Who has the greatest forehand in tennis history?

Make your choice

  • Nadal

    Votes: 59 28.5%
  • Federer

    Votes: 108 52.2%
  • Sampras

    Votes: 6 2.9%
  • Delpo

    Votes: 14 6.8%
  • Gonzalez

    Votes: 7 3.4%
  • Any other

    Votes: 13 6.3%

  • Total voters
    207

Boomski

Rookie
My vote goes to Federer for its versality, its power and precision especially during his prime. He could do basically anything with it and it was a shot that worked on every single surface. Nadal & Delpo close behind.

Alcaraz can make it into the conversation with the players above... we'll have to see how his career pans out. Maybe Sinner will have a say in it eventually too?

As for Djokovic I find it hard placing him correctly. His forehand is incredibly consistent but lacks the magic of the very best ones imo.

A top 10 list below:

 

Klatu Verata Necktie

Hall of Fame
I went Nadal. Early on in his career, his forehand was loopier, making it more effective on clay than other surfaces. As he matured, he added variety and was able to flatten out shots in order to attack players on any surface.
 

The Blond Blur

G.O.A.T.
rafael-nadal-who-me.gif

nadal_360.gif
giphy.gif
 

SpinWizard

Semi-Pro
When it comes to absolute peak it's Federer's forehand. His forehand 2004-2006 was literally perfect, it was called fearhand for a reason. Although i personally view Nadal's forehand as a little bit better overall. Particularly because of longevity.

Federer's forehand was S+ tier shot till 2012. After he switched to larger raqcuet his forehand was never the same. Nadal's forehand remained the same pretty much all his career. Even now his forehand is as amazing as it was 10-15 years ago.

So yeah Nadal > Federer for me, but the difference is very minor.
 
If all points were started from the ground Nadal's superiority would be so clear.
+1 and 1st return matter too!
Gonzales forehand is probably the second most powerful forehand after Del Potro in the last 20 odd years, so why not ?
Sampras himself had a running forehand which was second to none, so again why not?
if you have to restrict the scope of analysis to single aspects that are relatively less important compared to consistency and stable forehands your case is not a very strong one
 

Razer

G.O.A.T.
+1 and 1st return matter too!

if you have to restrict the scope of analysis to single aspects that are relatively less important compared to consistency and stable forehands your case is not a very strong one

What is the need for a poll if everyone is gonna come and either say Federer or Nadal ?
Such a snoozefest....these discussions on forehand normally only have 2 names
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
I have Sampras and Nadal as the co-GOATs of running forehands.

Federer was a beast with the forehand, so I don't mind if he wins the poll.
I guess.

What is this need to mention running forehand with Sampras every time I don't know.

Did his forehand suck in neutral rallies. It's always running forehand mentioned I see. Like literally 100% of the times.
 

Razer

G.O.A.T.
nobody's stopping you from saying Elly Vines or Pancho Segura

Never heard of these 2 gentlemen, the only Pancho I've heard of is Gonzales and that's because I have seen his name typed here frequently by guys who never saw him live, he is more like a mythological entity existing in the lore.
 

Krish872007

Talk Tennis Guru
Difficult to pick just one, but probably Federer's - incredibly effective and versatile shot at its very best. And used to be deceptively heavy even from a neutral stance. Only thing is the mechanics changed markedly between 2006-07, then again around 2011-12, then again in 2014-15 with the new stick (where it really lost its effectiveness unfortunately)
Nadal's sledgehammer FH also remarkable, and probably sustained for longer. Between these two, I would pick as follows:

By surface - Ned on clay, Fred on the other surfaces
By type - Fred for inside-out, inside-in and deep central, Ned for DTL and both Ned and PETE on the run

Del Potro, Gonzalez, etc. - all had super power FHs but they didn't come into play quite as often
 
Last edited:

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
If I look directly behind both Federer and Nadal, nadal's forehand looks just a bit ugly to me. It's very effective but not my favorite. But since we are talking about the best forehand and not best looking forehand they are tied to me.
 

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
Rafa’s forehand was routinely targeted as the shot to hit to on quicker surfaces for long periods of his career. Rushing him was very possible. There are numerous matches where hitting right to his forehand is the direct strategy that led to a victory.

Obviously he has the best slow court FH ever but I don’t think we can discount it being a liability in HC Slams from 2005-2008. Go watch some old tape like the Youzhny or Gonzalez matches, or of course Davydenko, or even AO 19 F… it’s not great.
 
D

Deleted member 758560

Guest
dunno much on the subject tbh, but.. will try to believe legends of the forum and will say...freddy:giggle:
 

malbaker86

Hall of Fame
Rafa’s forehand was routinely targeted as the shot to hit to on quicker surfaces for long periods of his career. Rushing him was very possible. There are numerous matches where hitting right to his forehand is the direct strategy that led to a victory.

Obviously he has the best slow court FH ever but I don’t think we can discount it being a liability in HC Slams from 2005-2008. Go watch some old tape like the Youzhny or Gonzalez matches, or of course Davydenko, or even AO 19 F… it’s not great.

Lol he was a damn teenager or barely 21 but point taken
 

malbaker86

Hall of Fame
What about in 2011 when Djokovic (who doesn’t even have a top 5 FH all time) made a mockery of that shot by rushing his FH over and over?

Djokovic out-winnered Nadal off the forehand wing in every single match that season, even on clay.

Djokovic had one of thee greatest seasons of all time that year and was making a mockery out of darn near everyone as he’s gone on to do even now.

Thats a wild year to use
 

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
Djokovic had one of thee greatest seasons of all time that year and was making a mockery out of darn near everyone as he’s gone on to do even now.

Thats a wild year to use
It’s just a manifestation of the hidden weakness and downside of the Nadal forehand. Again there’s no doubting it’s an incredible shot like easily top 2 all time but it’s just not Federer’s FH, that’s all.
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
It’s just a manifestation of the hidden weakness and downside of the Nadal forehand. Again there’s no doubting it’s an incredible shot like easily top 2 all time but it’s just not Federer’s FH, that’s all.
Very light racket and whipping action. Of course it can't be as accurate as fed. But bludgeoning shot..
 

Sport

G.O.A.T.
What about in 2011 when Djokovic (who doesn’t even have a top 5 FH all time) made a mockery of that shot by rushing his FH over and over?

Djokovic out-winnered Nadal off the forehand wing in every single match that season, even on clay.
What about the Canada-Cincinanti-USO when his forehand was at its peak? At the USO 2013, Nadal had arguably the greatest peak of a forehand.

Federer with his forehand could never beat 2010s Djokovic at the USO, nor did he ever win Canada-CIninnati and the USO in a row.
 

Sport

G.O.A.T.
Federer, and it's not even close. Agassi Is in second place across all surfaces.
Agassi's forehand was not that great on grass as compared to Nadal's, nor was it that effective at the USO (only 2 USO titles and 0-4 against his main rival Sampras).
 
Top