Do You Like Mauresmo's Backhand?

[ashpookie]

This is all regarding topsin/flat 1HBH.

I really like the way Mauresmo hits her topspin backhand but I notice she doesn't bend her elbow at all. From takeback to hitting the ball and finishing, her elbow is straight. Is she the only one who does this?

Other players like Federer and Gasquet have bent elbows on takeback. Does it matter? I prefer takeback with a straightened elbow, I feel its more comfortable, but I fear that it's the wrong technique. :confused:

[ashpookie]

Here's a pic of her takeback. Her elbow is just slightly bent.

http://server4.ihostphotos.com/imgt/36718.jpg (http://server4.ihostphotos.com/show.php?id=36718)

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

from experience...

bent elbow = more topspin, more natural

straight elbow = flatter, more awkward

I dont know which is mechanically better, but i dont think a bad stroke by any standards... Doesnt 2handers have this too? Majority of 2handers have their dominate elbow slightly bent, whereas Roddick's broke-*** backhand and some friends of mine have both arms straight.

[ShcMad]

Mauresmo's backhand looks good and I think it's versatile. It doesn't seem to be a "claycourt" backhand like Kuerten, Henin-Hardenne, or Gasquet's, but it's more like Haas's in my opinion, thus possessing a more Eastern-ish grip.

Talking about backhands, I've been watching hours worth of Gasquet's matches just to see how he hits his marvelous bhs, and I even went through Getty Images to search for pictures of him hitting bhs. But, I just can't seem to figure out how he hits it so well. I've also read Bungalo Bill's analysis of the Haas backhand, but what I really wanna learn is Gasquet's. For some reason, Richard's seems a little different.

[darkdreaming]

you dont have to worry ..there actually 2 types of one hand backhand the straight arms ..using the shoulder as the pivot such as mauresmo justine henin hardenne ....and then there is the one that uses the elbow as an additional pivots such as sampras federer gasquet...one isnt better than the other ..they just are 2 different style and no one doesnt make it easier to generates topspin ... .....

[ashpookie]

you dont have to worry ..there actually 2 types of one hand backhand the straight arms ..using the shoulder as the pivot such as mauresmo justine henin hardenne ....and then there is the one that uses the elbow as an additional pivots such as sampras federer gasquet...one isnt better than the other ..they just are 2 different style and no one doesnt make it easier to generates topspin ... .....

Where did you learn this?

[darkdreaming]

i coach tennis ...for one and i am a tennis geek for two:analysing dissecting the pros their biomechanics is of interests to me .anyway the point is you got nothing to worry ...you can mimic mauresmo backhand or justine henin they really sounds....and its not a guy things whether the elbow is the axis or the shoulders ...look at sampras not so good and yet he uses the elbow .....and the best one hand backhand gustavo kuerten was a straight arm one ..so it means nothing ...good luck by the way justine backhand is better than mauresmo

[oscar_2424]

i like it, its very effective

[Ripper]

"Do You Like Mauresmo's Backhand?"

What's not to like? All 1 hand backhanders can't hit the ball in, exactly, the same way. As I've mentioned before, diversity and/or variety is the spice that makes tennis so good :)

[BabolatFan]

As a 1hbhander myself, I dig hers totally. I think her bh is better and more comfortable than her FH. I myself feel that my BH is my biggest weapon. Just feels more natural and I'm a lefty.

[Warriorroger]

For some reason I don't like Mauresmo' strokes, when she is on though, she is very difficult to beat, she destroyed Martina Hingis with very powerful groundstrokes, but the ways she hits, I find it ugly. I always liked the Gabriela Sabatini backhand better, that was one of the most beautiful topspin backhands in the history of tennis.

[ashpookie]

Thanks for clearing things up! :)

[legolas]

i have the same bh form as amelie

[drp2345]

I think there was a thing in tennis magazine about safins backhand once...and it said that his left arm stays straight for the most part.

[Rickson]

This is all regarding topsin/flat 1HBH.

I really like the way Mauresmo hits her topspin backhand but I notice she doesn't bend her elbow at all. From takeback to hitting the ball and finishing, her elbow is straight. Is she the only one who does this?

Other players like Federer and Gasquet have bent elbows on takeback. Does it matter? I prefer takeback with a straightened elbow, I feel its more comfortable, but I fear that it's the wrong technique. :confused:
Being a one hander, I definitely prefer the bent elbow at takeback, but at contact, my arm is relatively straight. Some one handers will be straight from start to finish, but for comfort's sake, I don't think it's practical. Maybe you're comfortable with a straight armed takeback so do what works for you.

[ashpookie]

I think all topspin/flat 1HBH shots have a relatively straight elbow upon ball impact. Is that correct?

Slice is different of course, depending on the height of the ball, my elbow is mostly bent upon ball contact.

[habib]

I think all topspin/flat 1HBH shots have a relatively straight elbow upon ball impact. Is that correct?

Yes, of course. If you have a bent arm upon impact on a 1hbh, you're either late or have some sort of funky *** technique. I prefer the bent elbow takeback, as I generate a lot of power on my 1hbh by almost slinging my forearm forward, with the elbow as a pivot point. I can hit a very nice straight arm bh as well, but not as hard. Though I will say, I've noticed with the straight arm I do generate more topspin, and the only way I can match it with a bent-arm take back is by really rolling my wrist through the ball, which reduces my consistency (you may be thinking how does more topspin reduce consistency, but a flicky wrist has that drawback to it).

[Lleytonmania]

What can I say about Momo's backhand....its perfect, brilliant!! Its a pleasure to watch her. In my opinion she plays the most beautiful Tennis on WTA Tour!

[Defcon]

No. Its a clay court stroke, too loopy and not enough variety. I've never seen her flatten it out, and it takes her too long to prepare. Plus its not that pretty and effortless to look at.

Given the no. of excellent one handers (JHH, Federer, Gaudio, Gasquet, Pavel, Lubijic, Robredo - in roughly that order) I find it hard to put Mauresmo in the same category.

[BabolatFan]

Her backhand is so fantassstic.

[root]

Is it only me who finds Robredos backhand utterly ugly? Seems like he has no balance on that shot and arm movement is very unnatural and exxagerated.