I agree to the implications of Robert Lansdorp's article towards coaches etc..
I want to add 4 things:
1. Nadal is also reversing his Backhands. He is using it in the same way as he does with the Fh to build ralleys etc.. Like the Fh towards the finish of a point he is using flatter groundstrikes. He doesn't use the Bh in an offensive way.
2. I am convinced that understanding the reverse Fh and Bh in the defensive way Nadal is using it will be the answer for Federer if he wants to be nr 1 again. Especially for the Bh-returns in which he fails quite a lot. Nadal is using the Fh (not the Bh-reverse) reverse also in a very offensive way when he builds his points. In my opinion that is less interesting for Federer.
3. Nadal is hitting a different reverse Fh than all other players mentioned. As mentioned in other articles he is combining it with a straight armed technique. That is why he can use it not only as a passing shot but also as a very agressive defensive shot or building shot.
4. Besides the mentioned curved ball trajectory the real big advantage is that the hitting zone is enlarged. I am still researching this. For the time being I think if you see the double-bend Fh as 1, the straight arm Fh gives you a 4 time bigger hitting zone and than you can double this amount when you use the reverse Fh/Bh. So I see it as 1:4:8. In my opinion that is giving him the decisive advantage and that is why he is nr. 1 nowadays.
Nico Mol
Amsterdam
Holland
Europe
I want to add 4 things:
1. Nadal is also reversing his Backhands. He is using it in the same way as he does with the Fh to build ralleys etc.. Like the Fh towards the finish of a point he is using flatter groundstrikes. He doesn't use the Bh in an offensive way.
2. I am convinced that understanding the reverse Fh and Bh in the defensive way Nadal is using it will be the answer for Federer if he wants to be nr 1 again. Especially for the Bh-returns in which he fails quite a lot. Nadal is using the Fh (not the Bh-reverse) reverse also in a very offensive way when he builds his points. In my opinion that is less interesting for Federer.
3. Nadal is hitting a different reverse Fh than all other players mentioned. As mentioned in other articles he is combining it with a straight armed technique. That is why he can use it not only as a passing shot but also as a very agressive defensive shot or building shot.
4. Besides the mentioned curved ball trajectory the real big advantage is that the hitting zone is enlarged. I am still researching this. For the time being I think if you see the double-bend Fh as 1, the straight arm Fh gives you a 4 time bigger hitting zone and than you can double this amount when you use the reverse Fh/Bh. So I see it as 1:4:8. In my opinion that is giving him the decisive advantage and that is why he is nr. 1 nowadays.
Nico Mol
Amsterdam
Holland
Europe
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