The Inspiration to Serve and Volley

[moderntennis]

Ellsworth Vines was very critical of serve and volley tennis in his great book, Tennis: Myth and Method, published in the late 1970's. He was writing before large rackets, but pointed out two-handed backhands like Borg's and Connors', has doomed it as a strategy used all the time by all players. He said neither Kramer nor Gonzales S and V'd against even the older Budge, because of his exceptional backhand return, rare for the one-handed backhands of the time. He had no objection to seeing it as part of an all-court game, but didn't like the way it was used in the "Big Game" era of 1947-1973.

[klacr]

moderntennis,

great info. Interesting view from Ellsworth.

We shall see. Things evolve over time. Players and styles change.

Everything in this world has its doubters. Too bad Vines didn't spend more time playing in his career. Decided golf was more his thing. Retired from this great sport we call tennis at the age of 28.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[moderntennis]

Thanks, Kyle. I loved your article and my personal choice would be to see conditions (surfaces, equipment) that were fair to net and groundstroke play - my favorite matches are seeing masters of different styles, like Agassi and Sampras, play each other. I don't want to leave the impression that Vines would like today's game; I have never seen full length matches of the late '30's when he said all-court tennis flourished, exemplified to him by Budge - he was no fan of the Vilas - Borg matches that were prototypes of current matches. I love my DVD's of the Gonzales - Pasarell Wimbledon match, and of course the Becker - Edberg match you reference. If it were an either - or choice, I hope an athlete you inspire or a ban of poly strings for pros brings back serve and volley tennis.

[klacr]

Moderntennis,

It's that contrast of styles or personalities that give us the great rivalries. Baseline vs. Serve and volley. Attacking tennis vs. Counter punching. Technology or court conditions may have something to do with decline of serve and volley, but I think it's something greater and I'll be discussing it in a future article. Stay tuned...

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[GeoffWilliams]

There sure are a lot of slow surfaces. Just a couple fast ones. Why not even that ratio out? EVeryone watching knows how slow most are. It's sponsor driven, who want long drawn out close matches, not boring sv/fast points. They drove the changes in the game, not the equipment/coaching/strings/frames! Hey, sponsors, not all of us want to watch for five hours.

[klacr]

Good points Geoff. Surfaces have certainly slowed down. Makes it tougher to serve and volley but not necessarily the reason for its decline. Players like to stay back nowadays and you can't blame them. It's what they know and what they are comfortable with. Sponsors may like the long matches, but when serve and volley returns, they better adjust.. Adapt or die out, right Geoff?

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[GeoffWilliams]

Serve volley has died out. Adaptation was to the grinding game, due to: slower surfaces, manufacturer/sponsor pressure to slow the game down, loss of viewers, equipment/strings/edged for spin/frames: larger open patterns (although the woodie played with a 10 x 14!). Coaches saw it coming long before anyone else did.

The likelihood of sv returning, as likely as golf equipment going back to wooden drivers. Not going to happen, as manufacturers, and those used to higher tech, always drive the tech upwards and onwards. How long before strings are obsolete, and force fields take over?

[don_budge]

Inspiration...Oh Lord we need that now!

Let's discuss Kyle LaCroix's article, "The Inspiration to Serve and Volley"

Carry on Monsieur LaCroix...don't spare us the details!!! Looking forwards to this tale...from the Wolverine state.

[klacr]

Thanks don_budge. I will be carrying on. More details in future articles over next several months.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[DougEng]

Carry on Monsieur LaCroix...don't spare us the details!!! Looking forwards to this tale...from the Wolverine state.

Most interesting would be an article on chip-and-charge. Talking about the real Don Budge…I don't think he would have endorsed it given what he thinks (from private past conversation) of the attacking game. Hence, he played the 30s all-court forcing game.