Borg's Backhand...changed?

[SpaceCadet]

I caught a recent match between Borg and McEnroe on the Tennis Channel. I was pleasantly surprised to see Borg now using Federer's stick (Wilson K Factor KSix-One Tour 90).

What surprised me the most how much his backhand had changed. Borg used to have a really wristy two-handed backhand and he would let go of the left hand at the follow-through (as a kid, I jokingly pointed out that Borg had a one-and-a-half handed backhand).

His current backhand, to me, looks like Bjorkman's. Both hands now stay on the racquet up to the follow-through, and there's much less wrist action involved.

Anyone else catch that?

 

[SpaceCadet]

Bump

Wow! No one else has seen the change?

 

[coolhandluke]

I FULLY THE CHANGE IN THE BACKHAND. HE KIND OF SLAPS IT NOW. IT NOT NEARLY AS PRETTY AS IT USED TO BE!!!

 

[IvanAndreevich]

Perhaps as a result of an injury?

 

[TheMagicianOfPrecision]

I caught a recent match between Borg and McEnroe on the Tennis Channel. I was pleasantly surprised to see Borg now using Federer's stick (Wilson K Factor KSix-One Tour 90).

What surprised me the most how much his backhand had changed. Borg used to have a really wristy two-handed backhand and he would let go of the left hand at the follow-through (as a kid, I jokingly pointed out that Borg had a one-and-a-half handed backhand).

His current backhand, to me, looks like Bjorkman's. Both hands now stay on the racquet up to the follow-through, and there's much less wrist action involved.

Anyone else catch that?

He has been using the Fed-racket for at least 2-3 years, and yes he is not 23 anymore so he might have dome some adjustments, he is still very good though

 

[ubermeyer]

former pro player discussion

go to it

 

[Ventolin]

He has changed definitely. He now takes the ball earlier on both sides and is more aggressive from the baseline than he used to be. I think he realizes he doesn't have that super human speed to keep him in points anymore.

 

[SpaceCadet]

Whew! Glad to see that others saw the change as well. Anyone have an idea when he changed? I remember watching a Borg vs Lendl exhibition (1993?) and Borg's backhand was still the old one.

I wonder, is the new backhand as deadly as the old? I suppose the only fair comparison is when either backhand is hit from a nice, set position.

Can't really compare backhands from an on-the-run perspective, as Borg no longer has his 20-something legs.

 

[rod99]

he said that his former swing put a lot of pressure on his shoulders and he's adjusted his swing to alleviate the stress.


and yes, this should be discussed in the Former Players section.

 

[SpaceCadet]

he said that his former swing put a lot of pressure on his shoulders and he's adjusted his swing to alleviate the stress.


and yes, this should be discussed in the Former Players section.

Thanks for the info. on the backhand switch!

Former tennis player, eh? What is Borg now, then? Is he now a pro golfer?

Care to take a guess on what Borg's answer will be when asked what his profession is?

Last I looked, Borg still gets paid, and tries to win tournaments so he's still a Pro Player albeit on the senior tour. Therefore, this question does belong in the General Pro Player Discussion.