Why Nadal hits the balls short?

[RF-18]

I've seen many complaining about this issue, like why he doesn't hit his shots deeper more consistently.

I may have a theory. We all know about his top-spin FH and the spin and bounce he produces at contact point with the ground, if he hits the ball shorter, the spin on the ball will have greater effect in terms of height. So he wants the ball to reach to the shoulder of the player, and we all know how Nadal likes that (especially on Fed) cause it troubles his opponents and always has, there are only a few players that can handle those balls on the rise but this year Nadals FH has really been subpar so it doesn't trouble his opponents the same anymore.

If he hits the ball deeper, he won't get what I explained above.

Nadals topspin FH is a brutal shot, and I'm sure dropping the ball shorter is done on purpose, he has always done it. topspin, topspin and topspin.

 

[ThirdEye]

Just no.

 

[RF-18]

Just no.

Well I don't think he misshits the ball that many times. For sure it is tactical.

 

[SoBad]

Western Grip anyone?

 

[beltsman]

It means he's wristing it too much which is a result of his slower footwork.

 

[Gary Duane]

Hitting the ball consistently deep is more dangerous, and a lot of balls that would not make it over the net for other players make it over because of the greater net-clearance from the incredible amount of topspin.

Because his placement is not as sharp this year, more balls are landing short when he does not intent it to be so.

 

[RF-18]

Okey I may be horribly wrong here but just a theory of mine. But it's not like has has done it only this year, he has always liked getting that ball on shoulder heights on players.

 

[OddJack]

He needs more time on his FH to set it up because of the upward motion he has. Now he is slower = less time = weaker swing = short ball

He is late because he gets tired sooner. It's simple. That's why he usually wins the first sets.

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

He's built his game on consistency. The best way to be consistent but still have some energy on the ball is to play with massive topspin and big margins. Avoid the net and also avoid hitting long.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Short answer: he's not as fast as he used to be and doesn't get to the ball fast enough to set up his shots. He isn't as fast to move around his BH to hit his FH.

He's never going to get this back. Period. His game has always been brutally intense and unremitting. He's not Fed, Edberg or Mac and his fans should always have known his brilliance would be brief. The fact he won slams for a decade is utterly amazing considering his violent style of play.

 

[Chadillac]

He is trying to hard. You know the feeling, when your racket speed is faster than your core. He lost his balance in reguards to power vs spin. If your going to play that way just use a steam racket like the rest of the juniors. He needs to wait on the ball so he can use his body and get some penetration.

If i were rafa i would get a heavier racket, convert some racket speed into real power, (without changing stroke) if he insists on taking such fast cuts. There is no reason a man of his physical statue is using a girls/junior racket.

 

[donquijote]

He wears short shorts nowadays too.
He never used to hit deep balls before so it's only normal but the problem is they are weaker now with less pace so kind of sitting up.

 

[Chadillac]

He wears short shorts nowadays too.

This maybe a bit x-file'ish, but didnt his decline start when he put the microchip in his racket?

 

[merwy]

No no. I actually believe that what he says on this topic is right, he's lacking confidence. He just doesn't feel the ball as well as he used to, and you need that to consistently find the baseline. No way that it's a tactic to hit the ball shorter, that's ridiculous. You can put just as much topspin into a deep ball as in a short ball, and the former would be 10 times more effective. A short topspin ball is nothing more than a sitter just waiting to be pummeled away.

 

[Zoolander]

Thought it was quite obvious, Sureshs touched on it a while ago. Nadals tight silky shorts rub against his butt with high friction.

Such friction would slow him down as he's not as free to run quickly. I would postulate that he has put on weight in the last year or two, particulary putting a bit of "junk in the trunk", so the friction is worse and he's slowed a lot. This would explain his drop in form.

He needs a good diet. Or bigger shorts. But seems Uncle toni dosent have the guts to say "Nads, your a fat@ss"

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Thought it was quite obvious, Sureshs touched on it a while ago. Nadals tight silky shorts rub against his butt with high friction.

Such friction would slow him down as he's not as free to run quickly. I would postulate that he has put on weight in the last year or two, particulary putting a bit of "junk in the trunk", so the friction is worse and he's slowed a lot. This would explain his drop in form.

He needs a good diet. Or bigger shorts. But seems Uncle toni dosent have the guts to say "Nads, your a fat@ss"

Suresh definitely has the "guts".
He should tell Nadal.

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

Answer to thread title: because he's an idiot.