Roger vs Rafa: Who's the better volleyer?

[DreddyTennis45]

Age-old debate has resprung but this time on twitter.

Personally I think Roger edges it. Rafa is very underrated at the net but only really come in when the point is "safe" and he almost never S&V's or chips and charges so we don't really know how good he can be.

 

[KingKyrgios]

Please tell me this is sarcastic

 

[MasterZeb]

By far Federer. As you said, Rafa comes in on very easy put always, whereas Federer just chips and charges. Nadal is a very good volleyer, but Feds got for better net coverage and technique imo. Edberg helped him tenfold

 

[vanioMan]

Roger is a better volleyer, but Nadal is very very good as well and has top-notch touch and feel at the net.

 

[DreddyTennis45]

Please tell me this is sarcastic

There was a full-on debate on twitter, most people said Rafa. Was interested to see what people here thought

 

[VolleyHelena]

Nadal is pretty underrated at it but Roger is clearly better

 

[VolleyHelena]

There was a full-on debate on twitter, most people said Rafa. Was interested to see what people here thought

Recency bias perhaps.

 

[NatF]

Roger is a better volleyer, but Nadal is very very good as well and has top-notch touch and feel at the net.

This.

 

[Backspin1183]

Come on Dreddy! Nadal is great at the net for a pure baseline player. Federer on the other hand can and has played like a true serve and volley player. Based on that alone, Roger wins this.

It would make more sense to ask who is the better volleyer between Nadal and Murray. Federer is a tad ahead of them.

 

[mistik]

Fed very overrated volleyer. By no means he is as good as Edberg Rafter or Sampras.I still vote for Roger though. Rafa not coming in a lot.

 

[DreddyTennis45]

Come on Dreddy! Nadal is great at the net for a pure baseline player. Federer on the other hand can and has played like a true serve and volley player. Based on that alone, Roger wins this.

It would make more sense to ask who is the better volleyer between Nadal and Murray. Federer is a tad ahead of them.

Yeah I think that too but I was suprised to see so many people on twitter saying Nadal was better, I wanted to see if the same would be reflected here.

 

[Backspin1183]

Yeah I think that too but I was suprised to see so many people on twitter saying Nadal was better, I wanted to see if the same would be reflected here.

They probably only look at the net stats and came to that conclusion. Nadal goes in like 10-20 times in a match. Federer goes to the net like 30-50 times. Roger is more likely to miss more volleys than Nadal because he goes in twice or thrice as many times as Nadal. Nadal most of the time goes to the net following a good shot.

 

[Jaitock1991]

They're not even in the same league imo. Rafa is world class at putting away "easy" volleys at the net after his superior groundgame has put him in the position to do so, and certainly capable of making some crazy flashy gets from time to time. He has amazing touch. This part of his game is a perfect compliment to his dominating baseline game, something the young guns should really learn from.

But there's a big diffence in using the volley like that and using it as an essential part of one's offensive game the way Roger does. Roger actively uses his volley to attack you, which I'm sure most objective(!!!) experts that actually have a clue what they're talking about would agree requires quite a bit more skill than doing what Rafa does.

 

[Apun94]

Nadal has improved tremendously on the net, but Fed still is the better volleyer. As is in all aspects of their game, Nadal is more consistent around the net whereas fed has the annoying habit of missing some really easy volleys sometimes

 

[Backspin1183]

They're not even in the same league imo. Rafa is world class at putting away volleys at the net, and certainly capable of making some crazy flashy gets from time to time.

But there's a big diffence in using the volley like that and using it as an essential part of one's offensive game the way Roger does. Roger actively uses his volley to attack you, which I'm sure most objective(!!!) experts would agree requires quite a bit more skill than doing what Rafa does.

Exactly! When Rafa goes to the net more often, a comparison can be made. As of now, the volley is one of Roger's main weapons.

 

[KINGROGER]

Lol

 

[NastyWinners]

Seriously?

 

[Jaitock1991]

Exactly! When Rafa goes to the net more often, a comparison can be made. As of now, the volley is one of Roger's main weapons.

Totally. And because they use the volley so differently, looking at the typical net points won percentages when comparing them is meaningless.

 

[iChen]

Fed definitely better. Rafa comes to net when he knows 100% it's his point.

 

[Bobby Jr]

McNamee said it was something he hadn't heard said before..

I call ********. He's never heard of John McEnroe? Yeah, right.

 

[Sport]

16/16 of Nadal at the net yesterday, 100% accuracy. Nadal is more efficient than Roger at the net for sure. But Roger goes more frequently. Roger goes to the net very precipitated sometimes, as we saw with Del Potro.

Roger is not a better volleyer than Rafa.

 

[Bobby Jr]

The main outcome of these threads is it helps identify the board members who know squat about tennis.

Federer volley's better than Nadal can even dream of. What Nadal does is hit putaways which most club level hacks could do 90% of the time if they were in the same spot. Federer hits drop volleys off his shoelaces multiple times a match which club players would be lucky to pull off one in fifty times.

 

[KingKyrgios]

16/16 of Nadal at the net yesterday, 100% accuracy. Nadal is more efficient than Roger at the net for sure. But Roger goes more frequently. Roger goes to the net very precipitated sometimes, as we saw with Del Potro.

Roger is not a better volleyer than Rafa.

LMAO !

 

[aman92]

Even though Rafa has improved his volleying considerably and is an exceptional volleyer he mainly uses it to finish points. Federer on the other hand actually uses it as a tactic to attack mid point and thus edges it for me

 

[Deleted member 733170]

The main outcome of these threads is it helps identify the board members who know squat about tennis.

Federer volley's better than Nadal can even dream of. What Nadal does is hit putaways which most club level hacks could do 90% of the time if they were in the same spot. Federer hits drop volleys off his shoelaces multiple times a match which club players would be lucky to pull off one in fifty times.

A technique he learnt from beloved Sureshs!

 

[mightyrick]

Federer is a better volleyer, but Nadal is not far behind. It is like asking... "What is worth more? 100 karats of diamonds or 75 karats of diamonds?" Obviously 100 karats of diamonds is worth more, but they both are worth so much more money that the difference doesn't really matter.

 

[Earnest One]

Summary: Roger started early and was great (e.g., versus Sampras at W.). Rafa got a lot better and hits fantastic put-a-ways and can hit fantastic volleys, no question. It is obvious that Rafa is a gifted volleyer. Roger's volleying skills faded after the game changed (and/or the surfaces) as he didn't have as much match practice. He is far more skillful for the "FULL RANGE" of volleys that one encounters as a Serve and Volley player or simply an attacking player; he is not presently a S&V player but if he and Rafa were to compete, hypothetically--and against the field--serving and volleying at least every first serve, then Roger would dominate the stats. I think Roger would also win the head-to-head, certainly if they both had to S&V on first and second serves irrespective of surface.

Of course this test would be skewed because Roger has a superior serve. Still, a good analysis (and the videos) would show that he is far far better. Rafa comes in mostly the way Connors did--when the opponent is in trouble usually after some fantastic shot. The set of volleys that he hits is not as large as what Roger can do. Better put: Roger can do everything that Rafa can at least as well as Rafa, but not visa versa. It is sad that one does not see more fabulous volleying as a HUGE aspect of the game--and something dramatic and exciting--has basically vanished. And this has affected baseline shots. For example: How many topspin lobs does one see anymore?

 

[Nashvegas]

16/16 of Nadal at the net yesterday, 100% accuracy. Nadal is more efficient than Roger at the net for sure. But Roger goes more frequently. Roger goes to the net very precipitated sometimes, as we saw with Del Potro.

Roger is not a better volleyer than Rafa.

Has Nadal hit 20 volleys in his career below his waist?

Underrated skills, but come on.

 

[ChaelAZ]

The main outcome of these threads is it helps identify the board members who know squat about tennis.

Federer volley's better than Nadal can even dream of.

Thanks for the morning irony and laugh.


Anyway, what I have yet to see in any debate is the volley efficiency stats in H2H. Not just in a match, but ATP lifetime volley stats. that would be interesting to see who is more effective in volleys. Not just who volleys more, which seems to be what people think means they are better.

 

[roger presley]

Roger by far.

 

[metsman]

My god.

Obviously Nadal, remember when he served and volleyed in the last game of 08 Wimbledon? Also he served and volleyed once yesterday in the last game. Those kinds of plays turn the match. Nadal's volley has clearly won him big matches. I don't remember Rogr serving and volleying once in the last game of Wimbledon in 07 or 09 for example.

 

[iChen]

I mean currently, who do you expect more at the net? Fed or Nadal? Nadal comes when he knows the point is his 100% to win. Fed doesn't do that but still wins a good amount at the net. If you asked Nadal whether he'd rather be at net 50% of the match or 30%, he's not gonna say 50%.

 

[BlueClayGOAT]

This thread is a joke, right? Rafa is good, but he isn't anywhere near as good as Fed at volleying. Fed makes difficult volleys off his shoelaces and severely angled ones multiple times a match. Rafa, as everyone has rightly pointed out, volleys mostly on put-away balls.

Next we might as well be saying Rafa has a better serve than Fed.

 

[metsman]

This thread is a joke, right? Rafa is good, but he isn't anywhere near as good as Fed at volleying. Fed makes difficult volleys off his shoelaces and severely angled ones multiple times a match. Rafa, as everyone has rightly pointed out, volleys mostly on put-away balls.

Next we might as well be saying Rafa has a better serve than Fed.

Nadal served out 2008 Wimbledon, the most important match of all time. Federer did not serve it out in 2007, and he needed two tries against pre-pubescent Nadal in 06. Who's kidding who?

 

[tennisaddict]

Rafa is not even on the TV screen for 95% of the match .

He comes to net to play a single finishing shot.

We can count the number of times he has played true S&v or played multiple shots at the net during a single rally. That is not the definition of a volley player.

 

[ohiostate124]

People are such prisoners of the moment.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Rafa

Enviado desde mi E6853 mediante Tapatalk

 

[ForumMember]

Rafa's volley percentage can not be used to settle this discussion. He comes to net only in very safe situations. But overall he is very good no doubt.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

i'm impressed with rafa's clutch volleys.
yeah he mostly comes in for easy volleys,
but his touch when charging forward like a bull, is impressive.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Nadal comes in on sitters. Let's see him try to do SABR's and half volley serves from the service line. Federer isn't even a great volleyer and hasn't been since 2000-2001, but he's so much better than Nadal at net it isn't even open for discussion. Nadal also has no variety at net and can't punch the volley to either corner consistently or with any modicum of touch.

Finally, when does Nadal serve and volley? Coming in on easy put aways a few times per match doesn't equal into a great volleyer.

 

[BlueClayGOAT]

Nadal served out 2008 Wimbledon, the most important match of all time. Federer did not serve it out in 2007, and he needed two tries against pre-pubescent Nadal in 06. Who's kidding who?

I don't know who's kidding who, but chances are that it's the guy who claims Rafa has a better volley and serve than Federer.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Statistically, Rafa has been in the top ten in volleys for 7 years! RF is not even in the top 30! RF has never been in the top ten for volleys ever!

 

[Tennis_Hands]

My god.

Obviously Nadal, remember when he served and volleyed in the last game of 08 Wimbledon? Also he served and volleyed once yesterday in the last game. Those kinds of plays turn the match. Nadal's volley has clearly won him big matches. I don't remember Rogr serving and volleying once in the last game of Wimbledon in 07 or 09 for example.

You make sureshs proud.

In fact, you make him a little jealous right now.

 

[mightyrick]

If Mischa Zverev was an option, he should get 100% of the votes. He is clearly the best volleyer on tour and I'd argue probably the best volleyer since the Sampras era.

 

[DreddyTennis45]

If Mischa Zverev was an option, he should get 100% of the votes. He is clearly the best volleyer on tour and I'd argue probably the best volleyer since the Sampras era.

Stepanek? Llodra?

 

[Red Rick]

Why is this a thread?

 

[mightyrick]

Stepanek? Llodra?

He's beaten way better players than both of those guys. And he sure didn't do it with his groundstrokes.

 

[DreddyTennis45]

Why is this a thread?

It's what the people wanted

 

[MeatTornado]

For those with short memories, Roger literally won Wimbledon as a serve & volley player. That's not a claim anyone on tour can make these days, least of all Rafa.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Roger is a better volleyer, but Nadal is very very good as well and has top-notch touch and feel at the net.

I wrote "Nadal net approach" in Google.

No luck.

The top hits/pictures that come up are of the Nadal approaching the net to shake the opponent's hand or waiting for the coin toss.