Nadal's forhand was way better back in 2004

He looks leaner and buffer than nowadays. Just slightly but remember he has had to drop muscle weight because of the effect it had on his feet with all the running and sliding. His forehand probably lost some bite with the physical changes.


P.S. it might be the racket technology that has changed from 2004. nowadays forehands that used to be great are less great and produce more useless topspin.

FitDave said:

I wonder what has happened to the monster forehands of Nadal, Ferrero and Moya. Just watch the clip and you know what I mean!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeabrKndlUs&feature=related

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Thanx for posting the link.
Great clip!!

Black Adam said:

He looks leaner and buffer than nowadays. Just slightly but remember he has had to drop muscle weight because of the effect it had on his feet with all the running and sliding. His forehand probably lost some bite with the physical changes.


P.S. it might be the racket technology that has changed from 2004. nowadays forehands that used to be great are less great and produce more useless topspin.

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That's very interesting about the racket technology. Do you mind elaborating?

That might also have to do with the fact that he was a free swinging just-turned 17 year old kid

Blaze, I think that was the time he enjoyed tennis.

That forehand was a cracker, damn I miss the "old" days

I think he still did in 05, but since Madrid that year with his variety of injuries and having to spill blood to win matches, its been a while since ive seen him smiling on court

*bunny* said:

Thanx for posting the link.
Great clip!!


That's very interesting about the racket technology. Do you mind elaborating?

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It's just most players aren't hitting as flat as they used to do back. Look at today's game and tell you can see any flat strokes. It's either the latest strings facilitate topspin shots or Topspin has become very fashionable.

Black Adam said:

It's just most players aren't hitting as flat as they used to do back. Look at today's game and tell you can see any flat strokes. It's either the latest strings facilitate topspin shots or Topspin has become very fashionable.

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i think it's more the later
topspin gives more safety and that is what players and coaches are looking for nowadays

Great clip.

FitDave said:

Blaze, I think that was the time he enjoyed tennis.

That forehand was a cracker, damn I miss the "old" days

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He still smiles everytime he wins..

What do oyu mean by the "old" days?

Black Adam said:

He looks leaner and buffer than nowadays. Just slightly but remember he has had to drop muscle weight because of the effect it had on his feet with all the running and sliding. His forehand probably lost some bite with the physical changes.


P.S. it might be the racket technology that has changed from 2004. nowadays forehands that used to be great are less great and produce more useless topspin.

Click to expand...

:lol:

He only weighed around 185 and you are saying he had to drop muscle?

man...

He has gained weight since then, so you are saying gaining fat is better than muscle?

I liked the lean Nadal more, he was way faster and his shots looked way sharper than they do today!

Xristos said:

He still smiles everytime he wins..

What do oyu mean by the "old" days?

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The days when he just had a go at the ball

Rafa still has a great forehand. He has the best lefty forehand and arguably the most devestating forehand out of any player right now. He doesn't go for a winner with each one, but he wears you down with the top spin so you get tired.

blackgirltennis said:

Rafa still has a great forehand. He has the best lefty forehand and arguably the most devestating forehand out of any player right now. He doesn't go for a winner with each one, but he wears you down with the top spin so you get tired.

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You posted this same comment on the youtube clip. The fact is it's not the most devastating forehand, it's a "wear the right handed players down" type of forehand, but not many outright winners with it. Now his backhand is devastating. Federer's forehand is the single most devastating shot in the game - any objective person will admit that.

Flatter is not better.

Xristos said:

He still smiles everytime he wins..

What do oyu mean by the "old" days?

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FedFan_2007 said:

You posted this same comment on the youtube clip. The fact is it's not the most devastating forehand, it's a "wear the right handed players down" type of forehand, but not many outright winners with it. Now his backhand is devastating. Federer's forehand is the single most devastating shot in the game - any objective person will admit that.

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Give me some of the stuff you smoke

Have you ever seen the forehand of Feña?

Federer's best stroke is the backhand, his forehand wins him matches but his backhand wins him tournaments.

FedFan_2007 said:

You posted this same comment on the youtube clip. The fact is it's not the most devastating forehand, it's a "wear the right handed players down" type of forehand, but not many outright winners with it. Now his backhand is devastating. Federer's forehand is the single most devastating shot in the game - any objective person will admit that.

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Okay, well, we can agree to disagree. The definition of devastate is to overwhelm. They both do that. Rafa and Feds still have two of the best forehands in the game. Anybody can see that. Who has the best?? I don't like to answer question like that because imo, many players can argue for that title: Blake, Fed, Rafa, Gonzo, Andreev, Djokovic, old Andy, sometimes Andy.

It's hard for people to be objective in deciding who is the GOAT, who has the best serve, who has the best backhand (forehand) because most people are biased. I'd rather name groups of players who are the best than singling out one who is the best.

Watch some of Nadal's FH's at IW and Miami this year or even at MC and Roma. It's better than 2004, 2005, and so on when he hits it with confidence. Today's Nadal would beat that Nadal 2 and 2.

FitDave said:

Give me some of the stuff you smoke

Have you ever seen the forehand of Feña?

Federer's best stroke is the backhand, his forehand wins him matches but his backhand wins him tournaments.

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Top 5 but I still wouldn't place it ahead of Fed or Nadal's FH.