Inside-out forehand VS crosscourt backhand

[Golden Retriever]

Most pros prefer the inside-out forehand instead of the crosscourt backhand, even for pros who have better backhands than their forehands. Is it because you could create more sidespin with the inside-out forehand as you would the crosscourt backhand since the inside-out forehand meets the ball at a more acute angle?

 

[pinky42]

I prefer the croscourt backhand. You can hit deep or short as opposed to the inside out forehand where hitting a short angle is more difficult.

 

[SageOfDeath]

You can create sidespin with a crosscourt backhand that runs away from your opponent. I believe that forehands are usually the better weapon, Is there a pro with a heavier, more consistant backhand than their forehand? It's not a retohrical question I really don't know of one, though I'm sure there may be.

 

[Queensryche]

Kuerten/Safin/Ljubicic/nalbandian comes to mind.

I've even see gasquet run around a forehand to a backhand drive crosscourt against Nalbandian in a match. He lost it eventually though.

Few of the said player still inside out for some reason.

Prob a thing to do with confidence ?¿

 

[SageOfDeath]

I don't watch tennis a whole lot so I have never seen these players play Tennis is on T.V. at weird schedules like the wee hours of the day.

I know why I might run around my backhand, but taking your word for those players having better backhands than forehands, I really don't know why they would run around their bigger weapon.

 

[AngeloDS]

Strategy simply. Hit it inside-outside on the forehand, they will usually hit it back to you and then you hit down the line for the winner. The opponent could choose to do inside outside as well, but that leaves them and the court so open for a down the line winner. He could also choose to go down the line, but that's risky. Especially if he tries on the backhand.

It's hard to hit a backhand down the line winner. And most people have more powerful forehands than backhands.

 

[SageOfDeath]

Strategy simply. Hit it inside-outside on the forehand, they will usually hit it back to you and then you hit down the line for the winner. The opponent could choose to do inside outside as well, but that leaves them and the court so open for a down the line winner. He could also choose to go down the line, but that's risky. Especially if he tries on the backhand.

It's hard to hit a backhand down the line winner. And most people have more powerful forehands than backhands.

Gee I think we've said that already. But the question is why not hit a backhand instead of hitting an inside-out forehand IF your backhand is your stronger side. Now suppose you hit an inside-outside forehand to your opponent's backhand, which is his stronger side evidently, and he then rips his backhand DTL. Then just to be safe he can follow towards the net for a putaway volley. Not so risky for that player then, yes its a lower percentage shot, but better than hitting right to your opponent.

All assuming that your opponent has a stronger backhand than forehand. Back to the original question, why hit an inside-out forehand instead of a backhand if your backhand is the stronger side? ;

Confidence is a theory.

 

[AngeloDS]

Also, it's harder to hold a shot on the backhand side and then control it. Even if you have a strong backhand, it still is very hard to wait til' that last second, and then hit dtl or cross court. Some people on the inside-outside forehand, will wait that last second before controlling where their shot goes. Which leaves the opponent guessing, and then you can hit to the open court. Which is the usual case. I think it's much easier to do that.

It's a matter of "masking" your shot I suppose.

 

[Rickson]

Most people have stronger forehands than backhands. Justine and Roger, who both have strong backhands, run around their backhands often because their forehands are more powerful. I run around my backhand for no other reason than to hit a more powerful shot with my forehand and I suspect many pros do the same.

 

[snoflewis]

Most people have stronger forehands than backhands. Justine and Roger, who both have strong backhands, run around their backhands often because their forehands are more powerful. I run around my backhand for no other reason than to hit a more powerful shot with my forehand and I suspect many pros do the same.

there was a thread on this a couple days ago, where someone asked why safin and nalbandian run around their backhands. Despite how strong their backhands are...the forehand is still dominant. They may have a better backhand compared to other player's backhands, but the forehand is still stronger in all aspects.

But to answer your question, i think it all depends on what shot i want to hit. If the ball is either short or way out to my backhand side, i prefer to hit a crosscourt backhand at a sharp angle w/ spin so that it hits the corner of the service box. However, if i would like to get a rally going or jus unload on a shot, i would hit an inside out.

 

[troytennisbum]

Gee I think we've said that already. But the question is why not hit a backhand instead of hitting an inside-out forehand IF your backhand is your stronger side. Now suppose you hit an inside-outside forehand to your opponent's backhand, which is his stronger side evidently, and he then rips his backhand DTL. Then just to be safe he can follow towards the net for a putaway volley. Not so risky for that player then, yes its a lower percentage shot, but better than hitting right to your opponent.

All assuming that your opponent has a stronger backhand than forehand. Back to the original question, why hit an inside-out forehand instead of a backhand if your backhand is the stronger side? ;

Confidence is a theory.

VEry simple question. Obviously IF your backhand is your stronger side then you would hit a crosscourt backhand instead of an inside-out forehand.

 

[rod99]

i do think it has a lot to do with the amount of sidespin you can put on the ball with an inside out forehand. the sidespin will actually make the ball tail away from the opponent's backhand (watch hewitt do this, as well as clijsters) and put the opponent in a more defensive position. also, if anyone is saying that players like henin, ljubicic and gasquet have stronger forehands than backhands then they are kidding themselves.

 

[Rickson]

i do think it has a lot to do with the amount of sidespin you can put on the ball with an inside out forehand. the sidespin will actually make the ball tail away from the opponent's backhand (watch hewitt do this, as well as clijsters) and put the opponent in a more defensive position. also, if anyone is saying that players like henin, ljubicic and gasquet have stronger forehands than backhands then they are kidding themselves.

Henin-Herdenne loves hitting forehands. You have your opinion, but if you're claiming that Roger, Justine, and others with strong backhands, run around and hit forehands just because they want sidespin, you're only kidding yourself.

 

[rod99]

Henin-Herdenne loves hitting forehands. You have your opinion, but if you're claiming that Roger, Justine, and others with strong backhands, run around and hit forehands just because they want sidespin, you're only kidding yourself.

not only does the sidespin make the ball run away from the opponent but you get a better angle by running around your backhand. btw, federer's backhand is 5 times weaker than his forehand. that comparison is laughable.

 

[SageOfDeath]

not only does the sidespin make the ball run away from the opponent but you get a better angle by running around your backhand. btw, federer's backhand is 5 times weaker than his forehand. that comparison is laughable.

Really so if he hits a 80 mph forehand his backhand can only muster up 16 mph with 5 times less spin? Just taking your analogy literally. You can still get sidespin off your backhand. Maybe you get a better angle with your forehand, I'm not doubting it but do you care to explain how?

 

[SageOfDeath]

not only does the sidespin make the ball run away from the opponent but you get a better angle by running around your backhand. btw, federer's backhand is 5 times weaker than his forehand. that comparison is laughable.

Really so if he hits a 80 mph forehand his backhand can only muster up 16 mph with 5 times less spin? Just taking your analogy literally. You can still get sidespin off your backhand. Maybe you get a better angle with your forehand, I'm not doubting it but do you care to explain how?

 

[rod99]

Really so if he hits a 80 mph forehand his backhand can only muster up 16 mph with 5 times less spin? Just taking your analogy literally. You can still get sidespin off your backhand. Maybe you get a better angle with your forehand, I'm not doubting it but do you care to explain how?

i believe most pros do feel (and i do as well) that you can get a better angle off the inside out forehand than the crosscourt backhand. even pros who have a better backhand than forehand generally hit the ball harder off the forehand. thus, hitting it inside out will ensure that the ball will be clearing the lower part of the net. it will also give them the option of pulling it up the line when the opponent is thinking they'll hit it inside out. anytime you are that wide you will have more angles to play with.

 

[AngeloDS]

Not really, you can get a better angle on the backhand side. Look at Federer, when he hits with massive topspin and sinks the ball before the service line. That's amazing.

The scenario is if someones backhand were stronger than their forehand, why would they run around and hit a weak forehand. We know a lot of peoples backhands are weak compared to their forehand and such.

That only limits one option really. Maskability of the shot, as I explained earlier. You can really fake people on the inside outside forehand. Hit way late and still hit down the line instead of inside-outside. Hit early and still go inside-outside. The backhand isn't as forgiving as the forehand side when it comes to that stuff. Which leaves the opponent guessing where you're going to hit. Down the line or inside-outside, and since you are given that extra time to wait until he moves. You can catch them off balance and hit to the open court.