Coaches Corner: Men's Forehand

[@nikhilc8681]

These guys are seriously underestimating how good the Del Potro forehand is.

[@HawkOfGP]

Courier did have it as the third best FH out of active players, which seems about right.

[@jayzemmour8431]

shapovalov too

[@TheAutoEnthusiast91]

I would put del Potro at 3 or 4 as well. Del Potro has a big FH and consistent, but he can't do as much damage of that wing when the ball keeps really low. Both Federer and Nadal are monsters at dealing with the slice. Delpo - not so much.

[@dinethaltmann9582]

If Delpo can get his forehand going in a point, it's the best. But his opponent can play around it, which puts a dampener on it's usefulness. 3rd is a good spot for him, because it's a great shot, just not as practical as the Fed FH, which is backed up by his BH

[@CalebPereira9123]

Del Po's forehand is also low margin so it can also tend to crumble against a superior defender who makes him hit it too much on the run ... like Nadal or Djoker. Sunday's 2nd set tiebreak had him make 3-4 bad errors off it and it lost him the set.

[@nicklaslouie5693]

Keep these segments coming.

[@thisoverpcworld]

Roger's Forehand. Best I have ever seen.

[@Nammuccino]

Roger picked rafa's forehand as the best forehand and Rafa picked Roger's. And Rafa said 'super perfect forehand'

[@gherbihicham8506]

That was more than 10 years ago, now Nadal probably thinks his forehand is a lot better and he'll be right.

[@gherbihicham8506]

​@maccajoe "The same amount of grand slams since then"? lets see 10 years ago since 2009: Nadal has 14 slams and Federer has 7 grand slams, I don't know in which world is 7 similar to 14 but it isn't this world. As for the last 5 matches that Federer's hard core fans keep repeating over and over these days (no longer true because Nadal destroyed Federer as always in the French Open 2019) but the overall h2h is 24-16 which means Nadal still dominates Federer in overall meetings, furthermore his grand slam h2h vs the guy is even more impressive which is 10 to 4 with Nadal even leading 3-1 in grand slams on hard courts, not sure how Federer's fan base even has the audacity to bring the h2h vs Nadal, the guy just owns Federer.

[@chtomlin]

@@gherbihicham8506 well guess you didn't realize how Novak owns them both and everybody else, lol.

[@LongyTV]

What? They went through talking about forehand and didn't bring up Jim's forehand. The guy who practically invented the 'Cover your backhand and hit Inside Out' forehand. Jim Courier and Agassi had one hell of forehands.

[@pietrpiepir6444]

or PETE who had a monster forehand that was even bigger that Andre's and always a hidden nuke he could drop on you out of nowhere, especially on the run

[@thewyattt9668]

steve johnson didn't sponsor this vid?

[@srinitaaigaura]

Nadal uses RPM blast for both mains and crosses. That string is an absolute spin monster.

[@Oveia1]

What Jimmy Courier said It's really important, to a pro player then recreational too. Awesome analysis.

[@YJ-br7ug]

Jack Sock lmao, you gotta be joking, Paul

[@DTwoHS]

Most underrated forehand in tennis history is Djokovic's. Never misses, best in the game at changing direction, and has great variety - he can just as easily drive it as he can loop it.

[@davidmercadodumar7772]

This is definitely true, maybe not on the level of the other two guys, but is a great forehand. Maybe because his backhand is so good, his forehand gets forgotten.

[@RandomGuy285]

You could those exact same descriptions for Rafa's FH

[@DTwoHS]

@RandomGuy285 right but everyone already agrees that Rafa has a great forehand

[@mastershake886]

Novak’s forehand gets forgotten because it’s pretty much a textbook good forehand, whereas Nadal and Federer’s are more unique

[@gherbihicham8506]

Djokovic's forehand gets overlooked in these discussions because he's not as relient on it as Nadal and Federer are, Djokovic can hit the ball well off of both wings, and imo better than everyone on the backhand side, his forehand is definitely top 10 maybe even top 5 behind Federer, Nadal and Del Potro. Djokovic's forehand is definitely better than his backhand however comparatively speaking (since most players attack the backhand side) imo his backhand is the biggest weapon his game, he's definitely top 3 of all time when it comes to the backhand.

[@gherbihicham8506]

I agree with these guys, Nadal's forehand is absolutely the most effective tennis shot perhaps to ever grace the game, while Federer is definitely up there in the best forehands of all time, his forehand gets a lot of appreciation because it is aesthetically pleasing. Imo Federer's best shot is his serve, he has the all around game, while Nadal is mostly relient on his forehand and movements around the court.

[@gherbihicham8506]

AJ first of all Djokovic and Federer both trail h2h with Nadal on grand slams 5-9 and 3-9 respectively, Nadal more than aptly handles both games, second of all that's not really an argument against what I was saying, these are anecdotes at best. Another anecdote is listing players who think Federer has the best forehand, I can also list a lot of players who Nadal's is the best, you got two examples right here in this video. Also just to clue you in a little Federer never (and I mean never) had a better winner to UE ratio vs Nadal in a grand slam match even in the matches he won (yes that's right), if you don't believe me you can look it up. Federer arguments for having the best forehand are mostly anecdotal and has nothing to do with it being an effective shot.

[@CalebPereira9123]

@@gherbihicham8506 Federer also said he thought Rafa had the best forehand ... and Rafa repaid the compliment. I like Djoker's also is very precise and compact, although it is not a overpowering shot. Stan should be up there.

[@asadnoor6551]

@@gherbihicham8506 yeah there have been matches where fed has had les ue and more winners, case in point the world tour finals. Although this Stat has nothing to do with how good rafa's forehand is. It's too defensive. That's why he almost never has more winners than his opponent. Also you cherry picked the h2h even though djoko has made rafa his bitch over the last few years, even beat him 3-0 in Roland garros, nobody has lost that bad in their fav tourney. Make a list of atp people and legends who pick the best forehand. Odds would be 10-1 in favor of federer Sorry

[@gherbihicham8506]

@@asadnoor6551 LMAO.

[@andre-px8rv]

Do more coaching corner !!

[@montanajones8393]

A great forehand is one thing but a complete game is the key to success & Federer is the master. Jimmy Arias blew into the pro ranks with his forehand but people soon figured out his weaknesses & were able to pick apart his game. Roger though has an equally amazing backhand & his complete game is the reason the man is a living legend.

[@CalebPereira9123]

He doesn't have an equally amazing backhand. His backhand is far duller. The best FH-BH balance is Djokovic followed by Nadal due to Nadal's crossdominance.

[@chtomlin]

@@CalebPereira9123 yes, pretty sad of these guys to make a point of leaving the GOAT out of this discussion Since Novak is better than both and also has a better Fh even though that isn't the shot he is most known for.... the best Bh in history as well.

[@CalebPereira9123]

@@chtomlin Djokovic doesn't have the better forehand, that's why Federer dominated the deuce exchange even as late as 2019.

[@X_Cuda_X]

Probably forgot about him, but Fernando Gonzalez has the best fh ever

[@chtomlin]

Anacone seems to confuse a linear swing with a more horizontal swing.... No pro plays with a linear swing. The all use rotational force to accel into contact. Z's feet were fine on that mishit, but maybe his spacing was off... or more likely, he just head-shifted near contact as he is prone to do. The Pros all hit near the apex because the ball is coming so fast that it stays near the Apex height for a long distance. It would be hard to NOT take the ball near the Apex height. Sure, Z could have moved up for that Fh, but like Rafa, he isn't much of a rising ball hitter with the Fh. Z played that ball just like he wanted to, but just missed a bit wide going for too much.... He hit a monster shape Fade there, but likely was not taught how to manage the Fade correctly.

[@cjever6625]

I cant wait for Jim Courier to interview Roger on AO 2019

[@clientserver9295]

Sampras has the best running forehand. Not even federer gets close to that.

[@kelleyfamily2636]

I don't like this analysis because it basic premise is not sound . Federer and Nadal's swing are not very different at all. Federer is NOT hitting straight through the line of the ball and the video of either forehand that was shown clearly demonstrates that. Take a look at the myriad Federer slowmo forehand videos on KZbin and you can see that Federer's swing path has a fairly extreme low to high component, just like Nadal's and generally a bit more extreme than most other male pros. The Hawkeye spin rate numbers also support this. Nadal is only getting 16% more spin than Federer. The real difference between Federer's and Nadal's forehand is where they setup to hit the ball. Federer is up tight on the baseline. He's hitting way more balls on the rise than Nadal is. Nadal by contrast is playing many feet behind the baseline. Nadal is taking relatively few balls on the rise, and a lot of balls after the apex of their bounce - i.e. on the fall. Taking a ball on the rise will reduce topspin relative to taking the ball on the fall all other things being equal. And the difference in how Federer and Nadal position themselves plays into their overall styles and strategies. Federer plays tight to the baseline to take time away from his opponents. He's hitting with a significant low to high motion, not that different than Nadal, but his positioning steals some spin from his ball. Federer has to setup fast and doesn't have time to take quite as huge a cut at the ball as Nadal, and has to hit lower over the net because he's closer in and getting slightly less spin, but is rewarded by forcing his opponents to have to quickly react. If Federer can control the on-the-rise ball, which he usually can, he can generate winners more easily because his opponents have less time to get to Federer's ball. Nadal generally wants to play back more. He gives his opponents more time, swings harder than Federer to make up for how much further back he is positioned, gets extra spin from taking the ball on the fall, can hit higher over the net for margin (both because he's back further and the extra spin) and forces his opponents hit a ball that will kick up higher since it will be coming down from a higher point with more spin. Nadal's opponents are generally going to get to his ball, but handling it, shot after punishing shot, is difficult.

[@predragdosen6348]

Veru good comment and insight which realy explains essential difference betweeen two different styles of play. Bravo! Kindlly regards.

[@swalterstennis]

Good analysis.

[@elizabethseminario7203]

Rafa the best

[@haajiryabre335]

I am a Djokovic fan and I think rafa got the best forehand in the game.

[@plugjk]

Best forehand consist of accuracy,shot making,power and pace,and hit more winners. So 1.Federer for sure

[@chtomlin]

DJ and Tsonga have the best Fh, along with Verdasco...

[@gherbihicham8506]

@@plugjk Nadal's forehand is better in almost all of these categories than Federer, Nadal btw hits more or less the same FH winners with Fed only with a huge difference in UEs which makes Nadal's forehand significantly better, Federer's Forehand isn't even his best shot, his best shot is his serve.

[@user-go8oj4dl4w]

I thought 1:50 was odd, he hits at a comfortable height (just below shoulder height) and almost hits a highly pressurizing shot... Seems like a good tactic as opposed to going in 5 feet to hit it at head height. Also, it's hard to believe the graphic at 3.50, it looks like Nadal's contact point is way higher than the other two, what exactly does 'average' mean, how many shots were analysed to come up with this?

[@Neptunus9]

Robin Söderling should have been on that list.

[@NVG444]

Nadal's the best forehand in the game but the physical toll on the body... Feds better in that regard

[@user-be5qg7mr1s]

what about steve johnson???

[@csf801]

Fernando Gonzalez, Del Potro, Nadal.

[@philippboetcher9959]

I don't now why these guys always forget Thiem....there is not one player who has such an advanced technique like him. He totally revolutionizes tennis technique. His forehand is way heavier then Federers and more dangerous then Nadals. Apart from the fact that he has the best backhand in the game. I do agree that when it comes to precision Djokovic is way up there. When it comes to power and explosiveness I will opt for Thiem.

[@LPdevilness]

I respect your opinion but I think you're absolutely wrong. Thiem's fh wind up is so big and so long which is why he has trouble on fast surfaces. His bh is solid but I believe Wawrinka has a better bh. His technique is good on clay but I don't see Thiem winning any big tournaments on hard or grass.

[@philippboetcher9959]

Just look at the game he played against Anderson yesterday, he smashed these forehands superfast and powerful. Wawrinkas backhand is great but not better in my opinion, they have about the same speed and skill on it. Yes sometimes he has a long swing but he has been working on that and can more adjust his swing path now. But the swing path is also what makes him so special, it is a very new approach to the stroke, its innovation:) But yes, I really like wawrinkas game too so don't really wanna compare them:)

[@benjamintong6475]

Thiem's backhand is very stiff compared to the backhands of Federer or wawrinka...

[@philippboetcher9959]

aehh..no....just more powerful!

[@philippboetcher9959]

No finesse? Just to hit shots that clean in itself is a lot of finesse. It requires a very refined technique. Also I don't agree at all that he can't hit drop shots, he uses them actually quite a lot and with great effect. He also slices quite a bit and very consistent. The thing is that he has all the options because there is no weakness in his games. Look at Johnson for example, every backhand he plays is a slice because his normal backhand is just not that strong. Thiem played also some pretty amazing angles against Nadal by the way, certainly not just smacking it. I think to see nadal playing mostly defense for 5 sets says enough how dangerous Thiems game is, he is able to dominate games all the way.

[@shirona2082]

I get what the mean when they say "low to high", but it's actually a very poor way to tell a new player to do a forehand. You get these "windshield wiper" forehands that don't generate any actual pace.

[@pietrpiepir6444]

Tennis is so poorly understood, and even more poorly communicated

[@bournejason66]

Djokovic forehand is underrated. He actually has a smooth, consistent forehand. My top three: Roger, nadal , Novak. Surprise they even mentioned jack sock, who hit with a twisted, non biomechanics sound way

[@LuLu-nw6bi]

A better mention than Djokovic... How on earth can his be better than Del Potro's or Gonzalez's, for example? And many others' for that matter.

[@goldennguyen8271]

I'm a Rafa fan and I think Roger's forehand is the best in the game, miles ahead of Nadal (also in other aspects of the game).

[@gherbihicham8506]

There is noway Federer's forehand is better than Nadal's, he's not even close.

[@CalebPereira9123]

Roger thinks Rafa has the best forehand. For what it's worth Rafa thinks Roger has the best. But I agree with Jim: Rafa's has more margin and therefore more pay-off.

[@jakefan77]

Fernando?

[@anacap007]

Rafa's probably is the best/most effective but I doubt many good coaches are going to take their students to watch a Rafa FH video and say, "Hey, do it like this."

[@forgotmyname2462]

anacap007 because it is almost impossible to hit a forehand like nadal for 2 hours plus for a mere mortal

[@novz19]

Give me Fernando Gonzalez forehand .

[@asadnoor6551]

Rafa has a poor cross court attacking forehand. Actually the worst. Attack it well enough and you get short ball easy. All you need is a good cross court backhand if you are a righty. Novak and federer showed that in 2017 2019 AO. A lot of things these guys say is crap, for example Paul the other day stated there are more grass tourneys than clay.

[@zachsellars7188]

Verdasco? Surely.

[@seanjenkins331]

I like Jack Sock

[@jackquinnes]

Jack Sock and his twisted flip even mentioned in this connection, gimme a break you biased yank homers lol.

[@CalebPereira9123]

Yeah Sock & Kyrgios have weirdass, inconsistent forehands.

[@CalebPereira9123]

... and Tiafoe.

[@sapientbudgie5652]

Jim you are on crack. Federer has a way better forehand than Nadal. Delpo?? Are you nuts. Jack sock can’t win a singles tournament to save his life. Best in the tour Federer, Thiem, Nadal, Cilic on the tour right now. Nadal on clay. Federer has the most efficient, relaxed forehand in the game. Possibly of all time. Certainly the modern game

[@michaelobgy]

Rubbish commercial bullshit! Sock? Who is he?