Will Carlos Alcaraz hit forehands above 5000 rpm?!

[Smecz]

Will Carlos Alcaraz break the forehand top spin rpm record?!

As I know Rafael Nadal has the highest rpm forehand top spin:

Nadal’s forehand has been clocked as high as 5,000 RPMs, while on average he hits 3,200 RPMs. The tremendous amount of topspin he produces is as perfect a weapon for Phillipe Chatrier as a cross-bow is for the impending zombie apolcalypse.

Racquet geeks might belabor the importance of Nadal’s Babolat Aero Pro Drive, or his aptly named polyester strings—the 15 gauge Babolat RPM Blast—but without his explosive technique, all the fancy-schmancy equipment in the world would be as useful as a chocolate fire-guard

Article:

14 Reasons Why Rafa has 14 French Opens - FM Tennis

In 2020, I wrote a blog entitled “13 Reasons Why Rafa has 13 French Opens.” In a simple one sentence conclusion, I wrote, “Something tells me by this time next year, I better have a 14th reason up my sleeve.” I might’ve been off by a year with my prediction, but as the French say,Continue...

fm-tennis.com

And now what do you think?, will Carlos Alcaraz break the forehand top spin 5000 rpm?! Or is it not possible?!

 

[ppma]

Why would he want to do that?

He's a more attacking player than Rafa, and should find better advantage by flattening more than Nadal. He just needs the amount of spin needed to keep tha ball on court and make it penetrating beyond the base line. 5000 rpm is a crazy thing that has given Rafa many titles in clay, but also many disadvantages in other surfaces.

 

[ALCARAZWON]

Rafa and Carlos have very little in common, with regards to top spin or style of play.
They are both athletic Spaniards, but the comparison ends there.

 

[Kralingen]

No one is breaking 5000 RPM with topspin

A wicked knife slice could do it though

 

[Bender]

No one is breaking 5000 RPM with topspin

A wicked knife slice could do it though

Fed’s slice has already been clocked at exceeding that if I remember correctly, as have various people’s serves (think it was Sampras who was cited, but I’m not 100% sure anymore)

 

[aldeayeah]

Fed slice was measured at a maximum 5,300rpm on a single shot. But the study only measured ~30 shots so he has probably exceeded that.

In the same study, both Fed and Nadal had the same average slice spin rate of 3,700rpm (Fed higher variance, Rafa less spread), with Djokovic considerably lower at an average 2,800rpm.

The Modern Pro Slice: Spin Levels

Fed's spinniest slices were said to be on the level of the spinniest Sampras second serves, and spinnier than any groundstroke measured until then.

 

[Sudacafan]

Sorry, I really can't tell.
In order to measure spin, the only device I got is my vinyl record turntable. Its settings are only 33, 45 and 78 RPM.

 

[Bender]

Fed slice was measured at a maximum 5,300rpm on a single shot. But the study only measured ~30 shots so he has probably exceeded that.

In the same study, both Fed and Nadal had the same average slice spin rate of 3,700rpm (Fed higher variance, Rafa less spread), with Djokovic considerably lower at an average 2,800rpm.

The Modern Pro Slice: Spin Levels

Fed's spinniest slices were said to be on the level of the spinniest Sampras second serves, and spinnier than any groundstroke measured until then.

Nice

Probably should’ve asked @JohnYandell if he’s recorded any new significant numbers since then, especially since Nadal uses slices a lot more and Djokovic has improved his

 

[Smecz]

Fed slice was measured at a maximum 5,300rpm on a single shot. But the study only measured ~30 shots so he has probably exceeded that.

In the same study, both Fed and Nadal had the same average slice spin rate of 3,700rpm (Fed higher variance, Rafa less spread), with Djokovic considerably lower at an average 2,800rpm.

The Modern Pro Slice: Spin Levels

Fed's spinniest slices were said to be on the level of the spinniest Sampras second serves, and spinnier than any groundstroke measured until then.

It's mean that 5300 rpm is the highest number of rpm, and it will be difficult to generate more rpm?!

 

[RacquetAbuse101]

Sorry, I really can't tell.
In order to measure spin, the only device I got is my vinyl record turntable. Its settings are only 33, 45 and 78 RPM.

 

[Sudacafan]

It's mean that 5300 rpm is the highest number of rpm, and it will be difficult to generate more rpm?!

I think that spin will be beaten.

 

[Sudacafan]

I wonder what kind of device is used to measure these ultra high spins when hitting a tennis ball.
Where could I buy it?

 

[Sudacafan]

Can someone explain to me why a slice backhand can develop more spin than a top spin forehand?

 

[Sudacafan]

I have so many questions about spin.

 

[NeutralFan]

I think that spin will be beaten.

Why?

 

[Fabresque]

Does anyone have a clip of a Rafa forehand exceeding 5000 RPM’s?

 

[Sudacafan]

Why?

Because very few players specialize on that.
As we talk and talk about spin, players who don't care about it will try to clock overwhelming spin rates reaching levels noone has ever seen, just to outdo their peers, and achieve the coveted spin record.

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

Why would he want to do that?

He's a more attacking player than Rafa, and should find better advantage by flattening more than Nadal. He just needs the amount of spin needed to keep tha ball on court and make it penetrating beyond the base line. 5000 rpm is a crazy thing that has given Rafa many titles in clay, but also many disadvantages in other surfaces.

Cause trying to return 5k rpm balls would be insanely difficult to time and not mishit

 

[Holmes]

*mph

 

[smalahove]

Can someone explain to me why a slice backhand can develop more spin than a top spin forehand?

My guess would be that the wrist is easier to accelerate in a downwards, hammer-strike or whipping motion (ulnar deviation) than upwards (radial). I would also assume a backhand slice can generate more spin than a FH one, due to the increased range of motion the BH slice movement allows for compared to the FH slice.

 

[Smecz]

My guess would be that the wrist is easier to accelerate in a downwards, hammer-strike or whipping motion (ulnar deviation) than upwards (radial). I would also assume a backhand slice can generate more spin than a FH one, due to the increased range of motion the BH slice movement allows for compared to the FH slice.

All right,whole true,I will also add that gravity also plays a role here, and the kinetic chain works better from top to bottom than from bottom to top.

But the most important thing is the head speed and inertia, the more you try to control the head movement, the worse it is for the rotation...

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

All right,whole true,I will also add that gravity also plays a role here, and the kinetic chain works better from top to bottom than from bottom to top.

But the most important thing is the head speed and inertia, the more you try to control the head movement, the worse it is for the rotation...

The real question is how can you prevent launching the ball out when swinging so fast to get over 5k rpms

 

[Smecz]

The real question is how can you prevent launching the ball out when swinging so fast to get over 5k rpms

It's probably about the way the slice is made, at what angle he guides the head, whether he pulls/retracts the head backwards during the slice, how loose his hand is, etc.

We amateurs have a stiff hand,arm and a heavy wrist, but He has a loose hand and wrist, and an Eastern grip, we cut like an amateur chef, He cuts like a chef in a Michelin restaurant...

 

[ppma]

Cause trying to return 5k rpm balls would be insanely difficult to time and not mishit

Hitting 5k rpm balls would be insanely difficult to time and not mishit as well.