Was Laver's main strength his all round game?

[sandy mayer]

Laver seems to have been great at everything without being absolutely the best at many areas in his era. His serve was excellent but not as good as Gonzales, Sangster, Newcombe, Ashe or Smith. His net game was great but probably not quite as good as Newcombe or Roche. Was his backhand the best or was it Rosewall's (I won't count Connors because Laver was past his best by 1974)? His forehand was excellent but was it as good as Newcombe's or Okker's? His speed was outstanding but was he as quick as Okker or Rosewall? His stamina was impressive (I don't know if it was the best). His return was brilliant but was it as good as Rosewall's? I suspect his temperament was the best of his era.
Laver had no weaknesses. Even his lack of height was no handicap (his serve and smash were weapons). Every aspect of his game was a strength.He was for much of his career the best on every surface.
When answering the question why was Laver so great should the first answer be because he was so good at everything?

 

[hoodjem]

Yes. He was excellent at everything. No weaknesses.

(I would argue that his volleys were as good as anyone listed and his forehand was also, and his quickness.)

The best all-court game of all-time.

 

[DMP]

He was extremely well-balanced. In fact I cannot think of a better balanced player in my lifetime. There was no area of technical weakness I can think of. However I have always said he did have one slight weakness, and that was his aggression/determination to be the aggressor. He hated to be dictated to (a bit like Federer IMO) and that was why someone a bit steadier, like Rosewall, could match him. Not always, but often enough to make their matches super competitive in general.

 

[EllieK]

He was consistent and yes I agree that he was very very good at everything and great at many things. He is the first tennis player I really paid attention to when I watched him play and win against Newcombe in the final in 1969. I was lucky enough to get to Wimbledon in 1970 when Newcombe won the title. I only got to see Laver in doubles but very impressive overall game. Fast, consistent, and mental strength to go along with it. He says himself he was actually shorter than his “official” height which would have been a liability in today’s game, but you look at guys like Schwartzman and it’s clear that Laver could still have had a very decent career but I doubt he would have those CYGS

 

[Dan Lobb]

He was consistent and yes I agree that he was very very good at everything and great at many things. He is the first tennis player I really paid attention to when I watched him play and win against Newcombe in the final in 1969. I was lucky enough to get to Wimbledon in 1970 when Newcombe won the title. I only got to see Laver in doubles but very impressive overall game. Fast, consistent, and mental strength to go along with it. He says himself he was actually shorter than his “official” height which would have been a liability in today’s game, but you look at guys like Schwartzman and it’s clear that Laver could still have had a very decent career but I doubt he would have those CYGS

I doubt that today's players could handle Laver in his prime using wood racquets without jumbo heads.

 

[EllieK]

I doubt that today's players could handle Laver in his prime using wood racquets without jumbo heads.

If they had grown up with them they probably could. Could Laver have played like he did with current equipment. These are all hypotheticals, and we can speculate from now to eternity. We will never know, will we?

 

[Dan Lobb]

If they had grown up with them they probably could. Could Laver have played like he did with current equipment. These are all hypotheticals, and we can speculate from now to eternity. We will never know, will we?

Laver would certainly benefit from the new jumbo heads, but the current group would have trouble adjusting to heavier racquets with smaller sweet spots.

I doubt that the two-handed strokes of Djokovic or Nadal could work with the old equipment.

 

[sandy mayer]

Laver would certainly benefit from the new jumbo heads, but the current group would have trouble adjusting to heavier racquets with smaller sweet spots.

I doubt that the two-handed strokes could work with the old equipment.

Segura, Connors, Borg and Evert did pretty well with the old equipment with their two handed strokes.

 

[EllieK]

Segura, Connors, Borg and Evert did pretty well with the old equipment with their two handed strokes.

That’s exactly what I was thinking.

 

[Dan Lobb]

Segura, Connors, Borg and Evert did pretty well with the old equipment with their two handed strokes.

Segura, Connors, Borg, Evert did not have the same type of two-handed stroke, and they all had a disadvantage at the net with their two-handed grip.

 

[goldenera]

Laver seems to have been great at everything without being absolutely the best at many areas in his era. His serve was excellent but not as good as Gonzales, Sangster, Newcombe, Ashe or Smith. His net game was great but probably not quite as good as Newcombe or Roche. Was his backhand the best or was it Rosewall's (I won't count Connors because Laver was past his best by 1974)? His forehand was excellent but was it as good as Newcombe's or Okker's? His speed was outstanding but was he as quick as Okker or Rosewall? His stamina was impressive (I don't know if it was the best). His return was brilliant but was it as good as Rosewall's? I suspect his temperament was the best of his era.
Laver had no weaknesses. Even his lack of height was no handicap (his serve and smash were weapons). Every aspect of his game was a strength.He was for much of his career the best on every surface.
When answering the question why was Laver so great should the first answer be because he was so good at everything?
[/QUOTE
He had everything plus the strongest untangibles of all
He has never been equalled for playing risk shots when being against the wall

 

[goldenera]

He had everything including the greatest intangibles
And no one can compare when playing his best tennis against the wall