How Rafa Nadal manipulated the ball to dominate on clay
CLAY ROME 2019
HARD COURT LONDON 2019
Forehand crosscourt avg. speed:
Miles per hour (mph)
Rafa Nadal hit the ball harder on clay than hard courts. This is because the ball bounces slowest through clay compared to other surfaces.
83mph
Nadal
Draw avg.
78mph
Nadal
80mph
Draw avg.
79mph
(80mph = nearly 129kph)
Forehand crosscourt avg. topspin:
Revolutions per minute (rpm)
Nadal hit with more topspin on clay, giving the ball more revolutions per minute and increasing the clay’s effects on his shots.
Nadal
3,477rpm
3,042rpm
Draw avg.
Nadal
3,134rpm
Draw avg.
3,008rpm
Nadal forehand crosscourt average
bounce angle: Degrees (°)
The combination of heavy topspin and the loose clay gave the ball a bigger bounce angle on the red stuff than hard courts.
Nadal
Draw avg.
22.3°
19.7°
17.9°
13.8°
Opponent average backhand contact
height: Meters (m)
It also meant the ball bounced higher in front of opponents, making shots more difficult for them.
1.28m
1.09m
0.95m
0.92m
Nadal
Draw avg.
Nadal
Draw avg.
CLAY ROME 2019
HARD COURT LONDON 2019
Forehand crosscourt avg. speed:
Miles per hour (mph)
Rafa Nadal hit the ball harder on clay than hard courts. This is because the ball bounces slowest through clay compared to other surfaces.
83mph
Nadal
Draw avg.
78mph
Nadal
80mph
Draw avg.
79mph
(80mph = nearly 129kph)
Forehand crosscourt avg. topspin:
Revolutions per minute (rpm)
Nadal hit with more topspin on clay, giving the ball more revolutions per minute and increasing the clay’s effects on his shots.
Nadal
3,477rpm
Draw avg.
3,042rpm
Nadal
3,134rpm
Draw avg.
3,008rpm
Nadal forehand crosscourt average
bounce angle: Degrees (°)
The combination of heavy topspin and the loose clay gave the ball a bigger bounce angle on the red stuff than hard courts.
Nadal
Draw avg.
22.3°
19.7°
17.9°
13.8°
Opponent average backhand contact height:
Meters (m)
It also meant the ball bounced higher in front of opponents, making shots more difficult for them.
1.28m
1.09m
0.95m
0.92m
Nadal
Draw avg.
Nadal
Draw avg.
How Rafa Nadal manipulated the ball to dominate on clay
CLAY ROME 2019
HARD COURT LONDON 2019
Forehand crosscourt avg. speed – miles per hour (mph)
Rafa Nadal hit the ball harder on clay than hard courts. This is because the ball bounces slowest through clay compared to other surfaces.
83mph
Nadal
Draw avg.
78mph
Nadal
80mph
Draw avg.
79mph
(80mph = nearly 129kph)
Forehand crosscourt avg. topspin – revolutions per minute (rpm)
Nadal hit with more topspin on clay, giving the ball more revolutions per minute and increasing the clay’s effects on his shots.
3,477rpm
Nadal
Draw avg.
3,042rpm
Nadal
3,134rpm
Draw avg.
3,008rpm
Nadal forehand crosscourt average
bounce angle – degrees (°)
Opponent average backhand contact
height – meters (m)
The combination of heavy topspin and the loose clay gave the ball a bigger bounce angle on the red stuff than hard courts.
It also meant the ball bounced higher in front of opponents, making shots more difficult for them.
1.28m
1.09m
Nadal
0.95m
0.92m
Draw avg.
22.3°
19.7°
17.9°
13.8°
Draw avg.
Draw avg.
Nadal
Nadal
