Most Beautiful shot in ATP tennis

Most beautiful shot in ATP tennis

  • Federer's forehand

    Votes: 29 29.9%

  • Federer's slice

    Votes: 7 7.2%

  • Wawrinka's backhand

    Votes: 29 29.9%

  • Del Potro's forehand

    Votes: 6 6.2%

  • Sampras serve

    Votes: 8 8.2%

  • Kyriogs' serve

    Votes: 1 1.0%

  • Other

    Votes: 17 17.5%
  • Total voters
    97
Nadalgaenger

Nadalgaenger

G.O.A.T.
Sampras serve gets my vote. So smooth and perfect.

Fed's pre 2007 FH was prettier than now. I don't even think his recent FH anything that great to look at. It's Fed's effortless gliding around court that makes his game look so great.
 
socallefty

socallefty

Hall of Fame
When you watch a reversed match like the link below where Federer is left-handed and Nadal is right-handed, does it change your perception of the aesthetic value of their games? To me, a right-handed Nadal’s shots suddenly look prettier and a left-handed Federer doesn’t look as graceful - I guess our brains are socially conditioned to like right-handedness better.

 
RaulRamirez

RaulRamirez

Hall of Fame
It's hard to just pick one, but once doing so, I have to pick Gasquet's backhand.

(I would take the fluidity of Roger's serve over Pete's.)

Oh, not mentioned, but in the category of great shots from a non-ATG: The FH of Jimmy Arias.
 
AceyMan

AceyMan

Rookie
I'm truly surprised at the lack of love for Delpo's forehand.

Flat sledgehammer perfection. I remember in one match when Carillo commented on "the beautiful spacing between body and ball" after he nailed a forehand.

That description really clicked with me on why his stroke looks so glorious. It's like the Golden Ratio; it's just ... *right*.

/Acey
 
skaj

skaj

Hall of Fame
StANDAA said:
thought you were trolling when you were going around saying his BH is not pretty but I feel like you’re not, otherwise I admire the consistency
Click to expand...
Though I have no idea why is it hard for you to digest the truth(Federer fan maybe?), I certainly don't admire the consistency so here's little help. It might not help you, but for people who are not fanatic about the Swiss it might be useful - I am not "going around", I am responding to posts I read. I've heard people saying that Federer's backhand is aesthetically pleasing, but it's sort of a myth, and I am not talking only about the crazed fans here. I think people see his style of play as classic and beautiful(I agree of course), and think that one-handed backhands are always pretty(prejudice), they also connect beautiful classic playing styles with beautiful one-handers, so the conclusion goes => "Federer's backhand must be beautiful", while in reality it's a rather awkward shot. It might look pretty sometimes, from certain angles, but if you pay attention it is not a nice looking stroke at all - his upper body looks quite stiff while he's hitting the ball, like he has some kind of a spasm in the neck/shoulders area, his right shoulder is too high, shrugging almost, his head goes down too low, and his racket doesn't roll over the ball nicely, the impact is simple and not too fluid. Also that left arm looks odd back there, elbow, wrist and fingers are bent in an ugly way; and the arms look funny when separating, a bit like an exaggerated "here it is” gesture...
 
ForehandCross

ForehandCross

Hall of Fame
The Federer crosscourt I/O FH,the single reason I defend this entitled, arrogant elitist.

Proud to say I have a pretty good IO FH myself.But it isn't 1% of what Federer's is.

I love Thiem and Wawrinka BH, which is outstanding when ON. But wouldn't call it aesthetical that much.
 
King No1e

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
Thriller said:
Federer's serve is a swan. Elegant from the waist up but ugly legs.
He looks like a baby kicking while having its nappy changed.
Click to expand...
His leg movement is where all the power comes from. I love how he launches himself straight off the ground through the swing and snaps down through it at the hip. Sampras throws his weight forward through the serve, which is ideal for S&V, but Federer throws his weight almost straight up and gets some hangtime.
 
UnderratedSlam

UnderratedSlam

Legend
King No1e said:
His leg movement is where all the power comes from. I love how he launches himself straight off the ground through the swing and snaps down through it at the hip. Sampras throws his weight forward through the serve, which is ideal for S&V, but Federer throws his weight almost straight up and gets some hangtime.
Click to expand...
I find the serve the most boring shot bar none.

The only shot for which you have 30 seconds.

Or in Rafa's case 50 seconds.

The only shot not dependent on what the opponent did hence to me a way too luxurious shot. A shot invented to start the point but unfortunately mutated into this match-deciding ugly beast.
 
King No1e

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
skaj said:
Though I have no idea why is it hard for you to digest the truth(Federer fan maybe?), I certainly don't admire the consistency so here's little help. It might not help you, but for people who are not fanatic about the Swiss it might be useful - I am not "going around", I am responding to posts I read. I've heard people saying that Federer's backhand is aesthetically pleasing, but it's sort of a myth, and I am not talking only about the crazed fans here. I think people see his style of play as classic and beautiful(I agree of course), and think that one-handed backhands are always pretty(prejudice), they also connect beautiful classic playing styles with beautiful one-handers, so the conclusion goes => "Federer's backhand must be beautiful", while in reality it's a rather awkward shot. It might look pretty sometimes, from certain angles, but if you pay attention it is not a nice looking stroke at all - his upper body looks quite stiff while he's hitting the ball, like he has some kind of a spasm in the neck/shoulders area, his right shoulder is too high, shrugging almost, his head goes down too low, and his racket doesn't roll over the ball nicely, the impact is simple and not too fluid. Also that left arm looks odd back there, elbow, wrist and fingers are bent in an ugly way; and the arms look funny when separating, a bit like an exaggerated "here it is” gesture...
Click to expand...
Or maybe I really do think Federer's BH is a beautiful stroke, maybe not as much as Stan's BH but still up there.



Simple, elegant stroke.
 
Slowtwitcher

Slowtwitcher

Hall of Fame
[/QUOTE]
socallefty said:
When you watch a reversed match like the link below where Federer is left-handed and Nadal is right-handed, does it change your perception of the aesthetic value of their games? To me, a right-handed Nadal’s shots suddenly look prettier and a left-handed Federer doesn’t look as graceful - I guess our brains are socially conditioned to like right-handedness better.

Click to expand...

Actually Fed's strokes look great as a lefty. It reminds me of Shapovalov.
 
King No1e

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
Slowtwitcher said:
Actually Fed's strokes look great as a lefty. It reminds me of Shapovalov.
Click to expand...
Mirrored Federer is awesome. As a lefty it's a lot easier to visualize and take technique pointers from his game when he's playing lefty. I've felt an actual improvement in my game when I spend some time watching mirrored Fed before hitting the practice courts.
Whoever does these edits deserves a medal.
 
AceyMan

AceyMan

Rookie
Well,

it's a shot no one else has, but I must mention my appreciation for Hseih Su-wei's dink volley and dink/slice "smash."

Seeing her opponent's expression after she dump-angles the ball into open space; that's just priceless entertainment, right there.

/Acey
 
skaj

skaj

Hall of Fame
King No1e said:
Or maybe I really do think Federer's BH is a beautiful stroke, maybe not as much as Stan's BH but still up there.



Simple, elegant stroke.
Click to expand...
The feeling is real, I just explained where it usually comes from.

And as I've said, from some angles it looks alright. From other angles...
 
Sysyphus

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
speaking of which, the Federer backhand deserves mention. Sans doute the prettiest shot in men's tennis. So elegant, such ballerina.
 
King No1e

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
AceyMan said:
I'm truly surprised at the lack of love for Delpo's forehand.

Flat sledgehammer perfection. I remember in one match when Carillo commented on "the beautiful spacing between body and ball" after he nailed a forehand.

That description really clicked with me on why his stroke looks so glorious. It's like the Golden Ratio; it's just ... *right*.

/Acey
Click to expand...
I know it's all subjective, but for me Delpo's FH doesn't do it. It's like a long, winded, ugly slap at the ball. It's fun to see how much power he gets on it, but the stroke itself looks fugly.
 
BackhandDTL

BackhandDTL

Hall of Fame
I think Fognini has the classic beauty in his shots. Great forehand, backhand, and simple clean serve.

In combination with the swashbuckling “macho” flair. (Speed, sliding defense, athleticism, laissez faire)

In terms of shotmaking the guy is one of the most talented I’ve seen. Alas, his head is up his own ass.
 
Fedinkum

Fedinkum

Legend
BackhandDTL said:
I think Fognini has the classic beauty in his shots. Great forehand, backhand, and simple clean serve.

In combination with the swashbuckling “macho” flair. (Speed, sliding defense, athleticism, laissez faire)

In terms of shotmaking the guy is one of the most talented I’ve seen. Alas, his head is up his own ass.
Click to expand...
This gentleman has taste.:cool:
 
Bender

Bender

G.O.A.T.
Federer forehand (especially his forehand up to about 2006) and backhand including slice
Nadal WW forehand and overheads (especially that skyhook and backhand smash)
Verdasco forehand and serve
Sampras slam dunk
Del Potro slice
Wawrinka / Dimitrov backhand
Safin backhand and box
 
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