Dominant hand on 2HBH?

[EuroMagnum]

On my 2HBH i've been holding the racquet in an Eastern FH grip then just grabbing on with my left hand. Is this right? Should I be holding the racquet with a BH grip?

Sounds like a stupid question but looking at slow mo groundies and stills it looks like most players just hold the racquet with their FH grip (plus their left hand).

[Dunlopkid]

Nope, you should have a backhand grip. Actually, you're left arm is the "dominant" arm in this stroke because it pushes through the ball.

[Bungalo Bill]

On my 2HBH i've been holding the racquet in an Eastern FH grip then just grabbing on with my left hand. Is this right? Should I be holding the racquet with a BH grip?

Sounds like a stupid question but looking at slow mo groundies and stills it looks like most players just hold the racquet with their FH grip (plus their left hand).

Some players use an Eastern forehand grip. It is a more unnormal grip but it is not out of whack. The twohanded backhand mainstream or more popular combinations are Continental bottom hand and Eastern forehand or SW forehand grip for the tophand.

With the eastern forehand grip on the bottom hand you will be tophand dominant in the stroke. It is said (althrough I have not verified this) that Safin used to use an Easter/Eastern combination.

You can tell the players that use this combination as they have more of a "chicken wings" look to the way they swing the racquet.

[papa]

BB knows more about this sport than the high majority of players - if you study or read his stuff its right on the money and always has been for the years I've been looking at his advice here.

The only thing I wanted to add, and I think it important, is that there are several grips associated with the 2HBH including which hand goes on top, the placement of the hands and so forth. Some who use a 2HBH along with a 2HFH don't change the placement of their hands from one side to the other but most do rotate the racquet slightly depending on the side. In some cases that I know of, the placement of the hands is because of injury or other factors such as missing a finger, etc.

Having said this, I don't think the majority of 2 handers keep the dominant hand in the FH position - it might look to you like they do but the dominant hand shifts more to a continental (hammer type) grip on the 2HBH and the non-dominant hand actually becomes the driving force behind the shot - the dominant hand really just is going on for the ride keeping the swing path consistent.

I think, quite sure I'm right on this (but at my age I sometimes get up and go to the other side of the room and forget what I needed - don't laugh, you'll be there some day), that BB has suggested that one of the best ways to develope a good 2HBH is to practice hitting left hand forehands.

[Bungalo Bill]

...I think, quite sure I'm right on this (but at my age I sometimes get up and go to the other side of the room and forget what I needed - don't laugh, you'll be there some day), that BB has suggested that one of the best ways to develope a good 2HBH is to practice hitting left hand forehands.

Hitting non-dominant forehands coordinates the weaker side of the body (footwork, balance, weight transfer, timing, pivoting, contact point, feel, smoothness, eye contact, head movement or lack of head movement, shoulder rotation, etc...) and strengtens the forearm and hand of the tophand for dominance.

[EricW]

Hitting non-dominant forehands coordinates the weaker side of the body (footwork, balance, weight transfer, timing, pivoting, contact point, feel, smoothness, eye contact, head movement or lack of head movement, shoulder rotation, etc...) and strengtens the forearm and hand of the tophand for dominance.

So it's a good idea to practice left handed forehands?

[Nick Irons]

In using the 2hbh I prefer to use an Eastern / Eastern.

Imagine holding the racquet in front of you like a Samurai Sword, your right hand on bottom and your left hand on top. Now, move both of your wrist's inwards (it'll be like shaking hands with the racquet with the right and left hand).

Booya; the easern / eastern modern backhand. MAke sure to rotate your shoulders on the shot. You can hit this with the planted outside foot or the stepping forward and into with the right foot.

As always, find your speed limit. It isn't about hitting 100 MPH passing shots, it's about getting the ball back with some velocity to keep you in the point.

[soyizgood]

I use the semi-western forehand grip for the bottom hand, eastern grip for the upper hand. I'm thinking of trying western grip on the bottom.

To me, I feel more comfortable going eastern on the upper hand while gripping the bottom hand whatever way I feel like. I tried SW-top hand, eastern lower hand and that felt inefficient in terms of power.

Eastern on both hands to me would just result in baseball swinging and nothing but flat shots. It's hard enough to get good topspin on an eastern forehand.

The 2HBH is a great shot. # skilled 2HBH players >>>>>> # skilled 1HBH players. Go 2HBH!

[Nick Irons]

I use the semi-western forehand grip for the bottom hand, eastern grip for the upper hand. I'm thinking of trying western grip on the bottom.



I'd really like to see video of that (No offense).

[Bungalo Bill]

So it's a good idea to practice left handed forehands?

Yes, it is.