Best advice for going 1HBH... [Archive]

POGforEver

07-09-2007, 08:02 PM

The Gorilla

07-09-2007, 08:15 PM

email me and I will tell you

habib

07-09-2007, 09:21 PM

email me and I will tell you

At your own risk, OP. :-)

Solat

07-09-2007, 09:33 PM

why after 14 years do you think a 1HB is the solution if I might ask? what does it have over the 2HB that you are looking for?

Court_Jester

07-09-2007, 09:34 PM

Keep your wrist steady and firm throughout your swing, especially during contact. Wristy 1HBH will lead to the dreaded tennis elbow. Also, hit the ball early and never hit it late.

BreakPoint

07-09-2007, 09:49 PM

email me and I will tell you

At your own risk, OP. :-)
Yes, and the OP better be ready to do "The Twist" as if he was Chubby Checker. ;) LOL

35ft6

07-09-2007, 10:24 PM

habib

07-10-2007, 11:43 AM

I've been playing for over 14 years now and have always used a 2hbh but used to toy with the idea of a one hander, well I'm pretty much committed to make the switch this summer to my one handed backhand. So far it has been working out pretty well. There are just a few places that I need to work on and would like some advice...on the run and taking a high backhand. So give your best advice for a newly converted one hander. THANKS!

For a high backhand, your best bet is usually to return the favor - swing for big topspin, a deep ball and a large margin over the net. It's not easy to be aggressive with a high ball to the 1hbh, but you can learn it over time once you get the basics down (ie: one technique is to go to a more extreme grip and wipe across it to get a sinking ball). Slicing is also an option

As far as the running backhand goes, this is where I think the 1HBH has a clear advantage over the 2hbh, since you can hit it midstride with plenty of power and not a lot of bodily stress. It's more than anything an issue of timing. Since you're not hitting from a stable base which pushes you into the stroke, for an effective shot you have to time your movement so that you're hitting midstride just as your weight is being transferred from your backfoot (the great thing here being that your 'back foot' can really be either one). Just move sideways to the ball, taking your racquet back and turning your shoulders as usual, and as you're coming of that last step just snap your shoulder into the ball.

justinnum1

07-10-2007, 01:17 PM

I also recently switched to a one hand backhand and now i am hitting the ball amazing. A few key things to know is keep your right shoulder sown throughout the swing. The biggest problem is people lift their body and shoulder up while swinging and they lift the ball hitting it out. Also bend your knees until you feel that when you hit the ball it is in your strike zone. Also maintain the same angle of your wrist throughout the swing.

BravoRed691

07-10-2007, 01:50 PM

No really useful advice from me yet ... advice i give usually blow up in people's faces lol

Just wanted to say that it's great to see people trying out new things! I grew up hitting a two hander as well but have been seriously messing with the one hander recently (even used it exclusively in a couple of matches). GL to you and don't get discouraged!

BR

RoddickAce

07-10-2007, 02:00 PM

One thing that many ppl talk about but never do, is look at the ball (before and on contact) and keep your head still!!! Remember, even on the run, focus on the ball, your unconscious mind is good at coordinating, but its a lot easier to be accurate by looking at the ball. And remember, keep your head still after contact, look at the point where you hit the ball, not where the ball went. This improves stability and lets to control where u wanna hit the ball. As for high balls, I tend not to add much topspin(as opposed to common sense), I just drive the ball hard down the line or short angle cross court. I use an eastern backhand, so it might not work for u if u have like a full western one...

RoddickAce

07-10-2007, 02:01 PM

By the way, check this link out to see federer's backhand, and notice how he keeps his head still for like 0.2 seconds after contact.

http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/pdmediabooks/assets/men/Roger%20federer/PerformanceAnalysis.html

BreakPoint

07-10-2007, 02:23 PM

dennis10is

07-10-2007, 08:21 PM

I"m sorry but you ask for the best advice and I don't have that.

Perhaps if you were to lessen your standards?

Imagine if you were to go to your parents and say "I want the best advice ever given" that would put a lot of pressure on them.

Do you need the very best advice. Would you be able to benefit from very good or just plain good advice or are you willing to wait for the very best?

Bungalo Bill

07-11-2007, 03:36 PM

on the run....taking a high backhand. So give your best advice for a newly converted one hander. THANKS!

Learn to hit the ball on the rise. Don't let the ball play you. Play the ball. Hit as the ball is rising into your strike zone. If you can't get the ball in the strike zone, slice it back for another ball.

KEY ASPECTS

Watch ball into strings
Watch ball bounce – ball slows down on the bounce so don’t judge the speed of the ball by the speed it is traveling in the air.
Hit ball to target using your minds eye (keeps head still, promotes clean contact)
Hit ball on the rise – "coil" while it is in the air, "uncoil" on the bounce”.
Playing too far back leads to a "forced offense." The ball slows down too much as it rises and then falls. You will lose to pushers and hardhitters.
Waiting too long to play a ball that encourages you to overhit--and then that's exactly what you try to do. Most of the time that leads to lots of unforced errors.
Hitting on the rise leads to smoother strokes and less overhitting.

habib

07-11-2007, 04:32 PM

Learn to hit the ball on the rise. Don't let the ball play you. Play the ball. Hit as the ball is rising into your strike zone. If you can't get the ball in the strike zone, slice it back for another ball.

KEY ASPECTS

Watch ball into strings
Watch ball bounce – ball slows down on the bounce so don’t judge the speed of the ball by the speed it is traveling in the air.
Hit ball to target using your minds eye (keeps head still, promotes clean contact)
Hit ball on the rise – "coil" while it is in the air, "uncoil" on the bounce”.
Playing too far back leads to a "forced offense." The ball slows down too much as it rises and then falls. You will lose to pushers and hardhitters.
Waiting too long to play a ball that encourages you to overhit--and then that's exactly what you try to do. Most of the time that leads to lots of unforced errors.
Hitting on the rise leads to smoother strokes and less overhitting.

Hey you're back! Where've you been? :)

boojay

07-11-2007, 04:44 PM

On the run 1HBHs, learn how to hit both closed stance and open stance. The vast majority of your backhands in any situation will be a closed stance BH, but it's important to be able to hit open stance, especially on the run as you have less time to set up.

As for high backhands, I find angling the racquet helps. For example, on most forehands and backhands you hit with the racquet pointed sideways (horizontally, like in my avatar), but on high balls, I angle the racquet (the head is pointed slightly upwards, sometimes up to 45 degrees). I dunno, it works for me.

Golden Retriever

07-11-2007, 07:53 PM

My best advice - don't switch.

luckyfool

07-11-2007, 08:12 PM

1-handed backhand kicks llama's ass.

Bungalo Bill

07-12-2007, 02:06 PM

Hey you're back! Where've you been? :)

Been goofing around in Idaho. How is it going with your onehander? I think I remember you had some knee or shoulder problems as well.

habib

07-12-2007, 02:19 PM

Been goofing around in Idaho. How is it going with your onehander? I think I remember you had some knee or shoulder problems as well.

Elbow and knee. The elbow recovered. The knee, being a torn miniscus, is always going to be a problem but has felt a lot better the last few months - no actual, particular, issue with it right now.

As for the onehander? I posted a 'One Year Hence" type update back in April, but I think you'd left to go goof around by then. Here's the video though: http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=pw9-J-ito5Q

You tell me. :-)

Bungalo Bill

07-12-2007, 03:03 PM

Elbow and knee. The elbow recovered. The knee, being a torn miniscus, is always going to be a problem but has felt a lot better the last few months - no actual, particular, issue with it right now.

As for the onehander? I posted a 'One Year Hence" type update back in April, but I think you'd left to go goof around by then. Here's the video though: http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=pw9-J-ito5Q

You tell me. :-)

Your takeback looks a lot better. Still overrotating a bit with your body and shoulders as you bring the racquet forward. Could be a bit of overhitting.

Hard to tell, we need to see you playing someone.

habib

07-12-2007, 04:05 PM

Your takeback looks a lot better. Still overrotating a bit woth your body and shoulders as you bring the racquet forward. Could be a bit of overhitting.

Hard to tell, we need to see you playing someone.

That was the general concensus of the thread. :-) Been working on taping my hitting sessions, but it's not easy pursuading the girlfriend to stand around holding a camera. :-/

In any case, my forehand has made 50 million times more progress.

POGPete

07-12-2007, 07:30 PM

Keep wrist firm... keep your arm straight at contact... keep the elbow in tight... develop a defensive slice backhand to keep you consistent until your top spin one hander starts getting good... the non-racket/left arm is very important, make sure it's going backhands at roughly the same rate as the racket arm is going forward to maximize power and balance...

About 8 years ago (been playing with a 1 handed backhand for almost 30 years) I took a lesson at the Colony Tennis Resort in FLA. The pro had me rotate my wrist about 1/4 turn real quick like a snap as I'm driving through the ball. At the end of the swing the racquet ends up in front of you pointing straight up in the air. Once I got this down I really turned the corner with what I was able to do with me backhand. It gave me that powerful topspin backhand drive or passing shot that my game lacked for way too many years. No more waiting around for opportunities on the forehand side.

Bungalo Bill

07-13-2007, 07:53 AM

That was the general concensus of the thread. :-) Been working on taping my hitting sessions, but it's not easy pursuading the girlfriend to stand around holding a camera. :-/

In any case, my forehand has made 50 million times more progress.

With the amount of rotation you use for the onehander it would seem you would be a natural with the twohanded backhand.

Anyway, try lengthening your arm out to the target more. Maintain that lateral position better with your non-dominant arm as your arm extends (keeping the long "L" position) out to the target before breaking off. Easy up on your swing and go for a consistent relaxed hit. You don't need to hit with more power but you do need to stay in control and use placement on the backhand side to setup your forehand.

http://www.tennis.com/uploadedImages/Player_Profiles/ATP_Photo_Galleries/Tommy_Haas/thumb_2006_04_03_haas_19.jpg

habib

07-13-2007, 08:02 AM

With the amount of rotation you use for the onehander it would seem you would be a natural with the twohanded backhand.
I can barely hit a two-hander over the net, nevermind with any decent or consistent control and power. :-p

I've been trying to fix this, because I think it's causing a lot of the inconsistency - both in terms of pace and precision - that I'm experiencing off that side. This was even pointed out to me in the last lesson I had, but for some reason it's just very hard for me to tell when I'm doing it right. It'll feel right, but then I'll look at the videos and it's obvious what the problem is. I'm open to any ideas or drills.

Anyway, try lengthening your arm out to the target more. Maintain that lateral position better with your non-dominant arm as your arm extends (keeping the long "L" position) out to the target before breaking off. Easy up on your swing and go for a consistent relaxed hit. You don't need to hit with more power but you do need to stay in control and use placement on the backhand side to setup your forehand.

http://www.tennis.com/uploadedImages/Player_Profiles/ATP_Photo_Galleries/Tommy_Haas/thumb_2006_04_03_haas_19.jpg
The problem when I try to go for a relaxed hit is that the vast majority of the time I mistime the ball - not always by much, but sometimes by a lot.

Bungalo Bill

07-13-2007, 08:17 AM

I can barely hit a two-hander over the net, nevermind with any decent or consistent control and power. :-p

I've been trying to fix this, because I think it's causing a lot of the inconsistency - both in terms of pace and precision - that I'm experiencing off that side. This was even pointed out to me in the last lesson I had, but for some reason it's just very hard for me to tell when I'm doing it right. It'll feel right, but then I'll look at the videos and it's obvious what the problem is. I'm open to any ideas or drills.

The problem when I try to go for a relaxed hit is that the vast majority of the time I mistime the ball - not always by much, but sometimes by a lot.

Your preparation (turning the shoulders) should be while the ball is still in the air, once the ball bounces you should go forward into the ball.

Perhaps "relaxing" is conflicting with good preparation. Preparation happens the same if you want to slug it or hit it softer. How you go forward determines how you stay in control with your uncoiling into the ball.

Learn to have a decent uncoiling into the ball that does not pull you off and cause you to lose your balance.

moist

07-13-2007, 08:31 AM

With the amount of rotation you use for the onehander it would seem you would be a natural with the twohanded backhand.

I have a pretty nice one hander, but I feel like it takes constant concentration to not rotate(struggle with the footwork some too). Maybe I'm fighting what comes natural? I can hit a 2hbh well, but I've never really practiced it since my coach thought my 1hbh had such potential. How do you personally judge which might be best for someone?

habib

07-13-2007, 09:02 AM

Your preparation (turning the shoulders) should be while the ball is still in the air, once the ball bounces you should go forward into the ball.
Hrmmm...

Perhaps "relaxing" is conflicting with good preparation. Preparation happens the same if you want to slug it or hit it softer. How you go forward determines how you stay in control with your uncoiling into the ball.

Learn to have a decent uncoiling into the ball that does not pull you off and cause you to lose your balance.

Yes, I understand all this...in theory. :-)

moist

07-13-2007, 09:18 AM

Hrmmm...

Yes, I understand all this...in theory. :-)

Heh, yeah the advice is spot on, just hard to make happen. If I'm in the exact right spot and well balanced, the whole torso relaxes and the arm works like a nice pendulum swinging right through the ball. Any mistake in footwork however, and something somewhere will contract to try to restore balance, and in the process pull you off of your swing path.

I have to say that the "firm wrist, straight arm" advice messed up my stroke when I was first learning. My whole arm was tense through the swing, and it caused a slow swing with an abbreviated follow through. I eventually found the straight but relaxed arm feeling, and the wrist just ends up in the right spot without any tensing.

Bungalo Bill

07-13-2007, 09:40 AM

Hrmmm...

Yes, I understand all this...in theory. :-)

Then you could be making calculations about the ball inconsistently. Some balls your brain calculates the ball quickly and you prepare earlier. Other times it gets lazy, and you forget, or get distracted (thoughts, emotions, senses) and you calculate too late.

Discipline yourself to always make preparation the priority.