Okay, so I decided to spend some time today looking into M. Raonic. Been meaning to do this for a while, just watch and see what’s what.
Fired up the computer, dug around for some match footage. Not looking for anything specific, just wanted to get a feel for his game again. Found a few decent quality matches from a while back.
Breaking Down That Serve
Obviously, the first thing you gotta look at is the serve. It’s kind of his signature move, right? Spent a good bit just watching that motion on repeat.
- The Toss: Watched where he puts the ball. Seems really consistent, always in that same spot. Higher than some other guys maybe? Hard to tell exactly from the angles I had.
- The Motion: It’s explosive. A lot of leg drive and then that big shoulder turn. Looks smooth but you can just see the power unwind. Made a few notes on the sequence of it all.
- Placement: Tried to track where his serves were actually going. Mixes it up pretty well, obviously, but relies heavily on that power into the corners.
Honestly, watching it frame-by-frame almost makes it look more complicated. You see all the little adjustments, the balance. It’s not just brute force, there’s a lot of technique baked in there over years and years.
Beyond the serve, I looked at how he plays points. Uses the serve to set up short balls, tries to dictate early. His movement, maybe not as fluid as some top guys, but he uses his reach well. When he comes to the net, it’s usually behind a big shot.
Made a bunch of little notes on a pad. Nothing too fancy, just observations. Like how he positions himself for returns, his backhand slice usage. Just stuff you notice when you slow things down and watch one player.
It’s always interesting doing this. You watch matches live and things happen so fast. Sitting down and really focusing on one player’s habits and techniques, even an older match, you pick up different things. Good session, felt productive just immersing myself in watching his style for a bit.
