serve and volley

tennis

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Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

In tennis, the serve is the act of putting the ball into play to start each point. A strong serve is crucial, especially on faster court surfaces, as it can win points outright (an "ace") or force a weak return that allows the server to easily win the point. Servers often follow their serve to the net to gain an advantage.12

The volley is a shot hit before the ball bounces, typically executed at the net. Volleying is generally easier than playing ground strokes (shots hit after the ball bounces) and can lead to an easy point if the opponent is put under pressure. Players can choose to play offensively from the baseline, aiming to maneuver their opponent into a position where they can hit a winning shot, or they can adopt a serve-and-volley strategy, moving to the net behind their serve.23

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Alice Marble
…aggressively and pioneered the women’s serve-and-volley style of play (wherein a player rushes up toward the net after a serve). Her early pitching practice lent itself to a powerful tennis serve, and her excellent hand-to-eye coordination and speed gave her an exceptional game at the net.
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…aggressively and pioneered the women’s serve-and-volley style of play (wherein a player rushes up toward the net after a serve). Her early pitching practice lent itself to a powerful tennis serve, and her excellent hand-to-eye coordination and speed gave her an exceptional game at the net.
Read More