revised best backhand in mens tennis poll

[seestern]

There's no way.

If you replaced Federer's backhand with anyone else's on the tour, he would lose all his variety on that side. The offensive and defensive slice when pulled out wide, the flicks, bunts, dips and lobs, his ridiculous drop shots to the deuce side, the general control and soft hands he has on that side, his consistency. The only area that maybe would'nt be hurt if you gave him Gasquet's backhand would be the topspin drive, but even here we cannot be sure. Federer gets a lot of variety on his topspin drive, the short cross court pass, the different trajectorys and the general pace and whip he achieves. Gasquet's topsin backhand works more like clockwork, it is a reliable solid shot with good pace and spin, but it is the same each time and not particularly scary if you are not at net. Kind of reminds me of Pioline's backhand, easy and fluent enough, but not especially potent.

If you replaced Nadal's backhand with anyone else's on the tour, he would lose the pace he is able to generate when he counter-punches off a driven shot, his ridiculous gets when stretched out wide, the angles and spin he is able to create, the variety of ball he is able to deal with offensively, the general control and effectiveness he displays from that side, his consistency.

To replace either of their backhands with anyone else's on the tour, I believe would hurt them. Maybe you could take one or two aspects from someone else's backhand to improve their game's, but not the whole package.

Could not agree more.
Sometimes I saw Gasquet a little bit overused his BH. So it could be a reason why his BH look the best. I think he prefers to use BH instead of FH. Until his FH helps him win one GS, I still rank it below Fed & Nadal BH because of variaty and power. Anyway Gasquet backhand certainly in top 5.

 

[The Gorilla]

gaudio .

 

[david22]

Kind of reminds me of Pioline's backhand, easy and fluent enough, but not especially potent.

Gasquet's backhand is leagues above Pioline's backhand (even though Pioline's backhand was good)

 

[rafael]

The two guys that I have seen execute the down the line shot more consistently than anybody else are Gasquet and Nalbandian.

 

[rod99]

There's no way.

If you replaced Federer's backhand with anyone else's on the tour, he would lose all his variety on that side. The offensive and defensive slice when pulled out wide, the flicks, bunts, dips and lobs, his ridiculous drop shots to the deuce side, the general control and soft hands he has on that side, his consistency. The only area that maybe would'nt be hurt if you gave him Gasquet's backhand would be the topspin drive, but even here we cannot be sure. Federer gets a lot of variety on his topspin drive, the short cross court pass, the different trajectorys and the general pace and whip he achieves. Gasquet's topsin backhand works more like clockwork, it is a reliable solid shot with good pace and spin, but it is the same each time and not particularly scary if you are not at net. Kind of reminds me of Pioline's backhand, easy and fluent enough, but not especially potent. and to compare gasquet's backhand's to pioline's is an insult to gasquet. pioline's backhand reminds me of someone like maursemo or sabatini (relative to the men's game). he didn't have near the pace or the ability to hit passing shots (ask roddick) as gasquet.

If you replaced Nadal's backhand with anyone else's on the tour, he would lose the pace he is able to generate when he counter-punches off a driven shot, his ridiculous gets when stretched out wide, the angles and spin he is able to create, the variety of ball he is able to deal with offensively, the general control and effectiveness he displays from that side, his consistency.

To replace either of their backhands with anyone else's on the tour, I believe would hurt them. Maybe you could take one or two aspects from someone else's backhand to improve their game's, but not the whole package.

disagree. federer has a lot of variety on his backhand. this is very true. however, his backhand (especially the high backhand on clay) will often breakdown when in cross court rallies against a heavy hitter. people look at these youtube videos and only see his dramatic backhands. however, they don't look at the numerous unforced errors and mishits that usually happen when you attack his backhand enough. plus, the pace on his drive backhand is nowhere near someone like gasquet or haas or youzhny. how many times have you heard the announcers say "federer's backhand has broken down...."? you never hear that when talking about these other guys.

except for the backhand on the run, nadal doesn't have the pace off the backhand side of safin or nalbandian. nowhere close. he has a very good crosscourt backhand but his down the line backhand is light years behind these guys.

 

[NadalandFedererfan]

There's no way.

If you replaced Federer's backhand with anyone else's on the tour, he would lose all his variety on that side. The offensive and defensive slice when pulled out wide, the flicks, bunts, dips and lobs, his ridiculous drop shots to the deuce side, the general control and soft hands he has on that side, his consistency. The only area that maybe would'nt be hurt if you gave him Gasquet's backhand would be the topspin drive, but even here we cannot be sure. Federer gets a lot of variety on his topspin drive, the short cross court pass, the different trajectorys and the general pace and whip he achieves. Gasquet's topsin backhand works more like clockwork, it is a reliable solid shot with good pace and spin, but it is the same each time and not particularly scary if you are not at net. Kind of reminds me of Pioline's backhand, easy and fluent enough, but not especially potent.

If you replaced Nadal's backhand with anyone else's on the tour, he would lose the pace he is able to generate when he counter-punches off a driven shot, his ridiculous gets when stretched out wide, the angles and spin he is able to create, the variety of ball he is able to deal with offensively, the general control and effectiveness he displays from that side, his consistency.

To replace either of their backhands with anyone else's on the tour, I believe would hurt them. Maybe you could take one or two aspects from someone else's backhand to improve their game's, but not the whole package.

Exactly post. All excellent points. Very accurate.

As for Haas, I have seen Haas and Federer play multiple times, and the sheer suggestion Haas does anything better then Federer is laughable. Haas's only chance to get in a match at all is if Federer goes on a walkabout midway through the match like their match in Australia onetime.
Haas had nothing to do with getting in that match. Their other matches Federer hasnt had the walkabout and cruised for the most part.

 

[Jonny S&V]

Exactly post. All excellent points. Very accurate.

As for Haas, I have seen Haas and Federer play multiple times, and the sheer suggestion Haas does anything better then Federer is laughable. Haas's only chance to get in a match at all is if Federer goes on a walkabout midway through the match like their match in Australia onetime.
Haas had nothing to do with getting in that match. Their other matches Federer hasnt had the walkabout and cruised for the most part.

Haas usually does a lot better against guys like Roddick and Tursunov, big power hitters. I find that his backhand is a sneaky backhand, it doesn't look like it is hit with pace, but he uses his opponents power so well. When he plays Federer though, Federer's variety is just too much for him, like what happens to most of the top players against Federer.

 

[stav_babolat]

i like davy denko and baghdatis and gasquet backhand

 

[Jonny S&V]

i like davy denko and baghdatis and gasquet backhand

Davydenko's forehand is WAY better then his backhand. Why was this thread bumped? I think we have exhausted all that we can from it.

 

[Rataplan]

Are you guys talking about a good, efficient and consistent backhand or a beautiful backhand?

Personally, I think that Gaudio's backhand is a thing of beauty and a good weapon when he's on fire but all in all, I wouldn't call it the best.

 

[Jonny S&V]

Are you guys talking about a good, efficient and consistent backhand or a beautiful backhand?

Personally, I think that Gaudio's backhand is a thing of beauty and a good weapon when he's on fire but all in all, I wouldn't call it the best.

Yes, but he is not in his prime right now. The OP is/was talking about like the top 50 or 100 that ARE in their prime (sorry if this seems rude, not trying to be).

 

[Rataplan]

Yes, but he is not in his prime right now. The OP is/was talking about like the top 50 or 100 that ARE in their prime (sorry if this seems rude, not trying to be).

Don't worry. You weren't rude.

Obviously, his backhand is not really an issue right now but even when Gaudio was in his prime...his backhand was marvelous to look at but often not consistent enough during an entire match.

 

[Jonny S&V]

Don't worry. You weren't rude.

Obviously, his backhand is not really an issue right now but even when Gaudio was in his prime...his backhand was marvelous to look at but often not consistent enough during an entire match.

Very true though, his was probably the most elegant looking backhand on the men's tour ever. Now, whether or not it worked is a different story, but when it was on (like the last 3 sets of the 2004 Roland Garros final), very few things could stop it.

 

[david22]

Are you guys talking about a good, efficient and consistent backhand or a beautiful backhand?

Personally, I think that Gaudio's backhand is a thing of beauty and a good weapon when he's on fire but all in all, I wouldn't call it the best.

Gaudio's backhand was only effective on clay.

 

[siber222000]

i knew alot of people would've voted for gasquet, but i personally love haas backhand

 

[tricky]

Are you guys talking about a good, efficient and consistent backhand or a beautiful backhand?

It's all about the style points.

Gasquet's topspin BH is really special, and in fact it may be an evolutionary step in the stroke away from Kuerten's extreme eastern BH style. He may be the first ATP player to use a legitimate windshield wiper backhand.

 

[The Gorilla]

It's all about the style points.

Gasquet's topspin BH is really special, and in fact it may be an evolutionary step in the stroke away from Kuerten's extreme eastern BH style. He may be the first ATP player to use a legitimate windshield wiper backhand.

no, he definitely doesn't.And he wouldn't be the first if he did.

 

[tricky]

no, he definitely doesn't.And he wouldn't be the first if he did.

From the clips I've seen, there's subtle differences to his BH and, say, Kuerten and Henin. As he is about to release his shot, his racquet tip is lowerer than the line of his hitting arm. When he finishes his shot, his forearm is significantly more supinated than his other extreme BH peers. In some clips, you can discern wiping action with his racquet through the swing plane as it hits the ball. It's not a lot, probably about the same action as say Agassi's FH, but it's discernably more than his other extreme BH peers. At least, superficially, the thwack sounds more like a FH shot than a traditional BH shot.

 

[staedtler]

Gasquet is my pick. After seeing that Roddick Wimby match, Gasquet just amazed me even more. Out of the 2handers, I think Safin has the best. Although Baghdatis is probably my 2nd choice.

 

[Rataplan]

It's all about the style points.

Thanks for the confirmation that it's a beauty contest, not an efficiency comparison.

Talking about style alone then, not what actually works the best: my vote goes to the Gaudio backhand.

I remember watching one match (on clay) with a group of people and we were all supporting the opponent but I ended up marvelling at that backhand and annoying the others in that group for my "lack of loyalty toward the other player". The backhand was only on fire for a set, but...it went AWOL after the first set.

 

[The Gorilla]

From the clips I've seen, there's subtle differences to his BH and, say, Kuerten and Henin. As he is about to release his shot, his racquet tip is lowerer than the line of his hitting arm. When he finishes his shot, his forearm is significantly more supinated than his other extreme BH peers. In some clips, you can discern wiping action with his racquet through the swing plane as it hits the ball. It's not a lot, probably about the same action as say Agassi's FH, but it's discernably more than his other extreme BH peers. At least, superficially, the thwack sounds more like a FH shot than a traditional BH shot.

you're a subscriber to tennisplayer.net right?If your are look at johnyandell's advanced tennis articles, look at the one handed backhand articles in that section and look at the last article.

 

[tricky]

If your are look at johnyandell's advanced tennis articles, look at the one handed backhand articles in that section and look at the last article.

Right, but the context is important there. I was speaking relative to other extreme grip BH hitters. In a classical style stroke, it's not difficult to create independent hand rotation due to the upward motion of the forward swing. However, what people like Kuerten use a lateral motion with the arm, which is more inline with how FHs are done nowadays. In that motion, in order to trigger independent hand rotation, it requires some kind of slotting technique with the stroke. Meaning, Gasquet and perhaps others like Gonzo use a technique borrowed from the WW FH in order to make this happen.

 

[federerfanatic]

to put it simply, if there was a round robin b/n safin, federer, gasquet, and nadal, where the players only had a backhand then gasquet/safin would finish well ahead (along with guys like haas, nalbandian, stepanek, ljubicic, hewitt, etc etc) of federer or nadal.

Stepanek a better backhand then Federer or even Nadal. :lol: Someone please shoot this man and put him out of his misery.

 

[onkystomper]

to look at i would say guga or gaudio