Here we show a still photo taken from Roger's match v Murray in Doha at 5-5 first set, 15-0, frozen on contact on a forehand volley. It is amazing how poorly balanced he is by failing to step behind his racket. Instead he steps forward and hangs his racket arm out struggling to reach an easy volley. He now has to rely on hand skills alone and without his body weight behind the ball has very limited power.

In the video of the point you will notice how this lack of balance causes the left leg to swing behind his right after contact to regain balance. This causes slow recovery and leads to a late split, poor positioning before the next volley, forcing him to guess where the pass will go and therefore does not reach an easy put away.

This poor movement and footwork on the forehand volley hurts him both at the net and puts pressure on the short forehand which he misses on occasion because he feels the pressure to play a bigger approach shot to get an easier volley or a free point. He is nervous to go forward because working a point at the net is uncomfortable for him and his confidence is not high at the net under pressure.

We have a couple of videos here of a young player demonstrating the difference between the two volleys. The first is what Federer often does and the second shows the correct footwork, a small adjustment that would help Federer's volley. Do you step strongly behind your racket? 

Comments

berry w.

0

 

 

Even the best can improve, but the best are they willing to? i think Federer does not want to change his game

Friday 10 April 2009, 21:05

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