Who thinks Fed would play better with a 95" racquet?

matchmaker

Hall of Fame
Well, I think Fed should just stick to his K90 but somehow I feel on clay he could be served by a larger head. RG has mainly been won by 98 s.i. racquets the past decennia, with the exception of Courier. But it would take a whole transition period to get used to this.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Well, I think Fed should just stick to his K90 but somehow I feel on clay he could be served by a larger head. RG has mainly been won by 98 s.i. racquets the past decennia, with the exception of Courier. But it would take a whole transition period to get used to this.

I don't think there is a single top pro who changes racquets or strings depending on the surface. String tension yes, and I know some pros customize their sticks differently for different surfaces. I believe Federer does so too. It is just too difficult to get used to a different head size or length.
 

matchmaker

Hall of Fame
I don't think there is a single top pro who changes racquets or strings depending on the surface. String tension yes, and I know some pros customize their sticks differently for different surfaces. I believe Federer does so too. It is just too difficult to get used to a different head size or length.

I know it is unheard of but if that is what it takes to win RG, he could at least try. I am a mid player too and I always feel it hurts me most on clay. I still win a lot of matches but when I come up against a topspin grinder I know it is getting difficult.

Now to design this racquet, to get on topic with this thread, I think it should be around 98 s.i. and have a lower swingweight than his K90, lets say around 325ish, balance should be more headlight too. This would give Fed an easier racquet to play with during 30 strokes points. He would also get more easily over his backhand. It would probably take away a little punch but be superior in angle making and topspin, if he could adopt a little windshield wiper motion.

I know this thread isn't serious, and I do not think Federer will ever follow this advice but I believe this is the only way he can win RG: loopy shots, mixed with slice, angles, point construction, serving out wide, not being afraid of Nadal's forehand by developping a sweeping crosscourt backhand a la Kuerten with a fairly fix wrist and stretched arm, using dropshots at well chosen moments, coming to net only after virtually ending the point from the back of the court.

RG has never been won by a SV player since Noah and never by a mid user since Courier. Times and materials have changed so much eversince that we can suppose it will never happen again.

Sampras is saying now he wishes he would have tried a larger head racquet on clay... hopefully Federer won't say the same after his carreer. Federer, of all people, seems to be quite stubborn and wants to do things his way, in which he is very succesful until know, except on clay. The recent past has shown us that Federer's strategy is ever less succesful on clay against his archnemesis Nadal (2006 was fairly close, 2007 a lot less so, 2008 was a thrashing).

For the rest I think Fed is more than fine on any of the other surfaces with his mid.
 
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interesting post MM

might not be a bad idea fir him to try that on clay, but would it throw him off at the big W so close after. interesting thought.

I agree with you on strategy on clay and I really hadn't heard that much. Big loopers with his forehand I think would keep it a little better out of Rafas zone. I remember a few points when that seemed to get some points for him at RG. Then he didn't do it anymore. Maybe backs nadal up a little bit. His regular FH just doesn't hurt Nadal on clay like it can at Wimbledon or US open. Fed's forehand in mens final at US OPEN looked really good again.I teach at John Newcombes tennis ranch and when Newk was out there one weekend he didn't talk about the loopers but he really talked about how he thought RF would be better off slicing more with the BH. How that high ball to Feds backhand just wears him out over the course of the match.

Coming to the net at RG against Rafa off a not great approach shot is a losing proposition. Too much pace and spin. Gotta be extremely hard to vollet that ball and even if you do he can run it down. The commentators keep saying thats what he needs to do and I'm saying to myself aren't they watching the match he's getting killed doing that!

All That being said, I don't know if he could ever beat Rafa at RG. Rafa is an animal on the clay. If he stays heathy he may win 10 Frenches!!! Rafa seems to continue to get stronger and improve. This year he just dominated at RG.

If Fed passes Sampras he will still probably be considered the greatest of all time having done all that and gotten to many french finals and only losing to the man who may be the greatest clay courter to ever play the game.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
I know it is unheard of but if that is what it takes to win RG, he could at least try. I am a mid player too and I always feel it hurts me most on clay. I still win a lot of matches but when I come up against a topspin grinder I know it is getting difficult.

Now to design this racquet, to get on topic with this thread, I think it should be around 98 s.i. and have a lower swingweight than his K90, lets say around 325ish, balance should be more headlight too. This would give Fed an easier racquet to play with during 30 strokes points. He would also get more easily over his backhand. It would probably take away a little punch but be superior in angle making and topspin, if he could adopt a little windshield wiper motion.

I know this thread isn't serious, and I do not think Federer will ever follow this advice but I believe this is the only way he can win RG: loopy shots, mixed with slice, angles, point construction, serving out wide, not being afraid of Nadal's forehand by developping a sweeping crosscourt backhand a la Kuerten with a fairly fix wrist and stretched arm, using dropshots at well chosen moments, coming to net only after virtually ending the point from the back of the court.

RG has never been won by a SV player since Noah and never by a mid user since Courier. Times and materials have changed so much eversince that we can suppose it will never happen again.

Brilliant post!

Federer should frame (no pun) this post and hang it up somewhere. He needs a bigger racquet to win the French against Rafa. In fact, he needs it for every match he faces Rafa, because Rafa can beat him on all surfaces now. We have only been saying larger head, but as you point out, he needs a larger head, lower SW and more HL balance.
 

matchmaker

Hall of Fame
Brilliant post!

Federer should frame (no pun) this post and hang it up somewhere. He needs a bigger racquet to win the French against Rafa. In fact, he needs it for every match he faces Rafa, because Rafa can beat him on all surfaces now. We have only been saying larger head, but as you point out, he needs a larger head, lower SW and more HL balance.

Do I sense some sarcasm there? You could be right, I was waiting for someone to react on my post. It was halfly in jest, halfy serious. It is true that the vast majority of players having won RG over the past 2 decades played MP or even OS. Only time will tell the right from wrong. I love mids BTW, but on clay other factors come into play.

The problem with Fed on clay is that he wants to win his way. Now Wimbledon may have been won occasionally by a baseliner: Nadal, Hewitt, Agassi; but RG has never been won by a SV oriented player in the last quarter of a century. I really feel Fed needs to play the clay game.
 
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NoBadMojo

G.O.A.T.
Time for Fed to change racquets

yes, I know there are lots of these threads ..or at least there were, <and I guess this is a silly notion>, but it seems reasonable to me that in the Pro Racquets section of a open tennis Forum that folks should be permitted to talk about the racquet of a Pro, especially a Top pro.
there was a recent thread which was deleted in its entirety because of the usuals, and some reasoned discourse was lost including mine.

My feelings are that Fed can no longer get away with giving away so many free or cheap points when playing top players because of misshits and shanks and expect to win. Interesting to note that many of his misshits (especially on the forehand) arent really misshits in the conventional sense, as the misses are several feet long or seriously wide with lots of power. A usual misshit results in a serious loss of power <ie a weak ball>. His level of play also dumps more relatively speaking to some other pros when playing in less than ideal conditions (the wind at KeyBiscayne and some squirrely bounces on the dirt at Monte carlo)

Powerwise, he is already extracting as much power as possible from his small headed racquet as he's got them strung low w. gut mains. A larger headed frame would allow him to string tighter and MIGHT give him more control with no loss in power or a marginal gain in power. A smal gain in performance from gear at any high level of play, can result in a very meaningful gain in results.....or conversely, with a poor change in gear can result in a serious drop in results (at least temporarily)

His racquet stringbed has also been tweaked in an unorthodox way to max out the power from his small headed racquet with the center strings being spaced farther apart than the paintjob racquet he used to use...this is backwards from the way thoughtful racquets are designed as <if anything> the center strings should be more dense for control and outlying strings more widely spaced to expand the sweetzone...the k90 way makes for an inconsistent stringbed

Additionally, just look around and see how many of the top players use a mid these days? perhaps one in the top20, and the mid size users are becoming fewer on tour in an increasing way. I would also like to know if there are ANY of the younger stringer tour players swinging a mid

I realize that a racquet change is hard to do when you've had tremendous success with a certain paintjob and when you are as good as fed, but I dont feel Fed is slumping..I feel he is getting passed by, and that if he expects to beat the Sampras record, it's time to re-eval. Also, there is nothing to say that fed isnt experimentng w. larger sweetspotted racquets as we speak.

I am of the opinion that Fed is now handicapping himself by his gear.

NOTE: I've taken the time to form a considered opinion about a pros racquet in the appropriate section of the forum and request that my thoughts be allowed to remain. thankyou
 

ferb55

Rookie
I'll bite. I agree with you that these types of discussions are what message forums are for. Not everybody will agree, but thats the beauty of it.

I think Fed has to make some type of change...if he still wants to be on top. There is no shame to dominating a sport for many years and wanting to progress with your life. A wife and a family are natural progressions for all of us. The fact(s) might be that he is no longer hungry enough to endure hours of intense practice, workouts and diets. Combined with his aging body, this is the path all great athletes travel.

As for his racquet. I don't know of many pro athletes that don't evaluate and reevalute their equipment over time. A bigger head? I don't know. If its speed and conditioning that might be the culprit, I think weight would be a more likely change.

Either way he has been a great champion, a great "face" for tennis and will likely have to change something to regain his top spot. My guess he won't on both counts.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Since changing of Fed's racquet is being discussed in tennis magazines, it is a very legitimate topic for a thread. He definitely needs to start experimenting with a 95.
 

ty slothrop

Semi-Pro
NoBad, I think the mis-hits are due to a serious regression in footwork, rather than the small hitting surface. This was clearest to me in Key Biscayne. How many of the forehand shanks occurred when he had plenty of time to actually get to the ball yet didn't fine-tune his positioning?

His upper body and arm stroke are still grooved for the 90, and his footspeed looks fine, but he's not making the last few tiny steps to create the precision required to make the 90 work. Rather switching to a larger head to compensate for "losing a step" (which I don't think he has, BTW) he should be busting it to get back to that balletic state.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
NoBad, I think the mis-hits are due to a serious regression in footwork, rather than the small hitting surface. This was clearest to me in Key Biscayne. How many of the forehand shanks occurred when he had plenty of time to actually get to the ball yet didn't fine-tune his positioning?

His upper body and arm stroke are still grooved for the 90, and his footspeed looks fine, but he's not making the last few tiny steps to create the precision required to make the 90 work. Rather switching to a larger head to compensate for "losing a step" (which I don't think he has, BTW) he should be busting it to get back to that balletic state.

It is not realistic at his age
 

NoBadMojo

G.O.A.T.
I'll bite. I agree with you that these types of discussions are what message forums are for. Not everybody will agree, but thats the beauty of it.

I think Fed has to make some type of change...if he still wants to be on top. There is no shame to dominating a sport for many years and wanting to progress with your life. A wife and a family are natural progressions for all of us. The fact(s) might be that he is no longer hungry enough to endure hours of intense practice, workouts and diets. Combined with his aging body, this is the path all great athletes travel.

As for his racquet. I don't know of many pro athletes that don't evaluate and reevalute their equipment over time. A bigger head? I don't know. If its speed and conditioning that might be the culprit, I think weight would be a more likely change.

Either way he has been a great champion, a great "face" for tennis and will likely have to change something to regain his top spot. My guess he won't on both counts.

NoBad, I think the mis-hits are due to a serious regression in footwork, rather than the small hitting surface. This was clearest to me in Key Biscayne. How many of the forehand shanks occurred when he had plenty of time to actually get to the ball yet didn't fine-tune his positioning?

His upper body and arm stroke are still grooved for the 90, and his footspeed looks fine, but he's not making the last few tiny steps to create the precision required to make the 90 work. Rather switching to a larger head to compensate for "losing a step" (which I don't think he has, BTW) he should be busting it to get back to that balletic state.

i really dont think you can blame lack of conditioning or lack of strength for his slip in results or slow footwork..in fact, i think he has improved in all areas...others have improved more and the ball is coming at him faster and faster...a case for something light enough and large headed enough........i think he loses more points by those wild errors than he does by shanks..i also dont think you can blame anything on his new wife..after all, he's been traveling and living w. her for a few years now, and the marriage didnt even interrupt his tourny schedule...nor can you blame his slip on his back or the mono or anything physical..he's been blessed w. great health.

note that it is usually windy at Key Biscayne during the tourney..fed doesnt fare too well at Key Biscayne I dont think..it's harder to flush hit any racquet in the wind..especially a small headed one..even if you are Federer
 

JediMindTrick

Hall of Fame
His upper body and arm stroke are still grooved for the 90.

They used to be grooved for the 85 and that didn't prevent him from playing better when he changed to the 90.

I know this kind of thread shows up regularly and it quickly becomes a troll-fest, but let's try to be serious for a minute and think about it. Although there is no way to guess if he would play better with a 95 or bigger, one thing is clear, he should definetly try it. I mean why not? What does he have to lose? I'm not saying that he should try it at Wimbledon or any other slam and ruin his chances of beating Sampras record. He should try it at one of the Masters series or other minor tournaments, WHICH HE LOSES ANYWAY! I mean, when was the last time he won a Masters series?
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
i really dont think you can blame lack of conditioning or lack of strength for his slip in results or slow footwork..in fact, i think he has improved in all areas...others have improved more and the ball is coming at him faster and faster...a case for something light enough and large headed enough........i think he loses more points by those wild errors than he does by shanks..i also dont think you can blame anything on his new wife..after all, he's been traveling and living w. her for a few years now, and the marriage didnt even interrupt his tourny schedule...nor can you blame his slip on his back or the mono or anything physical..he's been blessed w. great health.

note that it is usually windy at Key Biscayne during the tourney..fed doesnt fare too well at Key Biscayne I dont think..it's harder to flush hit any racquet in the wind..especially a small headed one..even if you are Federer

Yeah Federer only won Key Biscayne in 2005 and 2006. Also Federer was in the Finals at Key Biscayne in 2002.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/3/en/players/playerprofiles/titles.asp?playernumber=F324
 

NoBadMojo

G.O.A.T.
Yeah Federer only won Key Biscayne in 2005 and 2006. Also Federer was in the Finals at Key Biscayne in 2002.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/3/en/players/playerprofiles/titles.asp?playernumber=F324


cool beans..tell us what the wind conditions were like those years and tell me the game and the players havent changed in the last few years..fed hasnt won this event in the last 3 years and perhaps he had some early exits..3 years is a very long time by tour standards
 
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RoddickAce

Hall of Fame
Ok, maybe changing a racquet might help him, but it takes time to get used to new racquets, and at this stage I don't think he'd want to mess with too much stuff. Personally, I think his switch from the ncode tour 90 to the [k] factor frame was a mistake. Sure, he won the AO 2007 without dropping a set, but he was clearly making a lot more unforced errors. Messing with a radical change like a larger headsize might cause more timing issues.
 

GPB

Professional
I haven't been able to watch Fed's recent matches closely, so if anybody can tell me HOW he's framing the ball, it would help greatly. Here's the thing about changing to a 95, though... and I've said this before but feel it's worth mentioning again... The K90 is the same width (9-3 o'clock) as most 95's! There is a lot of extra room in the lower hoop by the throat, but changing racket size won't help mishits in any other areas of the frame.

So where is he framing the ball? Unless he's hitting it too close to his hand, upping his size won't help much (if any).
 

Puma

Rookie
I have many old dvd's I recorded of Fed from several years back. It was quite noticeable a couple of years ago how really good his footwork was. The timing of his split step was sensational and very consistent. Even against Safin who beats the cover off the ball Fed was right where he needed to be enough times to own him. Except for the AO that year.

Now Fed seems to not be in the rythum he used to be in. He is late or just a little bit out of position for many shots. This is true of routine shots as well. Its as if he can't get into the zone and or stay there very long.

I don't think he has lost that much speed. I don't think he is over thehill. I do think he needs to change something. He has a pattern going now that is not consistent with how he used to strikethe ball. I think is it all about timing. Specifically the timing of being in the right place at the right time.

I don't think racket with 10 more sq. inches will make any difference at all. He ain't looking for more power and the real difference is footwork related.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
I haven't been able to watch Fed's recent matches closely, so if anybody can tell me HOW he's framing the ball, it would help greatly. Here's the thing about changing to a 95, though... and I've said this before but feel it's worth mentioning again... The K90 is the same width (9-3 o'clock) as most 95's! There is a lot of extra room in the lower hoop by the throat, but changing racket size won't help mishits in any other areas of the frame.

So where is he framing the ball? Unless he's hitting it too close to his hand, upping his size won't help much (if any).

It is not just about the width. The extra head size also gives him a little more power. Now you might say, well, if he is hitting out, why does he need more power. He needs more power to boost his weak backhands. The other reason, as Mojo pointed out, is that he can keep the same power/depth whatever you call it, by going for a 95 with tighter strings. This will help in better directional control and less spraying of the ball. He now uses 48 lbs, which can lead to loss in control. Bigger head, tighter strings is something he can try.
 

ty slothrop

Semi-Pro
Although there is no way to guess if he would play better with a 95 or bigger, one thing is clear, he should definetly try it. I mean why not? What does he have to lose?

keep in mind, he was just a few points from winning wimbledon and the australian open. in other words, a few points from winning the last three grand slam tournaments.

don't get me wrong, I am concerned about his losses and standard of play. but I won't be really worried until he plays terribly and loses at a grand slam...
 

VGP

Legend
NBMJ - I enjoyed reading your post. It comes off (as I'm sure you've intended) as a possible suggestion backed up with decent rationale instead of the typical "he sucks now he should just switch" thread.

You're right, he's had great success with his unconventional gear choice very much like his idol, Sampras. Perhaps unlike his idol, he could be less stubborn and attempt a gear switch.

I always thought that his string tension decision is a strange one. It really does suit how he plays the game. Getting the most power and spin off the ground. I think his volleys suffer a bit because of it, but he gains a lot off the return.

His game is very timing based and with a more springy stringbed timing problems become even more magnified. If he were to merely string tighter, he'll lose that edge he's got off the return and his tricky flicks and slices.

I think he's on the edge of slumping. He is still #2 and has been in the finals of almost every grand slam for years. The other guys are catching up and surpassing him. If he keeps up this trend, he will be in a slump. Funny that, a gear switch is a big gamble. One that may or may not work out. I think psychologically at this point, it may send the wrong message to the tour to see him switch (publicly). The only way that would pay off is to see immediate results.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
In all seriousness and kidding aside it is not the racquet that is Federer problem. This is what Jose Higueras has to say about Federer's current situation.
In an interview with a Spanish newspaper, Higuras talks about his former coaching gig, and what he thinks Roger needs to do. Great stuff!

From gotennisblog.com:

On what it’s like to coach Roger Federer:

“He’s exceptional, he feels the game like nobody else, it’s instinct and that’s why working with him is very different. In spite of everything, he would benefit by having a person to help open his eyes at certain moments.”

On deciding to leave Federer to join the USTA:

“I would have stayed with him longer, even passed on the job offer that I have at present, but Roger only offered me 10 or 12 weeks a year to work with him, which wasn’t enough time to make any changes that would be evident on the court.” (Higueras is now Director of the USTA’s Elite Player Development program.)

On Roger’s current problems:

“When you stop improving, you deteriorate; in tennis it’s always like this” says the coach, who was prohibited by contract to speak about the Swiss last year. “But Federer continues just as before. His backhand, which today seems weak, is good, but the players have grown accustomed to it and that’s why it’s less effective, now it seems to play worse.”

Roger’s immobility contrasts with Nadal’s aptitude for reinvention. “In two years, (Nadal) is a completely new player, he has improved and changed his style. Federer keeps on being the same: now others can attack him. He has stagnated.”

On changes that need to happen:

It’s not only a problem of competition, but also of philosophy. “Tactics always work better if they win - it’s a question of confidence. Federer can improve his style of play, he doesn’t always use the most appropriate style. When I was with him, he played two brilliant matches, the semifinals and final of the US Open.”

“He was aggressive, he approached the net well, he was very fast, that’s why he won, this is the way he always has to be.” Higueras says on Federer’s current game, which has problems of strategy when he doesn’t cover the backhand, his worst shot, to optimize his resources. “The backhand has always served him well, it is a big shot, but the players know it. His forehand is more devastating and more difficult to defend,” says Higueras

Original Interview in Spanish:
http://www.publico.es/deportes/219526/federer/estancado
 

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
IMO, Federer's recent decline is just natural. The man sustained a pace that was unheard of with regard to performance in Majors. He was due a slump. Combine the natural order of things with the fact that he's 26 going on 27, about to become a father, and what you get is that more than likely his attention is elsewhere. All the great players have bemoaned their decline, acted like they couldn't understand it. But, in reality, not only is their physicality declined, but their attentions are elsewhere. Tennis is not the consuming endeavor it once was. It's only natural and 26 seems to be the age when it happens to the guys who sustain an effort at the top. We have seen notable exceptions since Open tennis, Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, but the rest of the world's number ones have fallen off at 26 +/- a year or two.

So, I don't think this is an equipment issue. Would changing to a larger frame then be of benefit to Federer? I certainly don't know. But asking should he change then begs some other questions. With everything else going on, does Federer now also need to second guess his equipment? Like Hewitt, who is further down the hill than Federer, does he make a change that he might consider desparation? Would the other pros consider it a desparate move and Federer lose even more ground? Certainly he is less intimidating than he once was and the other guys know he's beatable, but...but...but....one has to remember that Federer is still #2 in the world. Making a radical change at this point may not be in his best interests. Down the road a bit, maybe it would make sense, but only Federer knows for sure.

^^^I like vsbabolat's post. I think Higeruas is more on track. It ain't what's in his hand, it's what's between his ears.
 
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VGP

Legend
I've said in other threads that Federer's burnt out (to what degree we'll have to see).

Perhaps he should consider a vacation before a gear change......

....he should have stuck to his plan not to play Monte Carlo. He should have honeymooned and gotten some rest.

I don't know if he's wanting one big push before their baby is born. Making a run at Roland Garros, perhaps trying to win Wimbledon again? But for now it seems the fire's burning dimmer.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Interesting to note that many of his misshits (especially on the forehand) arent really misshits in the conventional sense, as the misses are several feet long or seriously wide with lots of power. A usual misshit results in a serious loss of power <ie a weak ball>.
Wait, so if his mishits with his current low-powered small-headed racquet are already going "several feet long or seriously wide with lots of power", then wouldn't his shots hit the back fence or into the umpire's chair if he switched to a larger racquet with even MORE power?

Sounds to me like his current racquet already has TOO MUCH power. Perhaps he should go back to the PS 6.0 85?

Either that or up his tension a bit more.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Ok, maybe changing a racquet might help him, but it takes time to get used to new racquets, and at this stage I don't think he'd want to mess with too much stuff. Personally, I think his switch from the ncode tour 90 to the [k] factor frame was a mistake. Sure, he won the AO 2007 without dropping a set, but he was clearly making a lot more unforced errors. Messing with a radical change like a larger headsize might cause more timing issues.
Federer hasn't changed racquets since 2003. They've all been paintjobs. Now he just uses the same racquet he's been using for the past 6 years but with a retail paintjob on it (K90).
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
It is not just about the width. The extra head size also gives him a little more power. Now you might say, well, if he is hitting out, why does he need more power. He needs more power to boost his weak backhands. The other reason, as Mojo pointed out, is that he can keep the same power/depth whatever you call it, by going for a 95 with tighter strings. This will help in better directional control and less spraying of the ball. He now uses 48 lbs, which can lead to loss in control. Bigger head, tighter strings is something he can try.
I can hit more powerful backhands with the KPS88 than with the K90 or the PS 6.0 95. A bigger racquet will not boost his backhand. His backhand is just fine. The problem is his footwork. It's never been the same since he got mono.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
IMO, Federer's recent decline is just natural. The man sustained a pace that was unheard of with regard to performance in Majors. He was due a slump. Combine the natural order of things with the fact that he's 26 going on 27, about to become a father, and what you get is that more than likely his attention is elsewhere.
Actually, Federer is 27 going on 28 (in August).
 

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
Actually, Federer is 27 going on 28 (in August).

What? When did this happen? :)

More to my point then. The guy's approaching old age for a touring pro these days. While I don't think he's incapable of winning a major, I think his chances are not what they once were. It's amazing how quickly those guys lose that 'edge'.
 

Fliparoni

Banned
I for one will wait to make judgements about Fed's game until the year is up. Sure, players like Wawrinka are now starting to beat him in best of 3 matches, but can those players maintain a level of play over Fed that will allow them to beat him in a best of 5 match i.e. a Slam? Remember, if Fed's match against Berdych at the AO had been a best of 3 match, then Fed would have been kicked out of the AO in the 4th round. But as well as Berdych played for 2 and a half sets, he couldn't maintain that level of play long enough to finish Fed off in a 5 setter.

When Fed starts to exit in the 2nd or 3rd round of Slams, especially if it's Wimbledon or the US Open (both of which have faster surfaces that suits his game better), then THATS when I will start to be really truly worried.

Has Fed's game declined since '07? Absolutely. Does he need to make changes to turn his game around? Absolutely. Does that include switching to a larger racquet headsize? I'm honestly not sure. Does it include Fed getting a coach? I really think so.
 

NoBadMojo

G.O.A.T.
Hey Mojo, good for you "risking" another thread on this subject after the one I posted yesterday turned ugly. There is no cure all but I agree with you as I think your points are legitimate. Can't hurt to try can it?

Right....i think everyone <including him> expected that a turnaround back to his old winning ways, if forthcoming, would be coming by now. I am sure his two top goals are to win the French and to surpass Sampras....his chances at both seem markedly less than a year ago..at what point do you make some changes?

ya man..it was a shame your good intentioned thread was handled so poorly in several ways, and as expected, there is a fair amount of trolling here

NBMJ - I enjoyed reading your post. It comes off (as I'm sure you've intended) as a possible suggestion backed up with decent rationale instead of the typical "he sucks now he should just switch" thread.

You're right, he's had great success with his unconventional gear choice very much like his idol, Sampras. Perhaps unlike his idol, he could be less stubborn and attempt a gear switch.

I always thought that his string tension decision is a strange one. It really does suit how he plays the game. Getting the most power and spin off the ground. I think his volleys suffer a bit because of it, but he gains a lot off the return.

His game is very timing based and with a more springy stringbed timing problems become even more magnified. If he were to merely string tighter, he'll lose that edge he's got off the return and his tricky flicks and slices.

I think he's on the edge of slumping. He is still #2 and has been in the finals of almost every grand slam for years. The other guys are catching up and surpassing him. If he keeps up this trend, he will be in a slump. Funny that, a gear switch is a big gamble. One that may or may not work out. I think psychologically at this point, it may send the wrong message to the tour to see him switch (publicly). The only way that would pay off is to see immediate results.

Thanks so much..those were my intentions. It seems absurd that people cant discuss tennis in a tennis forum without the trolling and having on topic threads being deleted

I've said in other threads that Federer's burnt out (to what degree we'll have to see).

Perhaps he should consider a vacation before a gear change......

....he should have stuck to his plan not to play Monte Carlo. He should have honeymooned and gotten some rest.

I don't know if he's wanting one big push before their baby is born. Making a run at Roland Garros, perhaps trying to win Wimbledon again? But for now it seems the fire's burning dimmer.

Burn out is a good possibility...very hard to keep the burning desire going at this stage..so if you aint got the burning desire, why not make as many things as possible as easy as possible including the gear? the ball keeps coming at him faster and faster and people can out ralley him.

I could see him pulling a Borg and just walking away from the game if he doesnt win another Major soon. He's not going to be happy with being a Top 5 player.

I think much of this is a matter of confidence..fed doesnt have the confidence he once had and not as many players fear him anymore....you can get the confidence back from winning a big tourney, or perhaps by switching to a racquet which makes his game more reliable....he is no longer above it all.
 

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
<and I guess this is a silly notion>,


I agree. >> It is a "silly notion".

As for your "conclusions", he is having a better year than last year. Additionally, he is the current # 2 player in the world. This means, in case you haven't noticed, there are about a thosand pro players ranked behind him.

With your logic, they should all go to something larger. :roll:
 

ChipNCharge

Professional
Fed needs to go back to the 85" head size. He really lost a lot of control and started spraying his shots when he moved to the 90" frame.
 

samster

Hall of Fame
Fed needs to go back to the 85" head size. He really lost a lot of control and started spraying his shots when he moved to the 90" frame.

I agree with you, he needs to go back to the PS 6.0 85. His forehand is going way long these days. His forehand is/was his best shot but it has become a liability.
 

samster

Hall of Fame
^^^

And here is Fed and the racket he used to win the US Open 2008.

300zeb8.jpg
 

VGP

Legend
I don't think he should go back to the PS85.

He didn't win majors until he was using the larger head (and the gut/poly hybrid, IIRC). I know that it's a combination of his game (and mind) maturing along with his gear selection.

I don't know how much he varies his string tension depending on conditions, but on the P1 site, they've got his frames strung at 22 kgs +/- 0.5. Nate Ferguson says that he travels with 9 to 12 frames strung high, medium, or low....something like that.

DSC00636.JPG


His frame's got a funny sound to it sometimes when you listen up close. It' can sound a bit trampoliney. He just seems such a creature of habit (as does Nadal). He's gotten to where he is by doing what he does. I don't expect a change.....

Hey at least he (and Nadal) aren't like Sampras and are willing to take the new paintjobs of their frames.
 

Mick

Legend
the problem is not with the racquet but it lies with federer himself and his competitors: the racquet (k90) plays the same as before, federer does not play as well as he used to play, and his competitors play better than they used to play.
 

RFRF

Semi-Pro
Wilson was already doing special things for Federer that they weren't really doing for other lower-ranked pros in 2002 because they knew that Federer was expected to be the next big thing and he had already beaten Sampras at Wimbledon, which not too many players can say they've ever done. First, Federer was the only pro to use a PS 6.0 85 with a red paintjob made to look like a HPS 6.0 95 Tour (Euro model) in early 2002. Then later in 2002, they gave him the PS Tour 90 still painted red to look like the same HPS 6.0 95 Tour. Then they custom drilled his PS Tour 90 with wider string spacing in the middle and gave him the shorter handle pallet. he's been using the same racquet ever since.

Wilson tried to phase out the PS 6.0 85 not because of the lack of demand (look at how many TW sells and how fast they sell out), but because it is the most expensive racquet for Wilson to make, thus, their margins are very low. It uses very costly graphite braiding manufacturing techniques and also contains 20% kevlar, which is very expensive. The newer racquets can be made much more cheaply because they contain much less of the good expensive stuff, but a lot of filler. That's why older racquets tend to feel so much better and smoother than most of the newer racquets.

And Prince is making a special racquet for Blake. He couldn't use any of their existing racquets nor the O-Port technology. So Prince is basically copying his current Dunlop-mold racquet and making it a Prince model. It should feel and play almost like his current racquet. This new model is due out at retail soon.

BTW, if Bosworth can make custom racquets for a few hundred dollars each, so can Wilson or Head and probably much cheaper.
spot on perfectly put!
 

samster

Hall of Fame
BTW, why is it that whenever Federer loses a couple of matches, everyone blames his racquet. But when any other pro loses a couple of matches, nobody blames their racquets? :confused:

Likewise, when Federer wins 3 Grand Slams in a year and over 80 matches, nobody gives his racquet any credit? :confused:

BreakPoint said it best back in May, 2007.
 

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
I could see him pulling a Borg and just walking away from the game if he doesnt win another Major soon. He's not going to be happy with being a Top 5 player.

rabbit on 02/02/09 said:
Agreed. It's all about match ups.

I think there is a pretty good chance Federer may pull a Borg on us and retire. I don't think he remotely likes being #2 and if he thinks he has no chance afainst Nads, he may just pull the plug.

With regard to what Wilander said, he also made reference to himself in the "no balls" comment. He spoke from actually being there. I think Wilander's comments ring truer with each final the two of them play.

I guess hell just froze over....

Thanks, RFRF! :)


Thanks, samster! I think what I said two years ago still applies today. :)


I agree with you. Federer was due a slump, he couldn't maintain that level indefinetly. Father Time is also laying his burden on the FedEx....
 

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
^^^Wow, sorry to see you are so upset.

Anyway, getting back on track, do you have anything else to add to this topic?

I'm still of the mind set that fed's problems on a tennis court, like any other person picking up a tennis racquet, have nothing to do with the equipment.

Like others have suggested, I actually think he may be better off going to an 85. Having a smaller frame may assist him in concentrating more while on the tennis court.

What do you think????
 

samster

Hall of Fame
I agree, a "sticky" with bold print should be made on this topic that's been beaten to death. Again, a thread just like this showed up right before the US Open 2008 and disappeared shortly after Federer won his 5th consecutive US Open.

His racket to win the US Open 2008: Wilson K6.1 Tour 90.

Enough of this already.
 

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
^^^Are you sure he won the US Open with a k6.1 Tour 90??? Any possibility it was a paintjob???

Also, I would like to know what the conditions during that tournament were?? Such as, "was it breezy"??????
 
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