Poll

Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?

Connors
0 (0%)
Federer
9 (56.3%)
Kuerten
1 (6.3%)
Borg
2 (12.5%)
Becker
1 (6.3%)
Other
3 (18.8%)

Total Members Voted: 16

Voting closed: February 06, 2005, 10:02:41 PM

« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?  (Read 7256 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Jamesdster

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 6339
  • Gender: Male
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« on: February 06, 2005, 10:01:18 PM »
See subject above.  It is very similar to Henin's if you ask me.  Others??  Connors, Federer, Kuerten, Borg, Becker???
Logged
I was at this casino minding my own business, and this guy came up to me and said, "You're gonna have to move, you're blocking a fire exit." As though if there was a fire, I wasn't gonna run. If you're flammible and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit.  - Mitch Hedberg

Offline Tennis4you

  • Administrator
  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 24987
  • Gender: Male
    • Tennis4you
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2005, 10:03:25 PM »
Federer's backhand is so nice it is scarey.  The fact that he never seems off balance puts it right up there with the best of the best to me.
Logged
Good Luck on the Court!!!
Scott Baker
http://www.tennis4you.com

Offline MandlikovaFan

  • New Poster
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2005, 04:26:42 PM »
I liked Lendl's backhand but for shot production,  I liked Edberg's and Leconte's better.  For the two-handies, Mecir had a great backhand to watch.
Logged
"Hana was capable of reaching heights beyond any of us......inexplicable lows too."  Billie Jean King on Hana Mandlikova

Offline Jamesdster

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 6339
  • Gender: Male
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2005, 10:03:20 PM »
Ahhhhhh...Miloslav Mecir...the big cat, one of the smoothest players EVER!
Logged
I was at this casino minding my own business, and this guy came up to me and said, "You're gonna have to move, you're blocking a fire exit." As though if there was a fire, I wasn't gonna run. If you're flammible and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit.  - Mitch Hedberg

Offline MandlikovaFan

  • New Poster
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2005, 11:00:33 PM »
Quote from: "Jamesdster"
Ahhhhhh...Miloslav Mecir...the big cat, one of the smoothest players EVER!


He hardly seemed to even hit the ball but he'd rip one right down your line.  I loved how one person once described his service motion.  "It's like watching someone unfold a lounge chair." :lmao:
Logged
"Hana was capable of reaching heights beyond any of us......inexplicable lows too."  Billie Jean King on Hana Mandlikova

Offline Chris1987

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 40084
  • Gender: Male
  • Maria!!- Victoria!!- Elena V!!- Maria K!!
    • http://www.mariasharapova.com
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2005, 12:59:41 AM »
dont doubt for me that roger possess the best back hand i hav ever saw.
Logged
Career Grand Slam! 20 time English Champions!


Maria, Manchester United, Victoria, Elena V, Maria K, Rafa Nadal, LA Lakers, England Cricket

Maria Sharapova's number 1 Fan!

Offline timd818

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 645
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2005, 11:30:47 AM »
Federer's backhand is probably the prettiest. Safin got a nice one too, it's not as pretty as Fed's but it packs a good punch.
Logged
I've been a tennis bum for half my life.
I'll just be a bum for the other half.

Offline thejackal

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 2204
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2005, 07:45:12 PM »
I voted for Guga.  Fed's is nice but under pressure he slices a lot.  A safe play for sure, but Kuerten's backhand is better.
Logged
official blogger

tennisconnected.com

Offline Jamesdster

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 6339
  • Gender: Male
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2005, 11:14:10 PM »
Guga has a vary pretty stoke.
Logged
I was at this casino minding my own business, and this guy came up to me and said, "You're gonna have to move, you're blocking a fire exit." As though if there was a fire, I wasn't gonna run. If you're flammible and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit.  - Mitch Hedberg

Offline dagnat

  • Tennis Player
  • **
  • Posts: 28
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2005, 09:47:31 AM »
I love all the backhands mentioned here, but I want to remind everyone of the forgotten beautiful one-hander possessed by Karel Novacek.

Two backhand shots I will never forget:

--Lendl's topspin backhand lob to save match point against Pat Cash (on Super Saturday at the USO?  or was it the AO?)

--Leconte's backhand pass of Sampras from way behind the baseline in the deuce corner (I think it was on a break point) early in the match in the DC final.  Cliff Drysdale yelled "The ball was behind him!  How did he do that?"
Logged

Offline MC ill Logic

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 1378
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2005, 11:25:16 AM »
Quote from: "Jamesdster"
Ahhhhhh...Miloslav Mecir...the big cat, one of the smoothest players EVER!
Guys and Gals, I've seen a video of a French Open match between Mecir and Lendl and you wouldn't believe how slow they're hitting.  I know that was Mecir's game plan (to bore Ivan to death), but holy sheep they're seriously hitting softer than Henin versus Serena.  At one point I think I remember the crowd booing.  

Mecir was just massaging these moonballs to Lendl's backhand, and Lendl was looping them back.  Repeat.  Repeat.  

As for the poll question, here's a few one-handers who I think have/had prettier backhands than Lendl:  Guga... Pioline... Gaudio... Federer... Edberg... Rochus... Corretja... Mantilla... maybe Haas and Arazi... Stich... Pavel... Henmans's slice... Sampras' slice...

I was never a big fan of Becker's hammer gripped muscle-bound backhand.

One handers are just inherently, IMO, more beautiful than two handers, so really there is no two handed backhands that I think are as pretty let alone prettier than a good one hander, but Safin, Kafelnikov, Mardy Fish, and Agassi all have lovely two-handers.
Logged

Offline MC ill Logic

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 1378
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2005, 11:28:07 AM »
Quote from: "thejackal"
I voted for Guga.  Fed's is nice but under pressure he slices a lot.  A safe play for sure, but Kuerten's backhand is better.
I agree, BUT under pressure Federer has also been known to top spin shots out of his ass that I've never seen anybody pull.  And nobody can half volley a backhand off his foot like Federer.  His timing is sometimes supernatural.

I love Guga's stroke though.  His forehand too.
Logged

Offline Jamesdster

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 6339
  • Gender: Male
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #12 on: February 13, 2005, 09:41:14 PM »
Mc ILL

All I can say is...GREAT POST.  You do know your tennis.
Logged
I was at this casino minding my own business, and this guy came up to me and said, "You're gonna have to move, you're blocking a fire exit." As though if there was a fire, I wasn't gonna run. If you're flammible and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit.  - Mitch Hedberg

Offline MC ill Logic

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 1378
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2005, 01:15:00 AM »
Quote from: "Jamesdster"
Mc ILL

All I can say is...GREAT POST.  You do know your tennis.
Thanks, J.  I love tennis.  It's the one thing in the world I can do or talk about any time and not be bored.  Everything else is a struggle.  :)  I think my thoughts on tennis far exceeds my ability to play it.  If I strike it rich in Hollywood soon I would seriously consider trying to get on the Chair Umpire career track.  What a life that would be.  Or coach a d-3 college team.

Saulnier has a nice one-handed backhand too.  It's a lot like Scheng Schalken's, another guy with a great one-hander.
Logged

Offline Bundey

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 1619
  • Gender: Male
  • Formerly known as "#1federerfan"
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #14 on: August 24, 2005, 09:17:24 AM »
hi
Logged

Sanja_Cro

  • Guest
Who knows?
« Reply #15 on: December 05, 2005, 08:25:35 PM »
At first, big hello from Zagreb, Croatia!.. :H  :)

I know that i am going to be off topic, but I found you by the way on searching google..
What do I want to know?...Please, if somebodey knows email of some fun club Miloslav Mecir,
or his private email, etc..I'll be so gratefull!! ..I was searching through the google, but I didn't find
anything but his earlier career....
:worthy:  :thx!)


Many regards from rainy Zagreb.....

Love, Sanja    ://
Logged

Offline christopher07

  • Tennis Addict
  • ****
  • Posts: 170
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #16 on: December 06, 2005, 05:48:26 PM »
I hardly remember Lendl (before my time, really) but i seem
to remember his backhand being a quite an ugly stroke...
I wouldn't rank it alongside Federer's, Sabatini's and definitely not
Henin-Hardenne's....
Logged
I wish I could drink like a lady
I can take one or two at the most
Three and I'm under the table
Four and I'm under the host

Too f**king busy, and vice versa [reply to an editor]
- Dorothy Parker

Offline Arcforce

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 3285
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #17 on: December 06, 2005, 06:08:34 PM »
Well, I know he's not fully developed or put together yet but I have to say that Richard Gasquet single-handedly gave me an appreciation for one-handers and just watching him hit that dagum thing makes me drool. It's the most beatiful thing I"ve ever seen.
Logged

Offline Belgian Miss

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 2313
  • Gender: Female
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #18 on: December 13, 2005, 01:13:20 PM »
Gustavo Kuerten has a very attractive backhand as does Richard Gasquet.

I'm not really fond of the two-handed backhand, I think it's a little robot-like. Not really pretty IMO.
Logged

Offline Babblelot

  • Tennis God
  • ******
  • Posts: 30568
  • Gender: Male
  • Chicago, IL
Who Ever Had A Prettier Backhand Than Ivan Lendl?
« Reply #19 on: December 14, 2005, 10:09:06 AM »
Lendl comes from the school of eastern European bh's: flat, powerful, little margin for error. Certainly effective, but I prefer a different style.

men - Gaudio: at least on clay, he can consistently and repeatedly crush bh's at or above his shoulder while driving them deep

Gasquet may grow on me; have to watch more of him

though not as much as Gaudio, I always liked Pioline's bh--he'd take the biggest swings at every thing--cracked me up

women - Henin (pre-illness): grace, power and offensive

Like belgian miss, not a fan of 2H. Only 2Her I like to watch is Safin.
Logged
1995 USO, 1997 USO, 2004 USO, 2005 RG, 2005 USO, 2006 RG, 2006 USO, 2007 USO, 2008 RG, 2008 USO, 2009 USO, 2010 USO, 2011 USO, 2012 USOhttp://www.gifsoup.com/view4/1856936/2005safin-o.gif
http://www.gifsoup.com/view1/1857331/2004gaudio-o.gif
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »