Nadal Backhand or Djokovic Forehand?

[King No1e]

We always talk about the Nadal FH and Djokovic BH, arguably the GOAT stroke in each department. But how about their other wing? Which does its job better? The Nadal backhand or the Djokovic forehand?

 

[NatF]

Relative to other forehand and backhands I take it, as in absolute terms it's rare for even an elite backhand to be on the level of a good forehand.

Both shots are pretty even relative to other forehands and backhands e.g. both are excellent shots but not tip top tier, maybe slight edge to Djokovic.

 

[Robert Baratheon]

Djoelhand.

 

[FRV2]

Gotta go with the Djokovic forehand. He can get it over the net and hit the lines (talking about when he plays well). A very good shot.

 

[Backspin1183]

Djokovic. Nadal's backhand has gotten better the last few seasons but it wasn't always a reliable weapon for him like it is now. Djokovic's forehand has always been very good.

 

[acintya]

good thread but i dont really know if you can compare a forehand with a backhand. but if we must in decide..i think nadals backhand is more effective because of the directional control - so he can set the way for his forehand. his backhand has a lot of tospin and his dominant hand is on the top - thats unlike any other backhand on the world.

i think nadal has the strongest raw power on the backhand but his racquet is more closed so his bh shots are massive spin shots most of the time.nadal is the ultimative spin maschine.

 

[Backspin1183]

good thread but i dont really know if you can compare a forehand with a backhand. but if we must in decide..i think nadals backhand is more effective because of the directional control - so he can set the way for his forehand. his backhand has a lot of tospin and his dominant hand is on the top - thats unlike any other backhand on the world.

i think nadal has the strongest raw power on the backhand.

I agree that Nadal's backhand has the strongest raw power on the tour that can even go toe to toe with Delpo's forehand. His backhand however didn't always have the consistency to be a reliable weapon for him or he could have won even more Slams. Djokovic's forehand has been consistently good in comparison imo.

 

[acintya]

I agree that Nadal's backhand has the strongest raw power on the tour that can even go toe to toe with Delpo's forehand. His backhand however didn't always have the consistency to be a reliable weapon for him or he could have won even more Slams. Djokovic's forehand has been consistently good in comparison imo.

you are right, i have mixed feelings, because i cant imagine Nadal with a better backhand or a Nadal with a OHB.

 

[Sport]

Relative to other forehand and backhands I take it, as in absolute terms it's rare for even an elite backhand to be on the level of a good forehand.

Both shots are pretty even relative to other forehands and backhands e.g. both are excellent shots but not tip top tier, maybe slight edge to Djokovic.

Have you ever positioned yourself with Nadal over Djokovic? Whenever there is a Nadal-Djokovic comparison your vote always goes for Djokovic

Your list of preferences: Federer >>>>>>>>>>> Djokovic >> anyone >>>>>>>>>>> Nadal.

 

[NatF]

Have you ever positioned yourself with Nadal over Djokovic? Whenever there is a Nadal-Djokovic comparison your vote always goes for Djokovic

Your list of preferences: Federer >>>>>>>>>>> Djokovic >> anyone >>>>>>>>>>> Nadal.

Should I go with Nadal just to make you feel better next time?

 

[Pheasant]

If I understand correctly, the OP is asking us to rate which tennis player's ranked higher compared to his peers.

Djoker's forehand is probably top 20 and Nadal's backhand is probably top 15.

 

[ReeceSachs]

Have you ever positioned yourself with Nadal over Djokovic? Whenever there is a Nadal-Djokovic comparison your vote always goes for Djokovic

Your list of preferences: Federer >>>>>>>>>>> Djokovic >> anyone >>>>>>>>>>> Nadal.

He is quite a fair Federer fan imo. He does prefer Djokovic though but me and you prefer Nadal so it’s okay.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

We always talk about the Nadal FH and Djokovic BH, arguably the GOAT stroke in each department. But how about their other wing? Which does its job better? The Nadal backhand or the Djokovic forehand?

P.S. Nadal BH.

 

[NoleFam]

Clearly Djokovic and it's not that close, with all due respect to Nadal.

 

[BeatlesFan]

We always talk about the Nadal FH --arguably the GOAT stroke.

Why not ask the actual guys who play against Nadal, Fed, Djoker and everyone else? Do you think they would be in a position to know? Then accept their verdicts.

Because this New York Times article is behind a pay wall, I'll cut and paste it:

Who Has the Best Shots in Men’s Tennis?

By Christopher Clarey

• Nov. 9, 2018

The Times polled 10 active men’s players for this year’s survey along with 25 other experts, including coaches, analysts and former players. Each participant was asked to pick a top three in each category, with added weight given to the votes of current tour players and coaches.

Some of the respondents, like the big-serving American John Isner, answered off the top of their heads, basing their choices on personal experience. Others like Stephanie Kovalchik, senior data scientist at Game Insight Group at Tennis Australia, relied on detailed statistical analysis.

No matter what the method, there was a lot of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal in the conclusions. Someday, the names at the top will change.

BEST FOREHAND

1. Roger Federer

2. Rafael Nadal

3. Juan Martín del Potro

4. Fernando Verdasco

5. Kyle Edmund

Honorable mention: Jack Sock, Karen Khachanov and Novak Djokovic

While Nadal’s forehand was the winner for former tour players and coaches, Federer’s was the overwhelming top choice by current ATP players. Over all, del Potro was a strong third. No one else was genuinely close, though anyone who has seen Edmund, Sock or Khachanov knows the younger set has big weapons.

BEST TWO-HANDED BACKHAND

1. Djokovic

2. Kei Nishikori

3. Alexander Zverev

4. Andy Murray

5. Nadal

Honorable mention: Benoît Paire, Nikoloz Basilashvili, Borna Coric, Daniil Medvedev

BEST ONE-HANDED BACKHAND

1. Stan Wawrinka

2. Richard Gasquet

3. Federer

4. Dominic Thiem

5. Stefanos Tsitsipas

Honorable mention: Philipp Kohlschreiber, Denis Shapovalov and Marius Copil

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/09/sports/tennis/who-has-the-best-shots-in-mens-tennis.html

 

[augustobt]

Djokovic is always very, very precise with his forehand, but I'd go with Nadal BH - considering he's naturally a right hander, that's more of a two-handed forehand, haha.