He contributes regularly to the tennis site called tennisplayer.net. It is a subscription site but well worth it to those who really want to study tennis technique. Dr. Brian Gordon studies biomechanics from a quantitative viewpoint. He has stated that Nadal and Federer have very similar forehands and are the model forehands for what he calls the ATP Type 3 forehand.
Thanks so much for response. You are very knowledgeable about this stuff. I was thinking the same thing, that most of these neutral preparation players have strong semi western to western grips. And some of these great forehands with the extended wrist preparation and the same semi western to western grip, like the ones you named, well I certainly would not change a thing ha.
I used to feel the same way about the neutral flex preparation taking away time, but really not anymore. To me Fognini has this technique also and is never rushed, seems to have all day. Khachanov for whatever reason seems to have a bigger motion or something and he can get rushed. Tiafoe has the extreme flexed wrist and never seems rushed.
Yeah, I will say that the Fognini/Tiafoe type forehand is very short and kept to the hitting side so he won't feel rushed, but maybe have a little more difficulty executing day-in day-out. I think the main issue with it for me is that it lacks the smoothness and fluidity a gravity-assisted forehand provides. At their peaks Big-3 all had reduced wrist action/high noon takeback. Nadal 08/10/13. Fed 04-08, Djokovic 11 to now.
Certainly agree with that. Can't go against with Fed/Nadal/Djokovic extended wrist preparation. I have personally experimented with the neutral to slight downward flex preparation and found to me it helps me with a passive loose wrist going into contact. Everyone is different though about this stuff.
Agree, I think more extreme grips have this feature more because they probably have less extension on contact, so with semi/easter grips far more likely to get extension naturally I think as well. But lighter racquets I think might promote this 'looseness' or tiafoe-esque takeback as well as they get power by racquet speed. I think flexion is ok if you get a full turn and racquet head up (Ruud, Rublev, FAA, Fritz) - still can handle a heavier stick is my hunch.
to put the thesis to the test. Of all the young guys, I think Rune approximates the big-3 forehand the closest (I think Thiem 2020 was bang on too), so I would expect him to develop really strong return numbers over the coming years as his BH is also in line with Djoker/Rafa/Murray
Rune(as you already pointed out) is a textbook forehand it seems ,as Dr. Brian Gordon would term model type 3 forehand, which he terms the forehands of Nadal and Federer. Per Brian, there are hardly any pure model type 3 forehands out there. FAA right there also maybe.
He contributes regularly to the tennis site called tennisplayer.net. It is a subscription site but well worth it to those who really want to study tennis technique. Dr. Brian Gordon studies biomechanics from a quantitative viewpoint. He has stated that Nadal and Federer have very similar forehands and are the model forehands for what he calls the ATP Type 3 forehand.
Thanks so much for response. You are very knowledgeable about this stuff. I was thinking the same thing, that most of these neutral preparation players have strong semi western to western grips. And some of these great forehands with the extended wrist preparation and the same semi western to western grip, like the ones you named, well I certainly would not change a thing ha.
I used to feel the same way about the neutral flex preparation taking away time, but really not anymore. To me Fognini has this technique also and is never rushed, seems to have all day. Khachanov for whatever reason seems to have a bigger motion or something and he can get rushed. Tiafoe has the extreme flexed wrist and never seems rushed.
Yeah, I will say that the Fognini/Tiafoe type forehand is very short and kept to the hitting side so he won't feel rushed, but maybe have a little more difficulty executing day-in day-out. I think the main issue with it for me is that it lacks the smoothness and fluidity a gravity-assisted forehand provides. At their peaks Big-3 all had reduced wrist action/high noon takeback. Nadal 08/10/13. Fed 04-08, Djokovic 11 to now.
Certainly agree with that. Can't go against with Fed/Nadal/Djokovic extended wrist preparation. I have personally experimented with the neutral to slight downward flex preparation and found to me it helps me with a passive loose wrist going into contact. Everyone is different though about this stuff.
Agree, I think more extreme grips have this feature more because they probably have less extension on contact, so with semi/easter grips far more likely to get extension naturally I think as well. But lighter racquets I think might promote this 'looseness' or tiafoe-esque takeback as well as they get power by racquet speed. I think flexion is ok if you get a full turn and racquet head up (Ruud, Rublev, FAA, Fritz) - still can handle a heavier stick is my hunch.
to put the thesis to the test. Of all the young guys, I think Rune approximates the big-3 forehand the closest (I think Thiem 2020 was bang on too), so I would expect him to develop really strong return numbers over the coming years as his BH is also in line with Djoker/Rafa/Murray
Rune(as you already pointed out) is a textbook forehand it seems ,as Dr. Brian Gordon would term model type 3 forehand, which he terms the forehands of Nadal and Federer. Per Brian, there are hardly any pure model type 3 forehands out there. FAA right there also maybe.
Interesting. I haven't heard of him but I will check him out.
https://hughclarke.substack.com/p/part-1-forehand-technique-and-swingweight
more detail there
fantastic analysis. thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it mate, and thanks for the comment. Helps keep me going.