a serve?
The simple answer? No. While hitting that first ball out of the air may be desirable, it is not allowed. The server’s ball must hit the ground inside the correct service box for the point to count. If the serve is hindered in any way, such as touching your clothing or body, then you lose the point. It didn’t matter if the serve would be in or out of the court.
FAQ
What makes a serve illegal in tennis?
If the ball hits the net and lands outside the correct service box, it is a fault. A served ball hitting a post is also a fault. If you run up while serving the ball, you lose the point.
You are not allowed to throw the ball up with your racquet unless you have a disability that makes that necessary. If you touch the baseline or court with your foot, then you lose the point. Furthermore, it is a fault if you let the ball touch the ground before hitting it.
What if I hit the ball unintentionally?
Uh oh! What if you knock the ball by accident? If the hindrance were deliberate or on purpose, the other team would win the point automatically. You can replay the point if it was accidental or something outside of your control.
What if the ball hits the net before hitting me?
If the ball hits the net before getting to you, the player serving will lose a point. Likewise, you will lose the point if you serve the ball and it hits the net before getting to your opponent.
When does the ball have to bounce in tennis?
When should my ball bounce? When serving, the ball must bounce once on the court before being hit. When you start hitting the ball back and forth, the ball must bounce 0–1 times to get a point. If it bounces more than that, then you lose the point.
When to hit a volley in tennis?
Is there ever a good time to hit a volley? Unlike in a serve, you are allowed to volley during the other portions of the match. The reason a player will move up and hit a volley, even though they have to get closer to the person who might hit them with a ball, is that it takes time to react away from the opponent.
For example, if a player hits the hardest shot they can from the baseline (the very back of the court), it takes one second to get to the other player. Now, if the player could move up to the net (in the middle of the court) after that shot and hit a volley, that is half the speed. Why would you want to do that instead of another full-power shot?
It’s because you are decreasing the distance between you and your opponent by half. This means that it gets to them two times faster. You are also less likely to miss your shot at the net.
So, it’s not about how hard you hit—it’s about how long it takes to get to the opponent. It’s about how long you give them to react. A volley can change the course of a game.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are new to tennis or have a lot of experience, volleying is a great tool to use. While the rules can be tricky at times, volleying can reduce your opponent’s chance to react. This gives you a greater chance of scoring a point.
If you have good hand-eye coordination and flexibility, then volleying might be a great choice for you. Once you get the hang of all the rules, volleying is a great asset. Now, go out and give it a try for yourself!