With a grip that allows him to play close to the baseline Roger is able to dominate the court and hit more aggressive shots. sense of touch with his current grip prob outweighs the reasoning to switch after using it for so long. We all need to find out what works for us. Federer's forehand also allows a player to impart their own spin on the ball whilst still hitting through the ball to generate depth and pace meaning it's an ideal shot for players of all levels and all abilities. you can see this best in the frame at 58 seconds. Exclusive Member of Mediavine Home. An instant after contact, Federer's topspin is evident in how far his racquet has risen. the index finger knuckle is one indicator of the grip. Opening the racket face to lift a low ball was much more difficult with a western-leaning grip back in the days when rackets had fat handles, which was a severe disadvantage (especially on grass). Aha! Whilst the two handed backhand is becoming more and more prevalent in the men’s game this shot still remains effective and capable of taking a game away from an opponent. Thin handles also make it easier to generate heavy topspin, in either of two ways: (A) If you use an eastern grip, a very thin handle lets you close the racket face for topspin to a degree that with a fat handle used to require a semi-western grip. Like the forehand Roger uses gravity to help with his swing path and at mid swing the racquet drops below the level of the ball. The mission of the site is to allow tennis journalists and fans freedom and creativity in their writing, personal commentary, and out-of-the-box analysis. From a technical point of view there's so much to admire, Roger plays the game very aggressively and when a player is hitting any shot with a lot of force like Federer so it's important that you give yourself enough room to do so. Since then it’s gone on to be one of the largest independently owned website for tennis news and a platform for fans to share their views on the game. The site primarily focuses on the men’s game with a bias towards Roger Federer but also covers the financials of the sports, equipment reviews, strings, and every tournament at Grand Slam, 1000, and 500 level. On a ball this high, Federer has a choice between hitting a slice or a relatively weak topspin or flat shot. LiveAbout uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience.
Roger can also vary how quickly he turns his hand over and the length of his extension allowing him to create a wide array of angles and spins, from crosscourt passes to precise topspin lobs. Meeting the ball with the head of the racquet dropped below the hand would not be advisable, but at mid-swing, it's an excellent way for Federer to position his racquet to create topspin by brushing up the back of the ball. (B) A thin handle makes it easier for western grip players to open the racket face when scooping up low balls. The unit turn also gives the player flexibility to play a different type of shot he is to play, be it a power shot or one that utilises heavy top spin allowing greater margin for error.