Where does Nadal rate as a volleyer
- Thread starter thalivest
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Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
Ralph, like Roger, is a competent volleyer. Neither of them are comfortable at net, and neither do a very good job of playing the net properly when they have to hit more than one volley.
T1000
Legend
I would call him a smart volleyer. I would say Fed and Roddick have better volleys but don't have effective approaches. OTOH, Nadal doesn't take risks but comes in on good approaches because he knows he has the points won. You never see Nadal serve and volley or chip and charge because his volleys aren't that good and he'll most likely get passed.
Pushmaster
Hall of Fame
Nadal doesn't really drive his volleys, but he does have great touch though. He's not what I'd call a great volleyer like Sampras, and he doesn't "stick" volleys as well as Federer, but he's at least as effective at net as Fed in his own way.
Blinkism
Legend
I think he's a better (or more successful, if you want it to be more objective, I suppose) volleyer than Federer at the moment (Fed's somewhat declined in this... and Rafa seems to be playing his best net game ever in the last few months).
In terms of their entire careers, Fed has been a better volleyer, but who knows how much improvement Rafa has left in his volley game.
Rafa's definitely a talented volleyer and you could tell this from even his earliest days. What he's learnt is to better utilize his natural volleying talent and develop a game around it.
It's definitely not as "pretty" as Federer, but Nadal does have a knack to create the illusion that he's an elite volleyer because he rarely seems to be in a bad situation at the net - whereas Federer takes his chances.
It's just a difference in styles.
In Fed's absolute peak, though, he was a destroyer of worlds at the net - but I wouldn't characterize his career, overall, as one of the all-time volleying greats (same goes for Nadal).
Fedal's bread and butter is baseline tennis, at the end of the day.
In terms of their entire careers, Fed has been a better volleyer, but who knows how much improvement Rafa has left in his volley game.
Rafa's definitely a talented volleyer and you could tell this from even his earliest days. What he's learnt is to better utilize his natural volleying talent and develop a game around it.
It's definitely not as "pretty" as Federer, but Nadal does have a knack to create the illusion that he's an elite volleyer because he rarely seems to be in a bad situation at the net - whereas Federer takes his chances.
It's just a difference in styles.
In Fed's absolute peak, though, he was a destroyer of worlds at the net - but I wouldn't characterize his career, overall, as one of the all-time volleying greats (same goes for Nadal).
Fedal's bread and butter is baseline tennis, at the end of the day.
Well said. But if you were to drive a 100mph forehand directly at Nadal while he is at net he couldn't handle it as well as Federer. But his touch is definitely as good as Fed's.
flyinghippos101
Legend
I think Nadal is a better volleyer than Fed these days, granted he`s not at the net as much but has the touch to put away volleys if needed. However, I don`t believe he would've been able to out-volley Fed in his prime though, he has incredible touch at the net.
shadows
Legend
You make the mistake of using Federer as your top end measure for volleying when he's really quite inconsistent these days xD
Rafa is solid at the net, though I still maintain most of his success there comes as a result of choosing the right time to come in as opposed to what he actually does when he's up there.
Rafa is solid at the net, though I still maintain most of his success there comes as a result of choosing the right time to come in as opposed to what he actually does when he's up there.
Bud
Bionic Poster
Did you see some of those volleys he made in the match?! There were a number of sublime drop-volleys and some excellent deeper volleys. How can one doubt he's a way above average volleyer. The only difficult volley he missed was that shoe-string half-volley which clipped the net cord.
His net approach % for the Djokovic match was 80% (16/20)
His net approach % for the Djokovic match was 80% (16/20)
President of Serve/Volley
Semi-Pro
He is very good; but Fed's touch is supreme, IMO.
Of course, Fed is way behind Edberg, Rafter in that department...
Fed in his prime had touch that rivals the greats at volleying.
Of course, Fed is way behind Edberg, Rafter in that department...
Fed in his prime had touch that rivals the greats at volleying.
President of Serve/Volley
Semi-Pro
I am gonna agree here. Maybe Fed in his prime was the only choice.
But Fed, as I said, falls way behind: Rafter, Becker, Edberg, Sampras as a serve and volleyer.
thalivest
Banned
Which of those two do you think is a better volleyer (vs each other). They seem interchangeable to me.
Bobby Jr
G.O.A.T.
Well put. That should be the end of the thread really.
Over the years we've seen Federer hit some of the most classic volley's you could imagine but, as you say, he doesn't really have the chip-charge mindset/strategy down pat like Cash, Rafter etc had so he gets himself into positions where he has to make astonishing volleys too often - which of course is nearly impossible for anyone.
Nadal gets to the net because his opponent hits a ball back short, not because of some strategy to push people and get there. Credit to him though as he is good at it and miles ahead of guys like Agassi, Courier etc.
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kishnabe
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal is way better volleyer than Agassi and Djokovic(can handle the net pretty well but not as good as Federer or Nadal).
Federer is the better volleyer...and regardless of Nadal's improvement....I will allways say the better volleyer would be a guy with a complete game and one handed backhand. Much easier to be at the net!
However Nadal has an almost complete game....he has 2hbd...that is diffcult to volley! He does use the one hand to volley and slice...but isn't as comfortable at all considering it is his left hand! He has the right hand to help with backhand!
Federer is the better volleyer...and regardless of Nadal's improvement....I will allways say the better volleyer would be a guy with a complete game and one handed backhand. Much easier to be at the net!
However Nadal has an almost complete game....he has 2hbd...that is diffcult to volley! He does use the one hand to volley and slice...but isn't as comfortable at all considering it is his left hand! He has the right hand to help with backhand!
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