The Greatest Strokes of All Time (Men's)

[toddrobert38]

I know there have been threads talking about the greatest FH, serve, etc., but this thread is about comparing all the great strokes of all time against each other.

What's your top 20 based on any possible criteria ranging from the competitive advantage (over others in the same stroke), importance to the player's success, technical perfection, clutchness or just pure enjoyment. Of course it's based on the players you have watched, obviously, with all GOAT convo's, there is no right answer...!

Here's my top 20

1 Sampras Serve
2 Federer FH
3 Nadal FH
4 Djokovic BH
5 Edberg Volleys
6 Djokovic Return
7 McEnroe Volleys
8 Nalbandian BH
8 Sampras FH
9 Ivanisevic Serve
10 Connors Return
11 Lendl FH
12 Wawrinka BH
13 Gasquet BH
14 Becker Serve
15 Agassi BH
16 Federer Serve
17 McEnroe Serve
18 Connors BH
19 Rafter Volleys
20 Cash Volleys

 

[Charlemagne]

Murray's second serve

 

[DRII]

Guga's BH has to be in here!

 

[Bobby Jr]

Depends how you rate things I guess. A forehand you can use all the time, multiple times in the majority of points whether serving or receiving. But a serve, no matter how effective, can only be used while on serve. So, you can look at it in different ways.

My top three would be Sampras' serve, Federer's forehand and Edberg's backhand volley based on them each being (in their prime) unmatched in terms of all-round effectiveness and pure class in the open era.

 

[DRII]

Depends how you rate things I guess. A forehand you can use all the time, multiple times in the majority of points whether serving or receiving. But a serve, no matter how effective, can only be used while on serve. So, you can look at it in different ways.

My top three would be Sampras' serve, Federer's forehand and Edberg's backhand volley based on them each being (in their prime) unmatched in terms of all-round effectiveness and pure class in the open era.

yea, but with a serve a player has almost complete control over it. every other shot in tennis is a reaction.

 

[toddrobert38]

I probably should've put Agassi's return in that list. Forgot about that. Probably as good as Sampras FH.

And Murray's BH. Same general area.

 

[guitarra]

Djokovic's smash got to be up there!

 

[tarutani]

Ivo'serve >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> other

 

[Tornes]

I know there have been threads talking about the greatest FH, serve, etc., but this thread is about comparing all the great strokes of all time against each other.

What's your top 20 based on any possible criteria ranging from the competitive advantage (over others in the same stroke), importance to the player's success, technical perfection, clutchness or just pure enjoyment. Of course it's based on the players you have watched, obviously, with all GOAT convo's, there is no right answer...!

Here's my top 20

1 Sampras Serve
2 Federer FH
3 Nadal FH
4 Djokovic BH
5 Edberg Volleys
6 Djokovic Return
7 McEnroe Volleys
8 Nalbandian BH
8 Sampras FH
9 Ivanisevic Serve
10 Connors Return
11 Lendl FH
12 Wawrinka BH
13 Gasquet BH
14 Becker Serve
15 Agassi BH
16 Federer Serve
17 McEnroe Serve
18 Connors BH
19 Rafter Volleys
20 Cash Volleys

Well if we are talking just about greatest strokes (not greatest strokes of ATG) than Sampras serve does not belong on first place. He has not even the greatest serve (Karlovic, Isner, Ivaniševič).
Djokovic's BH way to high (and actually every BH in there). Do you realise that even Djokovic has much better FH and reason he started dominating was not that he had great BH (he had it from 2007) but that he improved his FH (2011)? His BH was important tool but not the one determining his succes. Forehand is way to more important for your succes than BH.

 

[ojo rojo]

No love for Delpo forehand?

 

[Waspsting]

Forehand is way to more important for your succes than BH.

Agree with everything you said.

This bit needs to be contextualised.

Everything (even the serve) exists in a context of the rest of a players game.

Good forehands are lethal. Good backhands are mostly solid. Everyone has a better forehand than backhand - comparing the two is almost like comparing men and women players

But they have equal roles - its just that one (usually the forehand) catches the eye.

Nadal's forehand takes the eye. But he uses the backhand to hold off the right handers forehand - its an amazing shot... I doubt even Djokovic's backhand could cope with the plethora of amazing forehands out there (being right handed, it doesn't have to) as well

The eyecatcher for Federer 04-06 period was the forehand. But the backhand did it's less glamorous job almost as well - holding steady and manvering the point to his favoured wing for the kill

Djokovic's forehand is amazing, but I think his backhand is more significant to his game. He uses it to control both points and his opponent. It's clinical and rock solid

----
Note-

When you hear "X has a better backhand (bh) than forehand (fh), it means -

{(X bh > Y bh) > (X fh > y bh)}

NOT

X bh > X fh

 

[Fedinkum]

 

[Fedinkum]

Bty, these Should have a spot on the list:
- Edberg's single handed backhand
- Edberg's kick serve
- Wilander's backhand slice
- Cash's slice serve

 

[EdSWright]

Bty, these Should have a spot on the list:
- Edberg's single handed backhand
- Edberg's kick serve
- Wilander's backhand slice
- Cash's slice serve

Pat Cash everything.

 

[Standaa]

Karlovic's serve no doubt

 

[2HBH-DTL]

Here's my top 20

1 Sampras Serve
2 Federer FH
3 Nadal FH
4 Djokovic BH
5 Edberg Volleys
6 Djokovic Return
7 McEnroe Volleys
8 Nalbandian BH
8 Sampras FH
9 Ivanisevic Serve
10 Connors Return
11 Lendl FH
12 Wawrinka BH
13 Gasquet BH
14 Becker Serve
15 Agassi BH
16 Federer Serve
17 McEnroe Serve
18 Connors BH
19 Rafter Volleys
20 Cash Volleys

Where's Agassi's return at in this list!?!?

I would replaced Novak's 2 hander with Safin's 2 hander but I'm biased.

 

[Sambuccashake]

#fearhand

 

[VexlanderPrime]

No love for Delpo forehand?

Del po's FH gets brought up all the time. It just can't be considered in these discussions imo. He just hasn't played enough in comparison to the others in these lists. Great shot tho when he plays

 

[ojo rojo]

Del po's FH gets brought up all the time. It just can't be considered in these discussions imo. He just hasn't played enough in comparison to the others in these lists. Great shot tho when he plays

Fair enough. I just figured if OP put Gasquet in his top twenty - then Juan Martin deserved an honourable mention

 

[killerboi2]

Sampras serve
Sampras forehand
Ivanisevic serve

 

[DreddyTennis45]

The greatest stroke from any man is when he watches Sharapova play

 

[Shaolin]

Fedr FH is the greatest weapon in the history of tennis.

 

[Boom-Boom]

Fedr FH is the greatest weapon in the history of tennis.

yep - poll results agree

 

[BobbyOne]

I know there have been threads talking about the greatest FH, serve, etc., but this thread is about comparing all the great strokes of all time against each other.

What's your top 20 based on any possible criteria ranging from the competitive advantage (over others in the same stroke), importance to the player's success, technical perfection, clutchness or just pure enjoyment. Of course it's based on the players you have watched, obviously, with all GOAT convo's, there is no right answer...!

Here's my top 20

1 Sampras Serve
2 Federer FH
3 Nadal FH
4 Djokovic BH
5 Edberg Volleys
6 Djokovic Return
7 McEnroe Volleys
8 Nalbandian BH
8 Sampras FH
9 Ivanisevic Serve
10 Connors Return
11 Lendl FH
12 Wawrinka BH
13 Gasquet BH
14 Becker Serve
15 Agassi BH
16 Federer Serve
17 McEnroe Serve
18 Connors BH
19 Rafter Volleys
20 Cash Volleys

Without order: Gonzalez service; Segura forehand; Rosewall backhand; Newcombe forehand volley; Rosewall or Roche backhand volley; Riggs lob; Santana drop shot.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

I still like "Someday" from Is This It.

 

[Devin]

It's been said before, but Karlovic's serve should without a doubt be on that list. He would be losing challengers without that serve.

 

[NLBwell]

I picked McEnroe's volleys. Several people have had great forehands, great serves, great backhands, etc. and, in fact, several people have had volleys around the level of McEnroe's volleys (Edberg, Laver, etc.) but no has ever done it the WAY that McEnroe hit his volleys and probably no one ever will.

 

[Thundergod]

I wonder if any of us here will live long enough to ever see someone with a Karlovic-like serve combined with a Federer-like forehand.

 

[HailDjokovic]

Federer's Forehand, Nadal's Forehand, Sampras Serve, Djokovic Backhand/return are probably the most iconic shots that people think of when they watch tennis now

 

[toby55555]

Karlovic serve

 

[6-3 6-0]

I wonder if any of us here will live long enough to ever see someone with a Karlovic-like serve combined with a Federer-like forehand.

Not possible. IMO the two are mutually exclusive. For a Karlovic/Isner like serve you need to be a giant and with that comes a hindrance in movement which is essential in hitting proper groundstrokes with perfect timing. Technically speaking, height between 6'0" and 6'2" is ideal in tennis.

 

[Thundergod]

Not possible. IMO the two are mutually exclusive. For a Karlovic/Isner like serve you need to be a giant and with that comes a hindrance in movement which is essential in hitting proper groundstrokes with perfect timing. Technically speaking, height between 6'0" and 6'2" is ideal in tennis.

Idk about possible, but very slim. There could theoretically be a physical freak like LeBron James who decides he wants to play tennis, but I doubt it.

 

[Steve0904]

Wouldn't be able to pick between the Sampras serve and the Federer FH personally (as such I voted for both), but those are easily the top 2 in whatever order, IMO.

 

[MSK]

Murray's return notably better than Djokovic's IMO.
Maybe not at slapping away return winners, but much more consistent, especially against big first serves.

 

[Enigma_87]

Depends how you rate things I guess. A forehand you can use all the time, multiple times in the majority of points whether serving or receiving. But a serve, no matter how effective, can only be used while on serve. So, you can look at it in different ways.

My top three would be Sampras' serve, Federer's forehand and Edberg's backhand volley based on them each being (in their prime) unmatched in terms of all-round effectiveness and pure class in the open era.

My choice as well.

 

[skaj]

I probably should've put Agassi's return in that list. Forgot about that. Probably as good as Sampras FH.

And Murray's BH. Same general area.

I was gonna say nice list, but it misses Agassi's return(top return in my opinion). Nalbandian's I would put there also.

As for the top stroke, I choose Sampras' serve; followed by Federer's and Nadal's forehands and Nalbandian's backhand.

 

[toddrobert38]

Great replies. About 3 posts in-- I added that I had missed Agassi's Return and Murray's BH. Probably both right up there with Lendl's FH.

A great catch is Delpo's FH. Sadly he hasn't gotten to use it enough over the years but it definitely qualifies. It may have been near a top 5 stroke without the layoff.

For me Sampras's serve was the best stroke. It had everything you could want, accuracy, power, spin, clutchness, disguise, technical perfection -- and it is the most important shot in tennis to boot.

A lot of replies mentioned Karlovic's and Isner's serve, and while awesome shots, to me they are nowhere near this list. Neither of them has even made a Slam Final, and their second serves are not anywhere near clutch enough when they play against the best players. As for Gasquet's BH, yes, he didn't make a Slam final either but he has been a better player than either of those two, with the worst possible shot to be your main weapon, the BH. The serve is a far more advantageous shot to be proficient in. Also, his (Gasquet's) FH and serve are so average, that his success is truly miraculous based on how good his 1HBH is. From a technical perspective he may have the best one-hander of all time, but Stan the Man has the power on him -- And 3 Slams.

Edberg's BH was beautiful and is another shot near this list for me. The best overheads I ever saw were Sampras, Andres Gomez and John McEnroe, all near the list but just shy as well.

 

[Druss]

Safin BH is not on the list? This thread has lost it's credibility.

 

[2HBH-DTL]

Safin BH is not on the list? This thread has lost it's credibility.

I agree. I'm absolutely appalled.

 

[Mazz Retic]

I know there have been threads talking about the greatest FH, serve, etc., but this thread is about comparing all the great strokes of all time against each other.

What's your top 20 based on any possible criteria ranging from the competitive advantage (over others in the same stroke), importance to the player's success, technical perfection, clutchness or just pure enjoyment. Of course it's based on the players you have watched, obviously, with all GOAT convo's, there is no right answer...!

Here's my top 20

1 Sampras Serve
2 Federer FH
3 Nadal FH
4 Djokovic BH
5 Edberg Volleys
6 Djokovic Return
7 McEnroe Volleys
8 Nalbandian BH
8 Sampras FH
9 Ivanisevic Serve
10 Connors Return
11 Lendl FH
12 Wawrinka BH
13 Gasquet BH
14 Becker Serve
15 Agassi BH
16 Federer Serve
17 McEnroe Serve
18 Connors BH
19 Rafter Volleys
20 Cash Volleys

Nice list. Although the weight of shot is neglected. I.e forehand is almost always the most go to and important shot. I think the gasquet BH is probably the only one I question. It's a great shot but he seldom uses it effectively. He takes massive swings way behind the baseline.

 

[Freddy Cat]

What even are these options?

 

[torre_dresen]

Fernando Gonzalez FH in its prime -_-'

 

[I am the Greatest!]

The Federer Forehand
The Sampras' Serve

Everything else are just battling for third.

 

[Bender]

Tomic mental strength #1

 

[SinjinCooper]

I wonder if any of us here will live long enough to ever see someone with a Karlovic-like serve combined with a Federer-like forehand.

Sampras.

When he retired, he was at or near the top of the GOAT list for both strokes. That's why for the entire graphite era that preceded polys and homogenization, he had nearly double the slams of his nearest competitor. Arguably the most dominant player in the history of the game, relative to his contemporaries.

 

[HipRotation]

 

[tom williams]

Without order: Gonzalez service; Segura forehand; Rosewall backhand; Newcombe forehand volley; Rosewall or Roche backhand volley; Riggs lob; Santana drop shot.

i would add Hoads stamina.TW