Roger Federer Backhands in Slow Motion

[overkongen34]

What? Henin's backhand was textbook.

[MrTonyInchpractice]

henin's backhand was ugly ugly ugly... but one of the most effective/best shots to have graced game.

[trilfy]

i wonder what is feels like to be the best player in the world in a sport

[shogun522]

real men wear butterfly tees.

[bassieeee7]

Perfection. Simply amazing his technique.

[stefanonaressi]

of course eastern grip...

so elegant to see...

[antonarap]

Fed's Backhand is unique. Looks fluent but if you break it down is entirely nontraditional. Pay attention to the way the elbow straigtens just before contact and how he faces the ball to use the back muscles rather than the shoulder muscles to follow through.

[captainbryce1]

He's not hitting full out here, he's just playing around. I want to see him hitting REAL backhands, where you can tell he is actually "trying".

[ebdorai]

federer is sheer poetry in motion

[Denoheatwave]

watch my video for cool Federer videos.

[darius3000]

What I want to know is what transition--if any--does Roger make from the "bicycle grip" on the topspin backhand to the grip for the forehand....Baffles me.

[arsalan1491]

If i had a backhand like him, i would never hit a forehand EVER!

[venom400]

@arsalan1491 but then again if you had a forehand like his you would never want to hit a backhand ever lol

[PhilippedeHerte]

Note that he finishes with his racquet horizontal and pointing towards the fence behind him with his knuckles facing the side fence. This has improved my own BH tremendously.

[Longlebao]

greatest backhand ever? some people have never seen gasquet's backhand at its best.

[hattrickster33]

@Longlebao yea I know people think Gasquet sucks just because his forehand isn't as good as Federer's but his backhand is way better.

[JForcE777]

@hattrickster33 Nobody thinks that Gasquet sucks, rather we know he has the potential to become an amazing player, but he's too distracted and lacks the commitment of the top players. Gasquet has one of the best backhands in the game, but he never improved on the other parts of his game and now he's not even in the top 20.

[hattrickster33]

@JForcE777 Yea a lot of players would love to have a forehand, let alone a backhand, as good as Gasquet's

[BlackDemonXtrme]

4 ppl faced the wrath of roger's one-handed backhand in slo-motion while he was wearing a monster with a butterfly t-shirt

[ssj2vegeta9000]

Federer played soccer and cricket...I believe thats the main reason for his success in tennis.

Soccer = Footwork + endurance

Cricket = Timing the tennis ball + the one hander backhand

[theriokid]

When he sets up and contacts the ball it's perfect, but on the follow through he "rolls" his wrist. Don't copy that. It just so happens that Federer has the talent, and tremendous strength in his wrist. He can pull it off. What you wanna do is keep your wrist "firm" on the follow through. The way Federer is rolling his wrist on the follow through is very difficult to execute.

[KingFederer1]

amazing roger¡¡¡¡the best ever'''number one in tennis

[boboboomboom]

My eyes.. T_T

[th20303]

Made of tennis. One the one hand you can count up titles (which he wins currently) and on the other you can evaluate the grace with which he won them all. This is the greatest backhand ever, one of several shots of Federer's about which this could be said.

[animefreak619240]

One handers are awesome! My high school tennis team has so many one handers as opposed to other schools.

Yes, 2 handers actually use their non dominant hand to push thru the ball. Techniqually not a backhand. I like 1 hand because it can reach farther if they decide to push the ball all the way to the side and you can just nearly reach it with a backhand.

I wanna hit my backhand like federer!

[mephatboi]

damnit, i need to c how he changes grip from his set position (forehand grip) to his backhand

[gyrate4]

He looks like Tennis!

[StokaXXL]

Magnificient shot!

[ssj2vegeta9000]

The best thing about a one-hander is that you have so much more mobility of the arms, less time needs to be spent adjusting over to the backhand, and more power can be pack into shot. People might say a two hander is more accurate but i disagree. One-hander accuracy is about how strong your forearm is and smoothness of you shot. Federer's shot is super smooth. You can tell that because when he hits a backhand, its like watching a lefty swing a baseball with one hand or a cricket bat.

[FireyArmpits]

0:09

[TheCallumLowe]

One handed backhands are hard to pull of if you try them constantly. I prefer my double handed

[Doggieman1111]

note the hammer grip!

[Kiasko]

2 handed backhands are technically not backhands. Ur actually using ur weaker arms forward swing with ur dominant arm for stability.

[11alpinestars]

one handed backhands should b more popular, i use it and i think its more affective than the two handed

[hamiltonlegend24]

federer's backhand has always been a weakness if you want to see a good one hander watch wawrinka. that shot is unbelivable

[HCNguyen86]

@hamiltonlegend24 well it has been a weakness against nadal.

If you look at some other match up you will see it is still very dominate even though it is still considered a "weakness"

[arilsonla]

The best

[007toft007]

@arilsonla erm no hes not anymore

[raphael1245]

i see the way he holds his racket and like a piece of his palm is off the racket. i do tht to and it makes my shot better and a little more crisp. the reason, i don't know. but the problem is that when i hold it like that the frictions causes my palm to hurt and almost form a blister. any recommendations or solutions would be helpful

[ARTZY64]

@raphael1245 I've always hit with the palm off the racquet a bit... I found choking up in a hammer grip more restrictive. Also you get more leverage. I used to get blisters too, but eventually built up permanent callouses which then protect the hand. You have to do that gradually, though... when your skin starts to show signs of turning into a water or blood blister, stop the hitting session for a day or two... gradually a callous will build up (if you play a few times a week).

[ArchaelN123]

What exactly is his backhand grip? He seems to be using a quite extreme backhand grip or perhaps a western forehand turned around. I really can't see well.

[MICHA81EMP]

nadie habla en criollo MANNNNN!!!!!

[r0baa]

well he lost to bagdatis so......

[ryansullivan312]

It kills me how much power he can generate considering how scrawny he actually is... all about the perfect form.

[jfkpublicservant]

@ryansullivan312 Well Roger is 180 ish pounds and 6'2 so he's not exactly stick man.

[ARTZY64]

@jfkpublicservant Actually he's 6'1" I believe... he has great calves and quads... earlier in his career... his ponytail days haha... you can see his legs, including calves, were relatively skinny... in a recent documentary on BBC World they said he started to work on his legs soon after turning pro and that really helped his career

[ElSatansucks]

this guy is a monster on the court

[jimmaayyyyy]

monster with a butterfly t-shirt

[kirinlager49]

@jimmaayyyyy stings like a bee

[23viktor23]

@jimmaayyyyy it's called covered and concealed XD

[Jb5258]

his shirt lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[xwindxmistx]

woww...his form is so perfect O.o... (lool, and i'm so jealous cuz my form sucks xDD)

[mansuliu]

0:12

federers elbow is beast

[PROTLxONgame]

graceful

[1080portal]

too ezzzzzzz

[IllnezzBD]

can anyone please tell me what grip federer is using on his backhand and the difference between an eastern and modified eastern as well as the pros and cons of both....thanks

[Samprasisthebest]

He's using an eastern backhand grip (some people say its extreme eastern). The difference between classic eastern and "modified" or "extreme" eastern is that with the classic its more of a flat shot you get, with extreme you get a touch more spin and slightly more versatile.

[LJ080805]

I don't get it I'm watching this video and a bunch of others by FYB on Fed's backhand and I can't tell if I should keep my wrist firm or loose when hitting a one handed backhand.Right now I'm hitting it with a firm wrist but in Fed's case he lets his wrist gets loose and keeps his racquet face closed. I want to keep the racquet face closed as well through contact but that feels awkward. Does anyone else know what I'm talking about?

[Samprasisthebest]

I think the general rule for groundies in general is to keep the wrist loose. I myself hit a one handed backhand, and I keep the wrist loose, but use the left hand to pull the racquet to get tension in my shoulder so I can uncork on the ball. Another general rule- if it feels awkward don't do it. Roger is so much better than us he can do things and modify techniques that we couldn't hope to do. For instance, with his slice he flicks his wrist which is generally frowned upon.

[djrappold]

Your wrist should be firm through contact as Federers is. He rotates his wrist slightly but it is always firm and never "loose". If you keep a loose wrist you will spray your shots all over.

[LJ080805]

Yeah so I just kept it simple for myself and changed it to hit the ball with the racquet face parallel to the net and brush up on the ball by finishing high and keeping a firm wrist while using a closed stance. It works fine that way I'm just confused on keeping the net clearance the same everytime, that's why I thought I needed to close the racquet face more. Right now my net clearance is about 2 feet above net with moderate pace. I want the ball to travel deeper and have less clearance though.

[djrappold]

Hit flatter. If you watch Fed though his shots are 4-6 feet over the net when he hits deep. There is a ton of spin on his shots and this is what keeps them in the court.

[chslopeza94]

Some coaches in the west are beginning to teach the idea of loose wrist. I think it is imaginable to to say that loose wrists = loose shots... but I have seen some players perfect the ability of hitting with loose wrist action and I personally see it as rewarding. There's much more flexibility in shotmaking.

[SeungriJun]

i think he does that cause its practice...but u shouldnt restrict your wrist, it might get injured.

[animaanimaanima]

personally, i think this is more beautiful and gasquet's bh (doesnt matter if his is textbook like or w/e they say, blah blah blah)

roger looks so relaxing and concentrating at the same time. barely has any strain on his body. maybe thats why hes able to hit so consistently.

[TracyMacToDaRack]

U make a great point there bud. I think Roger has the most beautiful backhand, forehand, serve, slice, volley, lob, shoe tying motion in the world of tennis. Everything this guy does is just so graceful and beautiful its fucking flawless. I saw a match recently where he tripped and fell and he even made that look graceful. Gasquet has a nice backhand, a very very nice one at that, but its not as effortless as Roger's. I think the key word for roger besides graceful is effortless.

[naikahnomtom]

its strange im the only kid in the club who hade one handed backhand. and lol no one agree with me that one handed is easier :)

[animaanimaanima]

depends on each person man

for people with weak hitting arm and decent supporting arm, its hard.

[Cyrokube]

It is, and if your good can be better and more powerful... I'm not.

[naikahnomtom]

to me i think the one handed backhand is easier than two handed.

[0megadwarf]

me too

[Silks]

For me, the two handed is more consistent. But the one handed is so awesome at driving a winner. I use both because I'm stupid. If I have bad positioning or the ball is really high, I go two handed. Otherwise, the one hander feels so right :)

[whzpdlsWkd]

One handed back hand is hard.... :(

I hate how he makes it look so easy.

[foxysteve19]

you probably started off with a two handed backhand... since i started off with a 1h backhand it is actualy simple... just generating power from it is usualy the tuff part

[whzpdlsWkd]

Pretty much :)

I'm a two handed backahnd, but did learn one hand in the past. I use it only when the ball is slow enough for me to hit it correctly haha :P

[foxysteve19]

if i had a better camra i would record myself playing :(

[foxysteve19]

i just learned a backhand push for ping pong and that concept actualy helped me generate more power for my backhand... that and the good footwork beforehand

[nauticapnoy12]

Key Factor: When you already know the fundamental.

1. Keep moving FORWARD. Hit the ball on the raise.

2. Move your feet to align yourself with the ball.

3. Follow through.

4. Repetition really helps because....the Cerebellum in our the brain store our muscle movement.

5 .You gotta practice and let your Cerebellum store those muscle movement information.

[supertrex2]

FYB can u post a vid with Federer hitting a high backhand shot?

[chracquet]

jeesh! srry i was just kidding fed is the best player ever!

[SenseiSkilik]

Fed´s one-handed backhand ist the most beautifull shot in tennis... it´s a pity tha all the others play a two-handed backhand now :(

[GueorguiJoukov]

It's arguable.

I think his forehand is mroe beautiful and probably the best shot in tennis history.

There are three things which can change entirely your backhand. And I mean it can be done over an hour or less.

See how Federer does these 3 things:

-Solidly plant his racket foot

-His head is focus on the contact point until the ball is gone

-He fully turns his body (hips, shoulders THEN arm)

I tried to teach it twice. They usually mess up at: plant your foot at a right distance...

[Kiasko]

@SenseiSkilik I guess two handed is like a push-pull thing, u get more power and stability. Single gets less of both. But Federer defys laws of physics in tennis.

[DarkStriker297]

@Kiasko

I always thought one-handed backhands have more power and it's easier to hit angles with, and 2 handers had more control and were able to hit spin easier.... :/

[Kiasko]

@DarkStriker297 Well that was my guess, im a tennis noob so what i sed there could be completely wrong.

My experience is when i first played, i did find single hand to have more angle but my aim was way off and my power was weak because the aim was that bad. I was afraid to hit the shots hard. When i changed to 2 handed, i could hit as hard as i wanted because i had alot more accuracy.

[antoinedk1]

@SenseiSkilik Justine Henin's backhand is also one of the most beautiful tennis shot...

[cavaleer]

@SenseiSkilik You'd think some juniors and their coaches would recognize the overall superiority of the 1HBH, as proven by Fed, Sampras, Kuerten et al. But they all want the quick and easy fix that 2HBHs give with a babolat. It's a shame. After Fed retires tennis will be unimaginably BORING.

[bluenigma]

@cavaleer Pretty sure that's the side they're attacking buddy and it's not like Sampras is remembered for his backhand. It's his serve and forehand that is remembered. Fed's backhand so much better, but it's his serve and forehand that are his biggest assets.

[cavaleer]

@bluenigma Fed's BH is definitely better than Pete's but not his FH and serve, esp. not his serve. It's nowhere near Pete's. But Fed's all-around game is much more versatile and Fed as a player is far more consistent. Pete left a bunch of tennis on the court and would stink it up at times in ways Fed never has. But when Pete's BH was clicking he was damn near unbeatable, except on clay of course. lol

[talbslimshadyyy]

@SenseiSkilik it's not like they decide which beckhand they want to do..

[evilmunki54]

@SenseiSkilik i defo agree!

[OnlineIsland]

@SenseiSkilik

I play one handed too :)

[legendofakira]

@SenseiSkilik: yeah agree. i think that most people use the two hand backhand more often because its easier to perform. the entire body moves at relatively the same time sequence. the one hand you have to set up really early. Fed has a beauty for a backhand. wish i had it.

[danw34]

@SenseiSkilik Almagro, Wawrinka, Kolschreiber, Gasquet, Hanescu, Schiavone, Suarez Navarro... A lot of great players today have a one-hander

[SenseiSkilik]

@danw34 dont know... almagro, kohlschreiber and hanescu are good but not world class pontetial. gasquet is a perennial talent. wawrinka is good but not realy consistent.

womans tennis.... hm henin had a great one-handed backhand, mauresmo too. but today 98% play two handed in wta tour.

[danw34]

@SenseiSkilik Yeah, You're right. I wish there was more variety out there, in the top ten, top 25. What ever happened to Gaston Gaudio? Did he retire? That guy had an amazing backhand.

[SenseiSkilik]

@danw34 yeah, think he retired.

[GnRockzU]

@SenseiSkilik I agree that the one hand backhand looks more beautiful and it would be great if more players would use it. The reason most players have two handed backhands is because the one hander is known to cause back injuries. Granted, Roger hasn't had any major back injuries but he's Federer.

[randykarmakum]

@GnRockzU roger has chronic back problems, thats why his explosiveness declined, he is trying to stay healthy by reducing it. Since he can win games using many kinds of play. yeah n does he take the ball on the rise vs everyone using this backhand? I certainly didn't see it against nadal.

[TenArchbishops]

His backhanders off the back foot look so natural. I've always believed that a one-handed backhand off the back foot moving forward was among the toughest shots in the game. But his just look natural. probably owes to whatever core strength training he does.

[Grindking]

you need to stfu and learn how to play

[supertrex2]

he really does use hes wrist a lot

[onlytennisforme]

Thx for the vid... just wondering bout the extension of feds backhand (whip like action) toward the contact to end. Is it just for show or in your opinion does it actually create more strength. Otherwise i can only conclude the mishits he hits off the backhand are due to such action...

[salguodgee]

I noticed that too, and along with other pros like Nadal's forehand. They don't open (parallel to the net) the racket face until near contact but their shoulders keep rotating with wrist/racket back unopened (perpendicular to the net). Is that the convention or can you have the racket back in prep by getting held with your off hand and continue swing motion towards ball contact with racket face open?

[salguodgee]

Simplified: What I'm asking is does it matter if your shoulder/arm leads your racket during your shoulder/torso rotation? Or should your arm/shoulder/racket be all moving at the same pace like a sprinkler (arm across chest with racket extended parallel to the net & arms/shoulder/racket move in unison towards contact?)

[onlytennisforme]

should not. For me the key component for executing the shot is a good preparation. at preparation as long as you have the racquet at waist level (does not matter close face or open face) and relax your elbow and wrist then upon progression of the swing, it should naturally make contact and rotate about ur body (that is if you guided the racquet in the correct direction). Now my question is, feds backhand is more prone for mishits or less sweet spot cause he whip.

[chenstan]

I think, that none of the pros uses wrist as an active joint. The active joint, is the shoulder, where the large muscles are. The angle/pitch of the racquet face is also set at the shoulder, I think. The wrist is kept soft, and allowed to twist and whip passively. Same goes for backhand, I think.

Position of the shoulder naturally determines the body posture. I THINK.

[chenstan]

What I do not think is that they keep telling themselves to turn their body, bend their knees, touch the shoulder to the chin, watch the ball..... during their play. They do all that, but trying to learn tennis that way is going in reverse. I THINK.

[Christrovatelli666]

i think you are correct.

[chrism216]

hmmm

i think they do use it...

thats why they all have big forearm muscles. and the pronation on the service deffinetly comes from the active movement of the wrist. otherwise it would'nt be a solid shot. the ball would bounce in whatever direction cuz the wrist is all lose and relaxed...

but i think its much clearer in the forehand. the backhand depends much more on the weight you put behind it because the arm is turning toward the outside, so there is less strength.

i think =)

[vaaj15]

yeah they should all be moving in unison

[ConstantDistraction]

It does seem like he caught a few of the topspin shots late.

[ryangoring]

Hater!!

[paulkielsmithdotcom]

his balance is off. he needs a chiropractic adjustment

[polipoli7]

well he's not like nadal who falls every match