Roger Federer's $13 Million Backhand Transformation

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Was 2017 Federer's best backhand season? Download our FREE backhand guide here - www.top-tennis-training.com/free-guide/

[@grantdelmege2724]

2017 was the best year Roger's ever hit his backhand. It's a shame he didn't play the French that year as I think he could of troubled Rafa by taking the ball earlier on his BH side. 2017 was also the most exciting season as a Federer fan as he finally overcame his demons by beating Rafa in the AO final. Great video as always Simon👍

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks 🙏 Grant

[@Leo-gh7nz]

Nah, clay is a totally different animal. Rafa handled Roger really easily at RG in 2019 in straight sets. Then Fed turned around and basically continued what he was doing to Nadal outside of clay be beating him fairly easily in 4 sets at Wimbledon. Surface obviously still very important. Also under-appreciated fact is that the AO in '17 was playing faster than it had in years. That really helped Fed with his new BH tactics and really upped his confidence for the rest of the season. He got a lot of good breaks that year.

[@stevenreynolds4338]

Great Video. Federer's 2014-2016 years are often overlooked because he failed to win a Major. However, when properly analyzed, they were great years for Roger. If it weren't for Djokovic's second rise to dominance, Federer most likely wins the 2014 Wimbledon, 2015 Wimbledon, 2015 US Open, and 2016 Australian Open. Also, he made it to the semifinals at the 2016 Wimbledon championships with one healthy leg. The 2017 Federer revival was in part better backhand play (particularly against Nadal) and the absence of a 2015 Djokovic, 2011 Djokovic, and 2010 Nadal-type player. It was great to witness and I miss Roger being on tour.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Great analysis and I agree, Fed played some amazing tennis during that period. Djokovic was just another beast though. A real shame we never had prime 2015 Novak vs prime 2017 Fed

[@masters.1000]

@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Well, Federer beat him in 2011 and 2012 when Novak was at his peak, and he competed toe to toe in 2015. The result seems obvious.

[@Leo-gh7nz]

His 14-16 resurgence was due to him finally going to the bigger racket. It gave him more confidence and he started attacking more and looking to end points faster, that's when we also saw the SABR. Arguably the neo-backhand was the final piece of a puzzle that began for him in '14 when he went to the larger racket. Also keep in mind Roger was not only beating but basically owning Nadal starting in 2015 at Basel. Nadal only beat him once after that, and that was at RG. Nadal had a massive lefty FH to one-hand BH weapon which was like a gun vs a knife. But in all other aspects he matched up horribly against Roger's game. Once Roger strengthened the backhand, Nadal was easy work for him. 2010 Nadal wouldn't beat '17 Roger outside of clay either. As for Novak, Roger's best results against him after 2012 was 2019. Tough 5 set loss at Wimbledon, easy win at ATP Finals. He had the neo backhand but by '19 he was noticeably losing quickness/athleticism in his game. All this to say is that '17 Roger is easily the best Roger we ever saw. That version owns any version of Nadal on a surface outside of clay, and holds his own and probably wins more than not against any version of Novak. He was that good that season with the neo-backhand.

[@stevenreynolds4338]

@@Leo-gh7nz If only he had gone to the larger racquet after 2008, what could have been.

[@Leo-gh7nz]

@@stevenreynolds4338 2009 was a good season for him, although he got lucky avoiding Nadal at RG. And he won AO 2010. So probably didn't feel urgency despite his worsening results against Nadal. I did think 2011 was the perfect time to do it though. But yea, as a fan I can't help but play the what-if game of him going to the racket and adapting the tactics/confidence for the neo-backhand around 2012 and forward.

[@notsohandytim5090]

So if he persevered for 25 years, why shouldn't I continue to do so through my 35th year? Break through just around the corner. 😃

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Vamos 💪

[@pzivic]

Excellent video, you really mastering this.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks for the support 🙏

[@poisenopinionator]

Why is the fence so close to the court!? Makes me anxious haha - great video

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

It’s to force players to hit everything on the rise. This is the court Roger transformed his backhand on… In reality it’s a half court, with a practice wall. Perfect for filming on

[@tenniszerg]

I was wondering the same... that makes the background for the video so much more meaningful!

[@mattjohn9663]

federer is the true goat. The greatest talent ever

[@Braselton21]

Can you do Rafael Nadal's Running Forehand Cross-Court defensive loop shot :D Since becoming a lefty & watching more Rafa games, I noticed that shot has saved him so many times but its' never spoken about since it's not a winner :/

[@johanjonasson4188]

Is there actually any advantages to play with a one handed backhand? I play with a one handed just because I think it's more satisfying to play that way. Other than that there doesn't seem to be any advantages.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Slightly more reach on wider balls

[@PrecisionPointTennis]

Such a great video. A big bow of gratitude 🙏

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks 🙏

[@jmen4071]

I like your analysis, but I think that you forgot to mention the change of racket. The RF 97 Autograph is more powerful than the Pro Staff 90 he was playing with. When he adapted to the new racket (and recover from his injury) he was able to play the way that you described.

[@AmericanRoads]

Also, correct me if I am wrong but... I do not think that Nadal has beaten Federer again since 2017, right?

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Rafa had one win over Roger in 2019 at the French, apart from that, all victories for RF

[@prodigychallenger660]

nice

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Thanks

[@yourstruly2337]

Tennis sounds like consulting jobs = 70% psychology/mindset and 30% everything else Great video

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

At the highest levels, everyone can hit forehands and backhands, the margins are so small. Every small advantage gives the player a huge edge

[@USKangaroo]

Thanks for the awesome video Simon. I see you are using a PA VS and I am considering getting a PA98 but not so sure which grip size I should go with. I see the trend is going smaller for more access to spin and maneuverability but I feel like a smaller grip gets my arm more damage when mishitting the center. Which grip size do you use Simon? It's quite interesting that many taller players use the grip #3 but Carlos is using #4. Also, have you ever tried playing with Blade Pro 16x19? I am also considering this racket since I have used Wilson's RF97 and PS97 for many years and also little scared of some people saying that PA98 is not so great for one handed backhand users. Anyway, pardon me about asking maybe too many questions. Always appreciate your quality content.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

I’ve always felt like the smaller grips force me to hold the racket tighter and I end up with pains in the arm. I have a size 4 base grip, but 4-5 overgrips on top which makes my grip extremely big. People often joke about the size of it. Most players can’t play with my rackets due to the grip size. I’ve used the various blades in the past and they’re very solid rackets but always felt flimsy to me. I prefer a stiffer frame in general, however, have found my current rackets to be very good for easy power

[@USKangaroo]

@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Thanks for your super quick reply! Wow 4-5 overgrips sound whole lot a different world to me! but that's awesome that works for you. Yep that's what I didn't like about even for normal blades that are relatively softer compared to the rackets I am used to. I will try PA98 with a comfortable grip size for me. Thanks again for your reply. It really helped me! Hope you have an awesome day and I will look forward to watching your new videos! :)

[@LunarEclipsism1]

@USKangaroo the weight of Simon's extra grips will also pull back the balance point significantly. One-handers tend to like balances that are at least 7 points headlight or more. So your concerns about how some folks don't like the feel of the Pure Aero VS or PA98 for one-handed backhands might be alleviated by simply adding some weight inside the handle or some strips of lead under the base grip.

[@pasanski]

Last year i was at one resort at Maldives and Roger was there, we had a few nice talks, i asked him what he did with backhand in 2017, i expected interesting answer and he just said nothing special he just had insanely good preseason practicing for months.

[@MrCarFanatic]

do you use more weight on your racquet or is it stock weight?

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Stock weight, I’m planning to add some lead tape to one and test it though

[@colinbyer3018]

I think you guys should do videos about all the common errors on specific shots that rec level players make

[@danielthomas8432]

Great video and explanation. Thank you!

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks Daniel 🙏

[@Poekuli]

On a side note, how can anyone play on that court in the video? It is absolutely tiny and makes wide serves or shots unplayable

[@RomainLussier]

Thanks! I've learned something in this video :)

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Thanks for watching 🙏

[@edreyes5381]

To learn how professional Tennis Players accomplish their Goals helps us understand how to improve are game significantly-Excellent Video! How can one contact, ask questions, and communicate directly with you and also with individual professional players?

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

With me you can always leave comments on this platform or Instagram, I use that daily to post content also. For pro players, it’s not easy to get in touch with them unless you go through a manager. But it depends on what you’re trying to discuss with them?

[@bentaylor6421]

If you’re further inside the baseline, wouldn’t you need to put more spin on the ball to get it to dip inside the court??

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

You would if it’s a lower ball and you drive it with lots of power. However, a higher ball can be flattened out and you can hit down on the ball requiring less topspin to get it in

[@bentaylor6421]

@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Thank you for the reply!

[@gustavogomez8541]

Awesome video. Great insight. But why is the court you're standing on so small? The fence is so close to the singles lines. I hope that's not a pickleball court. I hope you didn't go over to the dark side, Simon!

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

It’s a half court, with a wall

[@mteca5093]

Any free courts in SIDE ? I will be there next week. I'm renting a house with the family.. so no hotel courts to use

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Not that I'm aware of. The venues here are very good at rinsing money from players for average to poor quality courts, with the exception of 2-3 clubs I use.

[@mteca5093]

@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial in the States we have free courts every neighborhood

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Turkey isn’t the US 😂 let’s put it that way. Even in the UK we had free park courts everywhere. In my area, there’s 10-12 courts total in over four small-medium towns and one city. Spain have the same thing, tennis courts everywhere. But not every country takes sports seriously and have a lifestyle that encourages them. The two courts I use often are rarely played on by anyone Turkish. It’s all foreigners who use them when they come on holiday

[@mteca5093]

@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial kids are at internet cafes...fathers at tea houses... mothers cleaning n cooking

[@IanMorgan-s9f]

Hi Simon,Great video and excellent explaination. You are an excellent coach helping players of all abilities. Keep up the good work . All the best Ian from the Rock !

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks Ian 🙏 Out of curiosity, where is the Rock?

[@IanMorgan-s9f]

It's jersey, I know Alex slavinsky very well as he visited and played tournament s in Jersey. Great player and great guy,keep up the good work ,all the best ian morgan

[@remedypath5941]

Love love love this video! Thank you so much Simon and TTT:)))

[@dnangel4277]

Great video!

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks

[@Sven_Guitar]

Thank you for this very helpful video!!!

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SubashHansdah]

I remember high ball backhand was dealt very good by shapo. Jumping 1 handed backhanded.

[@VishnuRajam4x4]

Great video. Been working on the same myself for my one hander 💪🏼

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Vamos 💪

[@MrChillywilly7]

Would be interesting to hear your thoughts on how Federer, couldn't preform up to the same standards at the Us Open?! He won it 5 times in a row, but apart from some really good results two finals in 015 and 09 it never clicked again...

[@stevenreynolds4338]

The US Open has changed tremendously when it comes to court/tennis ball speed. From 2004 - 2012 the US Open played quite quick and Roger had success. 2013 and onwards, the US Open has much slower playing conditions. I encourage you to watch the highlights of Roger's five wins and then compare the court/ball speed to 2013 - current. Also, Federer was in spectacular form from the 2015 Wimbledon Championships to the 2016 Australian Open. Unfortunately for him, Djokovic was better.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Steven is on the money here. Courts slowed down, plus I think the losses to Novak when he had match points are away at his confidence in NYC

[@RicardoDLF]

Hi, great video. I play one handed as well and do find challenging picking the ball early on the rise. But definitely it seems to work the best. Can you explain a bit more on the one handed grip position to use? I am still not locked in to a single grip solution, i believe I use mostly something in between grip 1 and 2. A video on this topic would be a great addition for us one handed. Thank you!

[@LunarEclipsism1]

Hi Ricardo, use an eastern backhand grip for your one-handed topspin drive backhand (index base knuckle and heel pad on bevel 1, in line with the edge of the frame) and use a continental grip for your slice backhand (base knuckle and heel pad on bevel 2,) same as your serve.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Covered in this lesson - kzbin.info/www/bejne/goKYgWZnorp0q68

[@ליהלי-צ8נ]

Roger pushed tennis to a different level.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

100%

[@masters.1000]

The racket change in 2014 was crucial, he couldn't pull it off if he had kept the older 90' frame. I wish he had changed it by 2010 or earlier. Fun fact, Ljubicic said that Roger wasn't injured after Wimbledon, he just was weared a lot and wanted to rest and reset.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

The racket change was beneficial for sure and had an impact, but like you commented, he switched in 2014. The real turning point was his willingness to take more risk and be more aggressive

[@masters.1000]

@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Yes, I agree. Thank you for everything.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

🙏

[@jasongoodman4930]

The larger racquet allowed him to step in. More forgiveness. After 2014 (year he switched) he lost to Rafa only once, in the 2019 FO. And beat him 5 or 6 times I think. Of course, Rafa was also past his prime by then. But switching to a larger racquet would've definitely helped him earlier on.

[@markbrown3259]

Great analysis Simon! Thanks

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

My pleasure 🙏

[@UGRdelver]

Great video.. that court seems very narrow. Any slice serve out wide will immediately hit the side fence

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks 🙏 It’s a wall court, half court with not much room beyond either line. Great for filming on though

[@UGRdelver]

@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Pardon me. Now it makes sense ..

[@at1838]

great video. thank you Simon!

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Many thanks 🙏

[@elchanclascocina]

There's a recent podcast from Fabio of Functional Tennis (I believe you've been in that podcast too coach!) where Ivan Liubijic (mind my spelling) says Ivan didn't really change Roger's backhand, or Roger didn't change it in a technical sense, he "just started" taking it earlier. You have to be perhaps the most talented player in history in order to "just start" making that, in my perspective.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

I think if you step up the court and start taking the ball early, you’ll learn quickly that you can have full backswings and make contact in front. But most players would have to be told a few things for them to adapt. Roger, obviously had talent pouring out his pores but he was also a workaholic, which isn’t very known. Fed worked just as hard as anyone

[@LunarEclipsism1]

Great video, coach! I think another big factor coming into the 2017 season was that Fed had brought on Ivan Ljubičić as a coach and advisor for the first time on his team. Ljubičić had always been aggressive with his own one-handed backhand and was likely quite influential on Federer's decision to come over the ball more frequently on that wing.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Absolutely 💯 Ivan had a terrific backhand, and is a very good guy. I met him back in 2004 in Valencia, we had a mutual friend and he invited us into his box for his matches. That was the first time I saw clay court tennis at pro level and I was blown away by their physicality. Ivan’s backhand was a rocket, even on clay. For sure his influence helped Roger massively with his backhand in 2017 and beyond

[@LunarEclipsism1]

@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Thanks for the response, glad you got to have those experiences with Ivan! That's very generous of him, must have been amazing to witness.

[@caocaohehe]

I love your videos

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Thank you 🙏 Are there any videos you’d like to see?

[@topbanana3413]

Crazy how the best one-handed backhand ever, was still his weakness...

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Stan has entered the chat 💬

[@tonypowers123]

Won’t argue or debate your point, But for me-there was a technical change in his backhand 100%. You can’t achieve a “tactical” change without technical change. His backhand was a weakness, (100%) and there is no shame in that. He fixed it, and needless to say we all saw what the result was, BECAUSE of that change!

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

Can’t have a tactical change without a technical one? Sure about that? If I’m hitting my forehand crosscourt only, and losing, then decide to start hitting down the line with same power, spin, RHS, and start winning, have I made a technical change? If Roger changed his technique, what did he do? I do say his technique changed slightly because his swing became more linear, as he was hitting through the ball much more. But that was due to his tactical Intension

[@tonypowers123]

@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Drive. Extension. And applying body into the shot. You can call it slightly, or significant. For me was a Major change/improvement, which he did not implement previously.

[@tonypowers123]

@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial And one more point: If your stroke is not affective, I don’t care if you direct it to your opponents heart, not just down the line. Won’t do anything ! He did CHANGE his technique. (Hence my comment) You can ask the whole tennis world about that.

[@TopTennisTrainingOfficial]

So you’re agreeing with my assessment but correcting me? A slight technical adjustment due to a tactical decision. Thanks for watching