Poll: <Best> forehand in the men's game of all time

Best forehand of all time

  • Sampras - it's a sport of movement and Sampras running FH is the best ever

    Votes: 5 4.3%

  • Federer - smooth motion yet ultimate efficiency in power generation

    Votes: 58 50.0%

  • Agassi - He had the best cross court FH, which means best FH of all time (most prevalent shot)

    Votes: 2 1.7%

  • Nadal - A FH that can grind down an opponent down and still be a high percentage shot, and shotmaker

    Votes: 30 25.9%

  • Djokovic - best defensive FH of all time means best FH, since everybody is capable of offense

    Votes: 11 9.5%

  • someone else

    Votes: 10 8.6%
  • Total voters
    116
  • Poll closed .
H

Heuristic

Hall of Fame
This time I want you kibitzers to decide which FH is best, not (necessarily) biggest or most imposing. Best entails: wins a lot of points with, is reliable both offensively and defensively, is a high percentage shot and so forth.
 
I voted for Sampras. Federer's tend to get dominated by Nadal, Nadal's tend to get dominated on HC by gunslingers.. Sampras's never got owned. A bit unfair but until I see his dominated I'm gonna stick with the best one during movement. Referring to young Sampras (90-95).
 
TripleATeam said:
Why is Djokovic up there?
Click to expand...

Imagine you're up against an alien with perfect tennis parameters --- what type of FH would you pick then? Your strongest offensive FH that humanity has to offer wouldn't be put to task since you will be dominated in rallies... So a defensive, or running FH would be your best choice, and there the best forehand would be either a running/defensive counter FH to win points with.
 
SamprasisGOAT said:
Like it matters how you spell your or you’re on a tennis forum. Get a life you sad man.
Click to expand...

It doesn't become a problem until you insult someone. I don't want to discuss this any further, but when you call someone "not very bright" don't be surprised if you get called out like that.

Whatever. It's not too big of a deal. Just one of those things that irritates me slightly.
 
Third Serve said:
It doesn't become a problem until you insult someone. I don't want to discuss this any further, but when you call someone "not very bright" don't be surprised if you get called out like that.

Whatever. It's not too big of a deal. Just one of those things that irritates me slightly.
Click to expand...

I was the one insinuating that he's not very bright and you are still wrong. He wrote right originally, your (no pun intended) correction is WRONG.
 
Sampras fires bullets on the run, Federer has unmatched accuracy, Verdasco's technique is right out of the book, and Del Potro's power is rivalled by none. But the best forehand of all time? The only man who can do it all - vicious topspin, relentless consistency, killer angles, and when necessary, blazing winners from any position - is the great Spanish Matador, the pride of Mallorca, the one and only Rafael Nadal.
 
Heuristic said:
I voted for Sampras. Federer's tend to get dominated by Nadal, Nadal's tend to get dominated on HC by gunslingers.. Sampras's never got owned. A bit unfair but until I see his dominated I'm gonna stick with the best one during movement. Referring to young Sampras (90-95).
Click to expand...
The **** how old are you? Go watch Sampras play on clay and see if your argument stands up vs Federer's forehand.

It's so vast a gap it's not even a discussion point. Sampras had a great forehand on the dead run. Every other type of forehand Federer's was notably better. Not just by a little usually either.
 
On clay easily Nadal. On grass probably Sampras. On hard courts I would probably go with Federer, although Nadal comes close. Would need to watch more of the old carpet events to make a pick there, but Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal dont even get to play on carpet today.
 
TripleATeam said:
Why is Djokovic up there?
Click to expand...

I don't know why people like you underrate djoker ForeHand.
Yes, it's definitely not on the same levels as of Fed & Nad, but it is a truly reliable & consistent weapon.
Remember well, djoker was the only one who dared to get involved in FH to FH exchanges with Federer & Nadal in their peak/primes & won so many of those rallies as well..
He can take the ball on the rise, redirect it at his will without losing much pace, return some of the best big servers so well, create insane angles & hit impossible looking shots on stretch
 
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Heuristic said:
I voted for Sampras. Federer's tend to get dominated by Nadal, Nadal's tend to get dominated on HC by gunslingers.. Sampras's never got owned. A bit unfair but until I see his dominated I'm gonna stick with the best one during movement. Referring to young Sampras (90-95).
Click to expand...
The only thing funnier than this post would be if you expect anyone to believe it.
 
Last edited:
HetTheGreaterer said:
I don't know why people like you underrate djoker ForeHand.
Yes, it's definitely not on the same levels as of Fed & Nad
Click to expand...

That is not being underrated though. If you truly believe the bolded part, that is already justification to not have him on a short list poll (as this clearly as otherwise OP would use all 10 options or something).
 
vaillancourt said:
That is not being underrated though. If you truly believe the bolded part, that is already justification to not have him on a short list poll (as this clearly as otherwise OP would use all 10 options or something).
Click to expand...

Well, being not as well as two of the greatest FHs of all time is not bad.
What I don't agree with is people saying Novak's FH is not even top20 of all time or it's not a reliable weapon, or it lacks power...
 
HetTheGreaterer said:
I don't know why people like you underrate djoker ForeHand.
Yes, it's definitely not on the same levels as of Fed & Nad, but it is a truly reliable & consistent weapon.
Remember well, djoker was the only one who dared to get involved in FH to FH exchanges with Federer & Nadal in their peak/primes & won so many of those rallies as well..
He can take the ball on the rise, redirect it at his will without losing much pace, return some of the best big servers so well, create insane angles & hit impossible looking shots on stretch
Click to expand...
Precisely what @vaillancourt said. There's a reason you just said "not on the same levels as of Fed & Nad." That very reason disqualifies him from the list. We're talking about the best forehand in the game, nothing less. I admire Novak's forehand greatly. I think it's among the best (why else would he have 16 grand slams?), but it's a level below the rest of the list, and that automatically disqualifies him.

Much like if you made a "best returners" list and neglected to include Federer. You would be completely justified, even though Federer's return is a formidable weapon and better than everyone on tour save a small handful of people.

It's those little margins that make all the difference in professional play. Djokovic has a world-class forehand. The best forehand of all time? No.
 
HetTheGreaterer said:
Well, being not as well as two of the greatest FHs of all time is not bad.
What I don't agree with is people saying Novak's FH is not even top20 of all time or it's not a reliable weapon, or it lacks power...
Click to expand...

I agree but that is very different than if it merits inclusion in a poll that was clearly meant to be short listed. There is a reason he has 0 votes so far.

Honestly I would have probably only included Federer, Sampras, Nadal in the poll. Maybe Agassi or Courier, and that is it. If I chose to use up the 10 options as I prefer to do on my polls I would include Djokovic, but not on an intended short listed one.
 
TripleATeam said:
Why is Djokovic up there?
Click to expand...
OP said in open statement what is he searching for. You tell me if a player who won 16 Slams and is dominating Tour in past decade, has beste winning percentage among big3 when it comes to clashes against top 5, top 10 and top 20 as well as big 3.... did all those things with just his backhand or his forehand is primary weapon ?
 
TripleATeam said:
Why is Djokovic up there?
Click to expand...
Hes much closer to having a top 5 forehand now..

He has won 16 grand slams on a baseline game alone. Movement and backhand are not enough for that. Not to mention he has a good record against guys with the best forehands (Nadal, Del Potro, Federer)

That being said, it would have to be Federer for me. In his prime his forehand was nearly as fast as del potros and nearly good at defense as Nadals.
 
Federer has best modern (top spin) forehand. It works great on all surfaces (less on carpet) and it's technically flawless shot. I'd leave best forehands of previous eras to be measured by contemporary standards, having in mind big difference in racquet and string technology.
 
King No1e said:
Sampras fires bullets on the run, Federer has unmatched accuracy, Verdasco's technique is right out of the book, and Del Potro's power is rivalled by none. But the best forehand of all time? The only man who can do it all - vicious topspin, relentless consistency, killer angles, and when necessary, blazing winners from any position - is the great Spanish Matador, the pride of Mallorca, the one and only Rafael Nadal.
Click to expand...

Yet he gets blown away by lesser gunslingers : Youshny, Tonga, Gonzalez, Soderling, Roddick
 
Bobby Jr said:
The **** how old are you? Go watch Sampras play on clay and see if your argument stands up vs Federer's forehand.

It's so vast a gap it's not even a discussion point. Sampras had a great forehand on the dead run. Every other type of forehand Federer's was notably better. Not just by a little usually either.
Click to expand...

It was much more than a running FH. His down the line FH was just as good in his young prime
 
Why is Djokovic in the poll? Not to mention no Del Potro and some other better forehands there... And why is his defensive forehand better than others?

For me the smoothest, most natural yet as dangerous as anyone's is Roger's, so I would pick him(Nadal's for clay).
 
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