Was Federer's forehand on the forehand side relatively weak?

Was Federer's deuce court forehand RELATIVELY weak?

  • "Weak" is a strong word - it was weaker than his I/O but still awesome compared to others

  • "Weak" is too strong, but it was weaker than his I/O, and weaker than other ATGs and contemporaries

  • Yeah it was weak, relatively speaking

  • Nah, it wasn't weak in any sense at all


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Holmes

Hall of Fame
Before some of our reactive friends endanger themselves note that we all know his forehand side forehand was great. The question is whether considering how his inside out is easily one of the 5 best in history, if his deuce court forehand is "just" a great shot. Didn't opponents avoid that side out of fear of the reputation the inside out had built? It seemed like when other great forehands were willing to go after that side, like Agassi and Novak (and yes, Novak's is great even if not ATG) they could draw errors or short balls especially if they got him off balance to his right. This pattern was especially visible in Fedovic matches from 2011 onwards. Even Nadal with his backhand succeeded in this way.

My personal opinion is that Sampras, Agassi, Del Potro, and Nadal all had better forehand side forehands than Roger. They had the kinds of forehands (Nadal to a lesser extent) that could break down the opponent's strength and crush the spirit, but not quite as good at exploiting the weakness as Roger. Roger's whole package, centering around the inside out, was better.

Do you think his deuce court forehand was relatively weak compared to not only his inside out, but the deuce court forehands of other great forehands? Why or why not?
 
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Even if there is some element of truth to this, doesn't this have more to do with the fact that a FH crosscourt from deuce side for a right hander is your standard safe rally ball and that the inside out by its very nature is usually a (n attempted) putaway that catches your opponent off guard?
 

Holmes

Hall of Fame
*moves to “weak FH era” forum with gasquet*.

Yea it was a little weak. He hit a lot of those into the nets. I thought his running around the BH was much deadlier
I don't mean it was an error machine like his backhand, just that it was a relatively neutral shot, or at the very least, far less deadly to go to than his inside out. Obviously if you decided to play rallyball with him on that side you'd be in trouble, but if you went for it, I think you could force him into errors.
 

ffw2

Hall of Fame
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Holmes

Hall of Fame
Is it harder to notice a weakness with his inside out because the inside out isn't exploitable? You can't "hit to the inside out" and draw errors from it like a deuce side forehand. It's only ever hit when you want to hit it, so maybe that's why it looks so much better than the deuce court?
 

MeatTornado

Talk Tennis Guru
Of course it was less "deadly" than his inside-out, because 90% of deuce court forehands are traded back cross-court as a rally ball, and even if you go DTL the opponent has a pretty good chance of covering it from a neutral position. The court isn't usually open for a winner, which is the only time you step around for an inside-out. It's a point ender, one way or the other because you're completely exposed after you hit it.

This is the definition of comparing apples & oranges. Might as well ask why his return wasn't as strong a shot as his serve.
 

Holmes

Hall of Fame
Of course it was less "deadly" than his inside-out, because 90% of deuce court forehands are traded back cross-court as a rally ball, and even if you go DTL the opponent has a pretty good chance of covering it from a neutral position. The court isn't usually open for a winner, which is the only time you step around for an inside-out. It's a point ender, one way or the other because you're completely exposed after you hit it.

This is the definition of comparing apples & oranges. Might as well ask why his return wasn't as strong a shot as his serve.
Not necessarily. PETE's deuce court forehand was probably deadlier than his inside out, Del Potro's wasn't far behind. Both bull dozed through you with their clubs, as opposed to surgically deconstruct you like Roger.
 

TMF

Talk Tennis Guru
It is widely considered that Federer has the GOAT inside-out forehand. Of course comparing his I/O to any of his stroke isn't as strong.

What a stupid thread
 

Holmes

Hall of Fame
It is widely considered that Federer has the GOAT inside-out forehand. Of course comparing his I/O to any of his stroke isn't as strong.

What a stupid thread
Nadal's inside out is probably better, but Federer's serve gets him more easy forehands to attack.
 
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