If you’ve watched Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, or other modern ATP stars rip a forehand, you’ve likely noticed something distinctive: the lasso follow-through. Instead of the classic across-the-body finish seen in past decades, these players whip their racquet around their head like a lasso, finishing high on the same dominant side of their body.
This was virtually unheard of in the 1980s and 1990s. Players like Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and even early Federer finished their forehands with a more traditional motion, either across the chest or over the shoulder. In fact, Toni Nadal himself initially disapproved of Rafa’s unconventional finish, believing it was unnecessary or even inefficient.
But as Nadal’s game evolved—and as young players like Alcaraz adopted the technique—it became clear that this wasn’t just a stylistic quirk. The lasso finish is deeply rooted in physics and biomechanics, offering crucial advantages for power, deceleration, and efficiency in today’s high-speed, topspin-heavy game.
So why has this motion taken over modern tennis? And why does it make scientific sense? Let’s break it down.
A New Evolution in Forehand Biomechanics
The Need for a Longer Deceleration Pathway
A major reason for the lasso finish is how players slow down their racquet after impact.
When players swing with massive force, they need a way to safely and efficiently dissipate energy without putting unnecessary strain on the arm and shoulder. In physics terms, this relates to impulse—the concept that force is spread out over time to reduce peak stress on a system.
Newton’s Second Law states that force is the product of mass and acceleration:
F = ma
If players stopped their follow-through too quickly, they would experience an abrupt decrease in acceleration, increasing stress on the joints.
The lasso motion extends the deceleration phase, allowing the racquet to gradually slow down over a longer distance, rather than coming to an abrupt stop.
This principle is similar to how baseball pitchers follow through their throwing motion rather than stopping their arm suddenly—it prevents injury and allows for better energy transfer.
The Role of Angular Momentum
Tennis strokes operate under angular momentum, where the racquet travels in a circular path around the shoulder joint. According to the law of conservation of angular momentum, an object in rotational motion will continue along its curved path unless acted upon by an external force.
When a player swings at extreme speeds, their racquet naturally wants to keep rotating after contact.
Stopping the motion too soon would require braking forces that could stress the arm and shoulder.
By letting the racquet continue its natural curved trajectory around the head, players work with physics instead of against it.
This is why you see the lasso finish appear only at extremely high racquet-head speeds—it’s an adaptation to a new level of power in the modern game.
Topspin and the Upward Racquet Path
Another reason for the lasso finish is the way players generate extreme topspin.
Nadal and Alcaraz use a steep low-to-high racquet path, brushing up the back of the ball at violent speeds.
This means their racquet is already traveling upward at contact, rather than just forward.
After impact, the racquet naturally continues on that upward arc, making the high finish a biomechanical extension of the stroke.
Compare this to Federer, who, despite hitting with heavy spin, uses a more forward and across-the-body follow-through. His stroke is efficient but doesn’t require the same exaggerated lift as Nadal or Alcaraz.
Players hitting flatter shots tend to finish more traditionally, while those generating extreme topspin often end up with the lasso follow-through as a byproduct of their swing mechanics.
A Natural Recoil from Pronation and Internal Rotation
Biomechanically, the forehand is driven by internal shoulder rotation and forearm pronation—movements that add power and topspin to the ball.
After impact, the wrist and forearm naturally want to pronate (turn downward) and the shoulder wants to internally rotate.
The lasso finish lets this motion continue smoothly rather than stopping it prematurely.
It’s the equivalent of a golfer’s full swing or a pitcher’s throwing motion—allowing full joint range of motion rather than abruptly cutting off movement.
Without this full range of motion, players might feel tension in their forearm, wrist, or elbow over time. The lasso finish acts as a built-in release mechanism, reducing stress on these joints.
Why More Players Are Copying It
The lasso finish, once unique to Nadal, has spread across the ATP and WTA tours for several key reasons:
- Players Are Hitting Harder Than Ever
- Modern strings, racquets, and training allow players to generate massive acceleration.
- More acceleration requires better deceleration, and the lasso provides it.
- It Encourages Maximum Racquet-Head Speed
Many young players model their swings after Nadal and Alcaraz, learning to swing fully and freely rather than shortening their strokes.
A longer, more natural follow-through allows them to accelerate without fear of injury or loss of control.
Even players who don’t use the lasso all the time (like Djokovic or Medvedev) incorporate variations of it when they need maximum racquet speed.
The Old Guard Didn’t Do It—And That’s Why It Stood Out
In the 80s and 90s, tennis strokes were flatter, more compact, and relied less on extreme topspin. Players like Sampras, Agassi, and Edberg used across-the-body finishes because their technique emphasized linear energy transfer rather than rotational acceleration.
Even when Nadal first emerged, Toni Nadal wasn’t a fan of his nephew’s finish, believing it was exaggerated and inefficient. But over time, it became clear that the physics behind the motion were beneficial, and now it’s become a defining feature of the modern forehand.
What was once an anomaly is now an essential tool for power, control, and longevity in the game.
Conclusion: Science and Style Collide
The lasso forehand isn’t just a stylistic choice—it’s a biomechanical necessity for players who swing with the highest racquet-head speeds in history.
It extends the deceleration phase, reducing stress on the arm and shoulder.
It preserves angular momentum, allowing for a more efficient energy transfer.
It complements the extreme topspin mechanics of today’s game.
And it helps players maintain maximum acceleration without excess strain.
But let’s be honest—besides all the science and biomechanics…
It just looks cool.
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