The most satisfying shot in tennis?

[Laurie]

As a player or spectator, which shot gives you the most satisfaction? There are many difficult shots in the game and some find it harder to hit some shots than others and vice versa. Which shot really does it for you? Backhand overhead smash? backhand down the line return winner? stop volley? Offensive topspin lob? I'll put some categories in a poll but feel free to add a shot by a player you saw (male or femaile) or did yourself in a match.

Oh and mine? Over the years I would say I love hitting the backhand overhead, when I pull it off I always scream in delight. Hitting a return winner also gives me great pleasure always.

 

[PhrygianDominant]

As a player and spectator return winners are amazing. As a spectator Aces are underwhelming but as a player they are simply divine. As player and spectator both a topspin lob is very nice. I appreciate a deep pacey volley winner from both perspectives as well.....

I would have a hard time choosing. I guess my choice is return winner, but the others are in the running as well.

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Aces are great to hit indeed. Down the T. Drop Volley too.

 

[Laurie]

I suppose an ace hit when break point down or at a critical moment is always appreciated by a crowd, as opposed to ace after ace if you see what I mean. Personally I love hitting aces, especially down the T on the ad court, that takes real skill so really gives me great satisfaction.

By the way, on this occasion I've allowed you to vote for more than one category as they are tough, but try to stick to one

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

no sampras' slam dunk in the poll ?!
it's certainly on the list of the most orgasmic shots...

 

[Flash O'Groove]

What I love the most are the one handed backhand winners down the line, and it's good because we can see a lot of them.

The shot I like to hit the most myself is not the backhand down the line tough, but the running jumping overhead passing shot, a bit like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4YCFPbUrfY

I'm so happy when I win one, and then I wake up and go to work.

 

[Narcissist]

Drive volley (usually only seen on the WTA)
Passing shot on the run

 

[PhrygianDominant]

I voted for return winner, but I am sad that my favorite ace, and the only one I regularly hit, the flat out wide in the ad court (righty) is not mentioned.

 

[tennis_hack]

I love playing left handers and testing out my high (one handed) backhand. The one shot I spend all my time practicing is hitting backhands at head height or over. So the most satisfying shot for me is when I breakdown a leftys forehand with my backhand - this is the rally I try to get into against any lefty I play

 

[Laurie]

I voted for return winner, but I am sad that my favorite ace, and the only one I regularly hit, the flat out wide in the ad court (righty) is not mentioned.

Don't be sad, I only had 10 options on the poll I was thinking of adding a "Other" category but its fine just to mention any other shots you want here on the thread.

 

[oest10]

I just love the shot when you "corner" your opponent, move in and just made the "perfect", low risk putaway volley. It feels so clean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm5_iHLTvO0

Lots of examples here, for ex, the few points after 4:08

 

[bigred1910]

Safins bh dtl. Hewitts topspin lob. Djokers overheads. Feds running forehand. Rafters volleys. I don't think there is a single shot I like from all the pros as each individual has their own unique beautiful shot.

 

[Sentinel]

no sampras' slam dunk in the poll ?!
it's certainly on the list of the most orgasmic shots...

Pfft. My grandma used to hit those all afternoon when she was 80.

I like the moonball, hit with topspin, several feet over the net, and between the baseline and service line. Immense satisfaction is what we gets from that shot.

 

[Chanwan]

Onehanded backhand dtl is one of the shots I enjoy viewing the most and, when I occasionally succeed, to hit.
Another one is the fake drop shot, which is fairly doable even for us rec. players - maybe not as cool as this, but good enough:
His 400m would be around 55sec; we used to do a lot of repetitions of those but have stopped now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM6NXJJNBlU

That's immensely satisfying for me, when I succeed with either shot. A drop shot on the serve is quite fun too.

 

[Chanwan]

What I love the most are the one handed backhand winners down the line, and it's good because we can see a lot of them.

The shot I like to hit the most myself is not the backhand down the line tough, but the running jumping overhead passing shot, a bit like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4YCFPbUrfY

I'm so happy when I win one, and then I wake up and go to work.

I love hitting that shot too...

 

[Backspin1183]

As a player, no shot is more satisfying than an overhead smash, giving no chance to your opponent.

As a spectator, a forehand or backhand DTL.

 

[BrooklynNY]

As a player, wrong footing punch volleys always give you that "Yeah, I know what I'm doing out here feeling"

Although I've seen first hand my bro just hitting aces, that can be pretty demoralizing and satisfying- especially bc at the 4.5 level, its hard to just 'take care of your serve' and wait for opportunity, as we typically don't have same serving ability and consistency to make holding serve super routine

 

[Maximagq]

Definitely an ace

 

[MonkeyBoy]

The passing shot. By. Far.

 

[PhrygianDominant]

The passing shot. By. Far.

meh...

depends on how good the net player is.

but then again, my example: the return winner, is also more satisfying off of better serves...

 

[BHBeguile]

Returning a serve for a winner is the tennis equivalent of "in your face!". Highly satisfying.

 

[Sid_Vicious]

Down the T ace.

 

[President]

Forehand passing shot for me.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Wrong footing.. shows you outmanoeuvred and outsmarted your opponent.

 

[TMF]

Most satisfying:
A winner between the legs on a championship point in the 5th and final set.


Least satisfying:
Win a match point from an opponent's error(e.g. Verdasco double fault in 2009 AO semifinal)

 

[downdaline]

Backhand downdaline for sure, especially if it's a flat one.

BAM! Lazer!

Ace up the T is perhaps the most satisfying way to start a match. Shows you ain't holding back.

 

[edberg volleys]

Stop volley, without a doubt. I mean if (I assume that most of the posters play/have played in competitions) gotta agree.

 

[Matchball]

Anything resulting in a wrong foot for my opponent :twisted:

 

[MonkeyBoy]

One handed backhand pass to save match point
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IegHMhTqw78

 

[kOaMaster]

personally - returning a serve for a winner I am way more satisfied than with an ace - because aces I hit a few during a match, return of serve winners...well, less
plus, it feels a lot faster and harder than a serve which is always great to feel such power

and wrong footing the opponent just gives a feeling of domination and "I am better than you". when this happens, winning is very close.

 

[PhrygianDominant]

personally - returning a serve for a winner I am way more satisfied than with an ace - because aces I hit a few during a match, return of serve winners...well, less

exactly.

I play this guy who is bigger and stronger than me, but I have a lot of advantages over him as well. His hardest serves are always slice and we're both right handed. So, when he tries to drill an ace it usually goes to my forehand, and since I am so grooved on his serve these days I hit it pretty often and early, hard and flat to his backhand. Soooo sweeet....

 

[jg153040]

For me it's between the legs shot winner. When you pull this off you look godly and you make the other guy look newbish.

 

[Paul Murphy]

Lob, line BH, wrong footing winner with the opponent running in the opposite direction.

 

[monfed]

1HBH DTL, it looks so regal. Easily my fav shot in tennis, esp Fed's.

 

[Magnetite]

Jumping smash, grunting with fist pump should be in there.

 

[slice serve ace]

as a player - serving aces in a row, serving 2nd serve aces, serving 4 unreturnable serves for a game, backhand winners

as a spectator - slam dunks, dive volleys

 

[Forehand Of Doom]

This is the most satisfying shot in tennis.

But seriously, it has to be the passing shot or the CC slice volley.

 

[TMF]

This is the most satisfying shot in tennis.

But seriously, it has to be the passing shot or the CC slice volley.

A dirty play can't be satisfying, let alone the most satisfying.

 

[Sid_Vicious]

What makes hitting an ace down the middle amazing is that when struck well, you notice how quickly it rockets past your opponents and curbs their reaction time.

 

[Dan Z]

personally 1H backhand down the line - especially if you've had to run like £$%^ to reach it in the first place not somthing I pull off regularly but when it happens it feels amazing

 

[forzamilan90]

single Backhand down the line....majestic virile shot

 

[Blitzball]

single Backhand down the line....majestic virile shot

I can't agree more, especially on the run! But let me throw an honorable mention to the the one-handed backhand smash. So difficult to perfect, but all the more gratifying when executed well.

 

[fighting123]

No option for Aces?

 

[MauricioDias]

running forehands are really cool =)

 

[mikeler]

What about sitter overheads where your opponent trips and falls before you can hit?

 

[Wynter]

It has to be the lob, when your opponent comes to the net and watches it sail straight over him, quite enjoyable

 

[jelle v]

Backhand down the line for me...

Nalbandian and Safin made this into an art..

 

[Vcore89]

Returnn of serve with ohbh dtl.

 

[TahoeTennis]

Extreme inside out forehand winner ftw!

 

[Who Am I?]

Whenever Federer rips the CC FH, I always get very excited, especially more so these days, as it's a rarity.