Switching from a 1hbh to a 2hbh

[tennisaddict1]

Im new to this blog thing. Ive been playing tennis for quite a while and my game is pretty good. The only thing I have to complain about is my back hand. I learned to play with a 1h slice backhand at first then I progressed to the 1h topspin back hand and then flat. Well I am having trouble to hit a fast high topspin ball with the 1hbh. therefor I would like to learn the 2hbh however I am having trouble. Could you pleaseeee help me. Thanks a bunch.

[iradical18]

Is there anyway you can post a video? That's when the advice really shines. Maybe post a video of what your 1hbh looks like when trying to go for the high balls so we could help you with that instead of trying to change your whole game. High balls to the back hand side of a one hander are one of the most common concerns of tennis players.

[Sentinel]

Study this - first 10 seconds .. federer high backhands :
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=f_-Dr3hl7Z4&NR=1

[tennisaddict1]

I really don't have video access. I will describe it as best as possible.

The ball comes to my back hand with heavy topspin.

I either have to step back and it it on the drop or hit it before it gets that high.

I don't know how to hit the ball with a back hand on the rise. I have to resort to backing up but that gives the opponent plenty of time to get back in place.

The friend that I play with has a 2HBH and he just smacks the ball at a high angle if the ball gets that high and usually its a winner.

I would like to have that.

[nadalfan!]

Well, if you are comfortable with the 1HBH then stick to it. If it's just that problem there is no need to switch. I would say just keep practicing. It will get better if your technique gets better.

[tennisaddict1]

well the more you know the better you get. I would like to learn one anyway. The more I get to know the better I will be. Right?:)

[Rickson]

Im new to this blog thing. Ive been playing tennis for quite a while and my game is pretty good. The only thing I have to complain about is my back hand. I learned to play with a 1h slice backhand at first then I progressed to the 1h topspin back hand and then flat. Well I am having trouble to hit a fast high topspin ball with the 1hbh. therefor I would like to learn the 2hbh however I am having trouble. Could you pleaseeee help me. Thanks a bunch.

You're going from a Mercedes to a Hyundai? Stick with the one hander and don't take a backwards leap.

[soyizgood]

Yet another battleground for us 2HBHers against the ever-so-defensive 1HBHers. First the 1HBH entered "hopelessly endangered" status on the WTA, then gets stomped on by the 2HBH for ATP top 25 positions and Masters events. That to go with increasing numbers of entire high school and division I programs with nothing but 2HBHers.

The 2HBH is the modern backhand. It's generally more intuitive to use, easier to generate racquet speed, can consistently hit harder while keeping the ball in, handles high balls better, can hit topspin much more often than hitting with a 1HBH, less prone to mishits while more forgiving on the strong arm, and hey if 17 of the top 25 ATP and 28 of the top 30 WTA pros use 2HBH it's definitely not a Hyundai. BTW Mercedes is not so elite and has lost ground and status to BMW and Lexus for quite some time.

Feel free to try out the 2HBH. Maybe it's a better match for you. Maybe it's not. Do what's best for you, man. If you want advice on 2HBH, feel free to stop by our club: 2HBH Club (http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=171896)

Good luck! And to Rickson, keep drooling over Federer because it will be a LONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG time before you'll see a OHBHer dominate the ATP again after Federer falls off.

[BravoRed691]

OOO them be fightin words!

Br

[soyizgood]

OOO them be fightin words!

Br

I can't help it if the truth hurts.....HIM! LMAO

[BravoRed691]

I can't help it if the truth hurts.....HIM! LMAO

Soy...is...so...good...

Br

[superbooga]

The truth is, a very large percentage (probably > 95%) of 1HBH users would be better off switching to a 2HBH; it's just a much more pratical shot in today's game.

If you want to stick to a 1HBH, work on developing a consistent, versatile, deep slice. Hitting an effective topspin bh off a heavy, high ball is something the average joe will never be able to do -- you are probably not gifted enough to hit it. Most people who try topspin 1hbh's just fail miserably and lose matches by making way too many errors.

[mordecai]

Good luck! And to Rickson, keep drooling over Federer because it will be a LONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG time before you'll see a OHBHer dominate the ATP again after Federer falls off.

I have a secret hope that Gasquet will get his head together and dominate. He has the shotmaking, but not the smarts or the champion mentality.

[smoothtennis]

Good luck! And to Rickson, keep drooling over Federer because it will be a LONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG time before you'll see a OHBHer dominate the ATP again after Federer falls off.


Mmmm...could be, or not too. We may have said that after Borg's two handed dominance...but then we had guys dominate like McEnroe, Edberg, Becker, Kuerten, Samprass, now Federer. There have always been good two handers and one handers, but the one handers have certainly been able to dominate many times.

I think if anyone can dominate after Fed, it would have to be Novak or Nadal, so it may be a while before 1HBH rules after Fed!

[Mansewerz]

You're going from a Mercedes to a Hyundai? Stick with the one hander and don't take a backwards leap.

Each have their pros and cons, usually they're pros are where the other ones cons are. Tell me, does Federer dominate because of his one hander? No. Did Sampras dominate with a one hander? No. They're just as good and depends on the player. I like the 2 hander because it's easier to learn and is more compact = less wasted effort.

[Rickson]

Booga doesn't know much about the one handed backhand, does he? Booga wants you to believe that one handers have a strong desire to topspin high balls, but slice instead because the balls are too high, but the truth is that most one handers wouldn't bother putting topspin on a high ball. High balls are meant to be driven with a flat rocket or sliced. You wouldn't topspin a high forehand, would you? A high forehand is a flat missile for me. Booga has a lot to learn about the one handed backhand.

[superbooga]

Booga doesn't know much about the one handed backhand, does he? Booga wants you to believe that one handers have a strong desire to topspin high balls, but slice instead because the balls are too high, but the truth is that most one handers wouldn't bother putting topspin on a high ball. High balls are meant to be driven with a flat rocket or sliced. You wouldn't topspin a high forehand, would you? A high forehand is a flat missile for me. Booga has a lot to learn about the one handed backhand.

Topspin a high forehand? Of course. All forehands, except sliced ones, have topspin. Topspin lets you hit the ball harder without it going out. If you hit it really flat you might be able to hit it 70 mph. With topspin you can get it 90+ mph. Your comment that "high balls are meant to be driven with a flat rocket or sliced" is awful and just leads to a lot of shots going out. Saying "flatten out your stroke" is confusing, it should be "flatten out the ball trajectory." When you want to really unload on the ball, you want to flatten out the trajectory but put more topspin to keep the ball in.

You're dreaming that you can hit a flat rocket off a heavy topspin shot aimed at your backhand. Either that, or you're really really good because 5.0 players can't. Perhaps you're used to a different type of topspin, a weak loopy one with no pace.

[Josherer]

Im new to this blog thing. Ive been playing tennis for quite a while and my game is pretty good. The only thing I have to complain about is my back hand. I learned to play with a 1h slice backhand at first then I progressed to the 1h topspin back hand and then flat. Well I am having trouble to hit a fast high topspin ball with the 1hbh. therefor I would like to learn the 2hbh however I am having trouble. Could you pleaseeee help me. Thanks a bunch.


1HB is the way to go :(

[Rickson]

Topspin a high forehand? Of course. All forehands, except sliced ones, have topspin. Topspin lets you hit the ball harder without it going out. If you hit it really flat you might be able to hit it 70 mph. With topspin you can get it 90+ mph. Your comment that "high balls are meant to be driven with a flat rocket or sliced" is awful and just leads to a lot of shots going out. Saying "flatten out your stroke" is confusing, it should be "flatten out the ball trajectory." When you want to really unload on the ball, you want to flatten out the trajectory but put more topspin to keep the ball in.

You're dreaming that you can hit a flat rocket off a heavy topspin shot aimed at your backhand. Either that, or you're really really good because 5.0 players can't. Perhaps you're used to a different type of topspin, a weak loopy one with no pace.

First of all, since when are topspin shots faster than flat shots? Flat at 70 and topspin at 90? I don't think so! Secondly, I slice most of the high balls to my backhand, but I've been known to flat drive a few high balls. Like I said, most one handers wouldn't bother putting topspin on a ball that's high.

[superbooga]

There is a real limit as to how hard you can hit the ball without having it sail long; topspin increases the limit and the margin of error. 90 mph groundstrokes are achievable with good technique, but at that speed it's almost impossible to keep the ball in without topspin.

Yes, pure flat shots can be faster than topspin shots, but the difference is like 110 mph vs 100 mph. However, flat shots have almost no chance at going in at speeds far lower than that, while topspin shots can actually reach 100 mph and stay in.

[Bungalo Bill]

Im new to this blog thing. Ive been playing tennis for quite a while and my game is pretty good. The only thing I have to complain about is my back hand. I learned to play with a 1h slice backhand at first then I progressed to the 1h topspin back hand and then flat. Well I am having trouble to hit a fast high topspin ball with the 1hbh. therefor I would like to learn the 2hbh however I am having trouble. Could you pleaseeee help me. Thanks a bunch.

If you are switching, the first thing you need to do is place less emphasis on the bottom-hand and more emphasis on the tophand. When players start out learning the twohander coming from a onehander, they usually start out very stiff.

Try and relax your arms and swing them together using yoru body's rotation and kinetic energy. Make sure you are not locking up your legs as that will lock your hips and so on making the 2hnder feel awkward and stiff.

Footwork will be a bit mre precise and demanding to stay in balance. Be patient and allow at least 6 months to really start to make progress with it.

[Djokovicfan4life]

Don't do it man! One-hander for life! :)

[soyizgood]

Don't do it man! One-hander for life! :)

Yet your idol uses 2HBH....LMAO

[Rickson]

Yet your idol uses 2HBH....LMAO

Bruce Lee was one of the guys I thought was a great striking martial artist, but I'm a wrestler. Just because you admire someone's game or art, doesn't mean you have to be exactly like him.

[Djokovicfan4life]

Besides, I know Federer's better. Just because I like Djokovic's style doesn't mean I'm going to model my game after him. I like Fabrice Santoro as well but copying his style would probably not work very well at all. :shock:

[mdjenders]

If you are switching, the first thing you need to do is place less emphasis on the bottom-hand and more emphasis on the tophand. When players start out learning the twohander coming from a onehander, they usually start out very stiff.

Try and relax your arms and swing them together using yoru body's rotation and kinetic energy. Make sure you are not locking up your legs as that will lock your hips and so on making the 2hnder feel awkward and stiff.

Footwork will be a bit mre precise and demanding to stay in balance. Be patient and allow at least 6 months to really start to make progress with it.

That is exactly what I am experiencing. My swing is sooo stiff because I keep trying to muscle the ball with my right arm instead of freely swinging with the left. Return of serve stance holding the grip with two hands also feels awkward to me. I dont think the switch is going to happen for me, because the one hander is too ingrained.

[Bungalo Bill]

That is exactly what I am experiencing. My swing is sooo stiff because I keep trying to muscle the ball with my right arm instead of freely swinging with the left. Return of serve stance holding the grip with two hands also feels awkward to me. I dont think the switch is going to happen for me, because the one hander is too ingrained.

That is a normal thing you are experiencing. The hands are battling dominance or dont know how to work togther.

For lack of a better illustration. Think of a golf swing. The arms stay relaxed and let the the club do the work right? I mean there is some control from the muscles but the hands arent battling during the stroke - or at least they shouldnt.

The switch can happen if you want it too. You have to go back and hit slow balls with relaxed arms. You need to incorporate good footwork as well. If you are used to stepping across with your dominant leg on the backhand (because the onehander is a little more forgiving here), you will close your hips and the twohander will fell like you are stuck in sand.

There is no question that relaxation, keeping your hips able to swivel, is a big thing for a twohander.

I can bet though that you have been using incorrect footwork that the onehander was covering up.

Relax, relax, relax, swing the racquet with both hands.

[Tennismastery]

From an objective viewpoint: Try the two-handed stroke, preferably with a good pro teaching it to you. Two things will emerge: One, you might find you can indeed hit the two-hander the way you are looking to hit a backhand; or, Two, you may discover a new pattern for your one-hander which improves it.

In my 35 years teaching, I have seen how the two-handed backhand can help players re-tool their one-handed backhand. Nearly all my high level juniors and adults can hit very good one-handed topspins...even as they are two-handed players.

To simply avoid trying a reputable shot, one that a much higher percentage of pros and skilled players alike use, just because of subjective impressions is a really silly way to learn tennis.

[just out]

That is exactly what I am experiencing. My swing is sooo stiff because I keep trying to muscle the ball with my right arm instead of freely swinging with the left. Return of serve stance holding the grip with two hands also feels awkward to me. I dont think the switch is going to happen for me, because the one hander is too ingrained.

md jenders,
Let me know how it goes, I'm doing the same thing, sort of. I played about 10 years with a two handed backhand (junior into 20's) then switched to a one hander to improve my approach/serve volley game and it did. I have a good reliable slice and want to keep that so what I am doing is hitting my normal one handed backhand continental slice and trying to keep that grip and slide my hand down to hit two handed topspin. I'm really stiff too right now but what I really never had with the one handed topspin backhand was the feel for the ball at contact that I had with two hands. That's why I'm going back to the two hander. Now I've got some tough months ahead.

[doogoshly]

oh man, clicking on the thread title, i knew this would be another battleground for 1hbh v 2hbh. who cares? just play with what you're comfortable with. if you feel that the disadvantages of one is worth switching, then do it.

i can't comment much on the 2hbh because i've never used one, but it's just annoying to see every thread about a 1hbh go to crap because people like to think they're better.