Who has the better forehand: Djokovic or Thiem?

[zill]

Their forehands look very similar in style. Both have a very traditional and textbook swing and finish. Thiem's however has a larger swing and more power and spin. However, Djokovic's is more reliable.

Question: Whose forehand is better? and why?

Please don't just say that Djokovic has better ranking so must have better forehand. Thiem is known for his forehand but Djkovic not really. So this is a closer comparison than it seems.

 

[Russeljones]

Djokovic's forehand is part of the package that has won him a place among the game's greats.
Thiem's forehand is so violent, it might cost him his career.

I don't see the degree of similarity you refer to.

 

[zill]

Thiem's forehand is so violent, it might cost him his career.

You think he might be injured as a result?

 

[Russeljones]

You think he might be injured as a result?

Yea, I think down the road he will rue this technique.

 

[zill]

Yea, I think down the road he will rue this technique.

What injuries? Shoulder related?

 

[Russeljones]

What injuries? Shoulder related?

Shoulder, elbow, wrist, everything's under strain when someone begins hitting so hard whilst they are still growing. Don't forget, Thiem has been murdering balls for years now.

PS: of course, he could be a physiological phenomenon and prove me wrong. No one would be gladder.

 

[6august]

Harder: Thiem
Everything else: Djokovic.

Djokovic's FH is one of the most underrated shot on here. Meanwhile, Thiem's among the most overrated.

 

[FudgeMyn]

Djokovic has won grand slams so he must have better forehand.

 

[zill]

I don't see the degree of similarity you refer to.

Why are they not similar? Both have semi western grips, both have strong inversion in their swings. Both swing through the ball, both swing low to high and finish above their shoulders fully. Their setups are a little different and Thiem has a larger swing.

One is the miniture version of the other if you ask me. And because of Djoko's shorter swing he is able to take the ball earlier than thiem. But Thiem can produce more power and spin.

 

[vanioMan]

Djokovic by a long shot.

 

[NatF]

Djokovic and by a very clear margin.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

Djokovic's forehand is far better. No comparison really.

 

[Purplemonster]

Their forehands look very similar in style. Both have a very traditional and textbook swing and finish. Thiem's however has a larger swing and more power and spin. However, Djokovic's is more reliable.

Question: Whose forehand is better? and why?

Please don't just say that Djokovic has better ranking so must have better forehand. Thiem is known for his forehand but Djkovic not really. So this is a closer comparison than it seems.

Djokovic's forehand is better by a mile because it is more effective due to it's reliability. Hitting the ball hard counts for nothing if it doesn't yield results.

 

[ThirdEye]

Both have semi western grips, both have strong inversion in their swings. Both swing through the ball, both swing low to high and finish above their shoulders fully.

That can be said about almost any sw forehand on tour, really. I don't see many similarities between Nole's fh and Thiem's. The latter is much more awkward, and it's been evolving for a few years now. Djokovic's is textbook for a sw fh.

 

[Gary Duane]

Yea, I think down the road he will rue this technique.

I agree. Not conducive to a long career.

 

[zill]

and it's been evolving for a few years now.

Really? How has it evolved?

 

[ThirdEye]

Really? How has it evolved?

Preparation was more clumsy and he used to hold the racquet much longer in the first phase of the stroke. Now it's much more fluid than it was, but it's still a shot that requires a certain amount of time to load, exactly like his backhand. Hence his good results on clay and less than stellar results on faster courts.