Cesc Fabregas
Legend
I think Nadal by far, what do you think?
Better volleyer Djokovic or Nadal
- Thread starter Cesc Fabregas
- Start date
DreamKiller
Banned
Djokovic has a better net game, he just doesn't have the gut to come in, never has. Nadal is pretty good at the net because he comes in on good approaches.
dropshot winner
Hall of Fame
That's like " better serve, Coria or Chang?".
Nadal is using his skills at the net better IMO, but neither of them is a good volleyer, they don't need to be.
Nadal is using his skills at the net better IMO, but neither of them is a good volleyer, they don't need to be.
DreamKiller
Banned
^^both players volley well but stay on the baseline.
grafselesfan
Banned
I think Nadal.
featherlight
Professional
nadal always does drop volleys
paulorenzo
Hall of Fame
djokovic's volley has become better than it was before. since his camp has been trying to get him to volley more often. i've noticed it in Cincinnati against federer. he would come to net usually behind a decent approach, and i do recall times when i thought he was just rushing the net recklessly, but still manages to do something right.
nadal however has better touch at net especially when he chases down a drop shot. but nadal only comes to net to either chase down a ball, follow up on a good approach, or when he sees his opponent on the run.
i'll go with djokovic on this one. although nadal has so much clutch when it comes to finding a short angle, drop volley or flicking an opponents attempted drop shot in the most unreachable places, djokovic can actually volley a deep "first volley" as well as an acute "second volley" and will actually attempt to rush the net, even if the opponent isn't completely out of position.
nadal however has better touch at net especially when he chases down a drop shot. but nadal only comes to net to either chase down a ball, follow up on a good approach, or when he sees his opponent on the run.
i'll go with djokovic on this one. although nadal has so much clutch when it comes to finding a short angle, drop volley or flicking an opponents attempted drop shot in the most unreachable places, djokovic can actually volley a deep "first volley" as well as an acute "second volley" and will actually attempt to rush the net, even if the opponent isn't completely out of position.
GasquetGOAT
Hall of Fame
Djokovic by far is a better volleyer. Has more natural talent at the net as well.
IvanAndreevich
Legend
Both of them usually come in after the point has been won from the baseline. I think Djokovic comes in on tougher balls more often.
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
Nadal is way more ruthless at the net, whilst Djokovic misses some easy volleys. Nadal also has better technique on his backhand volley, Djokovic often puts his wrist ahead of his racquet head on his bh volley.
P_Agony
Banned
Nah, Nadal comes in on easy put aways, that's why he has such a great success at the net. When he attempts a tough one he usually misses.
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
Nadal comes in more than Djokovic, today Nadal came into the net quite alot and Djokovic came in once or twice. Nadal also has better technique and feel on his volleys, Nadal is a better volleyer.
P_Agony
Banned
Did you start a poll to hear everyone's opinions or just state "facts"? Just asking...
S
srinrajesh
Guest
very good post .. i like nadal but i do feel Djoker would be more consistent at the net if he has to hit 2-3 volleys in a row. Nadal however is better only when he needs to finish off a touch volley. if he needs to hit 2nd volley he seems very awkward at the net and tends to lose the point
Telepatic
Legend
I think Novak but only slightly better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLHfWGSkSIs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLHfWGSkSIs
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
Djokovic often screw up at the net even when he comes in on good approachs, Nadal usually puts his volley away.
All-rounder
Legend
Djokovic duh?? Unless nadal can prove to me he can come to the net with confidence off of a serve or approach shot. Then his put aways won't count it
TheFifthSet
Legend
Why did you make this poll if it is so obvious, according to you?
P_Agony
Banned
That's Cesc for you. Creating polls only to tell people how to vote.
navratilovafan
Banned
They are both crap volleyers. What is the point of who is better. This is like starting a poll who volleys better Dementieva or Safina.
Yep, nadal by a mile. Djokovic has little to no feel for the ball. One time djokovic tried to hit a drop shot and the slice nearly reached the baseline.
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mandy01
G.O.A.T.
I prefer Roger when it comes to the BH smash.
I'd pick him anyday.
Quite funny!
I think Nadal would S&V more if he had a bigger 1st serve. He's a decent doubles player.
P_Agony
Banned
Nadal has the best BH smash? Really? I don't think I've seen him do that a lot. Fed rarely misses those and many times they are clean winners. He hit an awesome one at the Wimbly 07 final against Nadal.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Both are poor volleyers with cringe-worthy technique compared to today's version of "real deal" examples (Federer, Ancic, et al), but between the two, Nadal appears to use it to his advantage more than Djokovic.
had a nice one last night in the 2nd set. Perfect execution.
Baikalic
Semi-Pro
He says it MIGHT be called the bh smash. I don't think he has the best one.
Nadal has a great BH high volley.
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
LOL. Federer and Ancic aren't great at the net, they might look it today but if they played in the 80's or 90's they would be considered mediocre volleyers.
darthpwner
Banned
Djokovic has a better net game than Nadal. No way does Nadal hit better put away volleys. Nadal can only hit drop and angle volleys.
darthpwner
Banned
Ancic is actually good at net. But yeah, Federer would be considered mediocre.
Fed is very, very good at net, even to 80s-90s standard. He showed some vs Sampras at Wimby. He whipped Philippoussis at Wimby for 1st slam.
He just doesn't volley enough nowadays.
World Beater
Hall of Fame
i dont think the difference between nadal and djokovic at net is all that significant...and even if it is, the net is just not that big a component of either of their games to begin with. so it just doesnt matter.
They both are competent enough at net for what they need to do.
it is like asking - who has a better smash? Most pros have good smashes - having a great smash might win you a point or two extra but not a real differentiator.
They both are competent enough at net for what they need to do.
it is like asking - who has a better smash? Most pros have good smashes - having a great smash might win you a point or two extra but not a real differentiator.
Federer is not very good at the net. Dude routinely dumps forehand volleys all the time. He did it a good 10 times against Nadal during the Wimbledon 08 final, on EASY balls too.
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
Federer's S&V game 01-03 is overrated, yes he S&V well on grass during that time but not as good as made out, he got out S&V by Henman and Ancic. He also only S&V on grass, on other surfaces the only time he came to net as to shake hands at the end of the match.
Of course he is clearly overrated. People make it look like Sampras in 01 was the same invicible Sampras of 95 or 99. Yeah; actually what Federer accomplished wasn't that great. I mean, Roddick straight setted Sampras that year, and a bunch of other nobodies beat up on him too. Clearly Sampras in 01 was not a great player. Yet people are like "OMG HE OUT S&VED OLDMAN SAMPRAS"
Great accomplishment there. You were able to beat a pro at the twilight of his career during probably statistically his worst year since he became a slam champion.
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
Exactly. Sampras was the on the downslide, if he somehow beat Federer he would have definatley lost to Henman. Henman gave Federer a lesson in S&V.
Fed lacked confidence going into the match. He looked very nervous & was close to losing in straight, only rain saved him.
The beating he took at FO a month earlier left quite a few scars.
Hitting a volley under tremendous pressure is different from hitting one when you're dominating.
Did you read? He missed EASY volleys that were up high that he should have never missed. He dumped a ton of them because he wasn't getting up to the net close enough to cut them off. Federer's net game has ALWAYS been overrated, just like his backhand.
zagor
Bionic Poster
Disagree completely,most definitely lost to Henman? You're talking about Pete Sampras here,despite that he was clearly past his prime his mental strength and aura he enjoyed against guys like Henman,Goran and Rafter would have given him a very good chance for the title again if he got past Fed.He knew all of their games very well and would rise to the occasion when he played them,not to mention they were intimated by him for all the past beatings they got from him.Heck,he beat Rafter on one leg at Wimbledon the year before.
He lost to Fed because Fed was a young very talented kid with nothing to lose.Neither were in their primes so the match doesn't tell us much.
You have no clue if you think Federer and Ancic have mediocre volleys, by any standards.
There are many more examples besides, but this is exemplary volleying from Federer, despite the fact he lost the match. There's less youtube material on Ancic, but he is also an excellent volleyer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYyiIzJprVE
Regarding Djokovic and Nadal. Djokovic clearly has the better technique and Nadal better touch. Djokovic can actually stick a volley on the forehand or backhand, Nadal cannot do this. Nadal has very poor technique and only really hits the drop volley after he has hit the opponent off court. Give him a tough volley or a volley to stick and he cannot deliver. His technique is all wrong, but he makes up for it by knowing his limitations and being smart when he comes in.
