Nalbandian vs. Sampras: Who has the better looking backhand?

[illkhiboy]

It's often said that the one-handed is a prettier shot than the two-hander, and I agree with that. However, personally, there are some double-handers are aesthetically better than some one-handers. Personally, I think Nalbandian's backhand is better looking than Sampras'. What do you think?

 

[Deleted member 22147]

Safins is.

 

[Vision84]

Can't decide. It is like comparing apple's and oranges to me. Now if it was Gasquet it would be a different story.

 

[illkhiboy]

Safins is.

I like that too. In fact I somewhat copy it. Though I 'd prefer having a more Nalbandian-like shot, I can't quite do it without messing my stroke up.

 

[Pro Staff Pete]

Nalbandian has a beautiful backhand.. the 'loop swing' looks great.

 

[shwetty[tennis]balls]

Actually, Sampras was a two hander to begin with, but one of juniors his coaches suggested he adopt a one hander to suit his serve and volley style. It's even speculated that had he stuck with a two-hander, he would have been even more dominant. His one-handeds aren't the prettiest by one-handed BH standards anyway. If it's esthetics you're concerned with look at Frenchman Gasquet's backhands. Even Federer's backhands are "prettier" than Sampras's.

 

[WillAlwaysLoveYouTennis]

I liked Lendl's.

 

[illkhiboy]

Actually, Sampras was a two hander to begin with, but one of juniors his coaches suggested he adopt a one hander to suit his serve and volley style. It's even speculated that had he stuck with a two-hander, he would have been even more dominant. His one-handeds aren't the prettiest by one-handed BH standards anyway. If it's esthetics you're concerned with look at Frenchman Gasquet's backhands. Even Federer's backhands are "prettier" than Sampras's.

Yeah I know...that's why I chose Sampras' for this poll. It's not an ugly shot, but it's not really aesthetically pleasing either. Actually it looks a bit awkward. But that's the whole purpose of my post..what do you prefer to watch, a beautiful (does it get any better than Nalbandian) 2-hander or a Sampras one-hander?

 

[soyizgood]

Nalbandian. And it's not even close.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

Nalby has a great backhand, but he can't do this with it.

 

[edmondsm]

I also think Mardy Fish's bh is nice looking. The best example of an ugly one-hander is James Blake I think.

 

[soyizgood]

I also think Mardy Fish's bh is nice looking. The best example of an ugly one-hander is James Blake I think.

Robredo and Gonzalez are more worthy of that "honor".

 

[yellowoctopus]

I also think Mardy Fish's bh is nice looking. The best example of an ugly one-hander is James Blake I think.

Ugly, but very functional.

 

[samprasbackhand]

I like Sampras' backhand as you can probably tell. Compact swing..looks nice to me. I don't think Blake has an ugly backhand, for the same reason..it's just compact and doesn't look like there's any more motion than needed

 

[GRANITECHIEF]

I also think Mardy Fish's bh is nice looking. The best example of an ugly one-hander is James Blake I think.

Can you describe what exactly you find ugly about this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTyyITw-fyo

 

[fastdunn]

sampras' backhand was beautiful to look... mybe up until around 1996 maybe when he used to play more baseline. then toward the end of his career, he hit less of them, inceasingly more problem, and it didn't look that pretty toward the end of his career.

 

[Salsa_Lover]

Best one-hander

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUQxb4ZtR-4&feature=related

 

[PascalMariaFan]

No comparison. Nalbandian has more talent in his pinky.

 

[stormholloway]

sampras' backhand was beautiful to look... mybe up until around 1996 maybe when he used to play more baseline. then toward the end of his career, he hit less of them, inceasingly more problem, and it didn't look that pretty toward the end of his career.

I agree. His backhand, both in beauty and effectiveness, tapered off later in his career.

 

[Deleted member 25923]

A better comparison would be Nalbandian and Agassi. I'm not sure on this one, haven't really focused on their backhands. Like how pleasing it was, more so on effectiveness.

 

[daddy]

Call me whatever but I like Hewitt's two hander.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

Nalby has a great backhand, but he can't do this with it.

Ugly looking backhand by one hand standards, but you're right, two-handers don't have that kind of reach with their backhand. Of course they'll always have the tweener. It's really unfair to compare Sampras' and Nalbandian's backhands and then ask which is prettier. Pretty much any pro level one hander will look prettier than the very best two-handers, that doesn't change the fact that Nalbandian has a better backhand then Sampras could ever dream of.

 

[Babb]

Pretty 2hbhs IMO:
Nalbandian
Rios
Safin

 

[ledor]

Sampras had a controlling backhand, but rarely an attacking backhand. Slice and Dice.

My vote to nalbandian.

 

[Motherwasp]

Hate to say it but Nalbandian

 

[Forehand Forever]

I also think Mardy Fish's bh is nice looking. The best example of an ugly one-hander is James Blake I think.

I have to agree with Fish's backhand being one of the best.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Nalbandian by far.

 

[stormholloway]

I think most one handers are prettier. Sampras is no exception. I think it's nice looking. Sometimes he shrugged a bit, but mostly it was aesthetically pleasing.

 

[diegaa]

i guess we can finally watch them both at the same time on may 20th

 

[soyizgood]

Pretty 2hbhs IMO:
Nalbandian
Rios
Safin

I'd add Agassi, Davydenko, Kafelnikov to that list.

 

[PascalMariaFan]

Call me whatever but I like Hewitt's two hander.

Clown works.

 

[jlan]

For a 1HBH, Sampras's wasn't very nice to look at. Just looked awkward at times and it was not very fluid.

Nalbandian wins this poll no contest.

 

[Deleted member 22147]

Actually, Sampras was a two hander to begin with, but one of juniors his coaches suggested he adopt a one hander to suit his serve and volley style. It's even speculated that had he stuck with a two-hander, he would have been even more dominant. His one-handeds aren't the prettiest by one-handed BH standards anyway. If it's esthetics you're concerned with look at Frenchman Gasquet's backhands. Even Federer's backhands are "prettier" than Sampras's.

He has said several times it was changed because in the long term it would be a better shot to take into pro tennis, although his double hander was solid. The one hander was supposedly a pretty poor shot in the juniors for him, but it turned into a good shot in the long term, like he intended.

 

[daddy]

Clown works.

Ha ha. PascalMariaFan, you are a piece of work. I know you are picking on me because I dont agree with your tactics of posting here .. ( Trollolololo .. ) but you may as well quit with the provocations because you will wear down many keyboards before you make me react. Just a piece of friendly advice, it takes much more than teenage attitude for that kind of result.

 

[kabob]

Any of y'all taken a close look at Djoker's backhand? It looks like Tiger Woods' golf swing, it's so pretty.