Have a Question for Me?

[GeoffWilliams]

John, how did you like my forum post on getting the best string job for your game?

[johnyandell]

Yeah that's one of the points of the arm action footage. We have more high def clips to put up of the other plays and will be over the next year. Right on the bevels at least as close as I can see it.

[erland]

Thanks for the insight on the grips. Am I incorrect on the grip description for the top hand on the backhand of a right-handed player - count from bevel 1 clockwise so the index knuckle (looks like) on 6 for Novak and (looks like) on 7 for Andre?

As for stopping Fed during a point for pictures of his grips - yeah, that might be a tad rude - but, I thought with your fame and influence in the tennis teaching world, you could convince him and others to let you snap some shots while chilling at tournaments with them!

As a backup plan... Can you zoom-in more during filming to get these shots? A great example of this is in your "Arm Action" clips which get in closer to the player. If you take a look at Novak's regular archive FH page and at clip "NDFHInsideOutArmActionSide2", it has the view looking toward the back. At the end of the swing when the hand is turned over and slowed down in this view you can see the handle and index knuckle placement best. If you go thru this part frame by frame, you can isolate a frame that shows it on 4 1/2 about as clearly as can be seen in all clips. A few good, even more close-up zooms like this, could give us all the player's grip structures nicely.

By the way, speaking of really clear pictures, are you going to get more hi-def clips like that of Fed for Rafa, Novak and others? Those are really awesome clips!!

Thanks for all you do for tennis and for crazy engineering types like us that what to understand how everything works and make it even better if possible. Since I am a science teacher also, maybe that helps explain why I have this infatuation with tennis mechanics?!

Erland

[johnyandell]

Erland,

Good questions and yes I am going to get the players to stop play in the middle of points so that I can run out and take precise stills of their grips...

You see the difficulty right? On the forehand I would say 4 1/2 for sure on the index knuckle and maybe 4 on the heel pad. You're in the ball park for sure. And it is interesting that even with that grip his forehand looks so much less extreme than Nadal's. Think that may have to do with the hitting arm structure, but more likely where he plays in the court--trying to be up much closer and take the ball earlier with lower contact heights.

On the backhand with the top hand using the forehand terminology it looks more like a 3/3 to me. Agassi was probably up there around a 2 1/2.

It great to try to model these guys but as I saw in the grip articles this terminology is way more precise than the old naming system, but it's still not exactly. Players have different size hands, grips, grip shapes, and even switch hand position around a little sometimes from day to day.

So use this as a guide and build your own stroke from there. Just because you think Novak does this or that doesn't mean you'll end up an exact clone. That's impossible anyway as the archives themselves show.

John Yandell

[erland]

What are Novak Djokovic's Forehand and Backhand Grips?

I want to practice Djokovic's strokes and have studied the high-speed video closely. It is still difficult to really see the grips without a super close-up of the hand (this would be a great feature for the site if you could get film of the hands for all players to clearly show grips!!).
By my best analysis so far, Novak's forehand seems to be a 4 1/2 / 4 1/2 like Nadal's. His index knuckle looks like it is about 4 1/2. When I try this grip, the racquet face naturally goes into the same positions throughout the swing pattern as in his videos without trying to force anything. It surprises me that he can generate so much pace with an extreme grip, but I think the swing pattern (compact, yet set up for a full, long power pull from the bottom of the drop) is key. Of course Nadal can generate huge pace also when needed with the extreme grip, but his straight-arm pattern is very different than Novak's standard bent-arm. And, if last week's Indian Wells matches are an indication, Novak can generate every bit as much and even more pace as Rafa (or Roger) with that forehand!

On the backhand side, Novak's grip with his left hand (the one of most interest) seems to be a 6 1/2 or 6 (like the equivalent of a 3 1/2 to 4 Federer or Agassi forehand grip). By the way, on Agassi's backhand left hand, it definitely seems to be a 7 (like a 3 eastern forehand) - is that correct?

I hope you have the answers for these grips - I am dying to know for sure and want to spend some hours on the ball machine and in play with his strokes right away. As you have explained so well, every stroke starts with the grip structure, and this must be correct to emulate anyone's swing properly!

Thanks so much for your analysis and ideas on this,

Erland Renslo
Roseville, CA
Johnson Ranch Racquet Club

[johnyandell]

Maybe.

[GeoffWilliams]

All those high topspin heavy kicking balls, not too good with a continental fh. Did you get any video of Raonic we could use?

[johnyandell]

He has great body turns and takes the ball on the rise. The continental grips account for the rest. And probably why he struggled in the last phase of his career against the power game.

[jryle1]

I just had a look at the McEnroe/Lendl music video and to be honest, all that comes to mind is, wow.... These guys were long before my time but it's amazing how much control they have over the ball, how they hit up the line, crosscourt, whatever with amazing consistency and accuracy and with such ease, yet some of their technique looks strange to the eye and awkward.

I find McEnroes forehand technique to be especially awkward looking and wonder how he still hits the ball this well. Is that the natural talent coming into play? The timing? It really is a site to behold.

[johnyandell]

Google Vision Research.

[jryle1]

Jon,

It's a Phantom high speed camera filming at 250 to 500 frames per second--the same camera American network TV uses at the Super Bowl etc. Yeah it might be a bit unaffordable for most players.

And do you rent that or did you purchase it somewhere? Can't find any information about it at all. Was just having a look at the price lists for the laugh but can't find anything.

[gzhpcu]

Hi John
Just wondering if in the Stroke Archive under the golden legends, there is any footage around on the Lew Hoad serve? Maybe from Atkinson?

[johnyandell]

Dave,

You aren't asking questions with simple answers for a written forum. Also appreciate the confidence but I am not a development coach and don't really have the expertise you are looking for. If you want to call me do that and I'll try to guide you to people who are a bit more knowledgeable about the process.
415-336-9439. Friday during the day California time would be good as we are driving down to Indian Wells.

John Yandell

[johnyandell]

Jon,

It's a Phantom high speed camera filming at 250 to 500 frames per second--the same camera American network TV uses at the Super Bowl etc. Yeah it might be a bit unaffordable for most players.

[jryle1]

Another "quick" question. What was the camera that filmed those beautiful Hi-Speed, Hi-Def strokes of Rogers? It's incredible. I imagine that cost some mega bucks!

Thanks gsheiner...was having a look alright!