Best Pro to Emulate

[LeeD]

Yes, always a good idea to emulate Ferrer's game when you're built like Isner.
Or maybe copy Dr.Ivo's game when you're the size of OlivierRochus.

[Mick]

one time, i told this guy that I had watched a Serena Williams video clip on youtube. He snapped, "forget about it, you are not built like her!"

[isilra]

Originally Posted by dominikk1985

You can do that with a bent arm too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIaE5DzwOdQ

(this another simple yet modern FH similar to nole which I think is worth to emulate)

Yes you can. I forgot to say also Tsonga has a very nice and simple double bend arm pulling action that can be easily emulated by the people who used to double bend arm.

[President]

Nikolay Davydenko, Andre Agassi.

[BevelDevil]

For the 1hbh, not Federer or Dimitrov.

Wawrinka is a good beginner model because he straightens his arm early, takes a big step and weight transfer, and opens up his shoulders a bit at contact. All this will make the stroke more intuitive, as well as powerful and more effective against high balls.

Almagro is a better textbook example than Fed/Dimitrov.

Originally Posted by sureshs

I would not emulate her use of head-heavy frame and extreme Eastern BH grip. Not good for the arm.

Why is an extreme grip bad for the arm? If anything it would be better for the arm because high balls will be more comfortable and because that grip and its swing path uses a more forward contact point.

I think a good default grip for a typical adult would be Eastern with the heel pad around the top of bevel 7, or maybe the 7/8 intersection.

A short person should consider Extreme Eastern (index base knuckle on intersection between bevels 1 (top) and 8 ).

Originally Posted by TomT

It looks to me like she uses something closer to a western bh grip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdDwMj3_WMA

No, it's Extreme Eastern as defined above. Same with Gustavo Kuerten and pretty much anyone who uses something stronger than Eastern. I'm not sure if there's a pro who moves his/her knuckle back further than EE.

[the hack]

imo, lots of amateurs ruin their game trying to emulate pros when they (the amateurs ) don't have what it takes to play the pro game of today. Learn how to play with Eastern grips and enough spin to control your shots. if you can do this then maybe you will be able to move up to a pro style game. in the meantime most of us would win a lot more if we could play a fraction as smart as Chris Evert.

[aimr75]

Originally Posted by the hack

imo, lots of amateurs ruin their game trying to emulate pros when they (the amateurs ) don't have what it takes to play the pro game of today. Learn how to play with Eastern grips and enough spin to control your shots. if you can do this then maybe you will be able to move up to a pro style game. in the meantime most of us would win a lot more if we could play a fraction as smart as Chris Evert.

Amateurs dont have what it takes to play the pro game? Amateurs never face the type of ball a pro experiences. They can still use technique that pros use, be it at a much slower pace.. dont know why they need to use an eastern grip because they are amateurs. Having said this, i use an eastern grip myself

[the hack]

I guess i wasn't specific enough. lots of levels for amateurs. of course a good amateur can do much better with pro technique than a beginner.

[El Nino]

Who do you thinks best to emulates in terms of playing style. I use a western grip and I need someone to emulate who also has a western grip too. (I am a 4.5 junior and I see my opponents hammering forehands like Delpo and crafty shot-placement of tomic)

[the hack]

Originally Posted by El Nino

Who do you thinks best to emulates in terms of playing style. I use a western grip and I need someone to emulate who also has a western grip too. (I am a 4.5 junior and I see my opponents hammering forehands like Delpo and crafty shot-placement of tomic)

look at film of the top players using slow motion. they have reached the top because they have sound fundamentals. not just great strokes but great footwork, balance, conditioning,etc. For a junior player wanting to really improve I always recommend getting a GOOD coach. There are lots of coaches out there so make sure you get the best coach you can. ask the best players about their coaches.it's fun for a junior player to emulate a top pro but to be a winner you must find your own game that will work for you under the pressure of match play.A GOOD coach will help you do this. Good luck!

[tennisdad65]

Depends on your age, height, body type, physical strength, athletic ability, injuries etc...

Example: 40+ yr old with bad tendons do not need to be emulating Fed/Novak/Nadal etc.. . These guys need to just bunt the ball back deep like Mac & Connors did.
50% of the guys in my age group who try to emulate Fed, Nadal etc end up with chronic wrist, elbow, and shoulder problems. The rest of the oldies who still play like they are in the 1980s are just fine.

For juniors and other young players too, your height and body type does matter..

[Vertiz]

Never been a coach so I can only give my 18 year old 2 cents. Personally when I was younger and tried to emulate fed/djok/gasquet, I ended up playing worse usually. Gradually as time went on I developed my own style and don't really look at other players for style or form. The only thing I look at from pros is the small things they do, like take back, footwork, contact point, degree of body rotation. Since I hit a one hander I really look at pro shoulders, elbows, and wrists (tilt, turn, angle, etc) which usually corrects any problem I may have with my stroke. I find that looking at murray's forehand works really well for maintaining my personal stroke, perhaps b/c our fundamentals are similar even though the strokes are not as much. For backhands I look at roger's takeback and swingpath. Occasionally I'll look at james blake as well because his backhand really vividly shows me what I need to concentrate on (low to high, contact in front, solid wrist). I feel that each person has a different pro/or pros that they should look at for fine tuning. No one should try to "copy" what someone else does though because that will lead to failure. I think

[Larrysümmers]

^yes.

one should look at big things the pros do, but take back follow through, serve motion, etc. should be what ever feels natural.

[Relinquis]

Originally Posted by Vertiz

Never been a coach so I can only give my 18 year old 2 cents. Personally when I was younger and tried to emulate fed/djok/gasquet, I ended up playing worse usually. Gradually as time went on I developed my own style and don't really look at other players for style or form. The only thing I look at from pros is the small things they do, like take back, footwork, contact point, degree of body rotation. Since I hit a one hander I really look at pro shoulders, elbows, and wrists (tilt, turn, angle, etc) which usually corrects any problem I may have with my stroke. I find that looking at murray's forehand works really well for maintaining my personal stroke, perhaps b/c our fundamentals are similar even though the strokes are not as much. For backhands I look at roger's takeback and swingpath. Occasionally I'll look at james blake as well because his backhand really vividly shows me what I need to concentrate on (low to high, contact in front, solid wrist). I feel that each person has a different pro/or pros that they should look at for fine tuning. No one should try to "copy" what someone else does though because that will lead to failure. I think

thanks for posting this. very good points. also, good to see that the single-handed backhand is still alive!

[TheCheese]

Forehand: Federer
- Prime example of the pull type ATP forehand which allows you to increase pace and spin simultaneously.

Backhand Slice: Federer
Backhand 1HB: Federer
Backhand 2HB: Djoko/Nalbandian/Nadal
Serve: Federer
Volleys: Federer
Movement: Federer
Point construction/creativity: Federer

[DavaiMarat]

There is no best pro to emulate.
However you can look to ones that have the same body type and stature you do and play style. Players have made the best use of the same gifts so I would nudge you toward toward one of those players.
A lot of people say Fed but he's unique in his body type (really broad shoulders and long arms) and has extreme flexibility. Just because he's the GOAT doesn't mean he's the right model for you.
For example, it you are like 5`8 like myself. Look toward some of the shorter players. These players might not be even house hold names but they will help you alot (i.e.Tipsy).
I watch some people play at futures that weren't even 6 foot but wow could the cover the court and accelerate the ball.

And I have to emphasize you have to find someone who's game relates to you. If you're a baseliner you're not going to find much help emulating Llodra. If your a finesse player watching Nadal or Tsonga isn't going to help you much. etc etc.

I hope this helped.