Federer Why he is that good.

[ibemadskillzz]

He does one thing different from all tennis players, that makes him the best. What he does is....... He never takes his eyes off the ball. His eyes are fixed on the ball during contact and throughout the swing- even after his follow through. Other pros are usually looking ahead and seeing where the ball is going to land or look at where they want to hit it, most of the times, their eyes are not looking at the point of contact but on the other side of the court. I tried Federer's technique and it worked, I was able to more solid balls and connect more cleanly.
This is the reason why he is this good. We all know he is fit and flexible but in terms of tennis swings and mechanics, this is the reason.

 

[psamp14]

i agree with you 100%....obviously there are other things like his speed, quickness, flexibility, fitness, talent, etc...

but keeping your eye on the ball is so simple yet most pros dont even do so....other than federer, of current players, i've seen many slow-mo's of lleyton hewitt watching the ball go right into the racquet....of recent there's a slow-mo video on youtube of the AO and one part of it shows hewitt following the ball into his strings while on the stretch hitting a forehand

hewitt's problems are elsewhere right now, he's got a family which deserves top priority, he's been injured, lack of match play, and loss of a coach

but federer displays pure intelligence as he follows the ball into his racquet and keeps his head so still until after the follow through has been made....then he looks towards the court

head and shoulders above the rest, whatever!....head, shoulders, and near waist level above the rest.....

 

[Mick]

also, he anticipates so well. He could return those 140 mph serves from Roddick like they were nothing.

 

[ibemadskillzz]

you can also relate to another sport like golf. when you see pros play and watch slow motion videos, their eyes are still looking at the ground where the ball was. common mistakes of public golfers are... looking up ahead too quick (usually they want to see where the ball is headed) and not keeping the eyes on the ball thoughout contact.
In tennis, Federer, never stares at the ball traveling after contact. his eyes are still fixed at the point of contact while other pros are looking to see where their ball is going. I believe this is why he can hit the ball so clean and hitting it in any style he wants to.

 

[ibemadskillzz]

I think everyone of us can get better by using this technique. I saw slow motion videos of roddick and federer and there is a clear difference, roddick looks ahead and looks where the ball is traveling, while federer's eyes are still fixed at the point of contact even after follow through and finish.

 

[pirateofthecarribean]

He is strong mentally. On the court, he doesn't worry about stuffs like people dying and time to water the plants etc. He's mentally focused when he's playing tennis and that gives him an edge over other players.

 

[Mick]

He is strong mentally. On the court, he doesn't worry about stuffs like people dying and time to water the plants etc. He's mentally focused when he's playing tennis and that gives him an edge over other players.

yeah and it seems like he has no weakness. Suppose I was a top 5 professional tennis player and possess all the shots in the game, I would not know how to play Federer. I would not be able to out rally him, out volley him, or out serve him. I would just lose like everybody else and hope that he does not bagel me.

 

[stormholloway]

Tennis is simply the ability to move the ball around. It seems like tennis players program themselves. Roddick hits a backhand a certain way. It can only do so much, but he's comfortable hitting that well. Federer has realized the infinite possiblities on a tennis court. He does not limit his ability to move that ball around, as simple as that sounds. I can't think of any one thing that I feel Federer is not committed to understanding on a tennis court.

His forehand is the most lethal groundstroke in the history of tennis. His backhand is probably the most versatile of its kind. He incorporates every instrument in his body into an orchestra of control and focus.

The bottom line is that Federer is the net result of pure commitment to an art form and has shed any fears of inability to produce fearless dedicated tennis.

 

[catspaw]

I saw an interview not so long ago - can't remember where or when - and he was asked about the way his eyes stayed on the ball for so long and how he kept his head still for an 'age after he hit it. He said it was something he'd always done, that it was just natural and instinctive for him. He also said that people used to laugh at him because of it. :shock: ..........I guess he has the last laugh now.

 

[Big Boris]

Deleted by user

 

[[ GTR ]]

I believe this is why he can hit the ball so clean and hitting it in any style he wants to.

Hey, Federer is one of my favourite players and I know all his talents, strengths, etc... But IMO he's not one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in the game. I believe someone like David Nalbandian is a more of a cleaner striker.

 

[Sagittar]

Hey, Federer is one of my favourite players and I know all his talents, strengths, etc... But IMO he's not one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in the game. I believe someone like David Nalbandian is a more of a cleaner striker.

safin comes to mind too .. alongside nalby of course

 

[prince]

He does one thing different from all tennis players, that makes him the best. What he does is....... He never takes his eyes off the ball. His eyes are fixed on the ball during contact and throughout the swing- even after his follow through. Other pros are usually looking ahead and seeing where the ball is going to land or look at where they want to hit it, most of the times, their eyes are not looking at the point of contact but on the other side of the court. I tried Federer's technique and it worked, I was able to more solid balls and connect more cleanly.
This is the reason why he is this good. We all know he is fit and flexible but in terms of tennis swings and mechanics, this is the reason.

beleive me - it more than just one thing that he does .....

 

[The Gorilla]

He does one thing different from all tennis players, that makes him the best. What he does is....... He never takes his eyes off the ball. His eyes are fixed on the ball during contact and throughout the swing- even after his follow through. Other pros are usually looking ahead and seeing where the ball is going to land or look at where they want to hit it, most of the times, their eyes are not looking at the point of contact but on the other side of the court. I tried Federer's technique and it worked, I was able to more solid balls and connect more cleanly.
This is the reason why he is this good. We all know he is fit and flexible but in terms of tennis swings and mechanics, this is the reason.

well, ac,tually he's taking his eye off the ball if he keeps staring at his point of contact no?

 

[slice bh compliment]

Hey, Federer is one of my favourite players and I know all his talents, strengths, etc... But IMO he's not one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in the game. I believe someone like David Nalbandian is a more of a cleaner striker.

"Clean striker of the ball". It is an expression that came about just in the last ten years, isn't it? I'm guessing in the Agassi era? Or have you guys been hearing that expression and using it for ages?

What exactly does it mean? Does it mean no mis-hits? Does it mean hitting hard and flat? Does it mean having clean, compact strokes?

 

[slice bh compliment]

Federer Why he is that good?

He's a pinball wizard, there has to be a twist.
That pinball wizard's got such a supple wrist.
How do you think he does it? I don't know.
What makes him so good?

I agree with the prince, it's probably many things. Some we can learn. Others? Well, anything is possible. I feel I have improved as a player having seen him play this game over the past 4 or five years.

I'm certainly playing more. Okay, enough talk. I'm off to go hit a few.

 

[The Gorilla]

"Clean striker of the ball". It is an expression that came about just in the last ten years, isn't it? I'm guessing in the Agassi era? Or have you guys been hearing that expression and using it for ages?

What exactly does it mean? Does it mean no mis-hits? Does it mean hitting hard and flat? Does it mean having clean, compact strokes?

it means hitting the ball right in the centre of the sweet spot consistently.

 

[dima]

it means hitting the ball right in the centre of the sweet spot consistently.

How would you tell lol, by looking at pictures? LMAO

 

[The Gorilla]

How would you tell lol, by looking at pictures? LMAO

by the sound and by the incredible speed the ball leaves his racquet at with such a short swing.

 

[drakulie]

Tennis is simply the ability to move the ball around. It seems like tennis players program themselves. Roddick hits a backhand a certain way. It can only do so much, but he's comfortable hitting that well. Federer has realized the infinite possiblities on a tennis court. He does not limit his ability to move that ball around, as simple as that sounds. I can't think of any one thing that I feel Federer is not committed to understanding on a tennis court.

His forehand is the most lethal groundstroke in the history of tennis. His backhand is probably the most versatile of its kind. He incorporates every instrument in his body into an orchestra of control and focus.

The bottom line is that Federer is the net result of pure commitment to an art form and has shed any fears of inability to produce fearless dedicated tennis.

Great post. I dig!!

by the sound and by the incredible speed the ball leaves his racquet at with such a short swing.

Federer does not have a short swing.

 

[The Gorilla]

Great post. I dig!!



Federer does not have a short swing.

he was talking about agassi.

 

[stormholloway]

But we're talking about Federer here people.

People have always said that Federer shouldn't be copied. I've heard instructors say it to me. But I disagree. If Federer represents an evolution, or unique perception of the game, then I want a piece. He's still human. While I'll never be half as good as he is, I still think there is so much to be learned from him. I've definitely done by best to copy his backhand. Poser? Perhaps, but if posing as Roger is wrong, then I don't wanna be right.

My only regret is that that there isn't anyone out there to truly challenge him on a fast court, so we don't get to see those extra levels of greatness that lie dormant within Roger because nobody brings them out. I want to see someone bring out those deep creative ideas that I know Roger has.

I think deep down Roger wishes he could play himself in a grand slam final, instead of all these pedestrians.

 

[stormholloway]

Federer Why he is that good?

He's a pinball wizard, there has to be a twist.
That pinball wizard's got such a supple wrist.
How do you think he does it? I don't know.
What makes him so good?

I agree with the prince, it's probably many things. Some we can learn. Others? Well, anything is possible. I feel I have improved as a player having seen him play this game over the past 4 or five years.

I'm certainly playing more. Okay, enough talk. I'm off to go hit a few.

I completely agree. Visualizing tennis is a great learning tool.

 

[slice bh compliment]

But we're talking about Federer here people.

People have always said that Federer shouldn't be copied. I've heard instructors say it to me.....

Come on. Weak.

This is what's wrong with the average teaching pro. They are short-sighted. Small-minded. They have been to one too many convention....where the speakers make a name for themselves spouting...convention.

Break on through.

 

[[ GTR ]]

What exactly does it mean? Does it mean no mis-hits? Does it mean hitting hard and flat? Does it mean having clean, compact strokes?

Well, IMO it's having clean contact, hitting hard with a long swing(or short, like Agassi) of course and no shanks. Federer shanks quite a lot of balls, maybe its his 90inch racquet?

 

[NamRanger]

Well, IMO it's having clean contact, hitting hard with a long swing(or short, like Agassi) of course and no shanks. Federer shanks quite a lot of balls, maybe its his 90inch racquet?

Combination of how he hits the ball, racquet head size, and the incredible racquet speed he produces. He hits with a relatively straight arm, with his racquet moving at speeds that could are approaching the sound barrier (no pun intended, this guy's racquet speed is insane), along with the fact that his racquet head size is puny compared to the average headsize of today, it's a miracle that he doesn't shank the ball more often.

 

[ShooterMcMarco]

His vision and anticipation is the best on tour. He pounces on short balls quicker than anyone and really takes advantage of court positioning.

 

[dirkgnuf]

As for not copying Federer's strokes, I want you guys to keep in mind that Federer is very flexible at the shoulder/wrist/arm area, and that gives his strokes some of their trademark characteristics. If a less flexible person tried to do that, I'd doubt it'd be as effective.