What do you value more as a tennis fan? Shotmaking or elite movement?

[Hitman]

Thoughts folks?

 

[Ray Mercer]

Shotmaking without question. I can’t stand retrievers. If it were up to me I’d take all the surfaces back to 90’s speed.

 

[Rosstour]

Shotmaking

 

[Grafil Injection]

They're the same thing. Best shotmakers are the ones that can get into perfect position, even under extreme pressure, using elite movements.

 

[Bambooman]

Elite movement leads to better shotmaking. There's plenty of players at all levels with the hands to make the shot but without the ability to get into position to make it.

 

[Third Serve]

Leaving aside the fact that the two are very often connected, I favor excellent displays of shotmaking over equally excellent displays of movement.

 

[RSJfan]

 

[fedfan24]

Shotmaking, but the best combine both. Id take an elite ball striker like Nalbandian over someone like Di Minaur or Moutet who run all day and dink everything back then “COME ON” an UFE.

 

[The Guru]

We're tennis fans of course the answer is shotmaking. If it was movement then we'd watch track.

 

[ghostofMecir]

Thoughts folks?

As a fan of the sport, elite shotmaking is by far the most fun thing and attractive thing the sport has to offer. Now, in today’s game, if you want to win, you have to have elite movement, but that doesn’t mean that’s a very attractive game to watch even though you can appreciate it.

 

[The Blond Blur]

 

[onehandbh]

Would you rather watch an elite mover sprint across the court and then missing the shot or an elite shotmaker unable to get to the ball to hit his elite shot?.

 

[jxs653]

Doesn't majority watch their swings than feet? That's why wise one says learn by watching their feet than their swings?

 

[timnz]

Thoughts folks?

Thoughts folks?

Shotmaking for sure

 

[mental midget]

As a fan of the sport, elite shock making is by far the most fun thing and attractive thing. The sport has to offer. Now, in today’s game if you wanna win, you have to have elite movement, but that doesn’t mean that’s a very attractive game to watch even though you can appreciate it

yep. elite movement commands respect, but shotmaking captures the imagination. to me that's the novak/fed thing in a nutshell. i respect to no end what novak's achieved...he built himself into the ultimate results machine, and there is a particular genius to that you have to admire. but if i'm browsing youtube for tennis highlights, it's federer all day long.

 

[ElChivoEspañol]

This.

Nadal is the epitome of both. A freak of nature.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Exactly

 

[Service Ace]

yep. elite movement commands respect, but shotmaking captures the imagination. to me that's the novak/fed thing in a nutshell. i respect to no end what novak's achieved...he built himself into the ultimate results machine, and there is a particular genius to that you have to admire. but if i'm browsing youtube for tennis highlights, it's federer all day long.

Except Federer is considered maybe the most elite mover of all time.

 

[6august]

As tennis fan and tennis player, I'd say can't have good shotmaking without good movement )

 

[Aabye5]

Movement

 

[vokazu]

No doping.

 

[nolefam_2024]

No doping.

I would not like doping by anyone if caught

Unless it's Djokovic. Then I would make exception.

 

[Born_to_slice]

One doesn't work without the other.

 

[anarosevoli]

I started to play tennis because I watched a 50-shot rally of Kerber running at the baseline from left to right and right to left 25 times retrieving impossible balls. Shotmaking is for fat old men ;-).

 

[Angrybirdstar]

Shotmaking is for fat old men

if we say that McEnroe played quintessential old man tennis his whole life, who plays/played quintessential young woman tennis?

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Add me to the shotmaking bandwagon.

@Federer and Del Potro

I wouldn't be so harsh on Rasmus' movement if his shot-making were elite. But again, there is that voice in my head, the Rasmus lawyer in my mind, he's telling me that our guy isn't getting provided with elite shot-making opportunities.

 

[anarosevoli]

if we say that McEnroe played quintessential old man tennis his whole life, who plays/played quintessential young woman tennis?

de Minaur?

 

[Angrybirdstar]

de Minaur?

i was wondering more about the women but de Minaur makes sense!

 

[ppma]

Can't be a good shotmaker without moving well. Thus, the logical answer is very clear.

 

[NatF]

Can't be a good shotmaker without moving well. Thus, the logical answer is very clear.

Without movement you're just Santoro, perhaps with a better serve.

 

[RS]

You need both to get to a certain point (or at least be a GOAT in one and decent in the other) but I suppose shotmaking wins.

 

[jl809]

I’d pay to have the chance to go back and watch Old Agassi live, whereas you’d have to pay me probably a hundred thousand pounds to watch AdM live rn

 

[Aabye5]

One doesn't work without the other.

Hmmm....good point. A shotmaker without great movement? Gonzo?

 

[Aabye5]

yep. elite movement commands respect, but shotmaking captures the imagination. to me that's the novak/fed thing in a nutshell. i respect to no end what novak's achieved...he built himself into the ultimate results machine, and there is a particular genius to that you have to admire. but if i'm browsing youtube for tennis highlights, it's federer all day long.

And yet the irony is Nole cemented his place in history with two brilliant shots at 40-15...against Fed. Never have I heard a Fed shot described in such terms as those two forehands, although his career is generally described thus.

 

[Jonesy]

There is not shotmaking without great movement.

 

[Born_to_slice]

Hmmm....good point. A shotmaker without great movement? Gonzo?

Zero slams

 

[Hitman]

For those who think that you cannot have great shotmaking without elite movement, watch this. Alcaraz is playing this match on one leg, and he is hitting winners left and right in this final set, despite losing it.

Of course the two are very very closely linked, but you can have one without the other also.

 

[Aabye5]

Zero slams

Gonzo won zero Slams? Yes, but that doesn't interest me. I don't only watch Slam winners.

 

[RaulRamirez]

As many have said...as close to a consensus as you'll see here on anything...movement and shotmaking are closely intertwined.
Perhaps, the question is a choice between preferring offense or defense, but is elite shotmaking only about hitting winners?
As an all-around tennis fan, I enjoy both, but if they can be separated, I suppose I'd favor shotmaking.

 

[am1899]

At the risk of sitting on the fence, depends where I’m watching:

Movement is more impressive to me watching live in person.

Shot making if I’m watching on tv.

 

[nolefam_2024]

At the risk of sitting on the fence, depends where I’m watching:

Movement is more impressive to me watching live in person.

Shot making if I’m watching on tv.

Exactly my thought. In person movement captivates and on tv the shot making.

 

[Born_to_slice]

Gonzo won zero Slams? Yes, but that doesn't interest me. I don't only watch Slam winners.

I hated how useless he was against Federer.

 

[Juice4080]

I value shotmaking as a preference but im also cognizant that movement is probably the more valuable trait to have

 

[3loudboys]

Ferrer GOAT

 

[mike danny]

 

[mike danny]

I think the better question would be between elite movement and elite ballstriking as shotmaking and movement are pretty intertwined.

 

[Rosstour]

Kyrgios v De Minaur. Who would I rather watch? Kyrgios all day.

 

[Aabye5]

I hated how useless he was against Federer.

Yes, I wasn't much of a Gonzo fan either. That's why I chose movement over shotmaking.

But I was pointing to Gonzo as one who was a good shotmaker, but not a great mover from what I recall. Stan is also sort of in this category.

 

[mental midget]

I hated how useless he was against Federer.

most pure big hitters were. 'play another ball' was always the best way to beat fed: nadal, novak, young murray had a streak at one point...canas even, there, briefly. between his hands and anticipation, hard guy to beat w pace. i think berdych got a win or two at his peak, maybe tsonga at W but i think fed wasn't moving so great in that match...delpo here and there (although i'd chalk that uso partly up to tactical blunder on fed's part...he took his foot off the pedal, and...go to forehand?!)

then again i suppose that's the surest way to beat anyone.

 

[Born_to_slice]

Kyrgios v De Minaur. Who would I rather watch? Kyrgios all day.

Sweet servebot and tank marathon for you then