Greatest shot ever?

Greatest Shot ever?

  • Total voters
    158
A few other candidates...

1st Serve: Vines, Gonzales
2nd Serve: Kramer
Forehand: Perry, Segura
Backhand: Budge, Rosewall
Forehand Volley: McEnroe
Backhand Volley: Edberg

I would have trouble picking the best overhead. Maybe Newcombe?

In the final analysis, I would probably give my vote to Budge's backhand. It was certainly the most famous stroke of any player before the Open Era. I would certainly take either Budge's or Rosewall's backhands (both one handed) over Connors's two-handed shot. Lacoste's was also quite famous, and Al Laney believed that Bill Tilden's flat backhand--he also possessed a masterful slice--was the most effective in history.

Jack Kramer, on the other hand, has always said that Pancho Segura's two-handed forehand was the single best stroke in tennis. The debate goes on...
 
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For serve, return and backhand, I wouldn't pick those.

But among those skills, I'll take Sampras serve. But I'd take Goran's serve over Sampras anyway :P
 
Andres Guazzelli said:
For serve, return and backhand, I wouldn't pick those.

But among those skills, I'll take Sampras serve. But I'd take Goran's serve over Sampras anyway :P
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I'd take Goran's serve also, Mac's Volleys, and a beginer's baseline game. I think this is good enough to win Wilmbledon.
 
look guys im 15 i don't know much before the open era. although i do admit i was considering putting mac and edberg's volleys in the poll. However i doubt that a great net game alone could win you a title.
 
Guys, Roddick has the best serve ever. He just doesn't back it up that well. I mean if Roddick had Sampras's net skill, he would never lose serve. Just take that slice early and finish the points off quickly.
 
-Sampras's volleys
-Nadal's backhand pass
-Gonzo's forehand
-Best shot of all: Federer's unbelievably sick wrist-flick winners!
 
On a single stroke...I would say Sampras serve...because out of his 14 slams this was his most trusty weapon..break it down and maybe you had a chance to win.
Federer is to all-round of a player he does not rely enough on one stroke because all his shots are great.
On the Womens side..it's hard to go past Steffi Forehand.
 
Just about anything Rios or Safin hits when they are 'on'....(smiling as I await the blasting from you guys/gals).
 
chaognosis said:
A few other candidates...

1st Serve: Vines, Gonzales
2nd Serve: Kramer, Edberg
Forehand: Perry, Segura
Backhand: Budge, Rosewall
Forehand Volley: McEnroe
Backhand Volley: Edberg

The debate goes on...
Click to expand...

I always loved Rosewall's flat but perfect backhand. I would like to add Edberg's incredible second serve.

(And so I did.)
 
I'd pick Agassi's return. I picked it since I think that the return is one of the hardest shots in tennis. =S well for me anyways.

^^ I think it would be nicer to have Sampras' serves because who needs a return for that? But the difference between having full control of one shot (serve) and hitting a return where you also have to move.
 
sampras' serve and federer's forehand because those two shots come out of nowhere to just end points....well sampras' serve is sort of expected but its still a shot which is just so reliable
 
Safin's backhand down the line. I dont care what any of you have to say, Safin's backhand is the greatest of all time. Even when he is having a bad game his backhand never fails. Nobody can hit as deep and penetrating consistently as Safin can off the backhand.
 
Goran's first serve is the most demolishing shot I've ever witnessed.
McEnroe and Edberg's volleys were out of this world too.
I was never able to watch players from before the 60's so my opinion is for the last 40-45 years.
 
andyroddick1 said:
Guys, Roddick has the best serve ever. He just doesn't back it up that well. I mean if Roddick had Sampras's net skill, he would never lose serve. Just take that slice early and finish the points off quickly.
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Wimbledon 2001. Roddick vs Ivanisevic. Wanna see a person OUTSERVE (embarrass) Roddick? Go watch that match
 
In terms of effectiveness, I'd have to pick Sampras' serve but it would be close with Federer's forehand.

Among shots not mentioned, Federer has a pretty scary backhand overhead smash. That is an awfully hard shot to pull off.
 
chaognosis said:
A few other candidates...

1st Serve: Vines, Gonzales
2nd Serve: Kramer
Forehand: Perry, Segura
Backhand: Budge, Rosewall
Forehand Volley: McEnroe
Backhand Volley: Edberg

I would have trouble picking the best overhead. Maybe Newcombe?

In the final analysis, I would probably give my vote to Budge's backhand. It was certainly the most famous stroke of any player before the Open Era. I would certainly take either Budge's or Rosewall's backhands (both one handed) over Connors's two-handed shot. Lacoste's was also quite famous, and Al Laney believed that Bill Tilden's flat backhand--he also possessed a masterful slice--was the most effective in history.

Jack Kramer, on the other hand, has always said that Pancho Segura's two-handed forehand was the single best stroke in tennis. The debate goes on...
Click to expand...

Yeah if you are only going to have 4 options and all in the last 30 years, you might as well word the poll "best shot in the last 30 years".
 
Andres Guazzelli said:
Wimbledon 2001. Roddick vs Ivanisevic. Wanna see a person OUTSERVE (embarrass) Roddick? Go watch that match
Click to expand...

I remember that match. The hype around Roddick from the American "experts" was nauseating beyond description. When he was put on Centre Court to play the "#11 seed" Thomas Johansson it was really overkill. I wanted to reach through the TV screen and give Goran and big kiss for making my Wimbledon. My friends who I had over that day did a little dance with me after the match, but were sad it was over in a way too, since watching it was thoroughly enjoyable.
 
chaognosis said:
A few other candidates...

1st Serve: Vines, Gonzales
2nd Serve: KramerForehand: Perry, Segura
Backhand: Budge, Rosewall
Forehand Volley: McEnroe
Backhand Volley: Edberg

I would have trouble picking the best overhead. Maybe Newcombe?

In the final analysis, I would probably give my vote to Budge's backhand. It was certainly the most famous stroke of any player before the Open Era. I would certainly take either Budge's or Rosewall's backhands (both one handed) over Connors's two-handed shot. Lacoste's was also quite famous, and Al Laney believed that Bill Tilden's flat backhand--he also possessed a masterful slice--was the most effective in history.
Jack Kramer, on the other hand, has always said that Pancho Segura's two-handed forehand was the single best stroke in tennis. The debate goes on...
Click to expand...

how old are you...like 90?;)
 
Tilden's cannonball serve. Old timers said he hit 150 mph with a wood racquet. I've seen one photo of him serving and he's way in the air like he's doing ballet. It's far more difficult and artistic than the montonous Roddick serve which comes from a super-powered racquet.
 
superstition said:
Tilden's cannonball serve. Old timers said he hit 150 mph with a wood racquet. I've seen one photo of him serving and he's way in the air like he's doing ballet. It's far more difficult and artistic than the montonous Roddick serve which comes from a super-powered racquet.
Click to expand...


Old timers also smoked cigarettes during the Tour de France as they thought it increased their lung capacity prior to mountain stages. Did they have radar guns during Tilden's day???
 
saram said:
Old timers also smoked cigarettes during the Tour de France as they thought it increased their lung capacity prior to mountain stages. Did they have radar guns during Tilden's day???
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I think he holds the record for a yearly winning percentage. Did he go a year without losing a match? I don't recall. But, his domination of tennis during his prime does suggest there is some merit in the accounts of his serving ability.

MPH ratings are one thing, but the quality of the serve is not just about that. I'll argue that his serve required greater skill than Roddick's, even if Roddick's has a higher MPH.
 
superstition said:
I think he holds the record for a yearly winning percentage. Did he go a year without losing a match? I don't recall. But, his domination of tennis during his prime does suggest there is some merit in the accounts of his serving ability.

MPH ratings are one thing, but the quality of the serve is not just about that. I'll argue that his serve required greater skill than Roddick's, even if Roddick's has a higher MPH.
Click to expand...

I'll take Roger's serve at a critical point any day. It may not be the fastest, but I think it restults in a very high winning percentage on a critical point.
 
lambielspins said:
You have already specified whose serve you would take instead, but whose return and backhand would you take instead for this poll?
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Lleyton Hewitt and Guga Kuerten. Agassi, IMO, is an over-rated returner. Lleyton was probably one of the best returners of all time. Connors was, as well.

I prefer Connors return over his backhand.

And Guga had one of the best backhands in history.
 
Ernest Gulbis everything - specifically serve, forehand, and drop-shot

Gaudio backhand, 2004 style

Goran serve

Agassi forehand return vs. Blake in 2005 Open on match point
 
sampras had a better overall serve than goran (and federer isn't even in the conversation). goran might have hit more aces but sampras had a more consistent serve, especially his 2nd serve. plus, there is no comparison who had a better clutch serve.
 
I think the Fed FH is probably the best single shot of all time.

Gorans' first serve is up there also. You couldnt return it, period.
 
well, when sampras played he had no doubt the best serve. These days though that shot can be hit by numerous players on the tour, but in his day (before feds nasty forehand, and roddicks awesome serve) it was probably the best shot ever.

Nowadays though you have to give feds forehand the best shot of all time title i would say.
 
superstition said:
Tilden's cannonball serve. Old timers said he hit 150 mph with a wood racquet. I've seen one photo of him serving and he's way in the air like he's doing ballet. It's far more difficult and artistic than the montonous Roddick serve which comes from a super-powered racquet.
Click to expand...
Oh, the amazing things 'Big Bill' Tilden could do with 'wood' .... especially young wood! :cool:
 
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