How much pace does Devvarman play with?

MaratSafin_fan · Dec 26, 2011

It's hard to see on television or youtube clips about how hard Somdev Devvarman hits the ball. Does he have normal ATP pace/hard hitting or does he actually have one of the slowest tempo on the tour?

Would a 5.5 rated player hit harder than him? The same or not even close at all?

What do you think? Me myself have no clue! :-? ;P

Thanks for your comments guys!

Max G. · Dec 26, 2011

He hits about as hard as you'd expect an ATP pro of his ranking and playstyle to hit. He's ranked near the bottom of the top 100, and he's a grinder so he hits a little weaker than other players around his level (making up for it in speed and consistency and placement). He doesn't really softball the ball or anything, not like Santoro or a 17-year-old-Murray sometimes did on their forehands.

I'd guess that probably means that there's approximately 150-250 guys in the world that hit about as hard or harder than him. I'm giving hard hitters that are ranked below him the benefit of the doubt and saying they hit harder than he does. No 5.5 players would not typically hit as hard as he does.

BounceHitBounceHit · Dec 26, 2011

MaratSafin_fan said:
It's hard to see on television or youtube clips about how hard Somdev Devvarman hits the ball. Does he have normal ATP pace/hard hitting or does he actually have one of the slowest tempo on the tour?

Would a 5.5 rated player hit harder than him? The same or not even close at all?

What do you think? Me myself have no clue! :-? ;P

Thanks for your comments guys!

I sat at court level not 20 feet away when he played Robert Kendrick in the final of the Music City Challenger a few years ago. He doesn't hit THAT hard, but he moves incredibly well. Lots of 5.5's probably hit as hard (or even harder) but the game is not all about pace!

Best,

BHBH

NothingButNet · Dec 26, 2011

There's a YouTube clip of him and Sweeting practicing for a US tourney with the camera close to eye level on the back fence that's a good indicator, though it's still a camera, so....

sportsfan1 · Dec 26, 2011

Don't know about the ground strokes, but I remember when he was playing Fed, the serves did look very slow.

john9 · Dec 26, 2011

Thanks for sharing. And Merry Christmas!

BobFL · Dec 26, 2011

MaratSafin_fan said:
It's hard to see on television or youtube clips about how hard Somdev Devvarman hits the ball. Does he have normal ATP pace/hard hitting or does he actually have one of the slowest tempo on the tour?

Would a 5.5 rated player hit harder than him? The same or not even close at all?

What do you think? Me myself have no clue! :-? ;P

Thanks for your comments guys!

Define "normal".

I watched his match against Raonic at SEO in March/April and imho he didn't hit that hard. For example Fish hit A LOT harder both serves and groundies. Raonic hit harder but Dav hit smarter in that particular match. And he won. His serve was clearly underpowered compared to top dogs'.

cmb · Dec 26, 2011

yeah I would like to see any 5.5 rated player hit more then a few balls with him. what u dont see on TV is how heavy and how much it kicks. sorry but a 5.5 rated player is a weak player...no matter what a 5.5 might be telling you

zapvor · Dec 26, 2011

i have seen him hit up and close. his game is based on consistency, but yea...he will crush that ball

wings56 · Dec 26, 2011

cmb said:
yeah I would like to see any 5.5 rated player hit more then a few balls with him. what u dont see on TV is how heavy and how much it kicks. sorry but a 5.5 rated player is a weak player...no matter what a 5.5 might be telling you

have to agree with this. being a 5.5 rated player (LOL) i can second this. i got to play against jack brasington in doubles a couple years ago (he got up to around 100 maybe top 100) and the weight of shot is so much more intense than one could imagine. those guys WORK the ball. even the guys who seem to just place the ball and grind. they're hitting the normal groundstrokes at the pace that a 5.5 player would be hitting a VERY aggressive ball. okay, thanks. that is all

BounceHitBounceHit · Dec 27, 2011

cmb said:
yeah I would like to see any 5.5 rated player hit more then a few balls with him. what u dont see on TV is how heavy and how much it kicks. sorry but a 5.5 rated player is a weak player...no matter what a 5.5 might be telling you

TonLars is rated 5.5. I wager he could easily hit more than a few balls with The D Man.

However, like I said, the game is about much, much, MUCH more than sheer pace. And you are correct, consistency, depth, spin, placment, (and resultant perceived 'heaviness') of shot is what matters more in competition.

Best, BHBH

BobFL · Dec 27, 2011

Wow, 5.5 can be a hero in your local YMCA. On ATP tour it would be a massacre. 5.5 wouldn't last more than 45 minutes (best of 3).

cmb · Dec 27, 2011

BounceHitBounceHit said:
TonLars is rated 5.5. I wager he could easily hit more than a few balls with The D Man.

However, like I said, the game is about much, much, MUCH more than sheer pace. And you are correct, consistency, depth, spin, placment, (and resultant perceived 'heaviness') of shot is what matters more in competition.

Best, BHBH

IMO I think Tony Larson is higher then a 5.5. Ok thats where the USTA rates him. But I heard that last summer he took a set from Alex Clayton....I would rate him at a 6.0 minimum. Thats beside the point, because after 5.0 the ratings are a bunch of BS anyway. Yes Larson could rally with Somdev, even give him a pretty good practice playing crosscourts and some drills....but when the points start, people like Larson, and even some very good college players will be out of posistion and dropping short balls.

But then again Larson is not your average 5.5.

NamRanger · Dec 27, 2011

Somdev hits a very deceptive ball. His forehand in particular is alot heavier than it looks. He also is a very smart player and places the ball extremely well.

roysid · Dec 28, 2011

Somdev lacks in power and doesn't have a major weapon. Funny that Somdev beat Isner to be NCAA champion and today there is a huge difference between them

equinox · Dec 28, 2011

Devy hits patty cakes.

Compared to raonic.

How much pace does Devvarman play with?

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