Serve and volley
An attacking tennis tactic where the server follows their serve to the net to finish the point with a volley.
Overview
Serve and volley is a proactive, net-based style in which the server moves forward immediately after striking the serve, aiming to intercept the return before it bounces and put it away with a volley.
It shortens rallies and pressures the returner into a fast, low-margin passing shot. The tactic rewards a well-placed serve, quick footwork into the net and clean volleying, and is used most often on faster surfaces.
Key points
- The serve is used to set up the point, not to end it — placement and depth matter more than raw power.
- The server aims to reach a strong volleying position before the returner makes contact.
- A low first volley near the service line is usually followed by a second volley closer to the net.
- It works best against returners who prefer to rally from the baseline.
- Common in doubles, where one partner covers the net while the other serves.
Where it’s used
Sports that use serve and volley:
Tennis
A singles or doubles racquet sport that blends agility, strategy and stamina on court.
Padel
A sociable, doubles-first racquet sport played in an enclosed court where the walls stay in play.
POP Tennis
A friendly, easy-to-learn racquet sport on a smaller court with solid paddles and a lower net.
Related tactics
Baseline play
A patient tennis style built around rallying from the back of the court and constructing points with groundstrokes.
Doubles formation
How a pair positions itself on court — one up, one back, or both at the net — to control space in doubles.
Net play
Controlling the point from close to the net with volleys, smashes and touch shots to cut down an opponent’s time.
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Playing surfaces
- Hard courtA rigid acrylic, concrete or asphalt court that gives a true, consistent, medium-paced bounce — the standard multi-use outdoor surface.
- GrassNatural turf grown on soil — the traditional surface for many field sports and, in tennis, a fast court with a low, skiddy bounce.
- SnowCompacted or natural snow on slopes and trails — a low-friction surface built for gliding, where skis, boards and runners slide fast over frozen ground.
- ClayA soft, granular racquet-sport surface of crushed brick, stone or shale that slows the ball, gives a high bounce and lets players slide into shots.
Rules
- Tennis serving rulesThe rules governing how a tennis point begins, including where the server stands and where the serve must land.
- Two-bounce ruleA pickleball rule requiring both the serve and the return to bounce once before players may hit the ball out of the air.
- Foot faultA serving fault called when the server's foot touches the baseline or court before striking the ball.
- LetA call that stops a point and has it replayed without penalty, used across several racket sports.
- Badminton serve rulesThe rules for how a badminton serve must be delivered and where it must land.
Techniques
- Tennis ServeThe overhead stroke that starts every point, hit from behind the baseline into the diagonally opposite service box.
- VolleyA shot played near the net by blocking the ball out of the air before it bounces, using a short, firm punch rather than a full swing.
- Table Tennis Forehand DriveA controlled attacking stroke in table tennis, played on the forehand side with a compact swing and light topspin.
- Flip TurnA fast turn in freestyle where the swimmer somersaults at the wall, pushes off on their back and rotates to continue swimming.
- Volleyball SpikeA powerful attacking hit that drives the ball sharply downward over the net into the opponent's court, usually after an approach and jump.