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A player's stroke you tried to copy?

4K views 39 replies 31 participants last post by  kooties 
#1 ·
When I had to start playing left handed, I found that copying Nadal's forehand and service stance very beneficial to my game. In particular, coming around the outside of the ball on the forehand and pointing my toes more towards the centre of the court (on the deuce serve). I think Nadal's game is very good for me to copy because we are both natural right handers and your balance and strength is different to someone who is naturally left handed.

It got me thinking, have you ever tried to copy a professionals stroke? If so, which stoke of which player? Did it work out for you?
 
#2 · (Edited)
Serena's serve and Novak's backhand -- because they're both technical perfection. Serena's serve is something I copied from a young age and my serve is one of my best shots, but Novak's backhand is a much more recent thing so i'm not sure if it will be as effective.


Sarin's serve.


Novak's backhand. Don't pay attention to his disgusting slice. :lol:
 
#4 ·
Yes, and just letting you know that I use a Wilson K-Factor. I was born left handed, but then my parents trained me to be a righty from a very early age on, so I am a righty at tennis, how I often wished I was a southpaw. :eek:

Brace yourself for quite a long read SR. I have quite a history of copying different strokes from different tennis pros.

Up until 2005, I used a 2 handed backhand, but it was alright for me because I was still kind of short (5' 6.5"), and did not have good reach, so I needed 2 hands on the racquet for the backhand to defend. It had a natural feel about it for me.

Then I started growing real quickly, good lord, now I am 5' 11.5", then using a 2 handed backhand was just really awkward and uncomfortable, so I practiced for hours using 1 handed backhand, finally, after so much practice and persistence, it all started clicking.

I first started to copy Federer's one handed topspin backhand since 2006, and I admit I have a lot of success with that shot ever since then. Most people I play against said it is like a carbon copy, but of course, I am sure Federer gets much more rpm's than what I do.

Same goes with the sliced backhand, opponents tell me after the match that once it hits the ground, it just dips away really quickly and they have difficulty in picking up the shot. :D

Forehand- depends on the ball I get, opponents tell me when it bounces between chest and shoulder high, it is like a righty's Nadal forehand, but if it is below chest height, then I hit the forehand like Agassi.

Net game- I love watching Andy Murray up at net, he has great feel, too bad he does not come in more often, so I have tried to copy his style, but nah it's not really working out :lol:

Serve- trying to copy Del Potro/Murray service actions, need to watch more of their matches :lol:
 
#14 ·
Sucks you were made to play right :(. It's interesting what you say about backhands, I always thought that shorter people are more likely to prefer single handers but I guess under 5' 7" is really short (compared to most male adults) so it's probably different down that end of the scale. Sounds like you have very nice ground strokes!

Simon's pushing. And it works.
It's amazing how well pushing works against some players. In tournaments I often get too nervous to go for my shots so I just end up pushing. My very quick court speed and good anticipation combined with pushing can be enough to win some matches (even if it leaves me utterly exhausted and my opponent relatively OK). But it only works against players up to a certain level, if they can routinely hit powerful and accurate shots or are good at the net then I'm gone.
 
#6 ·
I tried Nadull's slice and the ball went over the fence. It was my last ball :(
 
#22 ·
#18 ·
I've tried (seriously) so many of the players' shots:
Serve:
- Federer
- Söderling
- Clijsters :eek:
- Djokovic
- Ivanisevic
- Roddick
I think Roddick is closest to what I liked, but also Söderling's

Forehand:
- Federer
- Söderling
- Del Potro
I don't think my forehand looks alike anyway :p

Backhand:
I would say most 2HBH are similar. But still Söderling (again) and Djokovic.
 
#21 ·
I've never really tried to emulate any strokes.. maybe the forehand whip for more top-spin, sorta like Nadal..

People say my forehand looks like Djokovic's, but I've never tried to emulate it.
 
#23 ·
I have my own type of strokes, can't really say which players I copied, because I have no idea. Maybe Del Potro? I have no idea.
 
#24 ·
My forehand was my weakness when I was a teenager but it helped me a lot to improved it when according to the circunstances, I used to play it in the way Lendl used to do it and when I played on clay in Mats Wilander`s way. My serve was good but the 2nd and 3rd movement of Becker`s serve helped me a lot to make it a great shot.
My doublehanded backhand was by far my best shot which was quite unusual on the mid and late 80ties. And hard courts were my favourite ones which was more unusual for an Argentine but helped me a lot in Brazil in satellites tournaments :wavey:. Until I was forced to quit competitive tennis due to an injury on my forearm triceps :sad:.

The world missed a big champion :haha:
 
#25 ·
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FED`s forehand: the main thing i try to emulate is the full straight extension of the arm in front of the body on impact (ie. no elbow bend), and when I`m playing well that shot is very effective in winning me cheap points.. Sometimes I coach tennis to junior high school kids, and always tell them to look at tapes of Federer`s forehand in slow motion! ~~Surely FED`s forehand is the greatest single shot in tennis history> who wouldn`t want to copy that shot:)
 
#29 ·
I'm a righty and I have copied the Federer service action almost to a T.

My 2 handed backhand I emulated after Djokovic, the forehand a combo of Federer and Nadal. I can sit at the baseline and whip heavy spin balls or I could step in and flatten it out.

My volleys though :tape:
 
#36 ·
i hit the same forehand as soderling and i serve like joachim johansson...must have some swedish blood in me lol
 
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