Better backhand currently: Federer or Nadal?

[Sim]

Federer and Nadal are great because of their forehand.
Murray and Djokovic are great as well because they're good on both wings.

It's hard to discuss because if you say Federer's backhand is better than Nadal's, then Nadal's forehand is better than Fed's to cover for lack of backhand? vice versa.. etc.....

And I would say that when Nadal was playing, his forehand was better than Fed's, but he's out right now so hard to say "currently".

[dangalak]

Originally Posted by Sim

Federer and Nadal are great because of their forehand.
Murray and Djokovic are great as well because they're good on both wings.

It's hard to discuss because if you say Federer's backhand is better than Nadal's, then Nadal's forehand is better than Fed's to cover for lack of backhand? vice versa.. etc.....

And I would say that when Nadal was playing, his forehand was better than Fed's, but he's out right now so hard to say "currently".

On a clay court, yeah it is.

[TTMR]

Originally Posted by faranell

Ok. im kinda new here so i dunno but how come 90% of the threads are polls like "who has better fh?" "who has better bh" "better shoes" "nicest hair"..
whats the point?

We at TW struggle for originality in terms of our threads, especially in between major tournaments. Higher quality trolls often tank this part of the season; however, they return fresh and eager usually a few days before the Australian Open begins.

The only way Federer has a better backhand than Nadal is if you do not isolate the slice as a separate shot. In terms of topspin backhand, it is not close. Nadal's is much better. In terms of slice, Federer's is much better, but in today's game the topspin drive is more important, and thus we can say Nadal has the better backhand. If slice is that important, I guess you could say Federer has a better backhand than Djokovic, too, as Djokovic's slice is much worse than Nadal's.

The results of the poll are so typically ridiculous. Let me ask Federer fans: According to you, Federer has the greatest forehand of all time--better than Nadal, better backhand, much better serve, much better return, much better net game and better movement. With all of these advantages, how does Federer lose so many matches to Nadal? Mental strength? Come on. Federer should dominate the rivalry, using his great serve and forehand to pound away cross court to Nadal's substandard backhand all the time. Yet it is the reverse that happens.

[Nathaniel_Near]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

It is funny how Federer fans think Federer has the better forehand, better backhand, as good or better movement, yet he loses most of the baseline rallies in 85% of their matches (basically every match that wasnt indoors).

While I agree that it seems odd to say that Federer is better in all 3 categories (which I don't think he is), your reasoning is deeply flawed. Field VS match-up; relate your implications to parameters that do not just involve a singular opposition.

[dangalak]

Originally Posted by TTMR

We at TW struggle for originality in terms of our threads, especially in between major tournaments. Higher quality trolls often tank this part of the season; however, they return fresh and eager usually a few days before the Australian Open begins.

The only way Federer has a better backhand than Nadal is if you do not isolate the slice as a separate shot. In terms of topspin backhand, it is not close. Nadal's is much better. In terms of slice, Federer's is much better, but in today's game the topspin drive is more important, and thus we can say Nadal has the better backhand. If slice is that important, I guess you could say Federer has a better backhand than Djokovic, too, as Djokovic's slice is much worse than Nadal's.

The results of the poll are so typically ridiculous. Let me ask Federer fans: According to you, Federer has the greatest forehand of all time--better than Nadal, better backhand, much better serve, much better return, much better net game and better movement. With all of these advantages, how does Federer lose so many matches to Nadal? Mental strength? Come on. Federer should dominate the rivalry, using his great serve and forehand to pound away cross court to Nadal's substandard backhand all the time. Yet it is the reverse that happens.

How is Nadal's topspin BH so good? He literally cannot hit it down the line with any authority unless he is approched and has to pass or he hits a sunday punch like BH. His backhand is as innocuous as you consider Federer's to be. It's almost like Murray's FH. Unlike, say, in 2008-2009, his BH has lost almost all of it's sting. These days, you can expect to pound forehands to his backhand and not fear to get a CC BH ripped past you and it had much better length.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSmDCHLJM70

As opposed to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkI4FpZDQcc

Federer having a better slice than Djokovic doesn't make his BH better for the reason that Djokovic's twohander is one of the top 5 in history, if not top 3. I cannot say the same for Nadal.

The last paragraph of yours is a joke. Nobody believes that Federer moves better than Nadal. His return isn't better than Nadal's either.

The reason why Nadal can punish Federer's backhand is because he can punish Federer's ONEHANDED backhand with his HIGH BOUNCING FH. The reverse doesn't happen because Nadal owns a twohander and Federer's FH doesn't bounce as high. Then there's the fact that Federer's favourite BH shot, the slice, is ineffective against Nadal, since he cannot get it on his BH consistently and a guy like Nadal can get that slice up and down easily.

Not to mention how Nadal's normally inferior serve is hard to return for Federer specifically.

Finally, the majority of their matches have been played on clay, where Nadal is the better mover, has the better forehand, the better backhand and where his inferiority in serve and net game matters little.

You're welcome.

[TTMR]

Originally Posted by dangalak

How is Nadal's topspin BH so good? He literally cannot hit it down the line unless he is approched and has to pass or he hits a sunday punch like BH. His backhand is as innocuous as you consider Federer's to be. Unlike, say, in 2008-2009, his BH has lost almost all of it's sting. These days, you can expect to pound forehands to his backhand and not fear to get a CC BH ripped past you.

Federer having a better slice than Djokovic doesn't make his BH better for the reason that Djokovic's twohander is one of the top 5 in history, if not top 3. I cannot say the same for Nadal.

I said, if slice is equally important as topspin, then Federer's backhand is better than Djokovic's. The difference between Djokovic's topspin backhand and Federer's, while vast, is not as big as the difference between Federer's slice and Djokovic's.

The last paragraph of yours is a joke. Nobody believes that Federer moves better than Nadal. His return isn't better than Nadal's either.

Nobody believes that? There are probably a dozen threads on those two issues in the last month alone. It is almost a consensus among TW's Federer fans that Federer is a better mover (or was during his prime) than Nadal and has a better return. I think the first point of those is laughable and the second point at least debatable.

The reason why Nadal can punish Federer's backhand is because he can punish Federer's ONEHANDED backhand with his HIGH BOUNCING FH. The reverse doesn't happen because Nadal owns a twohander and Federer's FH doesn't bounce as high.

Complete contradiction there. If Federer's forehand is the greatest of all time and Nadal's backhand, two-handed or not, is garbage, then Federer can pound it all day long and crush the inevitable short balls. The fact that Federer can't hit high bouncing topspin shots to his backhand completely undermines your viewpoint, especially in the same paragraph you are saying Nadal's two-hander can essentially handle any shot, including the best groundstroke in game history in Federer's forehand.

Then there's the fact that Federer's favourite BH shot, the slice, is ineffective against Nadal, since he cannot get it on his BH consistently and a guy like Nadal can get that slice up and down easily.

So even his slice doesn't work against Nadal either? Damn, what a great backhand. Yet Nadal's terrible backhand can take all of that punishment from Federer.

Finally, the majority of their matches have been played on clay, where Nadal is the better mover, has the better forehand, the better backhand and where his inferiority in serve and net game matters little.

Ah clay, the great neutralizer. But then, Nadal has a winning record against Federer on hard court as well.

[dangalak]

Originally Posted by TTMR

I said, if slice is equally important as topspin, then Federer's backhand is better than Djokovic's. The difference between Djokovic's topspin backhand and Federer's, while vast, is not as big as the difference between Federer's slice and Djokovic's.

The slice isn't equally important as topspin.

Originally Posted by TTMR

Nobody believes that? There are probably a dozen threads on those two issues in the last month alone. It is almost a consensus among TW's Federer fans that Federer is a better mover (or was during his prime) than Nadal and has a better return. I think the first point of those is laughable and the second point at least debatable.

Federer is in no way as good as a mover as any of the top 4 currently. Federer being a better mover than Nadal in his prime is not utterly ridiculous and a possibility if you out more value in footwork. (remember Madrid? )
However, the reality is that they are fairly close and that Nadal is possibly the greatest mover ever.

Originally Posted by TTMR

Complete contradiction there. If Federer's forehand is the greatest of all time and Nadal's backhand, two-handed or not, is garbage, then Federer can pound it all day long and crush the inevitable short balls. The fact that Federer can't hit high bouncing topspin shots to his backhand completely undermines your viewpoint, especially in the same paragraph you are saying Nadal's two-hander can essentially handle any shot, including the best groundstroke in game history in Federer's forehand.

I don't think so. Federer's backhand is brilliant against somebody like Djokovic and is a great shot against the vast majority of players.

I know that the likes of you frown at the word "match-up" but nothing else explains Nadal's ability to beat Federer more often than not over a time frame where he would typically get spanked by people in slams, that have a combined H2H record against Federer of 11-75 or something.

One handed backhands typically can't deal with that shot. There are not many players capable of doing what Nadal does, so I'm going to strike that out as an exception.

Nadal's serve is also more effective against Federer than Roddick's. Does that mean his serve is better?

Originally Posted by TTMR

So even his slice doesn't work against Nadal either? Damn, what a great backhand. Yet Nadal's terrible backhand can take all of that punishment from Federer.

Slices generally don't work well on forehands. That is an issue of Nadal's lefty status and his movement.

Originally Posted by TTMR

Ah clay, the great neutralizer. But then, Nadal has a winning record against Federer on hard court as well.

No he doesn't. Pretty sure Federer leads 6-5.

[tennis_pro]

Since I haven't seen Nadal play since June, I say Federer.

[dangalak]

Another addition has to be that this thread asks about theri CURRENT backhands. Throughout the recent years, Federer's backhand was far less consistent than it is right now, while Nadal's BH was a good deal more potent, than it is right now. Nadal beating Federer from the Monte Carlo final in 2008 to the Australian Open final 2009 has no bearing on how superior or inferior Nadal's backhand is to Federer's.

EDIT:

If Federer's forehand is the greatest of all time and Nadal's backhand, two-handed or not, is garbage, then Federer can pound it all day long and crush the inevitable short balls.

Federer CAN'T punish the inevitable short balls, because Federer would have to follow them to the net, where he is faced with what is possibly the best passing shot artist in history. Not to mention I never deemed Nadal's backhand garbage.

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

It is funny how Federer fans think Federer has the better forehand, better backhand, as good or better movement, yet he loses most of the baseline rallies in 85% of their matches (basically every match that wasnt indoors).

It is funny. It's other things too.

[dangalak]

Originally Posted by Limpinhitter

It is funny. It's other things too.

Seriously, how can you be a regular of the Former Players forum, yet be so ignorant of this sport?

[President]

There are some delusional people in this thread, Federer's backhand is definitely better right now especially on a hard or grass court. Nadal's backhand used to be a damn good shot but it's deteriorated into a weak push. He really can't do anything with that shot any more and is utterly desperate to run around it to hit forehands (even more so than Federer).

On the other hand, IMO Nadal's forehand is currently better than Federer's on most of the tour surfaces. Federer's forehand is still easily the second best on tour and by far the best on faster surfaces and indoors but overall Nadal has it these days by a decent margin.

[TheF1Bob]

LOL what a joke this thread is. Federer HANDS DOWN!!!... owns Nadull in that department.

Silly *****.

[RF20Lennon]

Originally Posted by TheF1Bob

LOL what a joke this thread is. Federer HANDS DOWN!!!... owns Nadull in that department.

Silly *****.

Oh how we have missed you! F1

[Evan77]

Fed's BH is pretty. Rafa BH is fugly. It's all about beauty btw.
Fed's hair > Rafa's
Mirka sexier than Xsisca, lol, OK I'll shut up

[RF20Lennon]

Originally Posted by Evan77

Fed's BH is pretty. Rafa BH is fugly. It's all about beauty btw.
Fed's hair > Rafa's
Mirka sexier than Xsisca, lol, OK I'll shut up

Oh no!! he's gone to the dark side

[tennis_pro]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

It is funny how Federer fans think Federer has the better forehand, better backhand, as good or better movement, yet he loses most of the baseline rallies in 85% of their matches (basically every match that wasnt indoors).

That's because most of their rallies are Nadal's forehand to Federer's backhand, while I think Federer's backhand can live with Nadal's forehand on faster surfaces, especially indoors, on clay it's a tough task.

[dangalak]

Originally Posted by Evan77

Fed's BH is pretty. Rafa BH is fugly. It's all about beauty btw.
Fed's hair > Rafa's
Mirka sexier than Xsisca, lol, OK I'll shut up

You know how hot Mirka used to be.

Originally Posted by President

On the other hand, IMO Nadal's forehand is currently better than Federer's on most of the tour surfaces. Federer's forehand is still easily the second best on tour and by far the best on faster surfaces and indoors but overall Nadal has it these days by a decent margin.

I disagree. Federer penetrates the court a lot easier and has an easier time picking up halfvolleys from the baseline and hitting FH DTLs. Last but not least, he also has more touch and variety from that wing. Don't laugh, his forehand dropshots can be really lethal. Nadal on the other hand is underusing them.

I would give Nadal advantages in consistency and on the run, but the latter is mostly movement anyway.

I would definitely pick Nadal's on a claycourt, but Federer everywhere else.

[beast of mallorca]

Originally Posted by tennis_pro

That's because most of their rallies are Nadal's forehand to Federer's backhand, while I think Federer's backhand can live with Nadal's forehand on faster surfaces, especially indoors, on clay it's a tough task.

then that means the rallies are being controlled by Rafa. Why can't Fed change the character of their rallies then and impose himself if he if so darn good ?

[dangalak]

Originally Posted by beast of mallorca

then that means the rallies are being controlled by Rafa. Why can't Fed change the character of their rallies then and impose himself if he if so darn good ?

Because Nadal has wicked passing shots.