Federer's Footwork

[MasturB]

Watched the Raonic-Fed and Fed-Grigolo highlights again.

Have to marvel how the guy's footwork at age 35 is actually better than his peak years.

He is not as fast or as quick as his prime when he could glide from point a to point b so effortlessly, but that was just raw speed and raw athleticism with exceptional footwork. Watching his footwork now, it's unbelievable how precise his footwork is. It has to be precise because he's playing right on top of the baseline, so the cuts and angles he takes at balls have to be near perfect. He doesn't have the speed and quickness he had in his peak years 2004-2006. Can't run around every backhand to hit forehands since he's not playing as far back.

I actually think his serve and volleying at Wimbledon is better now than it was at 2014-2015. His s&v'ing at Wimbledon this year looks almost like Peak Edberg approaching the net off the serve. I don't think he's had to stretch for a volley on s&v yet at this tourament. He's in the perfect position to volley on every s&v approach.

 

[wangs78]

He's definitely become a far more efficient player - he has to as his physical abilities decline. I was watching a video of the '08 Wimby final today, set against an awesome piano solo, and the speed and agility on display from both players was incredible. Those days are long gone though, even Rafa is now doing everything he can to finish points quickly.

 

[Legend of Borg]

i've always been confused by the way people use the word footwork on this forum

if footwork doesn't necessarily translate to speed what else could it mean?

isn't that the most important thing?

if you can't get to the shot as fast, how could you still claim to have good footwork

 

[moonballs]

ok i have the Federer Raonic match on DVR. I will pay special attention to his footwork. You seem to be on to something. I always noticed Fed is visibly slower when he is pushed by his opponents but he somehow still takes the upper hand in the baseline exchanges.

 

[MasturB]

i've always been confused by the way people use the word footwork on this forum

if footwork doesn't necessarily translate to speed what else could it mean?

isn't that the most important thing?

if you can't get to the shot as fast, how could you still claim to have good footwork

Footwork does not equal footspeed.

Footwork in this instance means the steps and path Federer takes to each shot from the previous shot.

Federer in the old days had the footspeed and raw quickness to run around many backhands to hit forehands.

He doesn't have that luxury anymore because 1) he's older and trying to end points quicker and 2) playing closer to the baseline means cutting your opponent's time which means at the same time you're cutting your own time to prepare for a shot.

My argument is his footwork is better now because he doesn't have the same quickness and footspeed he did in his prime physically. So he has to be even more precise with his footwork.

 

[KingKyrgios]

i've always been confused by the way people use the word footwork on this forum

if footwork doesn't necessarily translate to speed what else could it mean?

isn't that the most important thing?

if you can't get to the shot as fast, how could you still claim to have good footwork

You serious ?

 

[Skeletroll]

i've always been confused by the way people use the word footwork on this forum

if footwork doesn't necessarily translate to speed what else could it mean?

isn't that the most important thing?

if you can't get to the shot as fast, how could you still claim to have good footwork

Footwork is more than speed. It is also taking little steps to adjust so you can get the easiest swing possible rather than having to reach for the ball or get crowded and swing super close to your body.

 

[wangs78]

i've always been confused by the way people use the word footwork on this forum

if footwork doesn't necessarily translate to speed what else could it mean?

isn't that the most important thing?

if you can't get to the shot as fast, how could you still claim to have good footwork

Footwork also factors in efficiency and balance. You can be fast like Monfils, but he probably wastes a fair amount of energy. Fed, for example, does not take many tiny steps toward a ball when a single stride will do. He also places his feet to maintain balance and change direction easily while someone with less efficient footwork may need to take extra steps.

 

[MasturB]

Federer in his prime looked like he was floating. Because he was able to get from point a to point b with margin so quickly. Sometimes he'd get there so early he'd hold his takeback longer than usual.

Now his footwork and routes to each ball are about maximum efficiency. No wasted steps, not much jumping forehands like the old days.

 

[MasturB]

ok i have the Federer Raonic match on DVR. I will pay special attention to his footwork. You seem to be on to something. I always noticed Fed is visibly slower when he is pushed by his opponents but he somehow still takes the upper hand in the baseline exchanges.

It isn't about being visibly slower. It's when he's pushed by his opponents he's reacting not anticipating.

He doesn't have the breakaway speed he used to have off the split step so he can make defense look like offense when he was in his prime years.

He also knows when to let a ball go and not chase after everything.

 

[Defcon]

i've always been confused by the way people use the word footwork on this forum

if footwork doesn't necessarily translate to speed what else could it mean?

isn't that the most important thing?

if you can't get to the shot as fast, how could you still claim to have good footwork

Do you play tennis or any other sport? If so at what level? If you are serious about this question you don't really understand sports.

Footwork has nothing to do with speed at all. There are plenty of fast players who run like a rabbit with terrible footwork. Footwork is about balance, getting in position quickly, and always being efficient. This applies to all sports.

 

[Shaolin]

i've always been confused by the way people use the word footwork on this forum

if footwork doesn't necessarily translate to speed what else could it mean?

isn't that the most important thing?

if you can't get to the shot as fast, how could you still claim to have good footwork

Not sure if trolling or....

 

[MasturB]

He's definitely become a far more efficient player - he has to as his physical abilities decline. I was watching a video of the '08 Wimby final today, set against an awesome piano solo, and the speed and agility on display from both players was incredible. Those days are long gone though, even Rafa is now doing everything he can to finish points quickly.

Yeah. You saw in the 5th set against Muller, Rafa running around backhands to hit forehands all day took a toll. The forehand errors in the 5th were purely from fatigue.

He needs to stop running around 90% of his forehands and trust his backhand more.

 

[MasturB]

Do you play tennis or any other sport? If so at what level? If you are serious about this question you don't really understand sports.

Footwork has nothing to do with speed at all. There are plenty of fast players who run like a rabbit with terrible footwork. Footwork is about balance, getting in position quickly, and always being efficient. This applies to all sports.

There are some variables in footwork that does require foot speed.

Because the small steps Federer takes are from footspeed.

But it's not about foot speed in the sense like Usain Bolt is probably the fastest human alive running forward. That doesn't mean his footwork and lateral movement are world class too.

 

[smoledman]

i've always been confused by the way people use the word footwork on this forum

if footwork doesn't necessarily translate to speed what else could it mean?

isn't that the most important thing?

if you can't get to the shot as fast, how could you still claim to have good footwork

According to Federinas 'footwork' is the ballet dancing stuff that Frauder does that usually ends up in a slice hit halfway up the net.

 

[AceSalvo]

People have got the "underrated" thing completely wrong.

Its Federer's QUAD's that is the most underrated thing ever.

His footwork, balance and the prep for all his finesse touch stems from this. Think about it.

 

[smoledman]

There are some variables in footwork that does require foot speed.

Because the small steps Federer takes are from footspeed.

But it's not about foot speed in the sense like Usain Bolt is probably the fastest human alive running forward. That doesn't mean his footwork and lateral movement are world class too.

Rafa's footwork on clay is the best ever. Nobody else is even close.

 

[Legend of Borg]

Do you play tennis or any other sport? If so at what level? If you are serious about this question you don't really understand sports.

Footwork has nothing to do with speed at all. There are plenty of fast players who run like a rabbit with terrible footwork. Footwork is about balance, getting in position quickly, and always being efficient. This applies to all sports.

been playing for a while now

the word wasn't too clear and no one really defined it precisely that's why i was asking

i suppose losing speed forces one to work on what they've got left

 

[wangs78]

Yeah. You saw in the 5th set against Muller, Rafa running around backhands to hit forehands all day took a toll. The forehand errors in the 5th were purely from fatigue.

He needs to stop running around 90% of his forehands and trust his backhand more.

Here's the video I was refering to. Watch the point at 18:08, and specifically at around 18:23-25, you'll see how he sprints to a backhand then starts moving top speed in the opposite direction only to change direction again when Nadal's shot goes the other way. He doesn't get to the ball in time, but all these changes in direction at full speed look so effortless for him. Sad that those days are gone...

 

[smoledman]

Sorry but I've seen Fed move like that @2017 AO.

 

[MasturB]

Sorry but I've seen Fed move like that @2017 AO.

Lot easier to quickly change direction on a hardcourt than grass.

Nadal struggles on grass because he can't slide and get back to neutral as quick.

 

[MasturB]

Rafa's footwork on clay is the best ever. Nobody else is even close.

What does this have anything to do with the thread? And who brought up Rafa?

 

[Defcon]

been playing for a while now

the word wasn't too clear and no one really defined it precisely that's why i was asking

i suppose losing speed forces one to work on what they've got left

No matter how fast you are, good footwork will make you better. Its not easy to find a coach who teaches this well. But its something very easy to notice, even someone who's never played or watched tennis will say Fed is 'smoother' and moves better than someone clunky. In tennis its really important to position yourself for each stroke, usually it means taking smaller steps as you approach the path of the ball and learn to anticipate, learning how to push off a foot to change direction, control your weight transfer, being stable when you execute a stroke even if you had to run to it etc. Common drills like the back-forth-lines are designed to teach you to always be on the balls of your feet (thus be light).

None of this is easy to learn but it can be learnt with practice, unlike raw speed which is based on your body structure a lot. Its one of the most important and most ignored parts.

 

[beltsman]

Watched the Raonic-Fed and Fed-Grigolo highlights again.

Have to marvel how the guy's footwork at age 35 is actually better than his peak years.

He is not as fast or as quick as his prime when he could glide from point a to point b so effortlessly, but that was just raw speed and raw athleticism with exceptional footwork. Watching his footwork now, it's unbelievable how precise his footwork is. It has to be precise because he's playing right on top of the baseline, so the cuts and angles he takes at balls have to be near perfect. He doesn't have the speed and quickness he had in his peak years 2004-2006. Can't run around every backhand to hit forehands since he's not playing as far back.

I actually think his serve and volleying at Wimbledon is better now than it was at 2014-2015. His s&v'ing at Wimbledon this year looks almost like Peak Edberg approaching the net off the serve. I don't think he's had to stretch for a volley on s&v yet at this tourament. He's in the perfect position to volley on every s&v approach.

Federer in his young years was a free-flowing counterpuncher with a massive forehand. He floated far behind the baseline very often. You are correct that now his footwork must be far more precise because he plays a much different game now.

 

[accidental]

His footwork is noticeably worse than his own peak back in 06-08 (imo)

When he's playing Milos 'frankensteins monster' Raonic, and Grigor 'poverty Federer' Dimitrov it makes him look like Fred Astaire

If Federer were playing a peak Nadal or Hewitt he would look slow by comparison

 

[wangs78]

Sorry but I've seen Fed move like that @2017 AO.

Really? Show me... because I haven't seen him make this kind of 180 reversal in direction with almost no deceleration in a long long time. This kind of movement was commonplace until about 2010 I would say.

 

[ProStaff forever]

Do you play tennis or any other sport? If so at what level? If you are serious about this question you don't really understand sports.

Footwork has nothing to do with speed at all. There are plenty of fast players who run like a rabbit with terrible footwork. Footwork is about balance, getting in position quickly, and always being efficient. This applies to all sports.

Dimitov immediately comes to mind

Sent from my Redmi Note 2 using Tapatalk

 

[Jackuar]

Reading the posts so far, just reiterating my words from another thread here yesterday. Fed seems as efficient as his peak years, not by actual efficiency - speed, athleticism, stamina but rather by being shrewd - variety, dictating the flow of the rally, better anticipation and keeping ready across the court etc. The end product of it, with the word - efficiency - appears to be the same as before - with him winning good like his prime years. But the route that he takes now is different.

 

[metsman]

Footwork is more than speed. It is also taking little steps to adjust so you can get the easiest swing possible rather than having to reach for the ball or get crowded and swing super close to your body.

Federer is jammed or off balance more in one match today than he was in all of 2004-2006. He's a step slower to pretty much every forehand. Like seriously, today I saw him a few times hit a routine forehand off a first serve off his back foot and just spin it cross court. That forehand would have been history in those years, he was just much quicker at preparing. Absurd to claim he moves better in any way shape or form today. His footwork and court coverage from 2004-2006 was just on another level. He might be smarter or whatever today (disputable) but none of that matters when he was just much quicker back then in both the little and big steps.

Federer's shortened the takeback on his forehand over the years, this is clear as day. Why? Because he knows he won't have as much time to prepare and unload because his footwork getting to the ball isn't as good. Even he knows it.