Rafael's forehand

[Puppet Master]

https://youtu.be/ikNlsRBT8-0

I believe you all know where this clip is from. One of those forehands, I swear I thought I was watching Federer, and Hewitt isn't a slow bloke at all. Compare and contrast this with the horrors he hit in Monte Carlo this year. What the hell happened to it... Crazy how time flies.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

The key is to watch his follow-through. You notice after most of his forehands the arm is going across his body ? That pretty much stopped years ago. Now, the arm goes up over and around his head. First version lets you hit flatter shots. Today's version (well, at least last 8-9 years) gives you more spin.

 

[Puppet Master]

The key is to watch his follow-through. You notice after most of his forehands the arm is going across his body ? That pretty much stopped years ago. Now, the arm goes up over and around his head. First version lets you hit flatter shots. Today's version (well, at least last 8-9 years) gives you more spin.

Yeah I noticed it, but look at the pace he hits it with. It's just lovely to watch.

 

[Denis]

Pretty good stuff.

 

[Front242]

Yeah, I've posted this before too and personally much preferred his earlier forehand. Apart from clay he'd likely have more success playing flatter also imo.

 

[Front242]

It's not too late for Rafa to change to this

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THz0l3MJRKQ[/video]

:snicker

 

[Puppet Master]

Yeah, I've posted this before too and personally much preferred his earlier forehand. Apart from clay he'd likely have more success playing flatter also imo.

Apart from clay? I hope you mean it's unlikely that he would have been more successful considering his clay prowess . This forehand is equally devastating, if not more. I just think that we would have seen less upsets, since Nadal's forehand, on an off day on hard courts, is horrific to say the least.

 

[Puppet Master]

It's not too late for Rafa to change to this

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THz0l3MJRKQ[/video]

:snicker

I really don't know anymore, the guy might be charging his shot, or maybe he feels a bit claustrophobic on court. Did we ever give him a nickname?

 

[Denis]

I really don't know anymore, the guy might be charging his shot, or maybe he feels a bit claustrophobic on court. Did we ever give him a nickname?

Was it not dubbed the 'helicopter shot'?

 

[Puppet Master]

I really don't know anymore, the guy might be charging his shot, or maybe he feels a bit claustrophobic on court. Did we ever give him a nickname?

Was it not dubbed the 'helicopter shot'?

I can't remember, but it sounds good.

 

[Front242]

Yeah, I've posted this before too and personally much preferred his earlier forehand. Apart from clay he'd likely have more success playing flatter also imo.

Apart from clay? I hope you mean it's unlikely that he would have been more successful considering his clay prowess . This forehand is equally devastating, if not more. I just think that we would have seen less upsets, since Nadal's forehand, on an off day on hard courts, is horrific to say the least.

I think we'd see less of the horrific off days and short balls if he hit flatter (he even hits short balls on clay on bad days) but obviously his loopy topspin is what made him so deadly to play against on clay when he's playing his best. It'd be pretty damn hard for him to play loopy balls on clay exclusively and flatter on other surfaces but if he could manage to do that I think he'd have less bad days. It's much harder to hit a flat ball short. Unless it's into the net obviously

 

[Kieran]

Yeah, I've posted this before too and personally much preferred his earlier forehand. Apart from clay he'd likely have more success playing flatter also imo.

Apart from clay? I hope you mean it's unlikely that he would have been more successful considering his clay prowess . This forehand is equally devastating, if not more. I just think that we would have seen less upsets, since Nadal's forehand, on an off day on hard courts, is horrific to say the least.

I think we'd see less of the horrific off days and short balls if he hit flatter (he even hits short balls on clay on bad days) but obviously his loopy topspin is what made him so deadly to play against on clay when he's playing his best. It'd be pretty damn hard for him to play loopy balls on clay exclusively and flatter on other surfaces but if he could manage to do that I think he'd have less bad days. It's much harder to hit a flat ball short. Unless it's into the net obviously

Yeah, sometimes those big industrious loopy shots that land on the service line, after a high trajectory, drive me ape. I'd prefer he had them a bit flatter on hards too, but usually he does, when he's playing well. When he gets defensive, everything gets a huge parabola.

But...his forehand in full cry is a thing of especial beauty. Watching Rafa hit the clipper down the line, it's just staggering. He adds drama too, with his body shape and fury. I know that Cali thinks the only aesthetics are found in Nalbandian's backhand serve, or whatever, but there's many forms of aesthetics, and Rafa's forehand is definitely something to see...

 

[Front242]

Actually despite not being a fan of most of Nadal's forehands aesthetically much like cali, I do actually think his DTL FH is great and the banana shots. Not much of a fan of the basic rally forehands though to say the least.

 

[Kieran]

The banana shots are hilarious...

 

[Denis]

Actually despite not being a fan of most of Nadal's forehands aesthetically much like cali, I do actually think his DTL FH is great and the banana shots. Not much of a fan of the basic rally forehands though to say the least.

The banana shots are awesome:

[video=youtube]http://youtu.be/MXpKyLepYnY[/video]

 

[Kieran]

Thanks for that, Denis! No matter how often, the rally and winner against Verdasco always looks ridiculously great...