Five best forehands of all time.

[tcuk]

List your top five forehands. Mine are as follows:

1. Roger Federer
2. Rafa Nadal
3. Pete Sampras
4. Andre Agassi
5. Bjorn Borg

I had to give it to Roger...he can do so much with it

Borg might seem a strange choice to some of you. It's in there for it's sheer consistency...and those passing shots.

[airforce1]

I can't really speak to all time, having really paid attention to the last 30 or so, but what about Lendl, Courier, del Potro and Gonzo? Just guys who come to mind.

I love Pete, Borg, and Fed's games, seeing them as tough runners for GOAT, but don't really see their Fhs in this group. Clearly really great Fhs, but Fed has been too inconsistent with his, and Pete didn't regularly dominate with his like Lendel and others did he. I mean with his serve and volley, if his FH was that good, he would have gone undefeated,lol.

Guys I wonder about ranking: Okker, Kramer, Budge, Laver, Krickstein, Tilden, P Gonzales.

[rosheem]

I wish I could contribute here, but I've only been a tennis player/fan for two years!

So I will list my top 5 current favorite forehands. To be honest though...I am familiar enough with some of the great forehands of all time as well, and I still think these guys today would all be ahead of them.

1. Del Potro - Not as versatile as Federer in defensive or neutral situations, but offensively, it's in its own class.

2. Federer - Can use it to turn defense into offense better than anyone.

3. Nadal - Break you down with heaviness, run you down with angles, finish you with heat...all without having to risk much.

4. Sam Querrey - I had Gonzo in this spot, but had to throw in someone unique instead. Querrey has that slingshot forehand that many of the younger big guys are using. Looks a bit wristy at first glance, but it's actually compact, effecient, and powerful.

5. Kim Clijsters - There's something about that consistent, high-elbow wrap finish that's just fun to watch. She has the confidence and command to open up angles and put you on the run, but she can also go through you.

Honorable mention:
Serena, Sam Stosur, Djokovic, Verdasco

[rosheem]

seeing them as tough runners for GOAT, but don't really see their Fhs in this group.....
Clearly really great Fhs, but Fed has been too inconsistent with his

Too inconsistent over the course of his career, or too inconsistent lately?

I think if we look at Fed's career as a whole and then ask, "what was his one, defining stroke," we would have to say his forehand, wouldn't we?

Don't get me wrong...his forehand has been frustrating the crap out of me for the past year or two, but if I'm sending a time capsule into space with a video clip of a forehand, it's his.

(Hope you don't mind some friendly debate on the subject)

[lauren2009]

I think Steffi Graf had the best women's forehand of all time.

[tcuk]

I agree with Rosheem. It's Roger's forehand that's defined his game. He owes a lot to that stroke.

I agree with Lauren, too. Steffi had the best forehand in the women's game. Like Fed's it was a little inconsistent at times...but not often...and it did all the damage.

[airforce1]

Sure it has defined his career and it's one of the all time greats. Just not one of the 5 best off ALL time. It has also defined his fall each time he has played poorly (at least for his standards). His UE's on the Fh have at times been so high as to be poor for any standards. Surely there have been 5 great Fhs that more rarely let them down. Of course, this just refects my opinion of the importance of consistency.

What has defined Fed's greatness for me, has been his grace and balance. Not just physical balance, but mental balance and shot selection balance. I don't really see Fed as having that one really big shot like Arod's serve, but see his Fh as the shot of choice due to versatility, to finish what the rest of his game puts in place. Remember, I'm one who questions the weakness of his Bh as well. Due to this finishing, the Fh gets more credit, like the fullback who punches it in from one yard out.

[rosheem]

Of course, this just refects my opinion of the importance of consistency.

Importance of consistency, importance of consistency...note to self...consistency is important.

You do make a great point there...his lack of consistency has baffled and frustrated me, like I said before.

More importantly, and why I had to throw in a quick comment: I am learning this lesson of the importance of consistency in my own game every day.

As a beginner coming over from volleyball, changing my mindset to one where consistency rules has been a huge challenge. In volleyball, especially indoor volleyball, the mentality is much more of an attacking one. There is no real value in trying to use one shot to set up a subsequent shot, because the point will rarely last that long. I tried to end the point every time I had an opportunity to attack.

So in tennis, my challenge has really been to resist the temptation to end points early with strokes that I can't hit consistently.

(End hijack and redirection to self)

[airforce1]

You are on to a very important part of this game. Learning how to constantly ratchet up the pressure on your opponent, without falling prey to missing too early in points.

[synergy]

wow

Airforce1 you are just severely misinformed. First of all go ask the pros how Sampras and Federer's forehands are. Better yet just go watch some old tapes. Sampras forehand was huge and it was heavy like a brick with pace not to mention one of the deadliest shots in tennis history, his running forehand. As for Federer, his forehand is revolutionary in its style and uniqueness. How can u say its not one of the top 5 in history?? Get a life bro and stop pretending you know about tennis.

[chokomakashi]

hello there

hello there synergy... to me I think you have great idea about sampras' forehand... and federe's as well....

if I had to list best .... it would take long time... best.. you mean overall? or best in speed? or consistency? quality ? how heavy they hit?
anyway it is complicated... but to me all the pro forehands are great...

once i saw this Bablot promotion video and all the top pros were in that video and they all think that Sampras has best forehand.....

Yes no doubt mr. federer combine classic and modern tennis together.. not too much spin but not too flat also.. no wonder he win that many gram slam from STAY BACK....well.. overall yes I would say Federer is number 1... well, can't argue from all the record... but I still belelive that hardest shots or heaviest.. i would say sampras.... not to metioned about beautiful follow through.... that helped him a lot....

Warning::::: you can ignore my opinion... but I might put Connors as one of best forehand... his consistency and great feel and great depth and beaufiful follow through.... well, at last.. he is a legend...

I do believe.. this is pretty tough question.. but I do respect all the pros forehand... if you play against them.. you will see it.. I took many lesson from current pro and they hit something different... this you can't get it from TV that's for sure.. their speed and quality.. i mean how heavy their shots are...... it is just different