Inside-Out BH

[ReturnAce]

Just wanted to get some other people's opinions on this shot, one I have come to love over the past year or so.

I'm a lefty and my two-handed backhand has always been my more consistant and powerful shot, and I end most of my points with a backhand (either an outright winner or to bring up a short ball). I've known for a long time that the inside-out forehand is a potent shot, and one that every player should be able to hit and I got to thinking...why isn't it the same with the backhand? I rarely, if ever, see a inside-out backhand at my level (juniors, boys 18s) and can only think of a few pros that use it (Nalbandian being the first to come to mind, god I want that backhand...).

Anybody else here employ this shot? Or have thoughts?

[Marius_Hancu]

on 1HBH (sorry, realized too late you are 2HBH):
-----------------------
less power (20% at least)

less mobility on that side, as people don't train for it ...

Also, not so easy, there are people using it: Fed's using it.

Fed Agassi USO 2005 F
4-2 for Agassi in the 4th
0-30, Fed serving
Fed sends one right in the corner of both lines, on the deuce side
Agassi didn't even move
End of the match right there.

I also like to use it:-)

[LoveThisGame]

An inside-out backhand capability in doubles can be an important factor on which partner plays which side because lots of serves come to the center T and need to be returned crosscourt.

[EliteNinja]

I'm working towards this:
http://edbergstorage.free.fr/videos/edberg_pioline_davis_96/edberg_53_montee_revers.mpg

I guess to compensate for the power loss, try and throw your body into it as much as possible (a la Edberg). And it's also easier when you're running towards you backhand side (already with the directional momentum).

[Rickson]

Just wanted to get some other people's opinions on this shot, one I have come to love over the past year or so.

I'm a lefty and my two-handed backhand has always been my more consistant and powerful shot, and I end most of my points with a backhand (either an outright winner or to bring up a short ball). I've known for a long time that the inside-out forehand is a potent shot, and one that every player should be able to hit and I got to thinking...why isn't it the same with the backhand? I rarely, if ever, see a inside-out backhand at my level (juniors, boys 18s) and can only think of a few pros that use it (Nalbandian being the first to come to mind, god I want that backhand...).

Anybody else here employ this shot? Or have thoughts?
The inside out backhand is a rarely used shot because of court positioning. Many people run around a backhand, but you'll hardly ever see someone run around a forehand. Obviously, you wind up hitting most of your backhands on the ad side for righties and the deuce for lefties and most shots that come to the middle of the court are hit with the forehand. You'll get opportunities to hit the inside out bh on serves that come up the middle and when you're pulled out wide on the forehand side and the next shot comes to the middle of the court, but otherwise, there are very few opportunities to hit this shot because the vast majority of tennis players will not run around a crosscourt forehand to hit an inside out backhand.

[BreakPoint]

Actually, I run around my forehand to hit the inside out one-handed backhand quite often. It freaks my opponents out and they're so surprised to see someone do this that it typically turns into a winner as they're caught flat footed or leaning in the wrong direction expecting me to hit my backhand crosscourt. It's a great shot that I employ pretty effectively. If you watch Federer a lot, you'll see that he hits this shot, too.

[Puma]

I also try to hit this shot as well. As someone said, most backhands are going back to the ad side, so most people are not expecting an inside out back hand. I don't run around the forehand, but I will take a shorter ball that is more in the middle and go to the duece court. If executed and taken early this is often a winner.

[Rickson]

Actually, I run around my forehand to hit the inside out one-handed backhand quite often. It freaks my opponents out and they're so surprised to see someone do this that it typically turns into a winner as they're caught flat footed or leaning in the wrong direction expecting me to hit my backhand crosscourt. It's a great shot that I employ pretty effectively. If you watch Federer a lot, you'll see that he hits this shot, too.
Federer runs around his backhand to hit a forehand often, but I've never, and I mean never, seen Federer run around his forehand to hit a backhand.

[jtreed2000]

I think he meant Roger hits I/O BHs, not run around the FH regularly. I've seen him do some wierd stuff though; probably just wondering if he can more than doing it strategically. Very artistic.
The reasons it's less common have already been said, but it never hurts to have an extra shot in the bag. One more thing to practice though... I tend to setup my FH probably like most others.

[Rickson]

I think he meant Roger hits I/O BHs, not run around the FH regularly. I've seen him do some wierd stuff though; probably just wondering if he can more than doing it strategically. Very artistic.
The reasons it's less common have already been said, but it never hurts to have an extra shot in the bag. One more thing to practice though... I tend to setup my FH probably like most others.
I've seen Roger hit the IO BH on serve returns, but I don't think he'd ever run around his forehand for any kind of backhand. Roger has one of the best backhands in the business, but considering how often he runs around it, he obviously prefers hitting the forehand.

[Baseline Basher]

I actually used to run around my forehand on certain shots to hit an IOBH. Drove my coach wild. At first, he was like 'WTF"? Lol.

[SageOfDeath]

If your backhand is more consistant and more powerful than your forehand, go for it. It's just for many many players, that's not the case.

[rod99]

marius,
that 4-2 30-0 point against agassi was the only time i've ever seen federer take a mid court ball (it wasn't exactly running around the forehand, as the ball was close to the middle of the court) and hit a backhand over a forehand.

[BreakPoint]

I've seen Roger hit the IO BH on serve returns, but I don't think he'd ever run around his forehand for any kind of backhand. Roger has one of the best backhands in the business, but considering how often he runs around it, he obviously prefers hitting the forehand.

Not necessarily run around the forehand to hit the backhand, but if the ball comes straight down the middle, I've seen him hit the inside out backhand to his opponents deuce side, and I've probably seen more Federer matches (over and over again, too) than just about anyone on the planet, so I've seen him do this quite a few times, albeit he does run around his backhand to hit his big forehand more often than not.

[Klippy]

I like my backhand far better than my forehand. :D :D

[munk3y]

i used to liek my backhand better than my forehand, until......something went wrong and my backhand isnt so good anymore. Then my forehand broke through that...barrier where you improve dramatically

i still prefer to do backhands though lol

[troytennisbum]

The inside out backhand is a rarely used shot because of court positioning. Many people run around a backhand, but you'll hardly ever see someone run around a forehand. Obviously, you wind up hitting most of your backhands on the ad side for righties and the deuce for lefties and most shots that come to the middle of the court are hit with the forehand. You'll get opportunities to hit the inside out bh on serves that come up the middle and when you're pulled out wide on the forehand side and the next shot comes to the middle of the court, but otherwise, there are very few opportunities to hit this shot because the vast majority of tennis players will not run around a crosscourt forehand to hit an inside out backhand.

Hmmm.....we'll I am lefty too. But the reason why I would never hit an inside-out backhand is NOT because of anything to do with court positioning. Rather, it has everything to do with the fact that my forehand is so much stronger then my 2HBH.

[LostMyMojo]

It's not a matter that your backhand is even possibly better than your forehand, or really court positioning either...running around the forehand would be pretty much just as detrimental in terms of positioning.

Think about it -you're hitting crosscourt to the opponent's forehand (unless they're a lefty). So that's the majority of people you face. For the majority, their stronger side IS their forehand. Inside out shots are used at the pro level, or any level for that matter, for the main purpose of matching YOUR strength with the other person's weakness.

If you run about your backhand, even if it's your stronger wing, you're almost always at best matching your strength with their strength. Not so ideal.

[tennisadict]

I like my backhand far better than my forehand. :D :D
you are not the only one