theagassiman
Rookie
One of the most beautiful shots tennis had ever seen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTK3uOngTYM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTK3uOngTYM
The best backhand ever?
- Thread starter theagassiman
- Start date
I go for Connors. That backhand could do anything for him. Not the most beautiful shot in history, but he could hit any spin to any part of court including moderate top, flat , slice and sidespin, return serve, approach, rally on any surface, lob, and volley with both hands on the racket. other honorable mentions in the doublehanded category include Borg, Agassi, and Wilander (first one I know to develop a 1 handed slice to compliment his two hander) For one handers besides Edberg: Vilas, Sampras, Pat Cash,and Federer cannot be forgotten.
theagassiman
Rookie
We're talking about one handers here though. Although I definitely admire Connor's two-hander. Have you seen Agassi's though...
jean pierre
Professional
Vilas of course, and Laver for slice.
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
The best backhand I have ever seen is Agassi's.
hoodjem
G.O.A.T.
Yes. But Laver could do a slice or a huge topspin BH.
He had tremendous variety on his backhand. That's a big reason it's one of the best of all-time.
theagassiman
Rookie
All these guys we're mentioning yes, they all had awesome backhands.
But Edberg, Rosewall, Laver and maybe even Federer hit their backhands all with an effortlessness about them and that was what made them so special.
True, Muster certainly had a powerful backhand, but it wasn't hit with the same effortlessness and grace that Edberg or Rosewall hit theirs.
Michael Bluth
Semi-Pro
Guga for the one-hander, Safin or Agassi for the two hander.
no_dark_things
New User
I think Guga had the best one hander. I would have mentioned Federer but I can't go with someone who runs around their backhand. I was surprised when I noticed Muster virtually had no loop to his back hand. Seemed like he drew it back and down and muscled it which while effective you're right about it lacking grace.
Is this limited to guys only cause I know it's an easy response but I do like Henin's backhand as well.
matchmaker
Hall of Fame
For me Kuerten and Becker had the best onehanders.
For twohanders I am looking at Connors, Agassi, Rios and Nalbandian.
For twohanders I am looking at Connors, Agassi, Rios and Nalbandian.
theagassiman
Rookie
Kuerten, yes he had a great backhand, but Becker? Hmmmmmmm
theagassiman
Rookie
All beautiful backhands no doubt, but where's Edberg and even more, Rosewall?
Yes, Muster's backhand was/is not pretty, but brutally effective. I'd put Mantilla's backhand over almost anyone's, though - man, it was just perfect. Pioline had a beauty as well. I brought those three up because I knew no one else would (and I happen to really like all three as players). However, there's no way to top Laver and Rosewall, the best backhands ever.
no_dark_things
New User
Alright I have to check out footage of Rosewall and Laver. I can't picture their backhands in my head.
It seems like all French players have nice one handed backhands. Maybe it's something in the water.
If Phillippoussis hasn't been mentioned his one hander was a cannon. I don't know if anyone had more pace than he did. I suspect some hit harder but I've never seen anything like it.
It seems like all French players have nice one handed backhands. Maybe it's something in the water.
If Phillippoussis hasn't been mentioned his one hander was a cannon. I don't know if anyone had more pace than he did. I suspect some hit harder but I've never seen anything like it.
hoodjem
G.O.A.T.
Last edited:
theagassiman
Rookie
pc1
G.O.A.T.
There's a clearer picture of Laver's backhand in this video. Actually at this point in time Connors probably had the better backhand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SptdffCeVmM
During Laver's time, he and Rosewall were considered to have the best backhands and I believe Kenny's was considered a bit better.
Check out Laver's backhand at 4:34. Laver's backhand may be the most versatile of all time and many thought his forehand was superior to his backhand!
pc1
G.O.A.T.
Aside from the ones above, in no particular order I'll toss in the ring these names also.
1. Kovacs-Jack Kramer said he couldn't serve and volley against him, Budge and Bromwich on the backhand.
2. Ashe-His backhand and Laver's are the most versatile backhands I've ever seen. They said his versatility may have hurt him in that he had too many shots to choose from.
Just check the video out and you will understand why I think his backhand's great. Ashe's opponent in the youtube video had a pretty decent backhand also. lol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpdPX9avs1M
3. Bjorn Borg-Never missed and his backhand may very well been as good or better than Connors. It was a very versatile backhand in that he could slice the ball on approach shots, a very good lob off that side and his topspin backhand passing shots on that side were legendary. Maybe the most error free backhand ever.
4. Lacoste-Was known for perhaps having the best backhand ever before Budge.
5. Miloslav Mecir-I'm sure this is a bit of a surprise but I thought his backhand was fabulous. He was so talented, great angles, touch, movement. It's a shame his career ended so quickly. He should have been one of the all time greats. His forehand was pretty super also. Heck a lot of his game was pretty super.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlb5Py25DPM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2bzlj4ypvw
6. Mats Wilander
7. Bill Tilden
Last edited:
stormholloway
Legend
Is this in particular order? Seems like people on here have a strange hard-on for pre-open era players. People rave about Rosewall's backhand, and it was great, but it was a flat slice backhand. That's all he could hit. That's pretty limited. Laver's was indeed sweet.
No Safin? Surely if Gasquet gets a nod then Safin deserves to. Nadal deserves some love too. He has one of the most devastating two-handers in history. And I'll take Federer's over Vilas'. I also feel like Borg and/or Lendl should be in the mix too.
Datacipher
Banned
It would be difficult to make a call between Agassi and Connors for 2 handers. Agassi had more topspin and could generate more "power". Connors was so clean, so simple, SO effficient, and had more variety, with shades of underspin, though, he did not have the more severe topspin dippers and angles of Agassi. A toss-up. Connors 2 handed approach was probably better.
Datacipher
Banned
For lesser known players:
Mancini (among the most powerful and most heavy backhands EVER)
Pavel
Stoltenberg
Leconte/Arazzi
Yzaga
All had spectacular backhands.
Mancini (among the most powerful and most heavy backhands EVER)
Pavel
Stoltenberg
Leconte/Arazzi
Yzaga
All had spectacular backhands.
TennisPassion5
Rookie
No love for Nalbandian? Him and Safin had the two best backhands of the 21st century
I totally forgot about Nalbandian. Right on
TennisPassion5
Rookie
As for the FedExpress, I do like his backhand. But, how many times has it let him down? I don't think it ever was his "go-to" shot, but it was a weapon on a good day.
President of Serve/Volley
Semi-Pro
Boris Becker is up there for sure.
getbusyliving
Banned
Can't forget Richard Gasquet.
Darth_Timmaayyy!!
Banned
Old, Laver.. More recently Becker..
In fact Becker for all time...
In fact Becker for all time...
TheFifthSet
Legend
Darth_Timmaayyy!!
Banned
Oh yes he is young Padawan!
borg number one
Legend
Connors had a tremendous backhand, as did Borg, Edberg, Wilander, Becker, Agassi, Rosewall, and Laver. Federer has a great backhand, and so does Nadal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdlep5PkJ9Q (great 2 handers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXF5zghUQtI (photo collection of great 2 handers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdlep5PkJ9Q (great 2 handers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXF5zghUQtI (photo collection of great 2 handers)
Last edited:
pc1
G.O.A.T.
Hoodjem,
No doubt Budge had a great backhand but I've read he was often aced on the service return which means to me that while he hit a lot of winners on the return, he paid for it. The other thing was that I heard he couldn't chip the ball well on the backhand at all and the means to me a lack of touch. That's a couple of negatives to me that I don't feel Rosewall and Laver had.
I read some people stating that Rosewall's backhand was semi-flat and they indicate he couldn't do what some backhands could do. I've seen a lot of Rosewall in person and on video and trust me when I say that the man was almost never aced and almost always got his racket on the ball to return it. Dennis Ralston wrote an article on the service return and he stated that at the time he wrote the article that Rosewall had not missed a backhand return of serve in two weeks. That's astounding!
Rosewall generally hit the ball back low against serve and volleyers but he could also drive the ball back with great power passing the volleyer. He could hit sharp angles plus he had a great lob on the backhand side. He also had an excellent drop shot on the backhand side and it was one of the most consistent backhands ever, along with Borg.
There was really nothing Rosewall didn't have an answer to on the backhand side. I read he could hit topspin in practice but why do it if you already have a backhand that has the answer to all situations.
Arthur Ashe ranked Rosewall's and Laver's backhand as the best he had ever seen. He wrote this in the late 1979's when Borg and Connors were in their prime. It's not as if Ashe didn't respect Borg and Connors at that point. Ashe wrote at that point that he felt Borg was the GOAT and yet he still ranked Rosewall's and Laver's backhand the best he had ever seen.
Last edited:
