Nishikori and his Laser Beam Backhand
- Thread starter TheIntrovert
- Start date
haqq777
Legend
That is some badass target hitting
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
His greatest achievement
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
This is more impressive, especially since the guy here won 8 majors, unlike Kei.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
So watching Agassi practice on a wall is more impressive than watching Kei nail different 20 spots with his backhand under a time limit? Ok...?
fundrazer
G.O.A.T.
It's not. He sometimes goes for too much, but there aren't that many players who hit both fh and bh as well as he does.
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
Nishi
Now on a purely shot for shot basis i put the brittle ninjas bh above the nolers. The ninja is only 5'10 - 5'11 too. Makes that bh even more impressive!
Lol not sure wtf agassi has to do with this thread. Must be a weak era fed thing who knows at this point.
Now on a purely shot for shot basis i put the brittle ninjas bh above the nolers. The ninja is only 5'10 - 5'11 too. Makes that bh even more impressive!
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Just a weak TTW era I guess.I will say he is very close to Nole in the backhand department. I actually like the look of his shot better than Nole but Nole's is probably more deadly overall. I think Kei is very accurate though and I don't know if I have seen anybody that accurate on their backhand side.
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
Ditto. It def helps djokovic with that 6'2 length he has too to get more weight on the shot.
I will say he is very close to Nole in the backhand department. I actually like the look of his shot better than Nole but Nole's is probably more deadly overall. I think Kei is very accurate though and I don't if I have seen anybody that accurate on their backhand side.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
That height helps him get more reach too, and that sliding into it is a game changer.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
What?
I will say he is very close to Nole in the backhand department. I actually like the look of his shot better than Nole but Nole's is probably more deadly overall. I think Kei is very accurate though and I don't know if I have seen anybody that accurate on their backhand side.
The Fedfather
Legend
Very impressive accuracy from Kei! Watched a few challenges like that with Messi before. These Japanese (Korean?) game shows are really cool. Love the audience's reactions.
Watched a few challenges like that with Messi before. These Japanese (Korean?) game shows are really cool. Love the audience's reactions. 
Tennis_Hands
Banned
..
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beltsman
G.O.A.T.
Now do it with Roddick.
Shame Djokovic couldn't exploit that with his limited game lol
Milehigh5280
Professional
They should incorporate some kind of skills challenge like this into the Laver Cup
OldschoolKIaus
Hall of Fame
Nishikori's castle!
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
But seriously, is that really impressive? Shouldn't each pro be able to do that?
sredna42
Hall of Fame
Faaaaar Canal! That is incredible, his backhand is elite
Shaolin
G.O.A.T.
No it's pretty widely accepted as one of the best backhands on tour.
David Le
Hall of Fame
Lack of footwork? He has good footwork, have you seen him move? Nishikori imo is more like a Hewitt & Nalbandian combo. A poor man’s Davydenko is Goffin for sure.
MasturB
Legend
This is the worst take I've ever seen on here, or one of them.
Nishikori has PHENOMENAL footwork. The guy is barely 5"10, small body frame, and gets to like 90% of balls.
People make fun of him for going in to many 5 setters, but the dude is undersized and works like a HORSE. Chung is 6"2 so the comparisons end at them being asian.
Agassi had phenomenal timing so considering how slow he was, his footwork was good enough to keep him in striking distance to each ball. But the baseline game is too fast even with slower courts) that I think Agassi would struggle since everyone is playing the Agassi game but faster, stronger, quicker.
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Checkmate
Legend
How do you rate Novak's footwork?
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
Everyone of those shots would sail out.
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
What energy drink was this advertisement for?
MasturB
Legend
Amazing on backhand side.
Forehand side he saves himself more because of his amazing sliding skills.
I think Novak has the best anticipation skills in the game (similar to why Agassi was so good) which is why he's the best returner ever. Roger has the best on the fly spontaneity/creativity.
I still think Roger and Rafa have better footwork. It's just Novak's backhand is so solid even when he was in his 2 year long slump his backhand was reliable and the forehand was constantly letting him down.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
Djoker's BH is downright beautiful (to the extent a 1HB can be beautiful) compared to Kei's short, punchy shot. And Djoker's BH is a rock when it matters, not in practice but in the 5th set. (Zverev's 2HB has some nice flow to it.)
Checkmate
Legend
I concur with your take.
But I also think his elbow injury in 2016-18 was really hurting him. Both his BH and FH were looking painfully laborious because of that.
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
Djoko rides his 2HBH more than anyone which is why it's so great. Nishi doesn't ride it as much. Those two videos of the pros practicing show that they use pretty heavy sticks. Their swing speed is so slow, but they still get oomph on the shot. I don't know physics, but two objects moving at the same speed, but if one has more mass than than the other, it would impart more energy on impact.
HetTheGreaterer
Banned
I wish If he could have a good serve as well...
HetTheGreaterer
Banned
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
It's not bad, it can be lethal at times. But you can't have it all. Well, I hope not.I wish If he could have a good serve as well...
HetTheGreaterer
Banned
Well, it's not guaranteed he'd win a slam even with a good serve.It's not bad, it can be lethal at times. But you can't have it all. Well, I hope not.
His body is fragile as well
OldschoolKIaus
Hall of Fame
Born_to_slice
Legend
Sponsorkori hitting sitting ducks. And his bh is better than Novak's. K.
HetTheGreaterer
Banned
It gives me goosebumps even today..
What the heck was wrong with novak??
OldschoolKIaus
Hall of Fame
We will never know ^^
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
This is insanely impressive. I mean I can't picture even a Federer or Nadal to hit their backhands with such accuracy!
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
He is fragile mentally. US Open 2014 was his for the taking but he got so nervous in the final against a firing Cilic. He hadn't lost to Cilic in 2 years prior to that. He was very impressive the entire tournament and then laid an egg in the final. That was not his body letting him down.
HetTheGreaterer
Banned
Well, tbh cilic was peaking and was completely in a zone for that tournament.
You just don't defeat an uninjured healthy roger federer of all people in straight sets, regardless of age at USO of all places
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Nishikori didn't play anywhere close to the level he showed in the previous rounds and had Cilic's number until then. Also Roger wasn't that impressive himself and nearly lost to Monfils before Cilic defeated him. Roger has not been as great at US Open for nearly a decade now. Like Rafa at Wimbledon.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Ha! Good one! Yep--as of 7/28/2019, he's in that GOAT debate....for someone smoking something....
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