How the GOAT Fixed his backhand
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- Опубликовано: 29 мар 2023
- Federer's backhand before 2017 was always seen as a weakness. Especially against Nadal who hits heavy high topspin balls. Here's how he overcame it.
#tennis #rogerfederer #tennissg #tenniscourt
Novak didnt fix his backhand he always had a good one.
You need to fix your attitude.
right, had to fix his serve though it was sh*t for a while lol
i like that on every federer video there is some Novak fan ready to belittle Federer, I know it hurts that most people don't consider Novak the goat, and you can understand why Federer skill speak for himself
@@razoo911 True tennis fans understand that Novak is the greatest ever. The rest just follow the media or are casual tennis fans. Facts. Ps I still love Federer
@@BadOmen2 I love that: it instantly says that, if anyone has a different opinion, they can't be true tennis fans. Well, I'm a true tennis fan - and I have a different or at least nuanced opinion. If you want to know it, I'll let you know.
It’s so funny that people were talking about Federer “ fixing his backhand” there was really absolutely nothing wrong with his backhand but it was a weakness when he played against Nadal and Djokovic and due to their high top spin.
So, there was, considering how he did after
Seeing his shots from court level is very interesting. It's a nice change from the regular TV point of view
😊👍🏻
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
He could always hit the ball at head and shoulder height. I've seen videos prior to 2017 of this. At head height, it's more of a hard slice as you come across the ball. With Edberg as his coach, he was content with slicing the ball back instead of aggressively attacking the ball. With Ivan as his new coach, he was constantly reminding Fed to come over the ball and hit with pace. In interviews, Fed actually credits his father to convince him to stop slicing and just hit back hard. To me, it's a combination of ppl getting in his ear and then getting more comfortable with the 97 frame.
Yes agree! He used the slice too much instead of having the confidence to take the ball early and hitting it much more aggressively
Fed should have hit the jumping backhand like Shapo. Can't remember him doing it. But Fed had the athletic skills to do it. 🎾
I think the long break helped him mentally but most importantly, physically. He came back looking a lot leaner and stronger in 17.
@@Better_Call_Raulthough that could wear the knee a lot quicker no?
slices is great strategy for facing brutal hardhitters like Wawrinka, Del Potro, Kyrgios, Cilic, Raonic, etc
Federer always had the technique and ability to hit the single backhand on the rise. But he only started doing it more past 2017 when he had nothing to lose and stopped allowing the high bouncing topspin balls to go over his head.
He always had the ability but never did it because of tactics!
Totally right.
He became a lot better at it after he started hitting early balls on serves though, that's why he felt more confident taking them so early because in his practice sessions his coach made him come in like mad for serves all the time taking them super early.
That 97 sq in wilson has way more easy power that the 90 he used to play with.
good video editing, everything is so clear. thanks for the efforts mike !
This is something that can be applied to players who used 2handers as well! No backhand that bounces high outside of our strike zone is easy to hit. We COULD slice it when it's too high and there's definitely a time and place for that. But I firmly believe that keeping our intensity up and footwork lively and quick allows us to get in position to attack the ball on the rise on the backhand. I'm a shorter player too so it's imperative that I hit my backhands on the rise
His racquet change helped him as well as getting Ivan Ljubucic as coach who hated how Federer was missing so many backhands into the net. He went up from 88 to 93 to 95 and finally 97 sq inch head racquets and the larger sweet spot helped his backhand. He has the best slice backhand I would say in tennis history so he was able to get away with slicing high balls back until the likes of Nadal came who could topsin a sliced ball into a corner. Nowadays all players have extreme racquet head speed and can punish a slow slice. It's just a little sad how his backhand form reverted a little after 2017. I wished he came over the top more on his backhand returns like Dmitrov and Thiem. He may have won two more grand slams if he returned just a little better and had his neo-2017 backhand the last few years of his career.
Welp, age caught up.
I thought the frame he used for the longest was the 90inch frame? I own the last 90 inch pro staff Fed played with, the one he used right before the switch from 2012-2013. Which of his racquets used an 88 and 93in frame?
Wrong, you forgot to mention fed used 90
Absolutely fantastic analysis! Spot on. Were I still able to play tennis, I'm sure I could learn and practice some small tips shown in this video.👍👍👍
Thank you!
I think the difference between his old topspin and new has been less use of the wrist. It was quite a wristy shot pre 2014. It gave great spin, but on a high ball or a deep ball would land short as well lose of some pace upon contact. It was good at finding angles but would get exposed against a Nadal, Murray, and Djokovic. Post 2014, he had the added benefit of a larger sweet spot, plus keeping the wrist a bit more firm produced better depth and pace.
One thing to mention based on this video is something I myself just only realized recently. It’s that if the ball is higher than your shoulder, you can do a type of jump during your hit like federer does often in this video (watch the first clip) to give you the additional height necessary for a strong OHBH on the rise hit by maintaining that shoulderish height during the shot. It’s a difficult motion to pull off due to the short timing and precision required but can be great when done correctly. Same for certain FH shots. And probably THBH but I don’t use it so idk.
Nice video dude!
His biggest issue was his take back. If you look at Wawrinka's it's much more vertical with the racquet face completely closed before contact. Roger, with his 90 and first RF 97 from around 2009-2015 kept his racquet face open just until he had the racquet behind his head. This created problems, as the timing of it wasn't always consistent. I think in 2017 he fixed that to some degree.
The bigger take back takes more time
@@caocaohehe His take back was never big, just the racquet face was super open
i dont think that this was so problematic.. have you ever seen the guga kuerten's BH take back?
@@TheGodsMustBeCrazy who?
@@pedropaivalemos For Roger, he could get away with it because he's the GOAT but even for him it created timing issues
Ljubicic had a lot to do with improving his backhand
Ljubicic and the bigger head size frame.
Interestingly it was also his father that made him rethink his backhand...
I thought Edberg was the one who did that. Ljubicic had a two-hander.
@@brenhughNo Ljubicic had a one hander
@@carlosguerreroalvarez9913 Thanks for that, Carlos. I thought after I wrote it that I might be wrong.I intended to check on it, but forgot 🧐👍
Great video
Nice video!
Wow I really like it! I really need to fix my backhand
Like Guga Kuerten! Put the feet early, early preparation, hit on the rise and move your body up during the shot.
Definitely one of the best onehanded backhands of all time
Thanks for the great footage and narration. (But I needed to turn off the sound track to stop the mind-numbing music.)
Roger's backhand was a great shot before 2017. It was targeted by Nadal, yes, but even two-handers struggled with Nadal's spin, and Rafa was Fed's biggest challenge for other reasons than just Rafa being able to get the ball high (defense, passing ability, overall mental consistency). Nobody mentions it, but besides the BH being great, his forehand was back to 2006 level potency in his four wins over Rafa in 2017. Especially in Australia, he doesn't win without his FH doing so much damage, despite how clutch his BH was in the 5th set.
he's 100% more comfortable with backhand after 2016. Being able to hit more backhand winner is one thing, stop trying too hard to find his forehand is an even bigger improvement
Hey....great video and analysis!
What the hell are we going to do without this man to watch ?
I am a former college player and teaching pro and I will NEVER see the likes of Federer again....NO one possessed the full package like Roger, balance , power, creativity, movement, defense, offense and a pathological competitive desire to win, while ALWAYS giving credit to his opponent when he came in second.
Thank you for the memories.
Haha youre welcome. For me, i personally love to watch alcaraz and sinner :)
Great analysis 👍
Thanks!
@@melchaig.n.5238Federer allegedly "fixed" his unreliable topspin backhsnd but why then did he last manage to beat Djokovic in any slam match, still aged only 30, more than a whole 10 years before he retired? 😂
@huzcer because Djokovic is simply too good and better is almost every way
@@melchaig.n.5238 lol. Nice attempt at sarcasm. At the end of the day nobody loved fed's backhand more than Djokovic. Whether Fed was hitting it or ceding position by running around it, it was the gift that gave so much.
@huzcer Hey man, believe it or not. Im actually being serious, Djokovic's overall game is more complete than Fed's was. If you watched CULT Tennis' video on how to beat Roger, he highlights specifically how his backhand in terms of measurable metrics resulted in many losses to both Djoko and Nadal. It's stupid to refute that 2023 Djokovic is better in every metric than Federer in 2017.
Hence, Djoko is better indeed every way. It didn't matter if Federer fixed his single backhand as explained or took it early. He'd still get targeted on that side by Djoko as shown.
Federer lost to Djokovic in the 2019 final simply because Djoko was too damn good and mentally strong. So what if his backhand had no more shanks or dumb errors. In the end, he lost because Djoko was amazing. Look at the statistics that show backhand metrics. The 2019 Federer backhand metric in Wimbledon was fine, not the reason why he lost to Djoko. In fact, he had the SAME UEs on the backhand side as Djoko.
Got to tennisabstract's website to see the full statistics on that final. You'd truly see how well Djoko played. Djoko best Fed cuz hes too good
whats the song? lofi is always impossible to find
massive cajones are key imo. you just gotta be willing to miss badly and look silly. Many people struggle with commitment, and tennis is no different. It's just hard to step into the ball and take on the rise, but the only way to get better is to keep doing it.
Nice video
Of course you can hit above your shoulder. Gasquet is one example of how.
No, if youve ever learnt the single handed backhand. To hit it above the shoulder is much harder than a two handed backhand. Gasquet can do it easier than federer because of his grip, but it is never good for a single hander to do it.
Dimitrov in an interview mentioned for a single hander you have to slice on certain high balls because thats just how it is
@@melchaig.n.5238 Ok fine. Then I'm an example of how.
Yes, some players can hit that high. Gasquet is a good example. Gustavo Kuerten was the best example IMHO.
those were exceptions. Not the rule.
@@kextrz It's not about exceptions or a rule, it's about the ability to do it, and how to do it. Or would prefer all players play the same mediocre strokes?
@@paulczerner3286 I dont think its that they can't do it. They certainly can, but at that level it probably would get punished compared to just slicing a high ball since it would probably end being a little more floaty and slower compared to hitting a good high slice.
Wow superhero!!!👍👍👍👏👏👏✌️🔥
Good obserations! Just a feedback, at power position your leg was already unloaded. Don't think about unloading ground-up, it will happen anyway.
Thanks!
Federer DID have a good backhand in previous years. His 2014 backhand especially in the Australian open was just as good as his 2017 one. Funnily enough it used to be better in some circumstances because his windup would be deceptive and appear as a possible slice or swing. It only began looking worse when he stopped slicing so much.
I take issue with the notion that you can't hit a decent one-hander above shoulder height. I think I can. I'm not talking about a lob or a bunt. I'm talking about an aggressive drive. My arm is more or less horizontally outstretched at contact but the racquet extends diagonally up from my wrist at this point, meaning the face can be somewhere around head height. I use a large, low-to-high swing with a very closed stance, taking the ball well out in front and to my left (arm outstretched, as I mentioned). That way I still have good racquet head speed at that height. I don't come straight up over the back of the ball but instead diagonally up over its inside (the side facing me) or something in between the two, giving it something between topspin and sidespin. That is why the racquet extends diagonally up and forward from my wrist at contact rather than straight out sideways (in which case I would indeed struggle to exceed shoulder height).
For the record, I haven't made the shot reliable yet for myself but can hit it frequently on good days. Making it normal is a matter of practice and physical and mental conditioning (developing shoulder strength and the clear intent to rip through a high-bouncing ball to my backhand. The one disadvantage is that I need a little extra time and space to set up the shot.
@@molybdaenmornell123hopp5 Would love an update on this, taking on the one hander myself and the high balls are the worst part so far.
That was probably the only and biggest defect in his otherwise numero uno game. Federer was numero uno when it came to other departments but it was not that his backhand was weak, it was just inherently weaker to double handed backhand. Its weakness showed in matches against lefty nadal in which nadal’s forehand consistently targeted federer’s backhand. Federer should have shifted to double handed backhand earlier in career.
What you say about Federer here is all true, but you leave out the single biggest difference in his improved backhand: he finally switched to a LARGER RACQUET!!. Up until 2016, he was using the 93" size frame Pro Staff. Then he made the switch to the larger 97 inch Pro Staff. THAT'S what made the difference. He had a larger sweet spot now, and taking the ball on the rise wasn't all that new, but the bigger frame meant fewer shanks off that side when he DID take it early. So he could hit the BH with a lot more confidence because his racquet was just as heavy, but now had more space on the strings. That's what really made the difference.
He was using the 97 starting in 2014, not 2017. He used the 90 (not 93) from 2002 to 2013.
Do you think if he had a two-handed BH, he would have won more slams?
Nope haha
True GOAT
It’s a misconception that you can’t hit high balls with a one hander. With Federer’s old school grip you can’t. But more modern one handers have no issue and can actually handle it better than a 2 hander. Gasquet and Guga have more extreme grips and can easily hit high balls all day with their one hander. Coretja too. Allows them to swing up on the high ball instead of trying to pull down on it like you have to with a more traditional grip. I use the more modern grip angle and it’s one of the reasons I switched to a one hander. High balls became a non issue and I actually preferred them
Henin.
@@kaialoha exactly
I mean, every time I see video demonstrating a god-like shot, it's always off a nothing ball.
Way more impressive when they're on the run or wrong-footed.
Some of the high balls he just ripped them flat
High means above the shoulder
@@melchaig.n.5238 yes above shoulder
@@caocaohehe Nah
@@melchaig.n.5238 Not in this video but in some other games. Above shoulder, racquet vertical on contact
@@melchaig.n.5238 he did it against Nadal in Indian Wells 2017
It declined after 2017 though
GOAT has one name...ĐOKOVIĆ!!!!
_«Federer's Contact is perfectly shoulder height. The highest point you can hit your single hander. His body weight is also leaning forward into the ball»_ - You can take the ball higher.
It's all about the left hand.
It keeps the racket tilted behind the body at 45 degrees. And the left hand makes a sharp and deep departure of the racket down and closer - very close - to the body.
That's where the spin and the terrible force of the stroke comes from.
And, of course, the right hand accompanies it from the outside of the ball.
Body weight has nothing to do with it.
The moment of body movement can be to the side (when the opponent makes the ball go away), or even backwards! The main thing is a sharp acceleration of the tilted racket downwards.
😂
Even Federer aknowledged that his backhand is bad. People: Federer had the best backhand😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Ikr 😭
Being the GOAT, he recognize his weakness. Lesser mortal will think they have the perfect game!
I don't see his 22 Grand Slam and 2 Golden Masters anywhere, can you help me find them ? Thank you.
@@baguettedepain3975 30 years from now, I bet that people will remember RF and he will get the same kind of treatment that Rod Laver get when he show up at GS.
@@slam5 Pretty sure all the big 3 will be like 'dat.
@@slam5😊"it seems it's all about grand slam titles nowadays and I don't like that" - Roger Federer, June 2021 😂😂🤣
@@huzcer absolutely agree. today's game is so boring. All there is players hit as hard as they can to win, entertaining the crowd comes 2nd or 3rd. he more than win, he also entertain the crowd.
Joker fixed his backhand and forehand, so much that he shanked a FH on mp at sw19..
Fed fans now are on a mission to promote miniature stuff since he's no longer top guy in men's tennis.
He's 3rd behind joker and nadal
Not really.
@Aleksa Teemo
Speak for yourself...
Majority are posting videos of history
@@abeguy7981 Not speaking for myself he is not the 3rd behind them
@Aleksa Teemo
20 is behind 22..
Basic arithmetic..
I'm sorry but he's 3rd In the race and since he's retired, no way he will cross them
@@abeguy7981 Result based analysis.
You incorrectly assessed the situation. You wrote that "you can't hit high above your shoulder(s)."
That's incorrect.
What you meant to write is that YOU can't hit a one handed backhand above your shoulders. Plenty of players can and do, including RF. Roger made no major changes to his backhand, it was always, ALWAYS about his confidence with it.
This is typical of someone thinking they understand something, but they really don't.
🤡🤡🤡
Lol, the one thing that happened in 2017 that allowed roger to win is that Novak was injured and out of the tour lol. He didn't fix anything.
Federer's backhand was a weakness against Novak not Nadal. Federer never looked bad against Nadal but Novak made Federer's backhand look like an amateur, hitting shots 20 feet out at times.
?????
For me the GOAT is Roger because his impact on the sport.
They did a poll on who the GOAT is amongst tennis players on tour and it was like 90% of them voted for Roger.
I think that says it all, even if Nadal or Djokovic finished with more slams.
LOL Goatererror
Imagine thinking GOAT is only about numbers 😂
I know mate. For some reason Joker fans push the titles collections as a way to justify their Nole. Just can't be done compared to the absurd abilities of Roger. No one has played this game like him.
Then explain why with the best control, abilities, skill racquet, Federer is still behind them in terms of achievments and h2h ?
It means he's not been able to push his main tools to the limit and above some tools Nadal and Djokovic have, for example, mental, consistency at keeping the ball inside the court without making unforced errors as much as Federer could do, Novak id also the best returner of all time, has the best backhand also, and one of the most underrated forehand.
Federer might have the best volley skill for the last 20 years and serve and one of the most deadliest forehand, Nadal is super decent at volleying also, and Federer didn't had a backhand as efficient as Djokovic until 2017 where it was one of the greatest backhand we've ever sern and definitely the best one handed backhand in the world + he had finally an answer to Nadal cross lefty forehand.
But Nadal Djokovic are mentally stronger also, well, Federer don't seem to be the greatest in terms of abilities right ?
@@ijump-bounce2283 Because he’s a whole generation removed in a sport where age is critical, and plays the higher risk game.
@@dimitrimccloghry1807 BINGO☝🏽
@@dimitrimccloghry1807 Federer plays the higher risk game ?
If the title says GOAT, Djoković should be in the video.
Yes, just like Lance Armstrong
He was in the video, just that he was getting beaten by an RF backhand 🤣
Djoko is the goat!
But after 2017 he lost it again, no?
I'd say around 2018. He lost confidence and also his new, improved backhand proved to be hard on the legs, specially the knees.
Fitness makes everything off balance
No he still had it. Even before 2017 he had an amazing backhand, it just wasn't as consistent as 2017
The real reason was that Djokovic was injured with his elbow and then got surgery and had to recover. Even very small children know this. Federer couldn't beat Djokovic at any slam anywhere since the last time at Wimbledon way way back in 2012. After that djokovic beat him everytime at the slams including 4 slam finals, 3 of course which were at Wimbledon. Federer's backhand could always be relied on to break down. And Federer couldn't beat Djokovic even when Djokovic wasnt playing well.
@@huzcer You can't deny tho, Fed's level in 2017 was amazing, I've no doubt he could've beaten Djokovic at a Slam that year.
Wrong GOAT 😂
Djoko is the GOAT 😇
Not possible to fix the the one handed backhand, you’ll need to change into a double handed backhand. Even roger has claimed he recommend children and young players to learn double handed… who has the war backhand? Novak. 😎
Stan wawrinka tho 👀
@@melchaig.n.5238 he is excellent, but only won 3 GS.
Fed won 20 GS but most of them where in a super weak era of tennis. Look into his opponents ‘ ELO rating. He is like 11 years younger than Sampras and only played against him once or twice. Didn’t have to actually take the thrown form him. Fed was alone from 2001-2009, nadal was there but too young and wasn’t mature enough to face him. The others Roddick, Hewitt are not true champions. One handed backhand is not the right approcah
@@4lugan nice copypasta from "Goatkovic" lol trying hard to push for the "weak era" conspiracy again. If you compare that "weak" era to 2018 onwards, recent is "weaker" in comparison with the same metrics, but of course, you can always cherrypick and isolate data to make it look better or worse!
@@4lugan also, he said to START with a two-hander as a child and then make your pick, which is obvious since he did that himself. It's easier for a child to pick up a racquet with two hands for the backhand than one, for the unit turn, timing and all.
@@4lugan so if federer had a double handed backhand, he would have 40 slams? haha
What was that last backhand? 😂😂😂😂
A randomic guy who thinks he know how it does
I do lol, i wouldnt be posting if i didnt
Big? Weakness??? Lol...
Maybe against Nadal... against other players had a fantastic backhand....
The guy who made this video never watched old Federer videos or he's clueless... 😂
Yet none of this helped him in the Wimbledon finals of 2019? 2mp and his backhand collapsed like a pile of jelly, he hit one lame @ss approach shot that had no depth or width, similar to what he did against Nadal in the semi's- and paid the price, should have carried on the rally, until he got a chance to go for a winner or force an error.
Federer's mental was not known for being strong haha
He got to matchpoint at Wimbledon a month before his 36th birthday… Backhand must’ve been working pretty well.
@@pacu9 Not at all, if it was working well, he would have converted on match point, even without his serve doing the damage, his backhand was way too tame, his slice was crap too, let Novak in, and gave him the opportunity to attack.
He hasn't chanced his technique. What he changed was the raquet. Yes, he improved a bit his offensive backhand but lost his defensive one, the ability to pass an amazing passing shot with the smaller head size. And he completely lost his biggest weapon. His forhand. So it was a bad, very bad decision. He should have increased the head size to only 95"(or 93") and stick to the same frame, a heavy, solid, thin, quickly accelerating one.
I suspect he did it for money, because it is easier for an amateur to play with bigger head size and thus Wilson hoped to sell more bs raquets. What a bad idea. I still play with my old 90". And I stopped liking Federer, he turned to be a different player. One that returns the ball(he entered the comfort zone of Jokovic, but, yes, improved against Nadal). And when we add his political correctness(together with Nadal), it is not accidental that Jokovic is increasing his fan mass.
😂
Um what?
He's not the Goat. Djokovic is the Goat.
I do not think so
@@concepcionur2291 Look at his record, especially after 2010: he won much more Slams than
Federer and Nadal. He has 22, the same as Nadal, and he has a winning record against Federer
and Nadal. On hard court it was very difficult for Nadal to beat Djokovic.
first of all, he is not the goat........even if he was somehow still be able to play, I am afraid it would be beyond his reach...
Not the point of the video but ok
False advertising! I saw “GOAT” and thought this was a Novak video
Great! That was the point haha
A player with anger management problems so severe that they get disqualified from a major after injuring a line judge with a ball will never be considered a goat of any sport. Sorry.
@@broncoguy4862 Regardless of any anger management problems he may have, he is generally accepted as being the GOAT in men't tennis. That will only increase as he keeps adding to his grand slam total. Can't argue with the numbers!
@@mrindecisive100 Djokovic will be the best tennis player in history statistically for sure. But in terms of "greatness" everything is subjective, the reason why the GOAT debate still exists despite novak having better numbers is because people consider other things other than numbers.
@@broncoguy4862 Bro, who hasn't hit a ball in frustration, it was an accident. Im gonna still go with him since he's gonna take the lead, despite not being able to play bc he didn't inject an unproven vaccine into his body.
He is not the goat
Great video