intrepidish
Hall of Fame
You "don't care about it" so much that you engage in debate about it with strangers online.
Laughable.
McEnroe: "Nadal is the best volleyer in the top 100"
- Thread starter gambitt
- Start date
You "don't care about it" so much that you engage in debate about it with strangers online.
Laughable.
Cant be a 'good' volleyer with a semi western grip on the forehand volley.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
what about Novak ? he hit some amazing volleys today
The Green Mile
Bionic Poster
I think that Novak is vastly underrated in the net game. He has improved a lot over the years, where his net game was a little shaky before 2009 or so... but when put next to someone like Fed, they can look average. Some with his drop shots, such good disguise and feel on them, in fact I think they have been the best for a while now....
If you cant really 'stick' volleys, its good to hit 'clay court' volleys, meaning mostly drop volleys.
Until I learned to hit effective volleys, i would stick to mainly drop volleys because that way you didnt lose the point outright, and you also lessened the opportunity for you opponent to pass you on the second shot.
A good example of this is Roddick. He couldnt really hit down the line volleys, which is what you're supposed to do if you cant put the volley away. So he would mostly hit those crosscourt, and he would get passed.
His match against Hewitt at the Aussie Open is a perfect example.
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No. That's precisely why he spends most of the time at the baseline pounding forehands. Because it's the best way for him to win. Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses is a good thing.
TeamOB
Professional
Mr. Roddick has something to say as well
Hahahahahaha seeing Roddick talk about good approach shots and bricking volleys made me laugh uncontrollably for some reason.
:twisted::grin:
The Green Mile
Bionic Poster
Hahahahahaha seeing Roddick talk about good approach shots and bricking volleys made me laugh uncontrollably for some reason.
You must have Roddick vs Murray Queens 2011, in your head for some random reason... SOOOO many passing shots from Murray that day....:shock:
Great post.
Seeing that Wimby is on, can someone tell me the number of times Nadal has S & V'd?? Or even hit a backhand slice approach shot and come to the net??
That's something that 'great' volleyers do, especially on grass.
How many times did Feli S & V at Queens and Eastbourne??
The Green Mile
Bionic Poster
Thats actually a sad commentary on the state of the modern game. With the prevalence of two handers, and poly, and the slow courts, and poor coaching, there are a lot less competent volleyers than in previous generations.
If Djokovic couldve made a sitter volley without jumping into the net like Peter Pan, he probably wouldve won the French last year.
fatichar
Rookie
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Err Lopez, Karlovic, Raonic, Tsonga, Dimitrov, just to name a few.
After witnessing McEnroe's disgustingly biased commentary in the Rosol v Nadal match yesterday, I have lost all respect for the guy (I'm sure he's really cut up about that). The loaded excrement spilling from his mouth was quite stunning:
When Rosol was ready to serve but Nadal was doing his OCD routine, he asked the umpire if Nadal is allowed more time. McEnroe replies:
"Yes he is. Now play."
followed by: "Nadal should be allowed more time to serve because he sells more tickets"
"The crowd want Nadal to win; they need him in this tournament"
When Nadal broke back in the 2nd set:
"Good, we're back in business!"
In conclusion, we cannot take anything this guy says seriously.
When Rosol was ready to serve but Nadal was doing his OCD routine, he asked the umpire if Nadal is allowed more time. McEnroe replies:
"Yes he is. Now play."
followed by: "Nadal should be allowed more time to serve because he sells more tickets"
"The crowd want Nadal to win; they need him in this tournament"
When Nadal broke back in the 2nd set:
"Good, we're back in business!"
In conclusion, we cannot take anything this guy says seriously.
Sid_Vicious
G.O.A.T.
Hahahahahaha seeing Roddick talk about good approach shots and bricking volleys made me laugh uncontrollably for some reason.
Mardy Fish has it covered.
https://twitter.com/MardyFish/status/481457837004955648
and Roddick is a good sport about it. :lol:
This. A thousand times this.
McEnroe will say anything controversial and contrary to get attention and fulfill his role of being entertaining and 'the enfant terrible' of commentators.
One second he's saying that players should call their own lines, the next that doubles should be scrapped, blah blah blah.
If an umpire calls a player out for a time violation he says that they were wrong, if an umpire does not overrule a call and instead waits for a player to challenge using hawkeye - guess what, they were wrong. Whatever someone in authority decides to do - they were wrong. It is clearly in his nature to be awkward and confrontational and it makes him an interesting guy to be around and certainly creates debate. This extends to opinions on players.
Rafa is an amazing volleyer within the context of his game. However, he is not a net-rusher and does not show true flare at the net. Most people intuitively expect people to be crowned 'the best volleyer' to, you know, maximise their time at the net so they can use their amazing volleys.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
I heard about that yesterday, but I never switched the channel. I watched Fowler and (I think) PMac do commentary. Was much more enjoyable. Some of that is hilarious.
fatichar
Rookie
Aren't too many posters here discussing volleys while thinking of smashes? Some even posting videos!
Omega_7000
Legend
Wow! :shock:
I knew he was in the business of ratings but isn't that going a bit too far...Why not go take a bat and hit Rosol in the chin ...That will ensure your boy goes through to the next round.
Yes, one of the Greatest volleyer of all time is clueless on the topic of volleys.
#InternetGenius
How can he have a clue when his head is so far up Nadal's arse that he couldn't see a Nadal volley anyway?
Just watched it again. He did play it as an overhead, but it was too low to take the traditional windup. Plus, he couldve definitely played it as a high backhand volley.
Nevertheless, my point still remains. It was a sitter, and, because he doesnt have the same comfort at the net that he does from the baseline, he panicked and misplayed the ball.
Edit. And to throw out a couple of players that I think are better volleyers, in addition to some of the ones already mentioned, I'll go with Melzer and Stakhovsky.
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yellowoctopus
Professional
To OP: Leave Johnny boy alone, I beg you.
He is getting very old you know
He is getting very old you know
Mainad
Bionic Poster
After the Djokovic-Stepanek match, he commented on the BBC's 'Today at Wimbledon' programme that Stepanek was probably a close second to Nadal in the volleying dept!
Enga
Hall of Fame
Its true that Djokovic has great skill at the net. But for every amazing shot Ive seen him hit, hes also got a terrible blunder. He seems kinda tense at the net in my opinion. Possibly from having a bad history up there.
When hes at the net, he goes all out, tries to hit a winner often. He'll either make it, or miss, and I think its because he has no intention of trying to hit a followup volley. He wants to end he point ASAP. Guys like Fed and Nad arent afraid to hit safer volleys.
Very similar to guys like Radek and other SnVers. Radek can hit from the baseline, and often wins a point from there. But from there hes always tense, and wants to end the point right away or return to where hes comfortable, the net. Djokovic is like that, but opposite.
intrepidish
Hall of Fame
:lol: hilarious post
Mick
Legend
McEnroe complimented Nadal's volley skill again
John McEnroe on Rafael Nadal's opening win
"Rarely would you see Nadal this happy after a first-round match. Klizan was a dangerous first-round opponent. I have picked Djokovic to win this year but it is truly a pleasure to watch Nadal play. He has a tremendous volley but his movement is so key to him."
John McEnroe on Rafael Nadal's opening win
"Rarely would you see Nadal this happy after a first-round match. Klizan was a dangerous first-round opponent. I have picked Djokovic to win this year but it is truly a pleasure to watch Nadal play. He has a tremendous volley but his movement is so key to him."
tipsa...don'tlikehim!
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal is a good volleyer I think but Stepanek (just to mention him) is better by a fine margin.
McEnroe is out of his mind here.
McEnroe is out of his mind here.
tipsa...don'tlikehim!
Talk Tennis Guru
I am wondering about Murray, i hardly see him hitting an impressive volley, for some reason Andy seems to be scared of the net.
As for comparing Federer and Nadal, i agree that on the whole Federer a bit superior at the net but they are different volleyers, Nadal is good at volleying because his footwork is amazing...Federer on the other hand can be slow nowadays but his touch is probably better.
Still I think even a guy like Gasquet can volley better than Nadal, simply because he's more of a natural volleyer, but Gasquet got head problems and thats a different topic :lol:
F
Federer302
Guest
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/25/s...ohn-isner-among-best-tennis-strokes.html?_r=0
Tennis stars say different
BEST VOLLEY
1. Leander Paes
2. Radek Stepanek
3. Mike Bryan
4. Roger Federer
5. Michael Llodra
Meaning that Stepanek is #1 and Federer#2. No Nadal
Tennis stars say different
BEST VOLLEY
1. Leander Paes
2. Radek Stepanek
3. Mike Bryan
4. Roger Federer
5. Michael Llodra
Meaning that Stepanek is #1 and Federer#2. No Nadal
Tongue and cheek much appreciated. Yes John McEnroe possessing one of the best volleys of all time does not know a quality volley. Also unlike others here he has hit with Nadal. Lee D's comments well taken as well
Did you see fed against Novak at wimby? from memory he hit a redicluous half volley deep in the 5th to save break point
tennis_crazy
Semi-Pro
Hence the proof, i.e JMac is an idiot of first order..
So why do we even bother to discuss tennis? McEnroe is a better player than everyone on this forum and he's hit with Nadal. Therefore his opinion on anything Nadal related is always right and anyone who disagrees with him is wrong?
Raging Buddha
Semi-Pro
The number of people actually agreeing with Jmac in this thread amazes me.
smoledman
G.O.A.T.
Directly correlates with Nadal fandom.
N
Nathaniel_Near
Guest
Fits agenda.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
Hitting ONE good volley doesn't make you the best volleyer. Commentators have always commented on how bad Fe'd volleying is and that's one of the reasons he hired Edberg. Fed is always stranded at the net when he tries to volley against Nadal because of Nadal's excellent passing shots..
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
Edberg is the King of the volley close to McEnroe and neither of them even made 10 slams titles.
henryshli
Semi-Pro
You post is so confusing. You use Nadal's excellent passing shots as an examples of Fed's bad volleying?
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal's passing shots just highlight Fed's shortcomings at the net even more. If he was such a great volleyer, he should be able to cope with anyone. The reason players avoid going to the net is because they know they'll be passed.
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal's passing shots highlight the degree of benefit he's reaped from the surface homogenization. Approach shots sit up and volleys lack penetration. Federer's shortcomings at the net are not related to Nadal in any way. Only someone with maniacal obsessiveness makes such conjecture.
Federer gave up on relying on his net game when he saw how easy it was to outplay people from the baseline. When he lost a step - ~2010 - it had already been a long time since his stupendous volleying was the norm. What he is doing now is returning to that with the added benefit of having more time to approach the net behind serves, which is probably something Edberg instructed (along with tweaks to his overall net tactics).
I don't expect you to have any rational or intelligent observation regarding Federer, but at least spare us the ridiculous cheerleading with regard to something alien to Nadal.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
In other words no one is allowed to make a case for Nadal. He should just be subject to endless bashing and innuendos.
NatF
Bionic Poster
You do realize that Federer has approached the net more and won a higher percentage of those than Nadal has in most of their matches right? Despite Nadal being a better passer.
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