Is Fed's backhand more like a block?

G

Golden Retriever

Hall of Fame
From my point of view, Fed's backhand primarily absorbs his opponent's ball's energy and rediverts it back to him. Most like a block than a real power backhand. Thats why he can't handle Nadal's topspin because it is difficult to block back that kind of spin.
 
I heard Federer doesn't *have* a backhand. People who have actually seen him play say he runs around it always.
 
Well I have been watching him since 1998. He used 2 serve and blast the 4hand lights out. Had a real nice BH 2 back that up. His BH, serve and 4hand are not as consistent. He has to come up with guile and experience lot more. His last couple of GS wins are going 2 b fun!
 
there are very few one handers in the world who can consistently hit winners. most of those dont have a strong forehand weapon (i.e Wawrinka, Gasquet)

when federer is confident, he'll use his one hander, but mostly, he uses his slice backhand and mixes in a few topsin backhands to make his opponent hit to his forehan.d
 
yes, it's a block. his forehand is also a block. his serve is nothing more than a dink and he shanks the ball over at net.
 
From a high camera angle and when Fed hits high backhands, it does sort of look like a "block". But at court level, you can see how much he comes over the ball.
 
Golden Retriever said:
From my point of view, Fed's backhand primarily absorbs his opponent's ball's energy and rediverts it back to him. Most like a block than a real power backhand. Thats why he can't handle Nadal's topspin because it is difficult to block back that kind of spin.
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I agree with this sentiment. Same reason he has trouble with murray's soft inside out forehand in some matches. That's also one of the reasons why he has been able to chew up all of the power players over the years. Guys like berdych, soderling, tursonov etc. have little to no finesse and so federer holds his ground relatively easily off his backhand side (using their pace) and due to his efficient game can wait for the optimal time to strike with his fearhand. Until he lost to blake in fall 2008 federer had not lost to a power player in a long long time (safin 2005 AO IIRC).
 
Golden Retriever said:
From my point of view, Fed's backhand primarily absorbs his opponent's ball's energy and rediverts it back to him. Most like a block than a real power backhand. Thats why he can't handle Nadal's topspin because it is difficult to block back that kind of spin.
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the only problem i have with this post is that.

the reason he can't handle nadal's topsin is simply because the ball is above his shoulder and possibly above his head...try hitting a 75 mph moving topsin ball with a one handed backhand with pace deep into the court with a ball above your shoulder, if you dont shank it i would be surprised...
 
AM95 said:
the only problem i have with this post is that.

the reason he can't handle nadal's topsin is simply because the ball is above his shoulder and possibly above his head...try hitting a 75 mph moving topsin ball with a one handed backhand with pace deep into the court with a ball above your shoulder, if you dont shank it i would be surprised...
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Exactly what I was going to say! Good words. Put that troll back in his hole :twisted:
 
rocket said:
yes, it's a block. his forehand is also a block. his serve is nothing more than a dink and he shanks the ball over at net.
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LOL! The only thing that Federer consistently blocks is his backhand first serve return. If it is a Roddick or Karlovic, he generally will try to put more balls back in play by blocking the ball, rather than try to sit down on a serve and try to time a winner off of the 2 hardest servers in the world. Federer does what all GREAT players try to do. They play the game to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. Blocking a 150 mph serve back before it gets above your shoulder or goes past you, is the right play!
 
Golden Retriever said:
From my point of view, Fed's backhand primarily absorbs his opponent's ball's energy and rediverts it back to him. Most like a block than a real power backhand. Thats why he can't handle Nadal's topspin because it is difficult to block back that kind of spin.
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Federer's problem returning Nadal's topspin is due mostly to ball height. Returning a high ball on a 1 handed back hand requires you to move your arm on a higher plane in a straight line, which can put huge pressure on your shoulder.
 
He has such an implacable timing, it makes it look like a block. Try few "block" yourself and see how it goes.
 
AM95 said:
the only problem i have with this post is that.

the reason he can't handle nadal's topsin is simply because the ball is above his shoulder and possibly above his head...try hitting a 75 mph moving topsin ball with a one handed backhand with pace deep into the court with a ball above your shoulder, if you dont shank it i would be surprised...
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agreed. same with a two hand. its easier, but its still difficult to hit a two hand at your shoulder or head too. maybe thats why just about EVERYONE has an issue with hitting rafa's topspin.
 
this makes federer the best blocker ever. if he's been blocking since his first major little

ronalditop said:
I love the face Roger makes after hitting that dtl backhand at the end. It was like "Thank god".
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lmao........i would too if it were for match point. thats an amazing shot actually considering the situation he's in.
 
How arrogant is fed in this backhand block pic,you can just see the smugness on his face,he is all like "talk to the racket b***h" :)

3049607_orig.png
 
timnz said:
How does he keep winning? That's amazing he can do it with such a poor game.....
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Federer has a brilliant first and second serve's with lots of variety. He has one of the best forehands in the game. He moves well and has a relatively easy game on his body, therefore, you don't see him breaking down like most other players in this era.

Surely, it is not because of his backhand.
 
rocket said:
yes, it's a block. his forehand is also a block. his serve is nothing more than a dink and he shanks the ball over at net.
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and don't forget about his horrible footwork...i'm surprised he doesn't fall down all the time...
 
Federer can has good backhand ?

Povl Carstensen said:
You should watch some tennis then.
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I can't watch tennis. I live in Tibet all access to outside world blocked by our Han overlords. We have heard tales of a great man named Federer from those who have survived crossing the border and torture by communist overlords.
 
Golden Retriever said:
From my point of view, Fed's backhand primarily absorbs his opponent's ball's energy and rediverts it back to him. Most like a block than a real power backhand. Thats why he can't handle Nadal's topspin because it is difficult to block back that kind of spin.
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Jeebus! Fed's bh looks week in comparaison to the rest of his game, but in actuality, it's one of the best oh'ers ever. I've always disagreed with the notion that Fed's bh breaks down against Nadal, on the contrary, I feel that many of his losses, including some at the French, were due to his serve and fh breaking down, not his bh. Really, it's his retun of serve that breaks down.

I'm sure that if you look at the numbers, fed makes way more fh unforced errors than bh errors. And even if he isn't driving the ball, don't for a second think that his slice is a mere "block". He steps into that shot and imparts his own power, if he just blocked it it would just float and sit up, ala Rodick.
 
el sergento said:
I feel that many of his losses, including some at the French, were due to his serve and fh breaking down, not his bh. Really, it's his retun of serve that breaks down.
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you're one of the few that noticed that. almost all his losing matches vs Nadal ended up w/ a fh that sailed long or into the net.
 
Federer can't generate winners off his backhand like Wawrinka or Gasquet but his backhand is more compact and better for slices, dropshots, passing shots and returning serve.
 
Golden Retriever said:
From my point of view, Fed's backhand primarily absorbs his opponent's ball's energy and rediverts it back to him. Most like a block than a real power backhand. Thats why he can't handle Nadal's topspin because it is difficult to block back that kind of spin.
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You people are such idiots. The only ball that he blocks on the bh side is a return serve.
 
Cesc Fabregas said:
Federer can't generate winners off his backhand like Wawrinka or Gasquet but his backhand is more compact and better for slices, dropshots, passing shots and returning serve.
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Exactly, I'd gladly trade some bh winners for a nasty slice that allows me to set up my fh or deft touch that allows me to keep my opponents guessing.

Wawrinka's strengths are actually a weakness, he's too much of a metronome, he'll always give you the same look. And his extreme bh grip prevents him from developing a good slice and make him look awkward at net.
 
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