Roger Federer - Slow Motion Backhand Slice

[IricForset]

Everyone gets it backwards. They see Nadal with huge muscles and think "I need to muscle the ball". WRONG. Its all about headspeed. You're not putting any more energy into the ball than how fast the weight of the racquet moves. Thats why someone without massive biceps like Federer can generate such pace. Relax and swing fast

[inGotham]

@IricForset . NIce try Nadal.

[y11971alex]

If it were a volley Federer would not have such a big swing...

[andrewsLG]

it´s like a blocking shot...perhaps he was doing some kind of drop shot

[tonyt0ny]

press 5, then 6 and repeat.

"what iz thiis? I don like margaritha!!''

[konvictz0007]

federers slice is quite unique, inidividually his topspin backhand or slice may not be the best, however its his combination of the two and how he uses it makes him the best...

[MasturB428]

I can't figure this out because as Gueorg said, the ideal thing to do would be keep your wrist locked at 90 degrees and swing through it not up-down.

This looks like a Federer slice return, because he's actually moving back towards the center of the court at the same time.

[namdonhu]

i think it's a high backhand volley!

[namdonhu]

this is a volley i think.not a slice

[hattrickster33]

lol you don't swing like that on a volley...

[lokitkit]

Hey guys i need some help!

I was learning on how to play a slice, wrist should be tight all the time, but i always slice the ball really short, just like the drop shots, even far from the base line, what should i do?

[chgpatriot7]

@lokitkit move your body forward when you hit it

[JonnyWalker212]

rofl that isn`t roger federer!! c(:

[akosigloc9]

hehe yeah it is:3

[hillsong1004]

Boooo, this video shows Fed almost framing in slow motion! hehehe

[solrac4171]

...that is art...

[mrbackhand1234]

someone on here commented they though you should keep your wrist tight. id like to clarify that you always want to have a loose wrist when playing tennis. NOT weak. but loose.

[themaliced]

This is just me but when i slice, i use a continental grip but when I'm hitting a backhand (one handed) i use eastern. I find you can control and drive through the slice better with continental.

[terminator8338]

Hmm... Nadal seems to use a different grip when using the slice?

[oOKryptiKOo]

It's because you can't be taught your style of play. You learn it from experience and game play.

You develop how you hit through practice and repetition.

Guides are just outlines but are up to the player to develop it even further.

[naikahnomtom]

Federer the teacher of tennis.

[GueorguiJoukov]

Funny how again Federer messes up any modern and classical instructions again with this stroke.

I heard many person saying keepign the wrist tight helps and they usually follow across their body.

Here you really see Federer purpously lets the wrist flex a bit and dive the arm downward. The guy probably has the best slice on the tour and yet he redefines tennis instructions.

We all can and should learn from Federer, no matter which stroke he hits.

[animaanimaanima]

actually, most pros dont have textbook - like techniques. they are just too good for those and they play with their own styles.

[GueorguiJoukov]

You want to laugh? This man surely could speak to you about why he does what and when better than any coach you will find.

You obviously do not know what is to be a sport professionnal. It is the technic that makes them great - skills is wasted if they don't use it correctly. They have worked for years with coaches to move correctly. They surely have technical knowledge.

[flagman57]

@GueorguiJoukov it doesnt look like his wrist is flexing all that much. and if it is, then its probably due to the force of the ball. however, the way he cocks his head a little to the right like that actually does help for consistency and control. i tried doing that and i was so much more consistent and my backhand and i could hit way sharper angles.

[hattrickster33]

@GueorguiJoukov Exactly. He's taken the idea of using the wrist from his regular backhand and built it into his slice. Makes your slice so much more effective.

[sarasmilepiano]

@GueorguiJoukov The classical technique manual does not apply to Roger. He writes his own instructions

[Ciabaja]

pierdole was ^^

[aitiken21]

ちょっと中心はずしたのかなぁ？

[lecafeaucaca]

federer doesnt hit on the sweetspot on the slice because it generates more backspin if the ball is hit from the lower part of the racket to the upper part (thats quite common sense)

[dasdaka]

even if that was true, i doubt he would do it on purpose, no one can control where the ball lands

[THES0L0IST]

How can no one control where the ball lands... Naturally, most players who slice the ball well do hit start from the outer edge of the racket, not to mention these guys are professional, and I don't think you realize all the little tiny tweaks that you can't see that professionals are able to do until you see things like slow motion videos and such. Plus, all it is, is timing. I mean I'm no pro, but I definately can time it to hit closer to the edge of the racket for more spin.

[ThankYouMyTwilight]

Actually, timing is the key to doing it. I have a fairly well developed backhand, and I can do that.

[GueorguiJoukov]

You have to be able to be about half a ball width sure where it lands on the racket to actually play shots correctly; if not, you're like anyone strating and you hit the metal on each stroke.

This shot is quite special because you can slice more or less to control depth, power, bounce and spin. A great shot to recover position.

It's funny how to see people are amazed by others who can hit one handed backhanders and slices correctly. You only need to use it to make it good somewhen.

[tennisrules621]

not true. cuz the top part of the raquet is moving faster than the lower part.

[TeDeKaay]

Even one of the greatest didn't always hit the sweet pot every time :)

[KoreanMilkman2007]

i wish i could hit it in the sweet pot haha

[naikahnomtom]

i can see federer has a nice deep slice but i rarely see him hitting a low but deep slice only in approach shots

[Barcelona32634]

oh so good

[hagerman8900]

that is hardly a slice. i would call that more of a drop shot.

[tomassocannavaro]

what a fuck is this "sorry video unavailable" bullshit

[petercourt]

Refresh the page

[seidl01]

i think this is a return

[ratamandita]

yeah it looks like a drop shop not a slice!!1

[PropheSAY]

a new fragrance: slice

[Zones10]

was that a drop shot??

[DriftKido]

i bet it's slice approach shot.

[leengsta94]

if it was a slice approach shot his body would be going foward towards the ball

[letsgoblues9]

did he shank that?

[alllman2000]

looks like

[DriftKido]

Almost, but it's not. Besides Federer's racket has a pretty thin beam.

[SunSigil]

this looks almost like an eastern forehand grip,but of course it must be continental

[PropheSAY]

it looks so artistic after contact...and also like he's sayin i'm the s*** lol

[hugoskywalker]

is that continental grip?

[mlc040709]

yeah...looks like he's using his slice as a return of serve

[RogerAndMaria]

not quite, its the backhand V on 2nd bevel.

[LOP000]

okay now i get it already

thanks brother ^^

today i playing with my friend

i win him in tie break

i let him win me in 3 straight serve

but finally i win him

XD

[LOP000]

vicencasanova,i was playing the same slice like roger federer

But i still got the same case like you

can anyone teach me?

[Thatoutoftheloopkid]

instead of swinging down on the ball try to just go through it. Your grip will give the ball backspin and the ball will stay low.

[THES0L0IST]

LOP000 the main thing to know about the slice is that you aren't supposed to be "pulling down" trying to literally cut the ball for the backspin. Though it is a little difficult to tell through Roger's slow motion video, he is actually going through the ball quite fast as well as bringing the racket down. When you finish the stroke however, the racket should be much in front of you at your right hip. The racket should not continue to go down or else you will hit the frame a lot.

[leengsta94]

its not hitting down, but kinda going vertical meeting the ball infront of your body not close to it, do you understand wat im saying?

[rungzea]

this isnt even a slice, its a volley

[vicentecasanova]

i cand do the slice but i dont know why the ball get to high when i do it

[reefric]

federer´s slice is the bomb..

[vicentecasanova]

I HAVE HIS SAME RAQUET ..!

[tennischampion995]

where did u get it

[RogerAndMaria]

is this a volley? A good slice in the right place can win a point or set up the opponent where you want him/her, so you can hit the next shot as a winner.

[heejongsohn]

people who are whining about his slice being bad. you guys gotta realize that when ball is that high up at your shoulder, it's really difficult to hit high spin slice. I think like other people mentioned, this slice would be enough to gain more time.

[dparad22]

That's the kind of slice that will go deep and then drop with little pace. If he had driven through the ball a little more, it would slide more off the court. He could have executed this shot defensively or to gain time for court position.

[TennisUSTA]

THANK YOU for that shot! I'm working on that one, and who else to learn that shot from, but the absolutely very BEST?

I love Roger with all my heart.

[BosnianFarmer]

what is BAGHDATIS doing in he audience?? wtfFFF!?!?

[stavsantis]

where is he, i cant see him.

[travoltas]

baghdatis is in the toilet

ps. yo, check the "Australian Open 2008 --PARODY-- Arnie & Dj Krmak" on youtube..its hilarious hahaha

[kamalgilkesk]

it is not supposed to be deep, havent u seen federer bring opponenets in so that he can pass them dtl or x-court

[BosnianFarmer]

hey that is baghdatis! hahaha

[kamalgilkesk]

how can u see anyone clearly..i cannot...

[BosnianFarmer]

wtf!!! fucking bad slice, up and down?? dude.. that will be a low spin slice hahahahah

[cognaccognac]

if that was a volley, he wouldnt have followed the racket downward, youre not supposed to do that..and he uses a 90" headsize, that not oversize!

[txchou]

no, pause it at 8 seconds; it doesn't hit the frame, but it also is way off the sweet spot. however, federer doesn't use a oversized racquet frame (fairly certain of that)

[halfleischman]

Look closer!! Make sure you freeze it on contact.The ball is squeezed between the frame and strings. The ball is coming in too fast and flat for a groundstroke.Looks like a service return guys!! It.s not a volley cause he's not in motion and the ball appears to have bounced..He's waiting for the ball to rise..

[halfleischman]

As far as oversized rackets go,he plays on a mid-size..The rackets I grew up playing on can be seen on utube, Borg vs Mcenroe, wimbledon finals,1980

[Forza37]

i don't think so, he plays on a 90 (that's the NCode N-Six One Tour 90, and now he plays with the KFactor K-Six One 90

[halfleischman]

It still has more frame surface tham a Wilson T-2000 or Jack Kramer.That's pretty clear,but thanks for clearing up what racket he uses.

[Forza37]

oh, yeah no problemo, i just wanted to clarify he uses a mid sized racquet not a mid plus. but i use a mid too, and they are..... WICKED!!!!!! haha

[aleztfu]

@txchou It¡s actually smaller (90)

[halfleischman]

It hit the frame!!! The oversized racket has ruined my amazement of these players..Back in the day,that ball would've been a miss hit..That's why tennis has lost a lot of it's followers,too much grunting,less skill,and oversize rackets..

[Asadafadasa]

This isnt back in the day is it?

[halfleischman]

Sure isn't.What form!! Looks like he's doing the breast stroke.. LOL!!

[Tproshot]

I can see why you think it was a volley. Why does every1 else have to be so closed minded?

[txchou]

I wouldn't describe it as closed minded when informing someone that a they're calling an animal a dog when it is really a cat.

[Oreoclan]

That's why they hit the ball out and into the net... And swiftsid, the fucking backswing is too big for a damn volley idiot. Learn tennis before you start naming shots.

[Xesaniel]

From the looks of it he clipped the ball on the edge of the racket. Even the pros aren't perfect it seems.

[abujabi]

switsid's a dumbass

[Misoulis1]

lmao

[mushupork]

Owned. :D

[swiftsid]

that's a friggin volley, not a slice.

[txchou]

he's on the baseline

[quintasz]

@txchou lol