Thanks for the analysis! Regularly look forward to these!
About Novak's forehand... as brilliant as he is overall it irks me that his forehand to my (layman) eyes seems somewhat underpowered often in random middle of the court rallies where you would think he could/should be hitting with more oomph; approach shots, and with low bouncing shots coming at him. Sometimes he hits the forehand in a way that may lack a certain pace or depth and I ask myself why he couldn't hit it with more oomph at that particular moment. In his FO matches with Nadal or his GS matches with Wawrinka he would often hit these tame balls despite having time and then immediately get blasted away.
What is the story behind that?
Various factors for those missed GS opportunities during 2012-2014 aside I think had he been more aggressive and harder hitting in some of those matches he could have 3 or 4 more GS by now.
Well I think part of it is his swing and racquet set up. Very heavy stick, tight pattern, big grip. All things great for *absorbing*, but especially with his extreme grip, it's not great for generating pace off a nothing ball. That's why he struggles against Wawrinka's return, or the Medvedev's and RBA's of the world. That is the tradeoff he makes, it's just that there hasn't been an ATG in that Meddy mold to punish him enough for it.
Great analysis again Hugh. I'm unsure how Novak can't be in the GOAT discussion for forehands, but as you mentioned his greatness with that shot is far more subtle. He wins points mainly by forcing errors or forcing a short ball to then put away for a winner instead of hitting the first shot for a clear winner such as that shot at 15/40 in the 3rd set you showed. But as you mentioned as well, his ability to absorb pace and depth and also keep the ball going back nice and deep.
It always surprises me when a top player like Rublev has such a glaring technical weakness and has had his whole career, does his coach or someone else refuse to tell him, don't think he has a technical weakness or he doesn't want to try and improve it? Once the US Open is done why doesn't he spend 3 months working on the technique part of it?
I'm sure they are aware of it; everyone is aware of their weaknesses. Changing them is really hard (if it wasn't there would be no bad shots on tour). Plus there's the appeal of just trying to make your strength's stronger.
I'm sure someone like Rublev knows his backhand is his weakness, but do you think he knows that it's a technical deficiency and it is something he has the power to change.
I guess what I'm getting at is, does he also know the technique things he would have to change to make his backhand better but he just refuses to go through the process?
Excellent analysis! Is it just me or have you noticed that Djokovic's on the run cross court FH has become a much more potent shot compared to the last few years? I wonder if the off-season training he said he did to beef up and get stronger is starting to pay dividends in terms of adding power to that shot, as well as making his FHs more damaging overall.
Well to be fair I think that has always been his most dangerous/preferred shot off that wing. His running crosscourt forehand has always been great. Perhaps as he has aged he has upped the pace on it as he doesn't want to rely on his legs and defense as much, but that shot has always been there for him.
Thanks, superb analysis. What you say about the 2HBH and the attempt to "flip" in the slot is totally correct; but the best 1HBHs do have a kind of flip, no? As the tip accelerates around the butt cap? It always seems to me that the ball is almost "slapped," rather than "pushed" with the 1HBH. Yes, imprecise metaphors, I know. Thanks again!
What I mean by flip is that the racquet tip goes from outside the hands, to violently back behind the hands, before being pulled through.
On a 1HBH, the racquet tip starts way inside already on the takeback, so there is no flip in that sense, it's just getting pulled through from the inside.
More great analysis, thanks. I wasn't a Novak fan to begin with but your analysis has helped me to appreciate his greatness, and understand what makes him so difficult to beat.
On Mcenroe, I mostly find his commentary grates me, its obvious he doesn't watch/follow tennis much outside the slams. But he occasionally makes some pretty astute observations that justify his presence and prevents me from just muting the commentary...
Why do you think there are so many pros now with the outside flip backhand? At some point did it start being taught as superior to the full takeback? I’m curious about the origins as it seems to have infiltrated the ATP tour, even though like you said it’s not something done by the best backhands in the past
Thanks for the analysis! Regularly look forward to these!
About Novak's forehand... as brilliant as he is overall it irks me that his forehand to my (layman) eyes seems somewhat underpowered often in random middle of the court rallies where you would think he could/should be hitting with more oomph; approach shots, and with low bouncing shots coming at him. Sometimes he hits the forehand in a way that may lack a certain pace or depth and I ask myself why he couldn't hit it with more oomph at that particular moment. In his FO matches with Nadal or his GS matches with Wawrinka he would often hit these tame balls despite having time and then immediately get blasted away.
What is the story behind that?
Various factors for those missed GS opportunities during 2012-2014 aside I think had he been more aggressive and harder hitting in some of those matches he could have 3 or 4 more GS by now.
Well I think part of it is his swing and racquet set up. Very heavy stick, tight pattern, big grip. All things great for *absorbing*, but especially with his extreme grip, it's not great for generating pace off a nothing ball. That's why he struggles against Wawrinka's return, or the Medvedev's and RBA's of the world. That is the tradeoff he makes, it's just that there hasn't been an ATG in that Meddy mold to punish him enough for it.
Fascinating as always. Love reading your posts.
Superb as always! Really appreciate and look forward to your pieces
Great analysis again Hugh. I'm unsure how Novak can't be in the GOAT discussion for forehands, but as you mentioned his greatness with that shot is far more subtle. He wins points mainly by forcing errors or forcing a short ball to then put away for a winner instead of hitting the first shot for a clear winner such as that shot at 15/40 in the 3rd set you showed. But as you mentioned as well, his ability to absorb pace and depth and also keep the ball going back nice and deep.
It always surprises me when a top player like Rublev has such a glaring technical weakness and has had his whole career, does his coach or someone else refuse to tell him, don't think he has a technical weakness or he doesn't want to try and improve it? Once the US Open is done why doesn't he spend 3 months working on the technique part of it?
I'm sure they are aware of it; everyone is aware of their weaknesses. Changing them is really hard (if it wasn't there would be no bad shots on tour). Plus there's the appeal of just trying to make your strength's stronger.
I'm sure someone like Rublev knows his backhand is his weakness, but do you think he knows that it's a technical deficiency and it is something he has the power to change.
I guess what I'm getting at is, does he also know the technique things he would have to change to make his backhand better but he just refuses to go through the process?
Hire Hugh Clarke!
Excellent analysis! Is it just me or have you noticed that Djokovic's on the run cross court FH has become a much more potent shot compared to the last few years? I wonder if the off-season training he said he did to beef up and get stronger is starting to pay dividends in terms of adding power to that shot, as well as making his FHs more damaging overall.
Well to be fair I think that has always been his most dangerous/preferred shot off that wing. His running crosscourt forehand has always been great. Perhaps as he has aged he has upped the pace on it as he doesn't want to rely on his legs and defense as much, but that shot has always been there for him.
Thanks, superb analysis. What you say about the 2HBH and the attempt to "flip" in the slot is totally correct; but the best 1HBHs do have a kind of flip, no? As the tip accelerates around the butt cap? It always seems to me that the ball is almost "slapped," rather than "pushed" with the 1HBH. Yes, imprecise metaphors, I know. Thanks again!
What I mean by flip is that the racquet tip goes from outside the hands, to violently back behind the hands, before being pulled through.
On a 1HBH, the racquet tip starts way inside already on the takeback, so there is no flip in that sense, it's just getting pulled through from the inside.
Good video explanation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEn5N8VDKXY&t=44s
More great analysis, thanks. I wasn't a Novak fan to begin with but your analysis has helped me to appreciate his greatness, and understand what makes him so difficult to beat.
On Mcenroe, I mostly find his commentary grates me, its obvious he doesn't watch/follow tennis much outside the slams. But he occasionally makes some pretty astute observations that justify his presence and prevents me from just muting the commentary...
yeah Mac needs to stick to big matches only. It's terrible how he doesn't even know top-50 guys
Why do you think there are so many pros now with the outside flip backhand? At some point did it start being taught as superior to the full takeback? I’m curious about the origins as it seems to have infiltrated the ATP tour, even though like you said it’s not something done by the best backhands in the past