bjsnider
Hall of Fame
I studied a couple of slow-mo HD videos of Stan and Fed hitting topspin backhands. I found that, although both are hitting one-handed backhands, almost everything else about the two shots is different.
I tried to illustrate with quick sketches the differences between the two guys, and possibly why Stan's topspin backhand is more effective against the tour in general than Federer's.
Sketch one is the contact point. Right away there are big differences. Federer's shoulders are parallel to the side line. Closed. Stan, on the other hand, is already opening up his shoulders considerably. Open. Take a look at the off arms. Federer's arm is pointed down and will eventually swing back behind his body (not pictured), and is therefore moving away from the racquet face. Stan, on the other hand, seems to be guiding the face into the ball with his off hand, thus making use of it in a quasi-2HBH way. Federer's whole body is pointed straight, hips locked in place. Federer's raquet arm is generating most of the power, and aim. Stan is using his hips as a gun turret, and swinging his torso into the open position. He's using his lower body and torso for power and his arm and hand for stability and aim. Finally, both of Stan's feet remain on the ground throughout, while Federer is balancing on his right leg throughout. Federer also leaves his feet at the end of the shot (not pictured).
Sketch two is the follow-through. Stan's shoulders are fully open, parallel with the baseline, while Federer's are still parallel with the sideline. Federer's left foot is off the ground -- he's standing on one leg. Stan's feet are both on the ground, which to my way of thinking means more stability. What am I saying? of course it does. Also, Stan's style allows him to continue looking at the ball and where he aimed it. Federer's style does not. Stan is doing a bit more with his off arm here too. He swings it out to add stability. Note that Federer's whole body remains locked in the same straight pose as at the contact point -- with perhaps a slight arch of the back.
In sum, Stan is hitting an open-stance shot, while Federer is closed. Stan is using his whole body more, is keeping his feet on the ground, and is watching the ball the whole way through. This may account for the different results, and why Federer's 1HBH can be attacked so consistently. Or it may not. I don't claim to be the final authority on this.
I tried to illustrate with quick sketches the differences between the two guys, and possibly why Stan's topspin backhand is more effective against the tour in general than Federer's.
Sketch one is the contact point. Right away there are big differences. Federer's shoulders are parallel to the side line. Closed. Stan, on the other hand, is already opening up his shoulders considerably. Open. Take a look at the off arms. Federer's arm is pointed down and will eventually swing back behind his body (not pictured), and is therefore moving away from the racquet face. Stan, on the other hand, seems to be guiding the face into the ball with his off hand, thus making use of it in a quasi-2HBH way. Federer's whole body is pointed straight, hips locked in place. Federer's raquet arm is generating most of the power, and aim. Stan is using his hips as a gun turret, and swinging his torso into the open position. He's using his lower body and torso for power and his arm and hand for stability and aim. Finally, both of Stan's feet remain on the ground throughout, while Federer is balancing on his right leg throughout. Federer also leaves his feet at the end of the shot (not pictured).

Sketch two is the follow-through. Stan's shoulders are fully open, parallel with the baseline, while Federer's are still parallel with the sideline. Federer's left foot is off the ground -- he's standing on one leg. Stan's feet are both on the ground, which to my way of thinking means more stability. What am I saying? of course it does. Also, Stan's style allows him to continue looking at the ball and where he aimed it. Federer's style does not. Stan is doing a bit more with his off arm here too. He swings it out to add stability. Note that Federer's whole body remains locked in the same straight pose as at the contact point -- with perhaps a slight arch of the back.

In sum, Stan is hitting an open-stance shot, while Federer is closed. Stan is using his whole body more, is keeping his feet on the ground, and is watching the ball the whole way through. This may account for the different results, and why Federer's 1HBH can be attacked so consistently. Or it may not. I don't claim to be the final authority on this.