Would Federer's backhand have a weakness to Nadal if he used a semi-western backhand grip?

[thomasferrett]

Federer's backhand now is a weak Eastern (since his heel pad is more over the handle). Wawrinka, by contrast uses a strong Eastern because his heel pad is more behind the handle.

If Federer moved his backhand grip all the way from weak eastern to semi-western 1hbh grip (not even Gasquet's grip is extreme as that - only Kuerten's was), do you think his backhand would still be weak to Nadal's topspin? One theory is that it wouldn't be weak to it, but it would be weaker against the rest of the field.

 

[nguyentuanson16792]

12 - 2 and 13 - 1 is better than 23-10 no?

One handed backhand is born to be played offensive. The reason why Gasquet is failed with his grinding strategy

 

[thomasferrett]

12 - 2 and 13 - 1 is better than 23-10 no?

One handed backhand is born to be played offensive. The reason why Gasquet is failed with his grinding strategy

If Federer uses a sw 1hbh grip, I doubt he suddenly turns into Gasquet. Kuerten used a more extreme grip than Gasquet, and he played his backhand much more offensively.

 

[nguyentuanson16792]

If Federer uses a sw 1hbh grip, I doubt he suddenly turns into Gasquet. Kuerten used a more extreme grip than Gasquet, and he played his backhand much more offensively.

So why did Kuerten only achieve success on clay? Because he is not good at taking the ball early (offensive way)

 

[BeatlesFan]

Fed's grip is irrelevant against Rafa. Rafa not only dominates him mentally to a ludicrous degree, Fed also could never deal with Nadal's spin kicking up above his shoulder on his BH side. The only way Fed could have countered that was to have a two-handed BH. He still probably wouldn't have beaten Rafa at RG all those years, he was too great and too mammoth a fighter.

I seem to recall that all two-handed BH players (except Soderling) never could deal with Rafa's topspin either. Agassi was giving an interview yesterday where he was asked about Fed and Rafa. He just said, "listen, I couldn't manage against all that spin either, who can?"

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Fed's grip is irrelevant against Rafa. Rafa not only dominates him mentally to a ludicrous degree, Fed also could never deal with Nadal's spin kicking up above his shoulder on his BH side. The only way Fed could have countered that was to have a two-handed BH. He still probably wouldn't have beaten Rafa at RG all those years, he was too great and too mammoth a fighter.

I seem to recall that all two-handed BH players (except Soderling) never could deal with Rafa's topspin either. Agassi was giving an interview yesterday where he was asked about Fed and Rafa. He just said, "listen, I couldn't manage against all that spin either, who can?"

BH grip is not irrelevant, especially when talking about high balls on the BH side.

No matter , if the opponent is Rafa or someone else.

 

[Jaitock1991]

Fed's grip is irrelevant against Rafa. Rafa not only dominates him mentally to a ludicrous degree, Fed also could never deal with Nadal's spin kicking up above his shoulder on his BH side. The only way Fed could have countered that was to have a two-handed BH. He still probably wouldn't have beaten Rafa at RG all those years, he was too great and too mammoth a fighter.

I seem to recall that all two-handed BH players (except Soderling) never could deal with Rafa's topspin either. Agassi was giving an interview yesterday where he was asked about Fed and Rafa. He just said, "listen, I couldn't manage against all that spin either, who can?"

This is a great point. People just don't seem to understand how brutal peak Nadal's forehand was. To be honest, I don't think that even Djoker's backhand would be able to do much against the very best of Rafa's forehand. The insane spin and pace just makes it so extremely heavy. Couple that up with him being a lefty, being perhaps the best of all time at getting his forehand in play, and you have every right-hander's nightmare(2hbh or not).

 

[Tennis_Hands]

This is a great point. People just don't seem to understand how brutal peak Nadal's forehand was. To be honest, I don't think that even Djoker's backhand would be able to do much against the very best of Rafa's forehand. The insane spin and pace just makes it so extremely heavy. Couple that up with him being a lefty, being perhaps the best of all time at getting his forehand in play, and you have every right-hander's nightmare(2hbh or not).

Do you think that Guga's BH would have been crushed from Nadal's topspin lefty FH?

 

[Jaitock1991]

Do you think that Guga's BH would have been crushed from Nadal's topspin lefty FH?

Define "crushed". You want to know if I think that Guga's BH would have fallen in love with Rafa's topspin lefty FH? No. Probably not.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Define "crushed". You want to know if I think that Guga's BH would have fallen in love with Rafa's topspin lefty FH? No. Probably not.

You used the word "nightmare" so I obliged.

 

[Jaitock1991]

Well. If that's what you mean; yes. Definitely. Pretty sure Guga's BH would definitely put up a bit more resistance before going down than Fed's, though. But at the end of the day, I just don't see how any backhand(especially OHBH) would come out on top against Rafa's peak forehand on clay.

 

[Jaitock1991]

You used the word "nightmare" so I obliged.

Well. If that's what you mean; yes. Definitely. Pretty sure Guga's BH would definitely put up a bit more resistance before going down than Fed's, though. But at the end of the day, I just don't see how any backhand(especially OHBH) would come out on top against Rafa's peak forehand on clay.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Well. If that's what you mean; yes. Definitely. Pretty sure Guga's BH would definitely put up a bit more resistance before going down than Fed's, though. But at the end of the day, I just don't see how any backhand(especially OHBH) would come out on top against Rafa's peak forehand on clay.

I understand what you are saying (and my comment was a bit tongue in cheek).

The question in the OP as I understand it is not whether the BH would have been the dominating side (I think that most anyone who plays and understands the game knows that the forehand is in itself probably the most potent shot in the game), but whether it would have provided the necessary balance, which in turn would have turned the tables in this particular match-up, in which case my answer would be "maybe, but it is very possible".

I hope that this time I have explained myself a bit better.

 

[beltsman]

Fed lives and dies by attacking. Switching his grip would completely change his game to something foreign. He wouldn't be able to play on the baseline with that grip.

 

[Jaitock1991]

I understand what you are saying (and my comment was a bit tongue in cheek).

The question in the OP as I understand it is not whether the BH would have been the dominating side (I think that most anyone who plays and understands the game knows that the forehand is in itself probably the most potent shot in the game), but whether it would have provided the necessary balance, which in turn would have turned the tables in this particular match-up, in which case my answer would be "maybe, but it is very possible".

I hope that this time I have explained myself a bit better.

Hey,look. I think we agree with each other

 

[BlackSilver]

Yes, because this isn't his only technical limitation on his backhand side. It would help and make it a smaller weakness.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

I personally think Kuerten is rather overrated.
Just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

I personally think Kuerten is rather overrated.
Just thought I'd throw that out there.

I also thought that.

Until I saw him play.