The Nadal backhand

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
What are your thoughts on the Nadal backhand?



Two of my favorite Nadal backhands... Montreal 2007 vs. Djokovic (you know the one I mean) and a less famous one from RG 2020 Final where Djokovic tries pushing Nadal off the court on the backhand side and Nadal finds an even more absurd angle to take control of the point.


So what are your thoughts on the Nadal backhand?


:unsure:
 

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
There were a few times when he hit clutch backhand winners on big points. For example I remember 2 such winners when he was 3-1 down in the fifth set of RG 2013 semifinal. If he got broken for the second time he would have lost for sure.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
What are your thoughts on the Nadal backhand?



Two of my favorite Nadal backhands... Montreal 2007 vs. Djokovic (you know the one I mean) and a less famous one from RG 2020 Final where Djokovic tries pushing Nadal off the court on the backhand side and Nadal finds an even more absurd angle to take control of the point.


So what are your thoughts on the Nadal backhand?


:unsure:

Oh yeah.....

That was his greatest one IMO

 
D

Deleted member 748597

Guest
nadal+fail.gif
 

beard

Legend
That missed bh lost Rafa the match. It didn't have to be so close to the line.
Can't know that... It wasn't match point... He would have to finish game and probably would... But he would have to serve for the match, and Novak was much better till the end of the match...
 

skaj

Legend
Great on the run, especially as a passing shot; mostly cross-court thought.

Other than that, a consistent but very one-dimensional and technically mediocre shot.
 
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BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
I've always thought Rafa's BH is criminally underrated. On clay it's a definite weapon. Only on grass and faster indoor courts does his BH tend to have less bite and penetration. Among two-handed BH's, he's not in the league of Agassi, Djokovic, Nalby or Safin, but it's still an exceptional shot. There's no way anyone wins 20 slams with a mediocre BH.
 

Milanez82

Hall of Fame
I've always thought Rafa's BH is criminally underrated. On clay it's a definite weapon. Only on grass and faster indoor courts does his BH tend to have less bite and penetration. Among two-handed BH's, he's not in the league of Agassi, Djokovic, Nalby or Safin, but it's still an exceptional shot. There's no way anyone wins 20 slams with a mediocre BH.
His BH is a great shot especially when he goes cross court, it just happens his FH is one of best shots in history making his BH look subpar.
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
I've always thought Rafa's BH is criminally underrated. On clay it's a definite weapon. Only on grass and faster indoor courts does his BH tend to have less bite and penetration. Among two-handed BH's, he's not in the league of Agassi, Djokovic, Nalby or Safin, but it's still an exceptional shot. There's no way anyone wins 20 slams with a mediocre BH.
Yeah but is he a legend though?
 

Beckerserve

Legend
What are your thoughts on the Nadal backhand?



Two of my favorite Nadal backhands... Montreal 2007 vs. Djokovic (you know the one I mean) and a less famous one from RG 2020 Final where Djokovic tries pushing Nadal off the court on the backhand side and Nadal finds an even more absurd angle to take control of the point.


So what are your thoughts on the Nadal backhand?


:unsure:
When it is firing DTL he wins Majors on all surfaces. Has destroyed Djokovic in particular in numerous Major finals with that shot.
However it is not a great shot. It is a good shot that can be great at times. It is far inferior to Djokovic or Murray. It has also cost him big matches as he does not hit straight through it. Most notably AO 2012 final when 40-15 with a chance to go 5-2 up. Also failed him v Federer at AO in 2017 and Thiem in 2020 and this year as well.
Indoors it is a liability.
Overall therefore i would say it is top 10 of all time at best. But can be lethal on occasion..often in Major finals which a pretty good time for it to be on
 

Beckerserve

Legend
The shot I referenced can be seen in the point here at 40 seconds...


It was at that moment that I knew Nadal was taking no prisoners in that match.
Snap. Moment i saw him unload i knew he had my mindset i posted a thread on here about. That being all the Djokovic mouthing off had meant he was not focussed on records but focussed of ripping Djokovic apart and that shot proved it. Got feeling he was annoyed it went 7-5 in 3rd as had he took his BPs could have been 6-0.
 
The one at 1:25 is probably my favourite. How you like that neo backhand, Rojahh?

Ironically, 38yo roger gave a much better fight in much worse conditions to a slightly better version of Nadal than so called "peak of his powers" djokovic did in 2020 (not that I believe djoko was at his peak, but many of his trollfans did, before the final ofcourse)
 

Yugram

Legend
Ironically, 38yo roger gave a much better fight in much worse conditions to a slightly better version of Nadal than so called "peak of his powers" djokovic did in 2020 (not that I believe djoko was at his peak, but many of his trollfans did, before the final ofcourse)
Not really.
 

MadariKatu

Hall of Fame
A two handed forehand. Not the best down the line (he can hit it, but sometimes he doubts himself), but a very powerful weapon cross court. Lately I've been having the feeling that he's doing more damage with his backhand that his forehand (outside clay).
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
Ironically, 38yo roger gave a much better fight in much worse conditions to a slightly better version of Nadal than so called "peak of his powers" djokovic did in 2020 (not that I believe djoko was at his peak, but many of his trollfans did, before the final ofcourse)
Which idiot believes any of the Big 3 peaked in 2020? ROFLMAO
 

Sport

G.O.A.T.
the most agonizing backhand miss of his entire career........speaking of the shot - it has actually worsened over the years........
It worsened in 2015-2016. Since 2017 onwards, it's the same as usual. On clay it has even improved. Remember the RG 2019 SF where he made a lot of impressive backhand winners. During the RG 2020 final he also made solid backhand winners.

P.S.: why do you write like this........with so many points after ending a sentence?...............It's gramatically incorrect to write like this..........
 

Mediterranean Might

Professional
Nadal has a very solid backhand with great spin. It's especially nice cross-court, but I always wish he had a deadly and consistent DTL shot like Novak. Guess you really can't complain though when his forehand is as good as it is
 

Dolgopolov85

G.O.A.T.
A great backhand that is underrated because of how much better his forehand is. The cross court especially is devastating. The DTL is not lethal but solid enough. Overall, I would say it's not a very versatile shot but the technique is rock solid hence highly repeatable. He rarely makes big errors on the backhand side, it's highly dependable. Nor does he easily get hustled or cornered with an attack to his backhand. Because he hits it with lots of spin, making it another heavy wall to go with the one on the forehand side.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
Not even close lol but I know you've said that before. This bh never was THAT impressive for me personally but I can see how some love it.

Hence why I said IMO. :rolleyes: For me it was his best, you are just rehashing a discussion we already had and agreed to disagree on.
 
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