Better Volleyer: Sampras vs. Federer?

[tennisdad65]

Federer was a far better volleyer early in his career. Now, I would only put him a hair above Nadal. Maybe Fed will get better with Annacone.

Either way, Federer and Nadal slice all their volleys way too much. This works because they have pretty much won the point with a great approach, and their opponent is out of position. I feel that Fed's and Nadal's net success statistics are inflated these days.

Mac, Edberg, Pete and all the other great volleyers of the past punched through the volleys with some underspin.

No way Fed is in the same league as Sampras (volleying wise) these days.

 

[wangs78]

They played in different eras so can't really compare. Sampras was one of the best volleyers of his era (thought definitely not THE best) and Fed is also one of the best volleyers of his own era. All I know is when they two faced off at Wimby in 2001 Fed went toe to toe with Sampras in every category including volleying. So reasonable to argue that had Fed played in an era where luxilon hadn't made volleying extinct, he could've been a great a volleyer. So it's not fair to say that Fed doesn't have the skills that Sampras did, because Fed never had the opportunity to develop them in match play.

 

[Devilito]

Sampras was hitting stretch angled drop volleys off 100mph cannon passing shots and insane half volleys from the service line off blistering returns. He had amazing volley skills to be able to handle some really punishing baseliners in the 90s like Agassi, Courier, Kafelnikov. I don’t think people give his volley skills enough credit. He’s definitely one of the best volleyers ever

 

[hoodjem]

Gotta go with Sampras here.

Fed may be the best around today (but that's not saying much).

 

[Azzurri]

Sampras was hitting stretch angled drop volleys off 100mph cannon passing shots and insane half volleys from the service line off blistering returns. He had amazing volley skills to be able to handle some really punishing baseliners in the 90s like Agassi, Courier, Kafelnikov. I don’t think people give his volley skills enough credit. He’s definitely one of the best volleyers ever

his half-volley was truly amazing. how he was not only able to return these big returners but to keep them low with penetrating velocity and it was so natural. I say Mac/Ed best volleyers with touch, but Pete the most powerful net minder I have seen (no offense to Laver and his crew..never saw them play).

 

[Ultra2HolyGrail]

Sampras and edberg are the best i've seen serve and volley. I'm still most impressed with sampras. Just the whole combination of his awesome serve and intense net rushing- and air jordan overhead puts him at the top. His backhand volley technique is perfect but his forehand volley did look slightly awkward.

 

[pc1]

his half-volley was truly amazing. how he was not only able to return these big returners but to keep them low with penetrating velocity and it was so natural. I say Mac/Ed best volleyers with touch, but Pete the most powerful net minder I have seen (no offense to Laver and his crew..never saw them play).

Sampras was a terrific net player. I agree with Hoodjem and Azzurri. Got to go with Sampras.

 

[Tennis_Bum]

Lots of threads on here lately about the best volleyers in the game: McEnroe or Edberg or Rafter or Laver, etc.

I was wondering how one ranks Sampras in this list. Also, I noticed that Most Versatile Player thread where Fed's volleys seem to be well-thought of.

So I am wondering, how you would rate these two in terms of their volleying abilities, most particularly against each other, who has the better volleys?

I have to say Sampras is a better volleyer simply because his approach are heavier, therefore he looks better off the first volley. As far as aesthetic is concerned, Fed looks smoother, but his first volleys are not as crisp or as penetrating as Sampras. I take Sampras, for better or worse, not-as smooth volleys over Fed's any day. I like results. I wish Fed would just coming into the net off really heavy, penetrating or really crazy slices, but most of the times nowadays, Fed just coming into the net with either top spin forehands or soft slices.

 

[Ultra2HolyGrail]

Can't put my finger on it but fed just lacks something when he charges the net. I think he's a baseliner at heart- great serve but likes to stay back.. It just seems like he isn't very dominate when he attacks.. Nadal has more of that going for him when he comes to net.

 

[borg number one]

I think Sampras, Edberg, and McEnroe were all better volleyers than Federer and they capitalized by winning a ton of points at the net during their respective careers. Federer is definitely a very good volleyer as well, but he makes more "easy mistakes" and is more of a "putaway" volleyer as opposed to a player who can thrive up there at the net, creating angles, changing pace and spins to basically start opening up the court and basically dominating a match from the front court. Sampras, Edberg, and McEnroe (and of course Laver and his predecessors) could all simply dominate players from the net. Federer is less able to do that, but I agree with those that perhaps if Federer worked a bit more on this aspect of his game, especially with T. Roche (or PA now), he would be/could be a better volleyer. I do also agree that the dynamics have shifted a bit in favor of the baseliner. So, I do think it is more difficult to be as dominant at the net as players were in the past (slower grass courts, more powerful frames, and more spin conducive strings).

 

[borg number one]

 

[tennis4josh]

When discussing volleys (or any tennis stroke for that matter) I would look into two aspects. Right Technique (foundation) and confidence in using the stroke (practice). Federer certainly has a good technique, but he doesn't use the shot often.

There are 3 way a player can execute the volley:
1. Just block the ball, with little control or precision in placement. Most of
Fed's volleys belong here. Specially when he is forced to come to net.
2. Use returner's pace and place the ball in open court. Fed can do this,
when he sets up a weak return.
3. Eat returner's pace and drop the ball over the net. I don't see Fed
doing much of this.

Sampras could do all 3 very well. So I rate him higher.

But remember that Federer is still playing and I expect to see lot more serve and volley from him going forward. Certainly not as much as Sampras used towards the end of his career. But Fed definitely has potential to equal Sampras in Volley department.

-Josh

 

[ywk999]

Sampras was hitting stretch angled drop volleys off 100mph cannon passing shots and insane half volleys from the service line off blistering returns. He had amazing volley skills to be able to handle some really punishing baseliners in the 90s like Agassi, Courier, Kafelnikov. I don’t think people give his volley skills enough credit. He’s definitely one of the best volleyers ever

Sampras as a volleyer may not have been as technically proficient as Edberg, but what you have described is absolutely correct. He was a great volleyer and proved to be deadly effective at the net. He was probably the best example of how one could successfully execute a net attacking style in today's game.

I thought at first Federer was as good a volleyer as Sampras. But, after many years, it seems clear he has neglected developing his volley game and now he just does not have the confidence and the mind for it.

Sampras' volleys got better along with his career progression (I also think Edberg's volleys reached the peak in 1993 and remained strong until his career finish). Federer's got worse or at best remained stagnant.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Missing from this discourse is a distinction between volleying in terms of stroke production and net game.

I think Federer's volleys are comparable to Sampras' volleys in terms of stroke production. However, Sampras was an accomplished net player, Federer is not. Pete had a great ground game and could win matches from the ground. But, he was equally comfortable and at home at the net, and he knew how to finish points and win matches at the net.

Federer clearly does not feel comfortable at net. You may have noticed that, if Fed doesn't win a point with his first volley, more often than not, he loses the point at net. Fed just doesn't come to net nearly enough to be as good there as he is in the backcourt.

Having said that, as great as Pete was at net, and he was great, IMHO, there were a few players who's volleys and net game were arguably better than Sampras' volleys and net game including Edberg, McEnroe, Newcombe, Roche, Laver, Emerson, Rosewall and Gonzalez.

 

[Raiden]

Sampras used volleying as a big weapon, whereas Federer uses volleys to try and end points quickly when he HAS to.

Sampras also was not really a serve-and-volleyer.

He just started doing it only after he stopped hating grass and realised he has a chance to win Wimbledon (i.e. Sampras also volleyed just because "he HAD to")

 

[Azzurri]

Sampras also was not really a serve-and-volleyer.

He just started doing it only after he stopped hating grass and realised he has a chance to win Wimbledon (i.e. Sampras also volleyed just because "he HAD to")

this entire post is oddly written and wrong. Sampras was a "real" S&V his entire career. But he did play from the back court of returning serve and some/most 2nd serves. I guess a "true" volleyer comes to net as often as possible not matter the situation (like Rafter, Mac and Edberg...the obvious ones), but had the back court game these guys did not, so he used it. But watch the 90 USO, he S&V on just about every 1st serve and many 2nd serves and looked to get to net pretty often. He hated grass for a different reason, since you don't know tells me you don't know much about Pete other than reading a few lines to a story. Sorry if I sund insulting, but please get your facts straight.

 

[borg number one]

Yes Azzuri. Sampras was a truly great serve and volley player who was very comfortable at both the net and baseline. Throw in a great serve and it's not difficult to see why he was a great player. It just depended on the matchup with him. If he thought that he could win rushing the net all day, he was capable of doing that.

 

[SoBad]

Sampras the better volleyer by far. Sampras approached the net because he was amazing in the forecourt, whereas Federer approached the net because his baseline game just didn't stack up!

 

[fed_the_savior]

Yeah, like everyone said.

 

[Mustard]

Obviously Sampras is the better volleyer.

 

[kiki]

Its obvious that " federer" and " volleys" cannot go in the same sentence

 

[RF20Lennon]

not trying to compare but Cliff Drysdale and Pat Mac both said at one point during WTF in London 2010 final against nadal that federer had the best techinque of a volley ever. His only problem is getting in position to make it.

 

[kiki]

not trying to compare but Cliff Drysdale and Pat Mac both said at one point during WTF in London 2010 final against nadal that federer had the best techinque of a volley ever. His only problem is getting in position to make it.

Cliffy said that? Wait, I forgot he usually drinks about 20 beers a day and that day he had taken 30¡¡¡

and Pat...well, you know when your elder brother is a certain JMac, well known for his volleys, jealous are entitled

 

[RF20Lennon]

Cliffy said that? Wait, I forgot he usually drinks about 20 beers a day and that day he had taken 30¡¡¡

and Pat...well, you know when your elder brother is a certain JMac, well known for his volleys, jealous are entitled

he said his brother was a genious but didnt have the technique as federer did you can always discredit anyone by saying things my objective is not to prove federer's a better volleyer(although in my honest opinion in todays day in age with people like nadal who can threaten you with their spin fed does a better job than sampras but then again thats just my opinion) its just to bring up some topic of discussion

 

[2ndServe]

sampras is the obvious answer but you have to look at the who they were volleying against. Pete volleyed against guys like Goran, becker, edberg, Krajicek, chang, agassi, hewitt. Fed has to volley against Rafa, Novak, Ferrer, Monfils, Novak, Tsonga, Davydenko etc on slower surfaces. So it's not as obvious as it would first seem imo. I'm pretty sure Fed might come in more and be a better volleyer had he played 10-15 years earlier.

When you watch doubles experts you'd say their volleys are miles ahead of a singles player but in reality these guys can't volley nearly as well in a singles format because they don't automatically start at the net half the points, they have to cover more area, and their opponents in fact have worse returns/passing shots (playing weaker players who can't make the singles tour)

 

[TMF]

Its obvious that " federer" and " volleys" cannot go in the same sentence

You have never seen Roger played.

 

[kiki]

You have never seen Roger played.

I have never seen Roger volley...well, yes, maybe 100 times, while Sampras volleyed 100 times per match

 

[helloworld]

Is this a joke? Federer's volleys SUCKS!!! Really, it's disrespectful to compare Federer's poor volleys to Sampras.

 

[Limpinhitter]

You have never seen Roger played.

Have you seen Roger "played?"

 

[BrooklynNY]

Is this a joke? Really, it's disrespectful to compare Federer's poor volleys to Sampras.

I took out the 'Fed's Volleys suck', because they don't suck, but they simply just don't compare.

Other than that I agree

 

[TMF]

Have you seen Roger "played?"

Asking me if I ever saw Fed play is like asking Jack Nicholson ever saw the LA Lakers play. LOL

But I don't believe you and kiki have ever seen Fed played, so stop pretending that you know so much about Fed when you don't.

 

[TMF]

Is this a joke? Federer's volleys SUCKS!!! Really, it's disrespectful to compare Federer's poor volleys to Sampras.

You have never seen Roger played.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_m0mwdXn_o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvZmYRPhIT4&feature=related

 

[kiki]

Asking me if I ever saw Fed play is like asking Jack Nicholson ever saw the LA Lakers play. LOL

But I don't believe you and kiki have ever seen Fed played, so stop pretending that you know so much about Fed when you don't.

TMF, don´t make a clown out of yourself.I mean, Federer a great volleyer...

 

[TennisNoob1]

Sampras, better secondvolley, and dropvolley.

I agree, sampras is the better volleyer , but to say he is much better is absolutely ridiculous ...

Its not just that match, even the next match vs henman (which he lost ) he volleyed real well ( he lost because he didn't play the big points well and henman who was in the best form of his life did ) . Also his volleying displays against roddick and scud in the SFs and finals of wimbledon 2003 were highly impressive as well. He volleyed real well against nadal at rome in 2006, winning 64 out of 84 points at the net and also in the final 2 sets of hamburg 2007 F

Just to elaborate that the sampras match wasn't the only match where he volleyed well ( through some sort of fluke )


If I had to split their volleying skills,

There is not much difference in their BH volleys, if forced to chose, I'd chose fed's BH volleys.

FH volleys, sampras is clearly better, fed gets lazy on those quite a few times.

Sampras is clearly better at handling half-volleys from the service line and beyond

Fed is clearly unparalleled when it comes to half-volleying from the baseline ( agassi who ??? )

Fed has the better touch at the net, but sampras volleys were firm, rock-solid and he didn't botch up easy ones and that is where he scores over fed.

Another one being that he is due to practice , he seemed more comfortable and his net skills in clutch situations were beyond doubt excellent and highly proven ...

And of course sampras was helped by the fact that he had such an awesome serve ( IMO the best ever ), lesser amount of topspin with the strings those days when compared to now and the faster & lower surfaces those days when compared to now

I think that Sampras clearly has the better nettouch. And i do not agree that Sampras secondvolley war weak. How about all of his dropvolley winners? They mostly came from second volleys. I wish i had stats. But i´ve seen most videos available on youtube both with Sampras and Fed. And to me Sampras clearly had the edge there, even thou his serve made up for a lot of easy putaways. I´m not a tennisplayer myself, as i can´t afford it and so on. But i´ve seen all available, almost, with both of them. And Sampras deifnetely had one of the better second volleys i think, Fed is often lost if he can´t get a smash on te second volley, if he gets it down low, because he isn´t that comfortable handleling low dropvolleys as Sampras was. However, he have a very good low backhand volley, and an amazing flat backhand volley aswell, but there´s a Sampras fan on youtube who have uploadet a whole lot with Sampras best volleys. And he nearly only plays sick stopvolleys on secondvolleys. Fed has only done that dare i say under 50 times, Sampras did that like it was nothing at times i think.