Who had the better backhand technique: Henin or Wawrinka

[zill]

we can’t compare the weight of their shots because of weight and gender differences but let’s say Justine became guy of the same size as Wawrinka. Would it better than Wawrinka’s backhand?

 

[FailBetter]

Henin. It was just a beauty, and I think it was more consistent than Stans. Cant remember one Guy with a similar BH. Gasquet, Haas, (Stan), now Tsisi, Shapo... They all have good to great BH's but I think Henin's was something special.

 

[Chas Tennis]

The Wawrinka, Henin and Gasquet backhands have similar technique regarding several points leading to impact. I group them together for technique.

Do you see some specific differences between Henin's and Wawrinka's backhands, especially leading to impact?

 

[Chas Tennis]

Here is one small difference between Henin and Wawrinka.

What goes on is more complicated than a 'loop'. Look carefully at the high speed videos.

Justine Henin's racket, when back and up, is different than Gasquet's and Wawrinka's. Their racket faces are facing much more up to the sky.

When they bring the racket down they are rotating their arms also. See videos. There is one slice backhand also.

Then
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/07/wim...chard-gasquet-was-on-magazine-covers-at-age-9

And now,

 

[IowaGuy]

Here is one small difference between Henin and Wawrinka.

As you note, her takeback is a little different. Would you say she has a slightly more extreme grip than Gasquet? She seems a little more closed face than his stroke...

Also, she doesn't generally have as extreme of a follow through as Gasquet or Wawrinka (though they don't have exactly the same follow through either). This may have to do with her rotating through the shot a little less than them and/or could have something to do with how these players use or don't use their wrist?

 

[Chas Tennis]

As you note, her takeback is a little different. Would you say she has a slightly more extreme grip than Gasquet? She seems a little more closed face than his stroke...

Also, she doesn't generally have as extreme of a follow through as Gasquet or Wawrinka (though they don't have exactly the same follow through either). This may have to do with her rotating through the shot a little less than them and/or could have something to do with how these players use or don't use their wrist?

Generally, I don't count the follow through much and how they take racket back high might be an option too and they still may have similar techniques. I'd say that the way the racket is brought down and the forward swing with the chest pressed to the upper arm are significant similar characteristics of Wawrinka's, Henin's and Gasquet's top one hand backhand drives. Look mostly at the part of the stroke as the racket is lowered and to impact. After impact they may use their muscles in different ways to slow down the follow through. The farther in time before or after impact the more options the players have in how they use their muscles and how their rackets face, etc. . I think that you would also see variety in follow throughs with strokes of the same player. There does not appear the be as much variety in the final racket motions to the ball - within the last 1/10 sec or so.

You can see significantly different characteristics with Federer and F. Lopez on the chest pressed to the upper arm. Discussed in detail in
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...and-waht-force-to-start-forward-swing.462997/
Look at about post #50 to the end of the thread.

This OHBH issue has been discussed a lot recently.

 

[sredna42]

Think henin had a more closed grip, over toward SW, because of her height IIRC