When I first thought about this… I thought that the best weapon in Tennis was a no brainer and would definitely have to be Nadal’s forehand… but then I started to think more and lose my certainty about it when I considered many other players…. so I am gonna play it safe and not specifically say any player has the best weapon in Tennis, instead I will discuss a few I believe deserve all have their own rights to the claim.

Nadal’s Forehand – The Nadal forehand has caused players endless amounts of trouble because of the extreme spin he puts into each one. The balls is hit with a high level of revs unlike any other player and results in most players being pushed back and on the defense. Nadal’s ability to hit ridiculously good angles crosscourt or lasoo the ball down the line is an absolute pleasure to watch as a fan…and a bit of a nightmare to play against.. especially on clay if you are on the other side of the net.

Serena’s Serve – There is not much to say about this shot, except that when it on, which is more often than not, it is the best shot in woman’s Tennis. The ability to be able to hit it to all corners of the service box, as well as vary up the pace with spin or flatten it out are what Serena does best. The shot has got her out of many tricky situations. The mechanics of her serve are simple which means it very rarely break’s down.

Federer Forehand – First thing that comes to mind when describing the Fed forehand is classic and beautiful to watch. His forehand really is a beautiful shot and probably an underrated weapon. When Fed is playing his best he can crank up the pace and hit it for winners to all parts of the court. The angles he gets on the cross court forehand have bamboozled many players over the years. Just a very beautiful shot to watch.

Graff Forehand – The Graff forehand was just masterful to watch. Graff would run around her backhand and his forehand winners from all over the court. Even though her opposition knew that the forehand was her lethal weapon, it was still so hard to avoid it. Graff used an Australian grip, which is halfway between a continental and eastern forehand. The shot was very effective on all surfaces.

Patrick Rafter backhand overhead – Rafter definitely had one of the best volley games we have seen in Tennis. Particularly his backhand volley was masterful to watch… but here I want to mention one shot I remember watching him over and over again with precision and easy pace…. the backhand overhead.. He positioned himself perfectly everytime and somehow generated immense pace and precision.

Del Potro Forehand – Oh Delpo.. that killer forehand has done a lot of damage over the years. The forehand is one of the best in Tennis.. The shot looks soo flat when your watching him play and it’s hard to comprehend how the ball lands in with the amount of pace he generates… but he does.. over and over again.

Stan the man – .. that Backhand – The Wawrinka backhand is a technically sound generated stroke. As a result of its perfect mechanics he has been able to harness all of his natural power and use the stroke as a huge weapon over the years… especially on clay. The massive swing and follow through allow him to hit shot crosscourt or down the line effortlessly. He is often off balance and falling backwards with an open stance when he hits winners up the line…. however he does it time and time again.

Venus Williams – backhand – This shot is very technically sound. The very early preparation means that Venus has been able to get into position for the shot over the years and hit it in any direction, either flat or with spin, and do it easily. Unlike her forehand which can be prone to breaking down, the backhand is very consistent at all times.

There are no doubt quite a few players who should be in this list from other generations… but for now I am just talking about the last 20-25 years.

Are there any other mentions which should be here?

Yours in Tennis, JRakus