My First Post: Technical responses please: ive been reading these posts about federer's setup for 4 years, 3 years after starting tennis. I've never had lessons but have been very athletic being the typical jock in highschool. the only reference ive had to build my game to where it is today is video's of federer (which was a 3 year learning curve before realizing i couldnt do exactly what he does)
As an avid Federer fan and copycat, I think its important to reopen the discussion on a regularly basis seeing as how Federer's game has changed at a constant rate since turning pro in 1998 and every year since. Just take a look at Federer 2008 vs 2011, the demeanor, style and even interviews have changed significantly.
At this point, we can only guess what he's using, so please use your own experience with similar equipment (i.e. Luxilon, gut or multifiliment) and 90sq inch rackets.
The point of view originates from the idea of federer as more of a reactor these days compared to when he controlled points on his account. His movement doesn't seem to be as dynamic or dramatic but rather a tighter grip at impact, and adapting to a slightly smaller physical frame with swifter more compact movements horizontally verses a vertical.
just from comparing different years on the hardcourt surface, he seems to be using a tighter string setup and higher gauge now (i.e. thinner strings) but that's not as important here.
OBJECTIVE : I want to know why he sets up his racket the way he does.
[seeing as his setup at his height, conditioning, muscle proportion, hand size, hand firmness, style of play, experience, footwork etc.. are all factors here, my goal is not to copy his equipment but copy his form which requires a rackets customized to my specifications in direct relation to federer and his racket spec's. The issue is about personal customization
1. I want to know why he uses gut in the mains instead of the crosses, is this for greater pocketing (structurally speaking in combination with a stiff Lux in the crosses?) with the racket's length parallel horizontally?
2. I'm experimenting keeping a few rackets on hand at different tension's and gauges to have interchangeably on the opponent style and how i need to hit the ball that day, does anyone else here done that before?
Lower gauges w/ a tighter set up against flat ball strikers
higher gauge w/ lighter tension setup against players that generate more spin
And for the exceptional players who do everything well [pace, spin, direction used differently in shots] by forcing me to hit balls off balance, a tighter, higher gauge setup
3. What are some applicable player examples of Federer matchup's expressed in question 2?
a. Murray as the flat striker on most shots for sure,
b. nadal for the spin player,
c. djokavick as the variety player who keeps you guessing by playing speed+spin, spin+direction, peed+direction and defensive backspin.
**Federer is the only player i know in the top 10 that plays the offensive slice from the back of the court-This is on the high backhand slice
As an avid Federer fan and copycat, I think its important to reopen the discussion on a regularly basis seeing as how Federer's game has changed at a constant rate since turning pro in 1998 and every year since. Just take a look at Federer 2008 vs 2011, the demeanor, style and even interviews have changed significantly.
At this point, we can only guess what he's using, so please use your own experience with similar equipment (i.e. Luxilon, gut or multifiliment) and 90sq inch rackets.
The point of view originates from the idea of federer as more of a reactor these days compared to when he controlled points on his account. His movement doesn't seem to be as dynamic or dramatic but rather a tighter grip at impact, and adapting to a slightly smaller physical frame with swifter more compact movements horizontally verses a vertical.
just from comparing different years on the hardcourt surface, he seems to be using a tighter string setup and higher gauge now (i.e. thinner strings) but that's not as important here.
OBJECTIVE : I want to know why he sets up his racket the way he does.
[seeing as his setup at his height, conditioning, muscle proportion, hand size, hand firmness, style of play, experience, footwork etc.. are all factors here, my goal is not to copy his equipment but copy his form which requires a rackets customized to my specifications in direct relation to federer and his racket spec's. The issue is about personal customization
1. I want to know why he uses gut in the mains instead of the crosses, is this for greater pocketing (structurally speaking in combination with a stiff Lux in the crosses?) with the racket's length parallel horizontally?
2. I'm experimenting keeping a few rackets on hand at different tension's and gauges to have interchangeably on the opponent style and how i need to hit the ball that day, does anyone else here done that before?
Lower gauges w/ a tighter set up against flat ball strikers
higher gauge w/ lighter tension setup against players that generate more spin
And for the exceptional players who do everything well [pace, spin, direction used differently in shots] by forcing me to hit balls off balance, a tighter, higher gauge setup
3. What are some applicable player examples of Federer matchup's expressed in question 2?
a. Murray as the flat striker on most shots for sure,
b. nadal for the spin player,
c. djokavick as the variety player who keeps you guessing by playing speed+spin, spin+direction, peed+direction and defensive backspin.
**Federer is the only player i know in the top 10 that plays the offensive slice from the back of the court-This is on the high backhand slice