Is andy roddick getting bad advice.................

[iscottius]

I have heard that andy is trying to serve & volley, or get to net more and working on his volley's. I think that this is bad advice. You would have to be a natural serve & volley player to execute on the pro tour, and andy is not a natural S&V player. No one has been won a slam s&v since Pete...enough said. Getting to net for a put away volley is much more about setting up the weak shot than the actual put away volley.

If andy is working on these things no wonder his game is suffering. Andy should be working on his return of serve and his backhand down the line. Andy needs to win from the baseline. He needs to open up the court and set up his forehand. The back hand dtl would allow him to move his opponents and open the court. He needs to stand closer to the baseline on return of serves and baseline rallies. I have watched him over the years as his confidence has wained move further and further back giving his opponents what they really need against andy.................time.

Andy should work with Robert Landsdorf, he has developed players similiar to andy (power baseliners that don't move exceptionally well) into slam champs & world # 1 's.

 

[baseliner]

Andy needs to add some variety to his game. He needs to work on his volley (If there is any question on this issue he needs to check this board more often--all us experts see this need). It is strange to be working on S & V just as the clay court season arrives. Andy Roddick, is he the best player to win only one grand slam in a career?

 

[Grigollif1]

I agree with Iscottious. Since his departure with Brad Gilbert, Andy seems to be working towards the opposite direction of what his natural game is, he is trying to become an all court player adding the slice to his set of strokes and "forcing" himself to the net. If you look at Andy Roddick best Year 2003, you will notice that he was winning mainly using his Serve and Forehand to dominate the points. Take a look at this highlight of the Master Series in Canada http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2b8mXXvwQs&search=andy roddick 2003 and you can see that the way he was really able to really bother federer, was using his high action serve to the Swiss backhand and crushing the usual weak reply with the forehand.

 

[pham4313]

maybe Roddick needs to take times off tournaments like Roger....and work on his shots...one by one...especially the backhand and the volley...if his backhand comes well as Baghdatis, or Agassi or even Safin...he ll collect a couple more grandslams...maybe wimbly or home soil US open but he definitely needs to take quite some time off to practice

 

[houstonace]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you need to have one hand BH to be an effective S&V player? When I see Roddick slicing and dicing, he seems clueless strategy wise.

 

[pham4313]

maybe its the racket...i would like to see Roddick try on wilson...wilson rackets are nortouriously known for serve and volley style...although we see lots of double players use babolat...but its there for power volleying not touch volleying.

 

[UpTheT]

I would rather see Roddick serve/volley and lose then see him continue to play the way he is currently.

 

[tangerine]

The truly bad advice Roddick gets would come from the MTF and TW boards.




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http://roddickwatch.blogspot.com

 

[sexmachine]

not ur biggest fan tangerine.... I agree with the first 2 views, any needs to work his natural game first, improve his baselining, especially that back hand and gettin court depth with shots.... He needs to develope strategies and for variance i think a little S&V wouldn't hurt....

 

[sureshs]

maybe its the racket...i would like to see Roddick try on wilson...wilson rackets are nortouriously known for serve and volley style...although we see lots of double players use babolat...but its there for power volleying not touch volleying.

That is correct - Leander Paes uses Babolat e.g.

What about the racquet may not be suitable for volleying? Head size?

 

[iscottius]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you need to have one hand BH to be an effective S&V player? When I see Roddick slicing and dicing, he seems clueless strategy wise.

you do not need a one handed backhand to serve & volley, or play to get to net and volley.

 

[iscottius]

maybe its the racket...i would like to see Roddick try on wilson...wilson rackets are nortouriously known for serve and volley style...although we see lots of double players use babolat...but its there for power volleying not touch volleying.

It is not the Racquet!!!!!!!!!

 

[ShcMad]

What I wrote below are only my opinions, so I might be right or wrong.

When I was watching Roddick vs. Baghdatis at the AO, I noticed how Roddick's forehand didn't have that "zip" that it used to have. He wasn't able to hit winners with it even when he was on the offense. I have no idea as to why his fhs lacked that "zip" though.
However, a few days ago, I went to the ATP website and watched some of the player's vignettes videos, including Roddick's. In the video, they were showing highlights of a match against some player years ago, and what a difference I noticed on Roddick's forehand! He was literally just beating the living crap out of the ball. It was just sheer overpowering of the opponent.

Another thing I noticed at the AO matches was that Andy wasn't willing to chase down balls. Davydenko and Federer are able to get to balls that seem impossible to be reached. They may have better footwork, but it's also a matter of effort IMO.

As the topic starter mentioned, I don't think Andy's the s&v type either. But, I think he needs to work on return of serves a little more. His serves seem fine these days. Some people say his serves are overrated. They might be, but indoubtably they're one of the best in the tour IMO. It might not be as "heavy" as Sampras's but the consistency and power are there. He's able to continuously serve in the 130-140s throughout the match unlike other pros whose speeds fall as the match progresses. And he rarely double faults. I do think however that other pros are catching up to his serve. I don't see that Andy's serves are getting worse, but that other pros' serves are getting better and they're also able to read A-Rod's serves better as they're able to disect it. I see it this way: It's easier for pros with so-so serves to catch up to Roddick than for Roddick to crank his serve up a notch. If you think Rod's serves are bad, check out Coria's (no offense to Coria fans - I lived in Argentina when I was little so I don't have anything against him). I once saw a stat on ESPN saying he double faulted like 22 times and had 0 aces in a single match.

Well, I'm out.

 

[superman1]

That Roddick clip does show how good he used to be. He was hitting those forehands HUGE, deep, and close to the lines. The ball was coming at Federer a lot faster as a result. The main difference is he was going for his shots, he wasn't conservative or patient at all. Blake is trying to be conservative, Ginepri is trying to be conservative, Roddick should NEVER try that because he has the talent to be risky.

That's the last time he'll ever beat Federer.

 

[Chadwixx]

That's the last time he'll ever beat Federer.

Fed also double faulted 11 times in the third set. He was way off that day, and it was still close.

 

[Richie Rich]

he needs to stop listening to his brother. his bro is telling andy to emulate his buddy Fish.

 

[Chadwixx]

Roddick doesnt have the quickness and exlosiveness he had a few years ago. Looks heavier out there to me (slow and bulky).

I think its his lack of big match play. He didnt really play the top guys much in the past few years and its costing him. But, he is losing close matches, its not like he is getting blown out. He is going to have to add a new dimension to his game, take away his big serve and he is a clay courter with no patience.

 

[timmyboy]

That Roddick clip does show how good he used to be. He was hitting those forehands HUGE, deep, and close to the lines. The ball was coming at Federer a lot faster as a result. The main difference is he was going for his shots, he wasn't conservative or patient at all. Blake is trying to be conservative, Ginepri is trying to be conservative, Roddick should NEVER try that because he has the talent to be risky.

That's the last time he'll ever beat Federer.

I believe that's the ONLY time he beat Federer. Roddick doesn't have the talent or touch of Federer.

 

[crazylevity]

While it's true that Roddick can't match Federer, I think roddick has regressed from that level he attained in 2003. His power has gone but nothing positive has come out of that. In that video posted he actually had one S-V, and a couple of times he does come to the net to put away sitting ducks. If those are the only ones he can deal with, then perhaps that's the only time he should come to the net. On anything else, he'd get passed faster than Ferrari against an 18-wheeler.

 

[TennisWooh]

He needs to get back together with Mandy Moore. I'm surprised no one brought that point up.

 

[Kobble]

He needs to get back together with Mandy Moore. I'm surprised no one brought that point up.

I would like to get together with her just once. That girl looks better every time I see her. If that match-up was real, I would be a little bumbed if I were him.

 

[killer]

Andy should take a chapter or two from AA; the two have remarkably similar games at their core, and AA never f***ed with his game by trying to s&v. He did, as time went on, become a smarter player, learning when and where to use the ridiculous power he has on those groundsterokes. IMO Andy circa 2003 seems a little similar to AA circa 1988; one big advantage that Roddick has is that, at the same developmental level, Andy's serve is a huge weapon. But what gives?
Mary Carillo once said that the 'serve and forehand' game has become the new American game; essentially adopted from Lendl, who is a 'naturalized' American, many US boys have had success based on that platform (AA, Jim Courier in particular), and Roddick seemed like he was on his way to making it his bread and butter for years to come. I think that the massive difference in game between he and Roger Federer, who came into his own in the summer 2003, and more substantially in the following year, gave Andy pause about his game, and unfortunately some bad decisions by coaches (Goldfine in particular) made him feel that the only way to get back to #1 was to learn more about the game than his talents and style permit.
Go back to destroying the ball, Andy! For goodness' sake, if i see him hit another 3/4 pace forehand from the middle of the court because he wants to make an approach shot out of it instead of a clean winner (thanks, BG!) I think i might break a racquet in my living room, while sitting on my comfy couch.

 

[Max G.]

Umm...

killer, I disagree with your very first sentence.

Andy's and Andre's games are VERY different.

Andy's biggest weapon is his serve, his biggest weakness is probably the return, maybe his backhand too.

Andre's biggest weapon was his return, and his backhand is a strength, not a weakness; if anything, it's his serve that USED to be a weakness.

Andy likes to stand further back, and needs to take pretty large swings at balls. Andre takes the ball extremely early, with compact swings.


About their only similarity is the fact that they have very good forehands which are their best shots from the baseline. However, that's something they have in common with at least 80% of the ATP tour...

 

[pound cat]

He's #3. Just how far has Andy slipped?

 

[crosscourt]

ShcMad -- it could be the court surface that slows the ball down. At San Jose Roddick commented after his defeat by Murray that he couldn't get the ball to move through the court. From what I saw on the TV the court in San Jose looked slow. Likewise the court at the AO -- a point made volubly by Hewitt.

As to his speed, it's something he should work on. My impression is that he's tried to work on strength and mass rather than on quickness. I agree that he could do with getting quicker.

As to volleying, it seems that if you have a huge serve it should be a good idea to come in behind it and volley. Roddick seems to show that this may not be right.

My feeling is that Roddick should be working on speed, returns of serve and backhand. He has shown that he has the gamwe to win the big events, he just needs to get it out on court more.

cc

 

[Phunky_Phorehand]

Did you guys see that jive @$$ between the legs half-volley A-rod pulled in that match. I think that still burns in the pit of Fed's gut. You know Roger had to be thinking, "I'm a little off today and this Turkey wants to clown? Just wait 'til I get my game right its gonna be on! Screw araund fool but your day is coming!"

 

[DXS]

maybe its the racket...i would like to see Roddick try on wilson...wilson rackets are nortouriously known for serve and volley style...although we see lots of double players use babolat...but its there for power volleying not touch volleying.

get real!!! I use the PD+ and have no problem with volleys of any kind.

 

[Gugafan_Redux]

I'll be his coach.

1. No more weight traning. Your shoulder is tightening up and you're not crush the ball with a whip-like movement anymore.
2. Stay away from the net.
3. Pound forehands from the backcourt, especially inside-out.
4. Be cocky, not nice. It works for you.

That'll be $75,000 please.

 

[tennisnj]

My suggestions (Some serious, some tongue-in-cheek):
#1 Move 4 feet up from behind the baseline so that he's not on the defensive every point.

#2 Learn how to volley

#3 Work on the backhand

#4 Dump the PD+

 

[Moose Malloy]

Andy should take a chapter or two from AA; the two have remarkably similar games at their core, and AA never f***ed with his game by trying to s&v. He did, as time went on, become a smarter player, learning when and where to use the ridiculous power he has on those groundsterokes. IMO Andy circa 2003 seems a little similar to AA circa 1988; one big advantage that Roddick has is that, at the same developmental level, Andy's serve is a huge weapon. But what gives?
Mary Carillo once said that the 'serve and forehand' game has become the new American game; essentially adopted from Lendl, who is a 'naturalized' American, many US boys have had success based on that platform (AA, Jim Courier in particular), and Roddick seemed like he was on his way to making it his bread and butter for years to come. I

The Agassi of '88(or any year really) is one of the most talented ballstrikers in tennis history. No one else can take the ball that early. Roddick has so many glaring weaknesses (even when he won the US Open) its amazing he was even able to have a pro career.
Lendl, Courier, Agassi never played as far behind the baseline as Roddick. They all are much better movers. They are much fitter. If those 3 played Roddick & no one was allowed to serve, they'd win 60,60 everytime.
I really have never seen anyone play the way Roddick does & have the success he has. Its a very strange game. He's a baseliner with a big serve but stands so far back that anyone can hit winners by him(see Murray, Bagdahtis, etc) And for a baseliner, his groundies aren't that special.
At least Ivanisevic could put away volleys. And he stood closer to the baseline as well.

 

[sexmachine]

yeah he's standin too far behind the baseline, thanks 4 the new info He has weakness but the game ahs worked well till now, i think he should be goin into tournaments like dubai where there r better players than the standard american tournaments, cause while there he has to improve his game....

 

[Freedom]

My suggestions

...

Dump the PD+

You really think switching racquets will catapult him to #1, let him pwn Federer, and become the big man on campus again?


Get real.

 

[tennisnj]

My suggestions (Some serious, some tongue-in-cheek):

You should get real. Obviously you didn't read the part in the parentheses. As much I despise that racquet, we all know its the player that makes the racquet, not vice versa.

 

[Freedom]

Ah, my bad. I guess I didn't read that part.

Lo siento.

 

[tennisnj]

Freedom, I'm going to apologize for being VERY rude to you in my post. That's not my nature in person, or on these boards. I think the students in my class at that moment (I had that period off, but their behavior in the speech class that was going on in my room @ the time was deplorable), got the best of me & I took it out on you. But still not a valid excuse.