A Modest(ly) Insane Proposal for Fed

[Murat Baslamisli]

This was part of an interview during 2011 AO.



Q. Do you think if you were starting off now you would have a double handed backhand? That's all the coaches seem to coach these days.

ROGER FEDERER: When I was 12 years old I went to a junior tournament in France, and I remember with the brother of the Patty Schnyder I started working on my double hander. I was like, You know what, I can't even do that, so I'll just stay with my bad one hander. Yeah, thank God I did stay with it, you know.

But, I don't know. Look, obviously it (one hander) feels very free. Two hander, it hurts me everywhere: My chest and my wrist. So I'm happy I play with a one handed backhand now."


Seems like he gave it a bit of a shot, but it has to feel natural. If it does not, it will be extremely difficult for a pro to adjust to it at a later age...considering it was awkward even when he was a kid.

 

[Tennis Miller]

This was part of an interview during 2011 AO.



Q. Do you think if you were starting off now you would have a double handed backhand? That's all the coaches seem to coach these days.

ROGER FEDERER: When I was 12 years old I went to a junior tournament in France, and I remember with the brother of the Patty Schnyder I started working on my double hander. I was like, You know what, I can't even do that, so I'll just stay with my bad one hander. Yeah, thank God I did stay with it, you know.

But, I don't know. Look, obviously it (one hander) feels very free. Two hander, it hurts me everywhere: My chest and my wrist. So I'm happy I play with a one handed backhand now."


Seems like he gave it a bit of a shot, but it has to feel natural. If it does not, it will be extremely difficult for a pro to adjust to it at a later age...considering it was awkward even when he was a kid.

Great. My idea has been blown apart by that most persuasive weapon of all: facts. Nice find on the research. Fed must be the only pro on the planet who can't hit even one two-handed backhand without injuring his entire body!

That officially makes my OP 100% insane. Oh well, I tried. Looks like we'll see a year where Fed is lucky if he makes 2 GS semis....

Cheers!

TM

 

[brokenshoelace]

This was part of an interview during 2011 AO.



Q. Do you think if you were starting off now you would have a double handed backhand? That's all the coaches seem to coach these days.

ROGER FEDERER: When I was 12 years old I went to a junior tournament in France, and I remember with the brother of the Patty Schnyder I started working on my double hander. I was like, You know what, I can't even do that, so I'll just stay with my bad one hander. Yeah, thank God I did stay with it, you know.

But, I don't know. Look, obviously it (one hander) feels very free. Two hander, it hurts me everywhere: My chest and my wrist. So I'm happy I play with a one handed backhand now."


Seems like he gave it a bit of a shot, but it has to feel natural. If it does not, it will be extremely difficult for a pro to adjust to it at a later age...considering it was awkward even when he was a kid.

Great. My idea has been blown apart by that most persuasive weapon of all: facts. Nice find on the research. Fed must be the only pro on the planet who can't hit even one two-handed backhand without injuring his entire body!

That officially makes my OP 100% insane. Oh well, I tried. Looks like we'll see a year where Fed is lucky if he makes 2 GS semis....

Cheers!

TM

Don't be harsh on yourself...

 

[Moxie]

This was part of an interview during 2011 AO.

Q. Do you think if you were starting off now you would have a double handed backhand? That's all the coaches seem to coach these days.

ROGER FEDERER: When I was 12 years old I went to a junior tournament in France, and I remember with the brother of the Patty Schnyder I started working on my double hander. I was like, You know what, I can't even do that, so I'll just stay with my bad one hander. Yeah, thank God I did stay with it, you know.

But, I don't know. Look, obviously it (one hander) feels very free. Two hander, it hurts me everywhere: My chest and my wrist. So I'm happy I play with a one handed backhand now."


Seems like he gave it a bit of a shot, but it has to feel natural. If it does not, it will be extremely difficult for a pro to adjust to it at a later age...considering it was awkward even when he was a kid.

Great. My idea has been blown apart by that most persuasive weapon of all: facts. Nice find on the research. Fed must be the only pro on the planet who can't hit even one two-handed backhand without injuring his entire body!

That officially makes my OP 100% insane. Oh well, I tried. Looks like we'll see a year where Fed is lucky if he makes 2 GS semis....

Cheers!

TM

No, that was a fun conversation thread. And you get points for thinking outside of the box, TM. (And also for the quip about Fed's muscle memory having Alzheimer's. :snigger ) I also remember Roger saying, in a more off-hand way, "If I could hit a two-handed backhand, I'd have a 2-handed back hand, but I can't." Now, this might be a stupid thing to say, if he's already very scrupulous with his fitness regime, but I wonder if he doesn't need to change THAT up. What used to work, or be enough, doesn't always keep working, or isn't as beneficial. There are things he probably didn't work hard on in training in the past because they came so effortlessly in match play, like footwork. Everyone talks about him "losing a step." I know he's 32, but come one, he's also ONLY 32. I don't know what he does for his training, but I wonder if a fresh approach to that might be something a new coach or fitness trainer could bring to the table.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

This was part of an interview during 2011 AO.



Q. Do you think if you were starting off now you would have a double handed backhand? That's all the coaches seem to coach these days.

ROGER FEDERER: When I was 12 years old I went to a junior tournament in France, and I remember with the brother of the Patty Schnyder I started working on my double hander. I was like, You know what, I can't even do that, so I'll just stay with my bad one hander. Yeah, thank God I did stay with it, you know.

But, I don't know. Look, obviously it (one hander) feels very free. Two hander, it hurts me everywhere: My chest and my wrist. So I'm happy I play with a one handed backhand now."


Seems like he gave it a bit of a shot, but it has to feel natural. If it does not, it will be extremely difficult for a pro to adjust to it at a later age...considering it was awkward even when he was a kid.

Great. My idea has been blown apart by that most persuasive weapon of all: facts. Nice find on the research. Fed must be the only pro on the planet who can't hit even one two-handed backhand without injuring his entire body!

That officially makes my OP 100% insane. Oh well, I tried. Looks like we'll see a year where Fed is lucky if he makes 2 GS semis....

Cheers!

TM

Don't be harsh on yourself...

Seriously...relax bro...Like I said, I like the fact you care.

 

[britbox]

Here's a taster for you TM.

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGa6yL7b_8Q[/video]

 

[DarthFed]

This was part of an interview during 2011 AO.

Q. Do you think if you were starting off now you would have a double handed backhand? That's all the coaches seem to coach these days.

ROGER FEDERER: When I was 12 years old I went to a junior tournament in France, and I remember with the brother of the Patty Schnyder I started working on my double hander. I was like, You know what, I can't even do that, so I'll just stay with my bad one hander. Yeah, thank God I did stay with it, you know.

But, I don't know. Look, obviously it (one hander) feels very free. Two hander, it hurts me everywhere: My chest and my wrist. So I'm happy I play with a one handed backhand now."


Seems like he gave it a bit of a shot, but it has to feel natural. If it does not, it will be extremely difficult for a pro to adjust to it at a later age...considering it was awkward even when he was a kid.

Great. My idea has been blown apart by that most persuasive weapon of all: facts. Nice find on the research. Fed must be the only pro on the planet who can't hit even one two-handed backhand without injuring his entire body!

That officially makes my OP 100% insane. Oh well, I tried. Looks like we'll see a year where Fed is lucky if he makes 2 GS semis....

Cheers!

TM

No, that was a fun conversation thread. And you get points for thinking outside of the box, TM. (And also for the quip about Fed's muscle memory having Alzheimer's. :snigger ) I also remember Roger saying, in a more off-hand way, "If I could hit a two-handed backhand, I'd have a 2-handed back hand, but I can't." Now, this might be a stupid thing to say, if he's already very scrupulous with his fitness regime, but I wonder if he doesn't need to change THAT up. What used to work, or be enough, doesn't always keep working, or isn't as beneficial. There are things he probably didn't work hard on in training in the past because they came so effortlessly in match play, like footwork. Everyone talks about him "losing a step." I know he's 32, but come one, he's also ONLY 32. I don't know what he does for his training, but I wonder if a fresh approach to that might be something a new coach or fitness trainer could bring to the table.

32 with 1200 matches is pretty damn old. There's no way he is going to start moving like he is 25 again. It is generous to say it is "only" a step especially on the forehand wing where he is flat out slow at times. Could he become some fitness freak and maybe get some of it back? Possibly, but who knows.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Here's a taster for you TM.

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGa6yL7b_8Q[/video]

He's definitely missing his aesthetic edge there.

On a side note, his motion reminded me of Agassi's.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

^ I agree BS, the compactness of the swing was totally Agassi there. But you could easily see how unnatural it is to him. His swing is limited, because he does not trust it. Overall, like he says, I am extremely glad he stuck to the one hander. For me , it is still a pleasure to watch.

 

[Tennis Miller]

^ I agree BS, the compactness of the swing was totally Agassi there. But you could easily see how unnatural it is to him. His swing is limited, because he does not trust it. Overall, like he says, I am extremely glad he stuck to the one hander. For me , it is still a pleasure to watch.

Doesn't look too bad. But what I'd love to see, and never will, is a video of him hitting a high 1-hander (the one Nadal has feasted on for his entire career), vs a high 2-hander. The one-hander at his waist or lower is just fine and dandy, as evidenced by 17 slams, 6 YECS, 20+ Masters, 300+ weeks at #1. The far less effective high one-hander is greatly to blame for the terrible H2H with Rafa. I'd just like to see it once. Roger, is that too much to ask?

Apparently yes...

Cheers TM

By the way, I'm not beating myself up for the idea. My earlier kudos for the research was just my way of clapping my hand against my strings, to say to you, "too good".

 

[Kieran]

I like your idea, TM, and it would suggest he's actually pushing himself out of his comfort zone to tackle Rafa - but he looks very much out of his comfort zone in that vid! I think Rafa would love to lob balls onto that stiff stalk-legged two-hander!

 

[Tennis Miller]

I like your idea, TM, and it would suggest he's actually pushing himself out of his comfort zone to tackle Rafa - but he looks very much out of his comfort zone in that vid! I think Rafa would love to lob balls onto that stiff stalk-legged two-hander!

Hey Kieran, no doubt Rafa would feast even more (if that's possible) on that timid stroke.What I'd love to see is just one where Rog throws himself into a shoulder high ball with the same vengeance as, say, a 12-year old Monica Seles.

Cheers
TM

 

[Front242]

I like your idea, TM, and it would suggest he's actually pushing himself out of his comfort zone to tackle Rafa - but he looks very much out of his comfort zone in that vid! I think Rafa would love to lob balls onto that stiff stalk-legged two-hander!

Hey Kieran, no doubt Rafa would feast even more (if that's possible) on that timid stroke.What I'd love to see is just one where Rog throws himself into a shoulder high ball with the same vengeance as, say, a 12-year old Monica Seles.

Cheers
TM

I'll pass on the Monica Seles part as one majorly noteworthy trait of Fed is he never grunts like a complete muppet. Other than that it'd be nice to see for a change alright

 

[I.Haychew]

Screw the backhand altogether. I think he should learn to be ambidextrous. That way he can serve with both hands and hit forehands from both sides.

In all seriousness...I wonder if any pro has ever done that. I played high school baseball with a guy who could both throw/field and hit from both sides. It was pretty amazing.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Screw the backhand altogether. I think he should learn to be ambidextrous. That way he can serve with both hands and hit forehands from both sides.

In all seriousness...I wonder if any pro has ever done that. I played high school baseball with a guy who could both throw/field and hit from both sides. It was pretty amazing.

I have seen a bunch of guys at lower levels play forehands on both sides, but this kid below is the first one that I have seen that can actually serve with both hands:wow:...I would probably hurt myself if I tried to serve lefty.

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPl6goaFubI[/video]

 

[Haelfix]

^ I agree BS, the compactness of the swing was totally Agassi there. But you could easily see how unnatural it is to him. His swing is limited, because he does not trust it. Overall, like he says, I am extremely glad he stuck to the one hander. For me , it is still a pleasure to watch.

Doesn't look too bad. But what I'd love to see, and never will, is a video of him hitting a high 1-hander (the one Nadal has feasted on for his entire career), vs a high 2-hander.

Generally speaking, its harder to hit a high two hander than it is to hit a high one hander (try it). (Where by high I mean above the head). What's significantly easier is hitting a compact 2hander early vs a 1 hander.

Its a little easier to hit a shoulder height 2hander though.