You're Roger Federer playing a 4.0, what is your experience?

HunterST · 12-14-2010, 07:28 AM

It is fairly well established that positive visualization is a powerful tool in sports, and in many other endeavors. Back in my basketball and wrestling days, I would often times imagine myself as being a star of the sport. For example, I'd imagine myself as being Dirk Nowitzki on the basketball court or Ben Arsken while wrestling. It sounds silly, but it really worked for me at times.

So the other day, I decided to imagine myself as being Roger Federer playing against my normal opponents.

The problem is, I don't know what it would be like for Roger to play against a 4.0!

I know Nowitzki would be draining shots, driving to the lane, and scoring points like crazy against high school teams.

I know Arsken would take his opponent down with ease, and pin them in seconds.

I'm not sure however, what Fed's experience would be against rec players. Would he just hit winners off of ever groundstroke and serve he received? Would the 4.0 just flub up before he had to do anything?

What do you think Rog's experience would be against a 4.0 or 4.5 player?

p.s. I know the thread is kind of silly, but it's just in fun.

larry10s · 12-14-2010, 07:38 AM

rogers opponent probably would not handle the spin or pace of rogers shot so roger would not have to do much
whatever came back would be weak and viola point over.

NoSkillzAndy · 12-14-2010, 07:46 AM

Roger would probably spin his serve in, kick or slice. Then hit 3/4 pace forehands until the point is over (shouldn't take more than 1-2, 3 tops). Maybe throw in a serve & volley every now and then so he doesn't fall asleep during the match.

On return games he could make every return a forehand if he wanted, but he'll slice some back just for style points. After that it's a steady death for his opponent unless Roger decides to come to the net or actually go for a shot. Any backhands he gets will probably be sliced with ease wherever he wants.

15 minutes later... game, set, match.

Bud · 12-14-2010, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterST

It is fairly well established that positive visualization is a powerful tool in sports, and in many other endeavors. Back in my basketball and wrestling days, I would often times imagine myself as being a star of the sport. For example, I'd imagine myself as being Dirk Nowitzki on the basketball court or Ben Arsken while wrestling. It sounds silly, but it really worked for me at times.

So the other day, I decided to imagine myself as being Roger Federer playing against my normal opponents.

The problem is, I don't know what it would be like for Roger to play against a 4.0!

I know Nowitzki would be draining shots, driving to the lane, and scoring points like crazy against high school teams.

I know Arsken would take his opponent down with ease, and pin them in seconds.

I'm not sure however, what Fed's experience would be against rec players. Would he just hit winners off of ever groundstroke and serve he received? Would the 4.0 just flub up before he had to do anything?

What do you think Rog's experience would be against a 4.0 or 4.5 player?

p.s. I know the thread is kind of silly, but it's just in fun.

It would be like a 4.5 playing a 2.5 with the lower person lucky to win a point.

Maui19 · 12-14-2010, 08:14 AM

It would be just like your basketball example--RF would do what he always does. RF would hit deep with spin and pace. He would pounce on short shots with highly angled winners. He would follow good shots to the net. He would vary his pace, spin and location. Just like he does now. Except the points wouldn't last as long

Djokovicfan4life · 12-14-2010, 08:19 AM

If the 4.0 returned one or two shots back inside the court I'd consider it a victory for him.

HunterST · 12-14-2010, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maui19

It would be just like your basketball example--RF would do what he always does. RF would hit deep with spin and pace. He would pounce on short shots with highly angled winners. He would follow good shots to the net. He would vary his pace, spin and location. Just like he does now. Except the points wouldn't last as long

This is where I had trouble visualizing. I wondered if the 4.0 would even be good enough to keep the rally going so that Roger was able to perform his normal style of play.

T1000 · 12-14-2010, 08:36 AM

The only ball that the 4.0 would hit is his own serve. There is no possible way a 4.0 can return Federer's shot, way too much pace and spin and depth.

NoSkillzAndy · 12-14-2010, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterST

This is where I had trouble visualizing. I wondered if the 4.0 would even be good enough to keep the rally going so that Roger was able to perform his normal style of play.

It would totally depend on how hard Roger wants to try. Pretty much no matter what he does he's going to be in control of every shot in every rally, even if he's just messing around. If Roger plays full speed, the match is over in 10 minutes as almost zero shots are going to get returned into play. If he goes half or 3/4 speed like I predict he would, they might have brief rallies before the opponent makes an error or Roger hits a winner and the match takes 15 minutes instead.

sphinx780 · 12-14-2010, 09:18 AM

I'm assuming Roger would do what most higher level players do against noticeably lower level players.

He would go for his usual rally balls and reduce/eliminate any risk until he was forced to, watching the other player lose the match point by point and game by game.

Now, I still wonder if he'd go for reducing is unforced errors to zero for the match of if he gets bored and risks a few by hotdogging a shot or 3.

Netspirit · 12-14-2010, 09:38 AM

It will be a stream of service- and return winners/unreturnables. I doubt there will be many rallies.

Even if 4.0 manages to hit a decent serve (or produce a deep return), any pro will have infinite amount of time to set up for his favorite shot, and then just unleash it for a winner. Then the guy will get bored and start to fool around, so 4.0 may actually win a game or two from the pro's UEs.

HunterST · 12-14-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Netspirit

It will be a stream of service- and return winners/unreturnables. I doubt there will be many rallies.

Even if 4.0 manages to hit a decent serve (or produce a deep return), any pro will have infinite amount of time to set up for his favorite shot, and then just unleash it for a winner. Then the guy will get bored and start to fool around, so 4.0 may actually win a game or two from the pro's UEs.

haha honestly, I highly doubt that any 4.0 would win a game off of Roger no matter how much he was fooling around.

Totai · 12-14-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterST

haha honestly, I highly doubt that any 4.0 would win a game off of Roger no matter how much he was fooling around.

What if said 4.0 slips a little something in Mr. Federer's water!

Wilander Fan · 12-14-2010, 10:01 AM

Disagree with alot of this. Pros I have seen do not hit with otherworldly pace most of the time but their placement is great. Most likely Federer will win every service game love and then like most of his matches, he will experiment with different drop shots and spins etc.

ReopeningWed · 12-14-2010, 10:11 AM

I wouldn't be able to play normally, I'd be too busy thinking "OH MY GOD IT'S ROGER FEDERER."

It's not like he hits with just anyone, y'know?

LeeD · 12-14-2010, 11:15 AM

Taking Federer might be a little too extreme.
I can tell you, as a 4.5 playing a couple of following year solid men's pros, I can stay in a rally for 6 shots IF they want to rally.
If they want to win the point, closer to ...I get to hit ONE shot.
When I am serving, I get to serve and hit the next point for a fruitless forcing shot, and I'll either need to dive or run off the court for his following shot.
When returning, second get to try to hit a second ball.
As stated, like a tournament tough 3.5 playing a second DAY player.

maxplymac · 12-14-2010, 05:24 PM

LMAO...mental imagery of Dirk Nowitzki driving through the lane against some high school team...
I honestly doubt the 4.0 could warm Fed up...let alone play any sort of shot in a match...maybe a lucky serve now and then that gets framed and spins crazy.

4.5 could warm him up and maybe accidentally frame an acute angle winner
5.0 might get lucky and frame an overhead smash that lands on the line
5.5 might frame a drop shot that bounces back over the net and onto his side again

Netspirit · 12-14-2010, 05:41 PM

If Federer came to courts in disguise and asked people to hit with them, he would quickly ruin the 3 balls people normally play with and would be bullied out of the courts for his inability to play the game correctly (without destroying the equipment).

Limpinhitter · 12-14-2010, 06:36 PM

IMO, against a 4.0 player, Fed would have better than a 50/50 chance of winning a golden set. Returning Fed's serve, a 4.0 player would be lucky to return 1 serve per game which Fed would easily knock of for winners. On serve, Fed would finish most points in 1-2 shots. If the 4.0 had a big serve, he might get a lucky ace, and maybe 2-3 total points in a set . . . but, maybe not.

fruitytennis1 · 12-14-2010, 07:16 PM

Thats like a solid 4.5/5.0 person taking on a person who just picked up a racket..
I would kick serve all day long...very few come back those being cleaned up easily. Return of serve pretty much a joke no matter who you are. End result...2/3 ball rallies tops

12-14-2010, 07:28 AM	#1
HunterST Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,704	You're Roger Federer playing a 4.0, what is your experience? It is fairly well established that positive visualization is a powerful tool in sports, and in many other endeavors. Back in my basketball and wrestling days, I would often times imagine myself as being a star of the sport. For example, I'd imagine myself as being Dirk Nowitzki on the basketball court or Ben Arsken while wrestling. It sounds silly, but it really worked for me at times. So the other day, I decided to imagine myself as being Roger Federer playing against my normal opponents. The problem is, I don't know what it would be like for Roger to play against a 4.0! I know Nowitzki would be draining shots, driving to the lane, and scoring points like crazy against high school teams. I know Arsken would take his opponent down with ease, and pin them in seconds. I'm not sure however, what Fed's experience would be against rec players. Would he just hit winners off of ever groundstroke and serve he received? Would the 4.0 just flub up before he had to do anything? What do you think Rog's experience would be against a 4.0 or 4.5 player? p.s. I know the thread is kind of silly, but it's just in fun.

12-14-2010, 07:46 AM	#3
NoSkillzAndy Rookie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 182	Roger would probably spin his serve in, kick or slice. Then hit 3/4 pace forehands until the point is over (shouldn't take more than 1-2, 3 tops). Maybe throw in a serve & volley every now and then so he doesn't fall asleep during the match. On return games he could make every return a forehand if he wanted, but he'll slice some back just for style points. After that it's a steady death for his opponent unless Roger decides to come to the net or actually go for a shot. Any backhands he gets will probably be sliced with ease wherever he wants. 15 minutes later... game, set, match. __________________ USPTA Certified, NTRP 4.5 Yonex RQiS1 Tour XL 95 with RPM Blast 16g

12-14-2010, 08:19 AM	#6
Djokovicfan4life Legend Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Stillwater, OK Posts: 5,488	If the 4.0 returned one or two shots back inside the court I'd consider it a victory for him. __________________ Tacos, fettuccine, linguini, martini, bikini. "if Federerer is the goat Nadal is the farmer" - Messarger

12-14-2010, 08:36 AM	#8
T1000 Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 4,011	The only ball that the 4.0 would hit is his own serve. There is no possible way a 4.0 can return Federer's shot, way too much pace and spin and depth. __________________ Head Youtek Prestige Pro 4g @12, 6g @ 3&9, 16g @ buttcap Genesis Spin X 17g or Typhoon 16L 70#

12-14-2010, 09:18 AM	#10
sphinx780 Professional Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,015	I'm assuming Roger would do what most higher level players do against noticeably lower level players. He would go for his usual rally balls and reduce/eliminate any risk until he was forced to, watching the other player lose the match point by point and game by game. Now, I still wonder if he'd go for reducing is unforced errors to zero for the match of if he gets bored and risks a few by hotdogging a shot or 3. __________________ Boris Becker Melbourne "To resist despair in this world is what it is to be free"