Bill Tilden
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Bill Tilden "Big Bill"

United States
Golden Era Retired #1 career high 138 titles Right-handed One-Handed BH 188cm
10 Grand Slams
  • Wimbledon 3
  • US Open 7
Dominated tennis in the 1920s with an all-court game featuring a powerful serve and a cannonball forehand. Considered the first modern power player.

Video Library (28 videos)

Name FPS Duration
Serve Bill Tilden's serve from a central baseline position, filmed from a side angle. His shoulders rotate well past 90 degrees relative to his hips during the trophy phase, then uncoil sequentially from trunk to shoulder to arm, making the shoulder-over-shoulder action especially clear.
1s
Tilden Tilden's classic forehand from the center of the baseline, filmed from a side CourtLevel angle. His eastern forehand grip is evident in the relatively straight wrist position with only a slight laid-back angle maintained through contact.
5.8s
Arm-action Bill Tilden's serve from a central position, filmed from the rear. After contact his arm extends fully up and across his body while his back leg swings through, bringing him into a balanced forward stance ready for the next shot.
5.7s
Serve Side Bill Tilden's serve from the baseline, filmed from the side. At contact his racket face is slightly tilted forward with the ball struck just above full extension of his tossing arm, and the upward swing path produces pronounced racket head acceleration through the hit.
2.2s
Serve Side Tight Bill Tilden's serve from the side, filmed from a tight sideline angle. His motion features an early, pronounced shoulder turn with the trunk coiling deeply against the hips, then uncoiling in a clearly sequenced rotation that leads the arm into contact.
5.4s
Tilden.Serve.Side-0025006-0001 small #0001 Ed Atkinson's serve from a central position, filmed from the side. His continental grip is evident in the way the racquet face stays slightly closed as the wrist pronates aggressively through contact.
2.2s
FH Approach → FH Volley · Front Bill Tilden's forehand approach shot from the center of the court, filmed from the front. He uses small adjustment steps into a neutral stance before contact, then takes aggressive forward recovery steps to close into the net.
4.4s
BH Running · Side Bill Tilden's running backhand from the side, filmed from a side angle. His eastern one-handed backhand grip is evident, with a firm but relaxed wrist that stays laid back through the swing before a late, compact release at contact.
9.8s
BH · Side #1 Bill Tilden's backhand from the center of the baseline, filmed from the side. His eastern one-handed backhand grip is clear, with a firm but relaxed wrist that stays laid back through the swing before subtly straightening through contact.
10.4s
BH · Side #2 Bill Tilden's backhand from the side, filmed from a court-level side angle. At contact his one-handed backhand meets the ball slightly in front of his lead hip with the racket face nearly vertical, and the swing path continues upward for a pronounced, driving follow-through.
10.3s
BH Volley · Side Bill Tilden's backhand volley from a neutral position, filmed from the side. His hips stay relatively square to the net while a noticeable knee bend loads the legs before a short forward drive into the volley.
7.8s
FH · Court-level-front Bill Tilden's forehand from the center of the court, filmed from a court-level front angle. His shoulders rotate well past perpendicular to the net on the backswing, then the trunk uncoils in a clearly sequenced motion from hips to shoulders as he drives through the ball.
6s
FH · Court-level-side #1 Bill Tilden's forehand from the center of the court, filmed from a court-level side angle. From this side view, his eastern forehand grip is evident in the relatively closed racket face, with a pronounced wrist lag that unwinds into a firm, stable wrist at contact.
2.5s
FH · Front Bill Tilden's forehand from the center of the court, filmed from the front. His footwork includes a small adjustment hop into a neutral stance before contact, followed by a decisive recovery step that readies him for the next shot.
2.2s
FH Running → BH Running · Front Bill Tilden's running backhand from the center of the court, filmed from the front. After contact his follow-through finishes high across his body as he regains his stance with his non-hitting hand extending forward to help him square up for the next shot.
6.5s
FH Half Volley → BH Half Volley · Side Bill Tilden's backhand half-volley from a neutral court position, filmed from the side. After contact he extends the racquet forward with a compact one-handed follow-through while his weight continues moving into the court, quickly bringing the non-hitting hand back toward the racquet to reset into a ready position.
13.4s
FH Running · Side Bill Tilden's running forehand from the deuce side, filmed from the side. His hips stay relatively closed as he drives off the outside leg, with a pronounced knee bend that loads before he extends through the shot while moving forward.
7.5s
FH · Side #1 Bill Tilden's forehand from the baseline, filmed from the side. His classic Eastern forehand grip is evident, with a pronounced laid‑back wrist creating visible lag before releasing into contact.
5.9s
FH · Side #2 Bill Tilden's forehand from the center of the baseline, filmed from the side. His footwork features a small hop into a neutral stance before contact, followed by a pronounced forward step into the court as he recovers.
11.2s
FH · Side #3 Bill Tilden's forehand from the center of the baseline, filmed from the side. His footwork features a pronounced pivot into a classic neutral stance, with a clear weight transfer from the back foot to the front foot as he drives through the ball.
10.8s
FH Volley · Side #1 Bill Tilden's forehand volley from the side, filmed from a side angle. His shoulders stay relatively square to the net with only a modest trunk coil, and the forward uncoiling of the torso is short and compact, matching the abbreviated volley swing.
5.8s
FH Volley · Side #2 Bill Tilden's forehand volley from the net on the deuce side, filmed from the side. His continental grip is firm with a slightly laid-back wrist, staying stable through contact with minimal wrist snap.
6.8s
OH · Side #1 Bill Tilden's overhead from the center of the court, filmed from the side. After contact he drives his weight forward into the court and quickly brings both hands back toward a compact ready position as he completes his follow-through.
12.7s
OH · Side #2 Bill Tilden's overhead from the center of the court, filmed from the side. His hips drive up and forward in sync with an aggressive knee bend and leg extension, clearly showing how his legs load and push through contact.
9.9s
FH Slice · Court-level-side #1 Bill Tilden's forehand slice from the baseline on the deuce side, filmed from a court-level side angle. The racket face is noticeably open at contact with the ball struck slightly below net height, and the downward, slightly forward swing path produces pronounced backspin.
4.3s
FH Slice · Court-level-side #2 Bill Tilden's forehand slice from the baseline on the deuce side, filmed from a court-level side angle. His hips stay relatively closed through contact while a deep knee bend on the outside leg supports a long, low stride into the ball.
1.7s
Slice → FH · Front Bill Tilden's forehand slice from the center of the court, filmed from the front. After contact his racket finishes high with the face slightly open while his weight continues forward, and he quickly brings both hands in front of his body to reestablish a neutral ready position.
4.1s
Slice · Rear Bill Tilden's slice serve from the center of the baseline, filmed from a rear angle. At contact his racket face is slightly open with the ball struck just above head height, and the swing path brushes up and across the ball to impart sidespin.
7s

Articles about Bill Tilden

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