POLL: Best volleyer between these "non-volleyers"

[Tennis Dunce]

Lendl
Courier
Roddick
Agassi

[robow7]

Got to go with Roddick, as he is the only one listed that actually tries to make his living with his volley part of the time.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Agassi, because he could, even though he seldom did.

watch the french open final in 1999 or his Wimby if you don't believe me.

Courier next, then Roddick and poor Ivan a distant last. (painful to watch him try)

[timnz]

Lendl easily a better volleyer than Roddick. Watch the 1990 Masters Cup final round robin against Becker - first set he absolutely kills Becker (he lost the match though) by serve and volleying effectively almost every point. This is something Roddick could never do.

Lendl main weakness was his forehand volley. He wasn't able to make the transition from his western grip to a more orthodox forehand volley grip in the forecourt.

Being a serve and volleyer isn't all about the volley, it is also the transition game going to the net and also the first volley after the serve whilst making the split step. Lendl was competent at that transition game - but Becker and Edberg were supreme at it.

[Datacipher]

Courier, Lendl, and Roddick are pretty close. Roddick has by far the worst feel of any of them....a vital component to the volley...but that is balanced by his willingness TO volley...he deserves credit for trying to make that a large part of his game. Lendl was mechanical but solid, and also tried to integrate it into his game (arguably more than Roddick...at least for a month or two of the year). Courier actually has very good volleys....you just didn't see them much.

The only sure thing here is the loser: Agassi. Abysmal volley...that never got better. Of all of them, Agassi was the guy capable of rushing in....getting a floating, high sitter....and promptly hitting it into the backstop....

[Carsomyr]

I've been watching some classic Agassi/Sampras matches, and yeah, it seems Agassi muffs a ton of volleys, including some fairly routine sitters.

[Azzurri]

Courier, Lendl, and Roddick are pretty close. Roddick has by far the worst feel of any of them....a vital component to the volley...but that is balanced by his willingness TO volley...he deserves credit for trying to make that a large part of his game. Lendl was mechanical but solid, and also tried to integrate it into his game (arguably more than Roddick...at least for a month or two of the year). Courier actually has very good volleys....you just didn't see them much.

The only sure thing here is the loser: Agassi. Abysmal volley...that never got better. Of all of them, Agassi was the guy capable of rushing in....getting a floating, high sitter....and promptly hitting it into the backstop....

I gave the nod to Lendl because he made 2 finals and a few SF at W during the 80's. as you know, tons of great grass court players back then. yep, courier had nice touch and hands at the net, but as you stated he rarely ventured. Agassi..another guy that barely went to the net and believe he just felt very uncomfortable. his dad trained him as a kid to just blast the ball all day. roddick, while he does give an effort..he just looks so clumsy. maybe its the size of his racquet, but Nadal seems to be pretty good..so not sure what it is. Roddick just looked bad.