TheCanadian
Semi-Pro
Is it possibly the worst stroke in professions tennis history? Although Stevie Johnson gives him a run for his money...he was once seen coming over the ball on his BH...once.
Jack Sock’s BH
- Thread starter TheCanadian
- Start date
The Blond Blur
G.O.A.T.
I'm not sure how we can disgust something that doesn't exist 
jm1980
Talk Tennis Guru
Djokovic's smash isn't even the worst pro overhead statistically speaking, let alone worst shot overall
QuadCam
Professional
It's pretty ugly.
And GermanBH is short for brassiere in Norwegian
Jack the Hack
Hall of Fame
This is a pretty great analysis of the issues on Sock's backhand! For me, the grip and spacing on the unit turn are minor things, but the racquet head drop is really extreme and prone to timing errors.
Like the Roddick and Courier backhands, or the Berasategui forehand, it's amazing how you can still reach the top 10 in the world (and even #1) with mechanical flaws. Proof I suppose in their overall talent level, and the fact that you can become effective at something if you practice it a million times.
Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
It’s not even the worst backhand on the tour. That honor just might go to the Karlović backhand
Swingmaster
Hall of Fame
Tiafoe’s backhand doesn’t seem too bad to me. More aesthetically pleasing than his forehand. Kyrgios’s forehand is insane, which makes his backhand look like a push, but it ain’t too bad actually. Pretty conservative. I guess Sock wants to have a weird topspin backhand to go with the forehand. When he’s on he’s on, but when he’s off he seems to become angry at the injustice of not being in the zone.
Cam Norrie as well.
But if Sock can make top ten with that BH I guess who are we to say anything.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
it stinks
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
No, but it’s atrocious. But Johnson has a solid slice BH.
Two Bros,1BH and whatever Sock is doing.
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Dae18
Hall of Fame
+1 for Ryan Harrison as well. His backhand isn’t pretty.
Dae18
Hall of Fame
True, but he sure makes it ugly when he tries.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
The Harry FH says hold my beer.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
I feel if you go pre-2000, a lot of top 10 players had mechanical flaws or clearer weaknesses in the games. I think that overall stroke mechanics have become so studied, that most of the pros have good all around fundamentals for their groundies, with the current exceptions made above.
Edberg wasn't crushing forehands. I still don't get how McEnroe hits ground strokes. Connors timing was amazing but his strokes still look so linear and stiff.
D
Deleted member 768841
Guest
I’d say Zverev’s serve for awhile was one of the worst shots on tour, not much this year.
D
Deleted member 22147
Guest
For 10 years, people ripped Roddick's backhand to shreds. The most amusing part of his was the grip itself. Such a rookie grip. It actually wasn't that bad, though. It just wasn't "good".
Clay lover
Legend
Roddick's backhand was actually very consistent for what it looked like. But yeah I don't get the deal with Americans and their really muscled, awkward strokes, especially on the BH side. Roddick, Sock, Johnson, Courier, Blake (albeit with a OHBH). It just seems like fluidity isn't their thing. One common quirk I noticed is that they never seem to utilize the kinetic chain very well with the swing not benefiting much from the rotation of the body at all, whereas with elite backhands you always see a whip-like lag , after which the racquet springs out as a result of the rotation especially Nalbandian's.
For 10 years, people ripped Roddick's backhand to shreds. The most amusing part of his was the grip itself. Such a rookie grip. It actually wasn't that bad, though. It just wasn't "good".
But on the other end of the spectrum you have smooth as hell BHs like Agassi's or Fish's. There's no "middling backhand" for those guys.
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