Imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery! What Pro did YOU try to play like? - Page 2

BruceD · 11-26-2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick

there's a video of Nadal playing Vergeer on youtube.
before they played, one of the journalists asked Nadal if he would play Vergeer on a wheelchair. Nadal quickly dismissed that idea. He said, he couldn't do that because "Esther is a professional."

HAHA! I will be sure to look for that one! Thanks!

hollywood9826 · 11-27-2012, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeD

Korda's strokes by a mile.
Easy to emulate, very efficient for the amount of energy expended, just powerful enough with some consisentcy, and pleasing to look at.

Doesnt count unless you do scissor kicks as well.

Serve wise i just tried to blast them as hard as I could then they started going in. never really emulated anyones form. It was the same for strokes as well. I never really looked at form and stuff just tried to hit it really hard with spin. Taught myself a decent FH, but enver figured the BH out. Always tried 2HBH becuase Courier seemed like a baseball player who happened to switch to tennis and i was a baseball player.

Now baseball wise I emulated a couple guys. First it was Jose Canseco, then Mo Vaughn, and finally I had a little Bagwell in my swing. But by the time you get around 16-18 you sort of develop your own style. I think that's true in anything.

Hankenstein · 11-27-2012, 06:06 AM

First it was Alberto Berasategui, my wrist is still sore, and it was back in 1994....
Later on it was Albert "the dropshot dragon" Portas i tried to play like and to a certain degree still have the same style as

Dedans Penthouse · 11-29-2012, 10:03 AM

Suzanne Lenglen (but then I hit a tree so I started imitating Borg)

BruceD · 11-29-2012, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hankenstein

First it was Alberto Berasategui, my wrist is still sore, and it was back in 1994....
Later on it was Albert "the dropshot dragon" Portas i tried to play like and to a certain degree still have the same style as

So you just liked Albert's, huh?

BeGreat · 12-03-2012, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramos77

Becker

10-char

You could have written "Boris Becker", which would have been 11 characters.

Mick · 12-03-2012, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceD

HAHA! I will be sure to look for that one! Thanks!

No Problem. I found it for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVJVjI0fxX0

from 0:12 to 0:21

Nadal: me?
No... too difficult for me.
She's a professional.

Mike Bulgakov · 12-03-2012, 07:28 PM

As a kid, Lendl was my hero and I copied his topspin forehand and backhand technique with the help of my coach. I saw Bettina Bunge play in person as much as I could, and really liked the speed and low bounce of her slice backhand, so I modeled my slice backhand after her.

Mike Bulgakov · 12-03-2012, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hankenstein

First it was Alberto Berasategui, my wrist is still sore, and it was back in 1994...

How did you manage that? I don't think I could get the ball in the court with his backhand grip. I saw him play at Roland Garros a few times, and my wrist hurt just watching him.

Mike Bulgakov · 12-03-2012, 07:38 PM

^^^
Didn't Kent Carlsson play a similar game, but with a two-handed backhand? I think he also hit his forehand and backhand with the same side of the racquet, with extreme topspin.

morten · 12-04-2012, 03:37 AM

Edberg....

rafafan20 · 12-04-2012, 09:10 AM

Rafa Nadal -- and I fail

BruceD · 12-04-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Bulgakov

As a kid, Lendl was my hero and I copied his topspin forehand and backhand technique with the help of my coach. I saw Bettina Bunge play in person as much as I could, and really liked the speed and low bounce of her slice backhand, so I modeled my slice backhand after her.

I remember the name, but I don't think I saw her play but i can see from that shoulder turn and slight hip rotation could produce a wicked slice!
I teach kids and tell them to LEAN on the slice, like you were chopping down a tree with a Samurai sword!

BruceD · 12-04-2012, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Bulgakov

^^^
Didn't Kent Carlsson play a similar game, but with a two-handed backhand? I think he also hit his forehand and backhand with the same side of the racquet, with extreme topspin.

In trying to picture a combination of forehand and two-handed backhand that would only use ONE side of the racquet face, I felt like I would break my wrist IF I ever hit the ball on my forehand side! The grip was SO extremely Western, I see why he had a lot of topspin!

r2473 · 12-04-2012, 09:40 AM

Kevin James:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-9zvhw1CRE

PhrygianDominant · 12-04-2012, 09:59 AM

I have settled on Agassi. We're the same height, have similar strengths and weaknesses, and he appeals to me as a personality. Although I still look at sampras for serve (don't tell andre).

Honorable mentions
Federer (serve)
Haas (Forehand)
Ferrero (Groundstrokes)
Safin (Groundstrokes)
Rafter (volleys)
Edberg (volleys)

r2473 · 12-04-2012, 11:29 AM

I try to play like Gilles Simon. And I'm being serious.

sphinx780 · 12-04-2012, 11:45 AM

Always wanted to play like Agassi growing up outside of the serve, where I always tried to emulate Boris Becker. Now I'd say more of my play style emulates Becker than Agassi when I look at some older matches yet I don't recall ever watching much of Becker growing up. Go figure.

PhrygianDominant · 12-04-2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r2473

I try to play like Gilles Simon. And I'm being serious.

Simon is awesome. I am serious. He's a reptile.

11-27-2012, 06:06 AM	#23
Hankenstein Professional Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: on the red dirt of Europe Posts: 1,102	First it was Alberto Berasategui, my wrist is still sore, and it was back in 1994.... Later on it was Albert "the dropshot dragon" Portas i tried to play like and to a certain degree still have the same style as __________________ No Guts, No Glory

11-29-2012, 10:03 AM	#24
Dedans Penthouse Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,105	Suzanne Lenglen (but then I hit a tree so I started imitating Borg) __________________ ~ ILC is a Kumquat ~ Horses's *** Whisperer The hot dog is the noblest of dogs....it feeds the hand that bites it. Last edited by Dedans Penthouse : 11-30-2012 at 09:35 AM.

12-03-2012, 07:28 PM	#28
Mike Bulgakov Rookie Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Future Posts: 377	As a kid, Lendl was my hero and I copied his topspin forehand and backhand technique with the help of my coach. I saw Bettina Bunge play in person as much as I could, and really liked the speed and low bounce of her slice backhand, so I modeled my slice backhand after her. __________________ "The illusion which exalts us is dearer to us than ten thousand truths." Pushkin

12-03-2012, 07:38 PM	#30
Mike Bulgakov Rookie Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Future Posts: 377	^^^ Didn't Kent Carlsson play a similar game, but with a two-handed backhand? I think he also hit his forehand and backhand with the same side of the racquet, with extreme topspin. __________________ "The illusion which exalts us is dearer to us than ten thousand truths." Pushkin Last edited by Mike Bulgakov : 12-03-2012 at 09:12 PM.

12-04-2012, 09:10 AM	#32
rafafan20 Semi-Pro Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA Posts: 669	Rafa Nadal -- and I fail __________________ RAFA (hes back!) & Garbiñe Muguruza fan. Solinco Outlast 17 is the greatest string on earth.