Federer's backhand over the years better?

[jelle v]

During the last Australian open I saw an interview with Federer, and if I remember correctly I think he was talking about how the presence of Nadal made him improve on his game, how they lifted each other's game etc. etc and how for instance his backhand was weaker then, than it is now. So basically Federer thinks his back now is better than it was in say 2003 - 2006, at which point Nadal started coming up.

I find it strange that Federer thinks his backhand now is better than in was say 6 or 7 years ago and I would say that his backhand back then, was better than it is now.

Watch for instance this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv3U_4C4a4E

(from 6 minutes and on you can see some incredible backhands)

I don't understand what the commentators are saying, but if you watch throughout the video, I think Fed's backhand was better back then, especially the down the line winners.

What do you guys/girls think?

 

[stormholloway]

You can't take one highlight clip and make that conclusion. Bad statistics.

 

[IvanisevicServe]

It's been better in 2011-12 than it was in 09-10. That was the first time it had visibly improved since he first really hit his prime.

I think the reason he thinks it's "better" now is he's hitting more backhands in the rally than he used to because he's involved in longer rallies, as a result of not having the same kind of speed/quickness/explosiveness to run around his BH and crank the point ending forehand, as well as playing on slower courts.

So for him, the quantity is influencing his perception of the quality. It's not that he couldn't hit a dozen backhands in a row before, it's that he didn't need to.

I will say I think he's improved his ability to handle Nadal's topspin on clay. You don't seem him going into shankfest mode with it anymore...but he still struggles off that wing in that matchup.

 

[jelle v]

You can't take one highlight clip and make that conclusion. Bad statistics.

It's not based one solely this video, it's an example that i purely provided for reasons of offering you and others reading this topic some material to base your opinion on. I've watched many videos of Federer and all the videos give me the impression that his backhand back then was better.

I take it you don't agree?

 

[InspectorRacquet]

I think his backhand is better simply because he doesn't have the youth to always run around to the forehand or chase a ball from a weak backhand shot. A stronger backhand allows him to conserve energy when being older, but wasn't necessary when he could run for days.

 

[jelle v]

It's been better in 2011-12 than it was in 09-10. That was the first time it had visibly improved since he first really hit his prime.

I think the reason he thinks it's "better" now is he's hitting more backhands in the rally than he used to because he's involved in longer rallies, as a result of not having the same kind of speed/quickness/explosiveness to run around his BH and crank the point ending forehand, as well as playing on slower courts.

So for him, the quantity is influencing his perception of the quality. It's not that he couldn't hit a dozen backhands in a row before, it's that he didn't need to.

I will say I think he's improved his ability to handle Nadal's topspin on clay. You don't seem him going into shankfest mode with it anymore...but he still struggles off that wing in that matchup.

I agree with you on the Nadal part. He seems to handle the high moonballs to his backhand better, but I do feel that the ease that he used to hit his backhand with, has gone a little over the years. As I said, especially the backhand down the line, but also the way he handles really fast balls to his backhand. Maybe that just a feeling I have.

 

[fps]

It's been better in 2011-12 than it was in 09-10. That was the first time it had visibly improved since he first really hit his prime.

I think the reason he thinks it's "better" now is he's hitting more backhands in the rally than he used to because he's involved in longer rallies, as a result of not having the same kind of speed/quickness/explosiveness to run around his BH and crank the point ending forehand, as well as playing on slower courts.

So for him, the quantity is influencing his perception of the quality. It's not that he couldn't hit a dozen backhands in a row before, it's that he didn't need to.

I will say I think he's improved his ability to handle Nadal's topspin on clay. You don't seem him going into shankfest mode with it anymore...but he still struggles off that wing in that matchup.

Agree with all of this, especially the first two points. It was interesting that Hewitt's coach when he was younger saw Federer and said, essentially, *you could drive a truck through that backhand wing* or some such, I'm sure I read that on the forum. But his backhand has become more solid in the last coupla years than 09.

I'd say Federer has made a lot of smart changes to his game since 09, which was a bit of a horror story for him remember at the start. It ended as one of his greatest years, but barring injury it would have been one of Nadal's.

 

[jackson vile]

People think that his backhand was better when he was younger, however people hit hard and flat to his 1HBH. Which people have finally realized is a huge mistake. People, not safin, hewitt, roddick mind you, finally figured it out and took advantage of that weakness. Federer has had to work a lot harder to make sure that he has a more versatile backhand that can handle all shots.

Young Federer would be completely eaten up in today's game if he had not time to retrain it.

During the last Australian open I saw an interview with Federer, and if I remember correctly I think he was talking about how the presence of Nadal made him improve on his game, how they lifted each other's game etc. etc and how for instance his backhand was weaker then, than it is now. So basically Federer thinks his back now is better than it was in say 2003 - 2006, at which point Nadal started coming up.

I find it strange that Federer thinks his backhand now is better than in was say 6 or 7 years ago and I would say that his backhand back then, was better than it is now.

Watch for instance this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv3U_4C4a4E

(from 6 minutes and on you can see some incredible backhands)

I don't understand what the commentators are saying, but if you watch throughout the video, I think Fed's backhand was better back then, especially the down the line winners.

What do you guys/girls think?

 

[Mike Sams]

Funny how Federer and Nadal make every possible effort to run around their backhands. Djokovic NEVER does this. That's how solid he is off both wings. It's why he's now the world #1.

 

[jackson vile]

Funny how Federer and Nadal make every possible effort to run around their backhands. Djokovic NEVER does this. That's how solid he is off both wings. It's why he's now the world #1.

And why he is the most "perfect" player as well.

 

[Crisstti]

Well, Rafa agrees with him. He thinks Fed's backhand has improved this year, said so after their AO match (that he noticed it both in the RG match and in the WTF).

 

[MichaelNadal]

Sorry, I think his backhand was much better in his prime. He plays RAFA better off the backhand wing these days, but against the field, no way.

 

[achokshi99]

People think that his backhand was better when he was younger, however people hit hard and flat to his 1HBH. Which people have finally realized is a huge mistake. People, not safin, hewitt, roddick mind you, finally figured it out and took advantage of that weakness. Federer has had to work a lot harder to make sure that he has a more versatile backhand that can handle all shots.

Young Federer would be completely eaten up in today's game if he had not time to retrain it.

Bingo...people look at fed beating a weak field into oblivion in his youth but can't see that his bh is now better but the field much stronger and aware of how to beat fed.