Tennis Tip: The Three Great Times to Approach the Net in Singles
Julie Cass
Back in the era of wood, metal, and plain graphite racquets players came to net much more often. Your racquet wasn’t going to allow you to hit hard enough to take time away from your opponent much less allow you to hit a zinging passing shot or overpowering baseline shot. If you wanted to take time away from your opponent or hit a winner, you needed to be at the net. There was a change in racquet technology in the early 90s creating the much more powerful racquets we’ve seen through the 2000s. Players could overpower each other from the baseline and hit passing shots much easier. Coming to the net in singles became a lost art for many years as players tried to outhit each other with their groundstrokes.
With today’s players adapting to the increased pace of the ball, and overall improvement in court coverage at the highest levels, approaching the net more often in singles is making its comeback on tour. It is the best way to cut an opponent’s time to react, an opponent’s time to recover, and an opponent’s time to run for the next ball. And you don’t have to be a pro-level player to do it successfully.
Here are the 3 best times to get to the net in singles
When you get a short ball
When you have someone on the full run – either across the baseline or moving forward to chase a short ball
When you have hit a high, deep ball that pushes your opponent towards the back fence and onto their back foot
Approaching the net in singles can be a little daunting for some players. Your opponent does have more room to pass you and there is no one to run down a lob for you. But if you come in at the right time, a passing shot and a good lob become harder for your opponent to pull off.
WHEN YOU GET A SHORT BALL. This one is pretty obvious. If your opponent hits short and invites you into the net, you might as well accept her invitation and go in rather than try to backpedal to the baseline. Your success at the net in this instance depends on the quality of your approach shot. Hit it straight ahead and get it as deep as possible or hit with underspin to keep it out of their “strike zone”.
WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE ON THE FULL RUN. If you do get someone on the full run, their chance of pulling off a passing shot is very slim. So you are not only safe to come in, you would be wise to come in. On the full run means they are in crisis or potential crisis. Coming to the net to volley in this instance means you have cut their time to recover or run for the next shot—meaning they cannot get out of crisis. Even if they throw up a lob to buy time, the overhead you hit should be able to end the point.
WHEN YOU HAVE HIT A HIGH, DEEP BALL THAT PUSHES YOUR OPPONENT TOWARDS THE BACK FENCE AND ONTO THEIR BACK FOOT. Again, in this situation, your opponent is in a potential crisis. Their only good option on how to play the ball back to you is to try hitting high and deep as well. If they do that, and they get the ball back to you while you are at the baseline, then they are out of a crisis. By coming to the net, you keep them in crisis. And because they are well behind the baseline and on their back foot, there is very little chance of them passing you or hitting over you. Expect a higher ball (volley or overhead) and hit to the open court.
Singles points are typically longer than doubles points because play is mostly from the baseline, which gives each player more time to run down or react to their opponent’s ball. Don’t miss an opportunity to shorten the point and end it in your favor by staying back when you should have come in.
Julie Cass is the Director of Women’s Tennis at Westwood Country Club in Austin, TX. She is a seasoned tournament competitor in age-level tennis. She currently competes in the 50s age division and her accolades include winning 96 gold balls and representing the United States on 16 Cup Teams.
