Rafael Nadal forehand topspin is generated through the buggy whip motion which he uses to achieve maximum racquet head speed.
The Spaniard again used it to great effect in the heavier conditions at this French Open, to win his 13th title in Paris and a record-equalling 20th major.
ALSO READ: Why Rafael Nadal keeps winning on clay
Nadal hit 17 winners off the forehand during his crushing 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 win over one of his biggest rivals Novak Djokovic in the final of the French Open on Sunday.
Rafael Nadal forehand, hitting with the buggy whip lasso, is what gives him his ultimate spin measured at nearly 5000 revolutions a minute.
Sharpen your forehand with our FREE guide
On his forehand, the reason he uses the above the head finish is because he wants to have the most amount of space to brush up the ball with and by finishing above his head, he’s able to do that to the fullest. More the vertical movement (low to high racquet swing), more the brush and more the top spin.
This movement is exaggerated on the red dirt, where the ball slows down on impact and kicks up higher and more aggressively. The weight of the shot literally pushes his opponents further behind the baseline, making it more and more difficult to control the shot.
ALSO READ: King of clay now King of the world
With the Grand Slam season done, Nadal has, for the first time in his career, drawn level with Roger Federer for the most number of Grand Slam titles in men’s tennis. Will Nadal and Federer reign supreme, or will 17-time major champion Djokovic ultimately top them both?
