Better forehand- Courier or Agassi
- Thread starter davey25
- Start date
davey25
Banned
For once we agree on something. I also think Courier.
Courier IMO had the best forehand of the 90s, with Sampras a close 2nd. However Agassi had the best overall ground game of the 90s IMHO, forehand and backhand combined.
thalivest
Banned
120mphBodyServe
Banned
I'd have to go with Agassi.
Li Ching Yuen
Legend
Courier could rip one on the forehand side that's for sure. But I don't know, I'd take Agassi here, more consistent power.
pc1
G.O.A.T.
So are we talking about the young Agassi or the Agassi a bit later when he was more mature. Agassi became a baseline machine later and really cut down on his wild errors (and his wild winners too by the way) or do we look at the harder hitting Agassi when he was young who also hit more winners but made more mistakes.
Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
When Agassi first came on the tour, his forehand was like Mike Tyson's left hook. It was devastating. Maybe Courier hit a little harder, but, Agassi's fh was more versatile and more consistent.
Bilbo
Semi-Pro
Agassi had a good forehand and a great backhand.
All Courier had was a forehand, movement, and stamina. His serve was average when it was on. And his backhand was a decent rally shot at best. I'd certainly hope Courier's forehand was better than Agassi, otherwise Agassi should be embarrassed that he ever lost to a guy that he was better than in every single way.
So yea, Courier's Forehand >> Agassi's Forehand.... but....
Arias' Forehand > Courier's Forehand
All Courier had was a forehand, movement, and stamina. His serve was average when it was on. And his backhand was a decent rally shot at best. I'd certainly hope Courier's forehand was better than Agassi, otherwise Agassi should be embarrassed that he ever lost to a guy that he was better than in every single way.
So yea, Courier's Forehand >> Agassi's Forehand.... but....
Arias' Forehand > Courier's Forehand
120mphBodyServe
Banned
Agassi had a good forehand and a great backhand.
All Courier had was a forehand, movement, and stamina. His serve was average when it was on. And his backhand was a decent rally shot at best. I'd certainly hope Courier's forehand was better than Agassi, otherwise Agassi should be embarrassed that he ever lost to a guy that he was better than in every single way.
So yea, Courier's Forehand >> Agassi's Forehand.... but....
Arias' Forehand > Courier's Forehand
Actually Courier had a dynamite serve at his peak when he was no 1.
Fired off quite a few unreturnables and aces, and when he didn't he smacked a few forehands to finish the point. He was relentless.
Sure, it might not be as good as Pete/Boris/Goran, but I'd hesitate to call it average.
Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
Thank you! Courier's serve was big, with a huge kick. His backhand was big, too! A very short wind-up, wrist snap, and shoulder turn made it a devastating return of serve, as well. Nevertheless, IMO, Agassi's groundies were better on both sides. The reason Agassi lost to Courier at the FO was because Courier was mentally tougher and ready to win, and Agassi wasn't.
davey25
Banned
davey25
Banned
I agree. Courier in his prime years had a superior serve to Agassi. He also had a superior forehand IMO. Agassi had a superior backhand and a superior return of serve (though Courier also had a strong return as he showed he played someone like Edberg, but not strong enough to cope with the Sampras serve which Agassi could to a degree). Courier was definitely fitter back then and probably faster around the court, and mentally tougher. Agassi overall was stronger off the ground since the backhand gap was more than the forehand gap, and he overall hit the ball cleaner. However Courier back then was a really bad matchup for him. Agassi tried to outhit Courier off the forehand side out of stubborness and ego and had a hard time magaging it, and Courier's edges in serving, fitness, defense, and mental toughness only shown through in their matches during this period. It is why Agassi did not start beating Courier again until Courier began to really fade in 96 (he had already begun to fade before then but not enough to prevent him from stretching his win streak over Agassi to 1995).
