Nikola Aracic on the GOATs, why the underarm serve is crap, heavy racquets can be bad...etc

[@snickaren111]

I don't always agree with Nikola, but my respect for him is great due to his integrity and honesty. And although I don't agree with him on everything, hes knowledge tennis wise is huge. Great guest for the goat of tennis influencers, Jonas aka Tennisnerd that is.

[@Tennisnerd]

Thanks!

[@ST-ek6lf]

My thoughts on him exactly. I have mad respect for him although I disagree on some things here and there…

[@mindofmogli]

Great podcast, Jonas. Two of my favorite tennis guys on KZbin🙏 Was awesome hangin' ;) And cool new graphic!

[@leandronicolas8848]

Loved the podcast, you talk about very interesting points. Really like both your channels, hope to see more of these!

[@TennisNeedsMore]

Two of my fav people in KZbin tnnis rn! No homo! 😁😁

[@KohakuZen]

I follow Jonas, Karue, and Nikola. You all are my main source of technique (Nikola and Karue) and gear (Jonas) knowledge. It's a bliss to have you both in the same video, thanks!! About gear, I think that Jonas is spot on; he has tried to explain the difference between static and swing weight (among others): the focus has to be on the swing weight you can handle (depending on your fit and technique), not on the static weight. Heavy racquets (into some limits, of course) are always better, if you keep the desired swing weight. I got serious arm issues in the past, due to stiff light racquets with not so low swing weight, and to stiff and tense strings. Since using soft raquets (below 61RA), sw between 320 and 335 kg/cm2, and soft co-poly strings at 19-20kg, total (strung + overgrip + dampener) weight above 340g (usually 350g, but it can be higher, no problem at all while sw stays in range), all arm issues disappeared. Small head (90 to 98""), tiny beam, high MGR/I, and enough recoil weight, are my preferences; demanding frames but, like Nikola says, they help to improve my technique and fit. As very few modern racquets fit the bill, I end customizing them; found that many old racquets are more appropriated (fewer mods required, higher MGR/I, higher quality materials, better vibration management)

[@Anton.Arkhipov]

Interesting reveal on how Nick’s racquet plays, I always wondered how he blasts balls with such power. Being able to control those shots and actually play successfully with such style and equipment is fabulous!

[@verlatenwolf]

definitely agree on the camera angles. We need change. It would also like to switch commentary.

[@adonismoviemaker]

Do more of this together. I like what you guys bring. 🪰😊

[@justanothernoobe]

fascinating talk - great exchange of honest opinions without judgement and with complete respect of each other's views. (Fortunately those views are consistent / shared). I love that Nikola challenged Jonas on responsibility for somehow magically predicting how people can misinterpret advice without taking the time to grow their own understanding: everyone just wants a quick and easy solution but any leader / mentor / guidance counsellor with more than 5 minutes' experience will tell you ... there's no such thing and, as the Japanese are "coined" with saying, it takes 10,000 hours so make the investment or suffer the consequences. And I love Jonas' comments about "nuance" ... there's sooooooooo much that goes into things. Everyone is individual. 1+1=2. But ... Me + Sinner's raquet (with exact same specs) does not = World #1 🤣 Then let's change strings, tension, weight, weight distribution, grip size, ... Then let's change ME on the day (sleep, diet, training, hydration, mental state, preparation, determination, hunger, focus, determination, physical strength, agility, age, years of experience (both body and mental), did I have an argument with my partner or children, etc., ... and all of the trade-offs that go in-between). The nuances are HUGE. I ride motorbikes. It's unquestionable and undeniable that certain conditions will make me behave in very odd ways ... despite me knowing that I should not. Subconscious response and muscle memory... that's why Sports Psychology is also so important. It's a bit like looking at the difference between boxers: counter puncher vs. striker - it is soooooooo hard to change one to the other. Nuance is key. Sometimes you don't have to change it but you certainly have to understand your particular nuances so you can capitalise and make the best of what you have to offer. (Which leads nicely back to Nikola's comments about his own playing style ...) Great chat, gents 👍 Thanks for sharing - I don't often get the time to tune in and watch something as long as this but so glad that I did tonight.

[@curttheboywonder]

This dude has some wild takes. So it’s okay to get literally 10 cm from someone’s face and scream at them, but it’s disrespectful to hit a perfectly legal tennis shot when you’re getting your butt kicked. Would I rather be screamed at and fear for my safety, or be served underhanded. Hmmmm real tough one. But for Nik he’d say the opposite. Absolutely wild takes.

[@LiamApilado]

One day I’m sure we will be able to chose the camera angle or watch without commentary. It’s so great to be able to form your own thoughts when watching tennis

[@Tennisnerd]

100% agree. Sound, but no commentary adds drama it feels like

[@jcvicelli]

F1 has a camera per driver, so I guess for tennis is way easier to implement.

[@mattiastennis]

@@jcvicelli Was literally going to mention this. Its a joke how inadequate tennis footage is and SkySportsF1 literally demonstrates how non-difficult it is to have high-level footage in probably THE MOST difficult sport to make things happen(f1)

[@63gak]

Great talk guys.. I'm big fan of tennis and both of you and your channels.As 61 I had started playing tennis when only heavy rackets were available.Strings were just some kind of cheap synthetic gut and real gut that none of us back then could afford or get.I learned how to handle heavy racket because I had no choice.New balls were privilege,when somebody cracked a can was like Christmas,and so on.Things has changed that much that there is so much stuff available so that everyone without proper knowledge can get totally confused.I had learned how to play with heavy racket and just hitting the ball with it is not problem for me even now when 61. Wirh aging problem became mobility, agility, flexibility, endurance,all those things you need when you play to win.You are finding yourself out of proper strike position more and more often, and this is when heavy racket is not helping you as it use to anymore.Saying goodbye for your long time companion is not easy, accepting that you cannot anymore as you use to is not easy too.But once you do nowdays there are plenty of strings and rackets to choose from,and you guys are doing great job explaining what product is for who with a lot of patience and knowledge.👍 Anyways,now I play with 280 g racket with 100head that i replaced original grip with leather grip ,and added overgrip on.So with string on is around 305g .That much I can still carry around without struggling to much.😃Keep up the good work!

[@jmayaalv]

Great conversation! Always a pleasure to hear you :)

[@green-garden-123]

Absolutely agreed with more viewing angles would elevate tennis viewing experience to the next level!

[@al1976-v7m]

Great comment about Bublik. Respect & etiquette is an important part of the game. Also good observations about the underhand serve. I still think it's a legitimate shot though. Really interesting conversation all around.

[@foodandtennisislife]

Totally agree with Nikola on Novak...he gets angry in order to release that negativity and refresh. Whereas other players get angry but the negativity remains inside them...really smart

[@CH-yp5by]

Hahah I love the cooking part, it was done very well

[@oakmountaingod]

many great and interesting points, 100% agree about the watching angles of matches

[@mattiastennis]

One of your best interviews, always good to hear thoughts from you both. Definitely right on the underarm 'serve' which should be banned. Very good point on viewability, its a joke of a situation and in many ways tennis is stuck in the 1980s. Commentators are usually stupid, a lot of the viewing is intended for old seniors who would have watched things in 70s onwards and there is even part of the regressed part of tennis 'culture' which denies importance and role of materials and equipment('play with any racquet', 'play with any ball', 'play on any surface' nonsense) and has a lot of 'coaches' who just know how to cry out queues and scrounge around for any $ they can find which they have somewhat in common with 'tournament directors' who majority of the time literally see tennis has floating and moving $ signs.. The viewability problem was solved YEARS ago in F1 where you can opt for nil commentary, different angles, viewing from each driver so there is NIL technical problem. Nil excuses

[@tijgertjekonijnwordopgegeten]

If anything the underhand serve improves viewability, the only people who want to ban the underhand serve are the old viewers.

[@mattiastennis]

@@tijgertjekonijnwordopgegeten Completely wrong. Underhand 'serve' is a disgrace to the sport

[@bomberoflamenco]

Great combination of persons. ❤❤❤

[@alastairtheduke]

Motogp pass has the option to watch from different camera views which you control. Tennis needs a court level view

[@wizbiz1589]

New logo, new facial hair :) all looking great

[@Tennisnerd]

Appreciate the comment :)

[@tennismoos6448]

When I see Nikola, I always think: "He that's Gregor Dimitrov"

[@CB-mr1ci]

Love the rebrand you did

[@EP-77o]

Hmm. I like the new logo, but the other one is vintage, like we are Jonas. It’s a classic.

[@chap7360]

One more thing. I totally agree with the comments about how difficult it is sometimes to see the ball on the screen. Monte-Carlo was the worst. As soon as I am having problems seeing the ball, I drop the match. This is a very serious issue that ATP & WTA have to fix ASAP ! Come on, put those fresh petrodollars at work to enhance the tennis fan experience !

[@obsesivegamer]

I love intuitive tennis ... HOWEVER big disagree on the underarm serve, even Andy Murray uses it especially if the other guy is taking a super deep return position. IS IT DISREPECTFULL TO TAKE A 10 ft behind the baseline return position? On hard courts sometimes these guys are returning like its the french open. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina used an underarm in a tie break. It would be interesting to see the stats behind the underarm serves.. on the challenger tour ive seen that they have like a 70% win on those serves. There is a saying in sports Coach Nick " If you don’t like it, stop it. If you can’t stop it, admire it. If you can’t admire it, keep it down so everyone else can enjoy the show."

[@SycaliDK]

Yes I agree with you. And even with the tweener, it seems to be a viable option to track down lobs and players are implementing it into their training. Federers arguable most famous shot is a tweener winner and hes considered the most respectable player OAT. Another thing that was considered disrespectful among rec players was standing on the service line to return serves. Once Fed implemented the SABR, its now a genius way to put immediate pressure on second serves. The line between tactic and disrespect seems to be the effort given before and after the shot, not the shot itself.

[@MrSimplyn]

The best podcast ever! And I haven't even listened to it yet!

[@Tennisnerd]

I love the enthusiasm! I hope we don’t disappoint :)

[@MrSimplyn]

@@Tennisnerd dreaming about Intuitive Nerd show that comes up every week😄

[@grantboucher3230]

Nice work, I actually found Charleston with the green clay easier to see the ball. Older matches seem to mix footage from ground level to above, not sure why this changed.

[@rsh8057]

People used to criticize heavily on drop shots but after Alcaraz got to #1, now it's much more acceptable to throw it in to make the opponent cover that ball. I'm not ready to say the underarm serve has no place. When you have ppl like Medvedev standing so far back, it is a great mix in. You may not hit a winner but that's a ridiculous way to measure the serve. Is the normal serve unreturnable? It's another thing they have to consider and defend against. Tennisnerd was too respectful on this point. I'll concede that both of you are better players and know more of tennis than I, but I also know that innovation and creativity are often met w/ skepticism. Now if you want to argue that underhand serves look ascetically ugly that is a fine argument.

[@Zenavesta]

More!

[@christophmayer2434]

I agree mostly with the reasons against the Unterarm serve. For me there ist anly one acceptable reason for the Unterarm serve: that ist when your opponent will Take the Return Not that far behind the Baseline. But i doubt that there are a lot of Players WHO are foreced to Take ite nearer to the Baseline...

[@yonexfan12]

First, huge Nikola fan, thumbs up.

[@tjsheftick3732]

@Tennisnerd so should we be pulling slow or medium on the eCP stringers?

[@julestennisuniverse]

Even with "technique" the problem of heavy raquet is not groundstrokes or volley. It's the serve. Fascia, tendons, ligaments and muscles get recked in my case. So I can play a heavy raquet on return and light on the serve. This is the future. 2 raquets. Cressy's style.

[@The4.0Guy]

Agree, i always try to play with the heaviest racquet i can serve with, that is the limiting factor

[@PrecisionPointTennis]

Damn I enjoy these videos

[@khalilaloulou8736]

I sin a lot of points playing underarm serves so idk. I never use it on 2nd serve though

[@roos3013]

Thanx, Jonas! Great talk! :-) but pt57e differs from pt57a! 😂 those are diff rackets!

[@Tennisnerd]

Thanks! I do know that :) Did I say that they are the same?

[@criktun3346]

You 2 are a Dynamic Duo lol Both on the same Wavelength

[@Flootyy]

what if I use a heavy racket so that I force myself to develop a better techniqe? a lighter racket will basically be an excuse for me to keep using bad form. what do you think Jonas?

[@sam8922]

Nothing stopping u from learning good technique with a lighter racquet. Your body isn't gona magically learn proper technique by using a 350gram stick

[@chuongdo3334]

Nice logo!

[@James-qv1dr]

Essential tennis needs a shoutout on how to make tennis matches entertaining

[@bassman12]

you forgot WTA putting only 720p Videos on KZbin. It's so ridiculous. Even when It's the same tournament as ATP.

[@chap7360]

I like this coach. I appreciate his judgement in general. But wow I was surprised by his rant against underhand serve. I think he totally lost his judgement on this one. Really, what is the difference between a drop-shot and underhand serve. The purpose is the same. To surprise and destabilize your opponent. And sometimes to make them go mad a little bit. Alcaraz brought back the drop-shot to the tennis universe. Most probably thanks to his coach who in his prime was a specialist of the drop shot. Tennis is a show. Let the players use their creativity on court. You cannot stop a creative mind to create. In my humble opinion, the most creative players were always the most interesting to watch. In this group, throughout the years, I include Federer of course but also Kyrgios, Marcelo Rios, Ernest Gulbis, McEnroe, Dimitrov, Nastase, Monfils, Fognini, Bulbik, Nalbadian, etc…. I would watch any of these players anytime over any of those robot like players that have great success but that do not bring any emotions on court. Live and let live Coach !

[@The4.0Guy]

Agree, it adds another aspect to the game and its a totally legal shot. Credit to Kyrgios for making it mainstream, not afraid of the establishment

[@robg7892]

you can think about a the weight of a racket like pedaling a 10 speed bike. a 10 speed lets you pick the speed you pedal to get the maximum bike output. Pedal in a gear too low (a light racket) and you lose bike speed because you're to the one side of your power peak on your muscles' power curve and you cant keep up with the pedals. Pedal in gear too high gear (heavy racket) and you lose bike speed because you're to the other side of the power peak and you can't push hard enough. Pros have high power peaks and flattened out peaks so they can do high gear ratios. People like me with noodle limbs cannot. You gain nothing from going too light, so you have to find the heaviest that you can do, independent of what the pro can do. Since you cant adjust the mass properties of a racket during a swing, it's like a one speed bike so you have to go try a bunch to get that right gear ratio that lands at the peak of *your* power curve. to throw actual science in, in bench press, your maximum power is achieved when exerting 40-60% of the maximum force you can generate in that motion. you lose about 20% of your power just by trying to lift 70% of your maximum force while you lose about 40% of your max power going to 80% of your maximum force. on the other end, if you decrease your exertion to 30% of your maximum force you still lose 10% of your power! this doesn't even consider fatigue, just power output. You really do yourself no favors by hitting with a heavy (for you) racket or by using one that is too light. (bench press data: paulogentil.com/pdf/Human%20Muscle%20Power%20Output%20During%20Upperand%20Lower-Body%20Exercises.pdf ) sorry to biomechanics nerd on you. Your talks are awesome. Thank you.

[@friarcisco8717]

Does Nik think drop shots are also disrespectful and bad strategy? His logic was plausible but then he cut it off abruptly. For example, drop shots are strategically not great (even if you put more backspin than the average person) because it is low percentage and after awhile loses it’s best quality-surprise factor. It’s also seen as disrespectful by some of the old guard (some people hate Carlitos FH drop shot). Yet Nik didn’t extend his logic to drop shots. If his position is the same for drop shots then I respect his difference of opinion. If he comes up with some rationalization otherwise then it’s clearly just an example of the old guard unhappy with a new weapon in the arsenal of a modern player.

[@al1976-v7m]

Interesting point though i do not fully agree. Dropshots are different. Not only can you put more spin on the ball, you can also disguise them better and you have much more placement options than with an underhand serve, depending on where your opponent is in the court. Plus you're wearing out your opponent. I don't see them as disrespectful unless you are playing someone who's injured or significantly older than you. Even then, a legitimate tactic but maybe with a bad aftertaste.

[@Leo-nc3yx]

@@al1976-v7mNah,injuries and being old are not excuses for the opponent to take it easy on you… It’s professional sport,if you don’t try your best to win and give pity points,it’s even more against the spirit IMO.

[@al1976-v7m]

@@Leo-nc3yx sure i was thinking of club level where it might be considered bad etiquette

[@georgipopov8973]

I completely agree with your points. I would also add that, just like the drop shot, the underhand serve forces the oponent to consider the option of having to come forward. This makes your groundstrokes/your normal serves a bit more effective either because the oponent stays a bit more forward and thus cannot defend that well or simply because his attention and focus will have to be also devoted to looking for the drop shot or short serve. On Nick's comments about it being disrespectful I completely disagree. If it's in the rules than if the oponent gets mad at you for that then it's on them. Also if I were playing tennis as my profession I would like nothing more than seeing my oponent start tanking or playing less serious.

[@al1976-v7m]

@@georgipopov8973 i also think that the underhand serve is a legitimate option if you got the service yips. I mean the serve is the most complicated stroke in tennis. If you feel like you can't get it in, it's perfectly understandable to choose the underhand option instead.

[@crazyinthepop5422]

Nikola definitely knows a lot in this world but his delivery sort of makes it hard to take it. It feels more dogmatic than a conversation (Jonas feels casual and very warm as well as insightful). [

[@mattiastennis]

Simple way to deal with underarm 'serve' crap is to just ban it altogether. Make part of the rules that the serve only commences with contact with the ball above the shoulder

[@marcosvivoni1944]

simpler way is running foreward

[@mattiastennis]

@@marcosvivoni1944 Banning stops the act from happening so no Marcos

[@marcosvivoni1944]

@@mattiastennis banning sometjing from a sport sounds like a lot of work and is probably impossible to do considering all the red tape and the different sporting regulations. much more complicated than learning to counter it and just beating it to submission

[@mattiastennis]

@@marcosvivoni1944 Its not a lot of work and near nil red tape. Just make part of the rules that the serve only commences with contact with the ball above the shoulder. How are you going to serve underarm then? All the ATP has to do is just use what I just typed and its end of story. We need not counter dishonourable actions

[@The4.0Guy]

I always wondered why they allowed it as a legal shot if everybody thought it was bad form. Like a granny shot in basketball. If you don't want it change the rule that the ball must be contacted above head level on the serve or something

[@Bakugo24]

What exactly is a “women’s racquet”?

[@RickOwensHeelDrag]

100”, 16x19, 23mm+ beam thickness...pure drive

[@verlatenwolf]

First watch the documentary what is a woman.

[@Bakugo24]

@@verlatenwolf i just think its a silly distinction to make at the level this guy is playing at.

[@James-qv1dr]

It's ludicrous that Nik is happy with players screaming in the umpire's face but it's not ok to do underhand serves etc. He's happy for staff to be abused for entertainment but isn't ok with "trick shots" for entertainment.

[@patrickrogersiegismund2785]

He didn't say that he is happy with players screaming in the umpires face. He actually said that it should be sanctioned but not by a default.

[@CargoSlim]

Watch his channel, he’s just an angry talentless contrarian telling everyone they’ll never be pro

[@patrickrogersiegismund2785]

@@CargoSlim Well, name calling is just such a mature way to have a discussion. 😂 Anyway, all the best for you.

[@CargoSlim]

@@patrickrogersiegismund2785 I didn’t call him any ‘names’. Just described him.

[@rbarreira2]

@@patrickrogersiegismund2785 Even then, you can see that he's downplaying the Rublev episode by calling it "complaining" and saying the players have a right to complain. When it came to the underhand serve discussion he was harshly against it, which is a weird contrast.

[@jackbond5915]

Awesome podcast, try to get nick saviano on

[@user-wd7ue1wd6r]

Rafa is obsessed as hell. I hope he retires for his own good. He needs to spend quality time with his adorable son.

[@kvaansharifi4692]

Nikolas racket i think it is babolat pure drive 2014. it's my guess!

[@johnnyrocca85]

Yes, the extended length version

[@user-wd7ue1wd6r]

Rome is slowest and the closest to roland garros clay. Madrid is fast and bouncy.

[@bournejason66]

Nik, get an AirPod or something wireless

[@Raven05R6]

Guy has some extremely weird opinions on strings and some other things. Don't exactly know why his voice has any weight, he played well at the college level but pretty much nothing at the Pro level, and that was back in the early 2000s.

[@vandyfan27]

You serious?

[@yonexfan12]

his opinions are 100% correct, really.

[@yonexfan12]

@@vandyfan27 there are a few that just don't get it, but I think Nik is 100% correct on equipment and has more experience as a player and observer of rec players than anyone who criticises him, strange isn't it?

[@Raven05R6]

@@yonexfan12 We can agree to disagree.

[@patrickrogersiegismund2785]

He just really knows his stuff. Do you have to agree with all his personal opinions? Of course not.

[@user-wd7ue1wd6r]

Roger couldnt get his best intensity because of his ice man mentality. He lost 26 matches from match points up vs 4 matches with novak because of bottling the pressuresituations inside.

[@leonardoramirez7667]

third? XD

[@Tennisnerd]

Yes, 👍🏻👊🏻

[@hansolsson3409]

I am first! 😀😀

[@Tennisnerd]

Bra, Hasse!

[@yonexfan12]

i beat you to it :) look above