Roger Federer

good

I NEED TO SEE IT A LITTLE BIT SLOWER.

head steady- not windshield

federer forhand is the best forhand i have ever seen.

Have you not heard of a certain Rafael Nadal.

Federer's forehand is way better than Rafa's. Nadal can get some unbelievable topspin on that thing but Federer's skids especially on the grass. Does the number 16 mean anything to you?

Federer is the best about not pulling his head up until he has finished his strokes. He keeps his eyes down better and longer than anyone else. That is why he is the best.

hi

I am struck by how, when he is 'just hitting', Federer follows through long and fluid on both sides, and how much racket speed he generates as he comes through the hitting zone, regardless of the length of backswing and degree of leg drive.
Also by how aggressively he drives through the back of the ball when he makes the so-called windshield wiper forehand stroke.
WOW!

Will, where are you? I'd like to consider lessons.

hey please can u put more videos of federer´s backhand? , thank you.

Dear Will,

would you mind putting up some videos of maybe Pete Sampras and Jim Courier, i would love to check out those serves.

Hey Will! Does Roger use a different grip for his running forehand? I notice that his running forehand has an unusual amount of topspin in comparison to his normal forehand and that his racket ends in a different position. If he does, what is the advantage of such a grip?

it's just a lasso whip follow through
nothing different about the grip

I've read elsewhere that Fed uses several different forehand grips.

There was a good piece by Stan Smith on Fed's forehand years back (tennis mag?) about how Fed hits his forehand many different ways -- ball in front, ball event with back foot. spin ...

hey is was wondering wat grip does federer use for his backhand. is is an eastern grip?

it's a eastern backhand grip

Will, do you agree with this Tennis.com article that Federer's forehand is a combination of modern and classic techniques?

Here's the article:

http://www.tennis.com/yourgame/instructionartic...

nothing

Federer is sexy! i Love him.
Although you guys think its good to copy federer, its best to develop your own style.
You might actually play better with your own style.

i can't see it

why i can see nothing at all?

Hi Will, could you please do an analysis of all of Fed's grips :: forehand, backhand, serve, and volley? I really liked Fed's forehand analysis video of yours...completely changed my game....I always figured Fed was using more of a semi-western forehand grip
I think alot of people want to hit like Fed hits and serve like Fed serves...so an analysis of all of Fed's strokes would be very informative and beneficial

We've been planning on doing one on Federer's forehand for awhile... hopefully we can get something done in the next month or so.

Wow, you are thinking on doing a video lesson how to hit a forehand like Federer, is that so?

Hey Tsvet. We wouldn't tell you how to hit it, per se -- that would take some time to learn (via progressions, etc.). And obviously being able to hit w/a similar technique doesn't mean "you'll hit a forehand like Federer."

Rather, we'll break his technique down and talk about what he's doing and how some of that stuff may apply to your game.

hey does federer hit with a straight arm out a bent elbow?

Right, Federer's arm stays pretty straight when he hits through a forehand. Basically he is trying to keep the ball on the strings for as long as possible. It means more power, more control. Most lower level players tend to glance the ball off the strings. Try and keep the ball on the strings longer and you'll hit better, stronger shots. So, he's not concentrating on keeping his arm straight, but it is a result of following through longer and keeping the ball on the strings.

why on earth do people try to copy rogers playing style in stead of making their own? its not like the saying ,, in order to be the best you have to become the best'' meant it literally. having a similar playing style to the best is fine but not exactly like the bests, like what youre trying mathew

Clarence,
You can nail Roger's playing style only with the Six.One Tour or eventually with the 95 :)

indeed, it is the only way. You can also try k pro staff 88, but it is a very demanding weapon...

how does roger put so much topspin on his high backhand? is it how he twists his arm? or is it his grip? or is it somthing else? it's such a pain for me when i go up against people who hit high balls to my backhand (a good strategy for anyone) but i am struggleing a lot. i am trying to hit the balls on the rise as well, but it is difficult.

i was wondering what grip does roger federer use for his serve.

Federer has a variety of serve, that what makes him so dominating. He can hit flat bomb, slice or kick serve. for all those serves, different grip is required. Just try to keep your second finger (the one next to thumb) slightly abducted ( don`t use hammer grip)..., hit the ball at the correct hight, and You`ll make it ;)

excellent thanks

ya i see your point vincent. Thanks

`t mean I have to chose from the biggest and lightest racquets. Some people ( including me) just don`t feel comfortable using light ( up to 300 g) racquets, and I am not writing about advanced players, but also begginers.
I think that heavy racquets were made also for normal club level players, not just professional tennis players. It is individual choice (besides, there are many male pros, using light racquets- (Feliciano Lopez, Nadal, probably all spaniars using max topspin).
Finally. If You don`t know what racquet to buy, just demo random racquets, with different headsize, and weight. You must have your own opinion to make a good choice. I played before with Babolat AeroPro, Head liquidmetal Radical midplus, head liquidmetal prestige midplus (one of my favourite) and now Wilson Kfactor tour 90. I am USTA 3.5- 4.0 player, and so far, this racquet is my favourite !!!

Mathew
I use a Babolat AeroStorm. It is a heavy racket but with big head size. I tried to play like roger with it and i didn't really get the result i was looking for. I could still hit the ball well but sometimes it would end up as a frame shot. So i think you're right. if i want to continue playing like that, i should probably change rackets

I think if you're framing the ball, it's not a matter of the type of racket you're using. Granted that you're not used to the different weight, but that shouldn't affect your swing so much that you're framing the ball. That indicates to me that you are not looking at the ball.

I just personally feel more control using heavier racquet. I`ve tried to play with Babolat Aeropro, but it is a racquet for topspin players, and it is tough to hit a clean flat stroke, usually it ends up as a frameshot :)
Pedro, I know I won`t play like Federer by using his racquet. You are right, it is not all about a flick of the wrist, it is also about approach to ball, footwork, lenght of swing, I know... But just because I am not a pro, doesn

I have to make it absolutely clear. If You want to make your game look similar to Roger, You must chose a right racquet. You see, I purchased Babolat Aero Pro racquet, and tryid to play like roger. It was a nightmare, this racquet was too big, and not thin enough to control one-handed backhand. After that, I bought Roger

Federer racquet, and it was much easier, although it was a heavy racquet. My point is, that federer is not using muscles while hitting his strokes, his play is effortles ( I mean, it looks like that). It is because his racquet is heavy, and veeery stiff. If You only hit a forehand on straight elbow, ball cuts the air like in TV. Trust me, If You want to try playing like Roger, get his racquet, or any other heavy racquet with a small headsize. Then, You will feel a difference...

Sorry Mathew but you are mistaken. You see, heavy racquets with a small head size and a head-light weight balance generate incredible control (Roger's Ksix-one 90 is the best example) but they require a more advanced player (USTA 5.0-5.5) who has a longer swing, can generate its own power and hit the ball on such a small sweet spot. So by any means I'm trying to offend you, but just making you understand that u can't expect to play like Federer by swinging HIS racquet with just a flick of your wrist. Hope this has been helpful.

Dear aif:
it wud gud dub lub mig be great if you would talk clearly, and don't sound like a whiny brat.... plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........

Btw, wonderful videos, Will. Keep up the great work.

well it wud gud if u add every type of serve of federer like close slow motion videos of flat serve , slice serve, kick serve.. it wub help alot.. and some forehand returns from middle of court both hgh bounce and below levelof net......i really want to see these videos........plz add these as son as possible.....plzzzzzzzz

Does anyone know how much of string tension federer uses? And his racket weight?

not sure abt the tension but it wieghs around 13

What grip is Federer's backhand?

eastern backhand grip

@Charles: Eastern Grip

What grip does andy roddick use to hit his forehand?

well will i wanted to know about federer's one handed backhand.u know the finish .my coach tells me that u should take ur racket up and it should be like the statue of liberty.in federer's case he actually takes it back and the face does not point to the sky .is that okay?

The 'statue of Liberty' pose is on the follow-through after the ball has been hit. It's just a way of helping people remember to finish the whole swing. Too many people muscle the shot rather than relying on a smooth, complete swing. Try muscling your backhands for 3 or 5 sets and you'll realise why you have to learn this. If you look at the Federer backhands at 13 seconds and maybe better on 15 seconds, you will see that his racket has followed through all the way and is pointing to the sky.

If you notice...it depends on the shot. If it's a shot around his shoulder then he would not finish it of in the stand that you were talking about. But if the ball is around his weight or at his feet, he will.

Hi Matt. They are smooth. However, you need to hit the HD button right as the video loads. Youtube is a little quirky. If you hit it after the video starts playing it will chop. Gotta be quick!

These videos aren't smooth! Too jumpy .. what's the point of high definition if you have a low frame rate?