Two-Hand Backhand Club (2HBH)

[tennisplayer1981]

Originally Posted by Mansewerz

I found today a thing that really helped me personally on my backhand. My backhand wing is my weaker side and isn't very good. I often run around it. It turns out, when I hit my backhand, I lift my back leg up a lot of times. I tried keeping both on the ground today, and voila, a better, albeit still weak, backhand. Plus I love being able to hit a flat shot on a high ball with this shot.

I find that harder to do due to my size (5'6"). Even when I try to take the ball early, I finish with my back leg raised.

[soyizgood]

Originally Posted by Mansewerz

I found today a thing that really helped me personally on my backhand. My backhand wing is my weaker side and isn't very good. I often run around it. It turns out, when I hit my backhand, I lift my back leg up a lot of times. I tried keeping both on the ground today, and voila, a better, albeit still weak, backhand. Plus I love being able to hit a flat shot on a high ball with this shot.

I'm always experimenting with new things on the backhand. One of the things I was working on was leaning just a bit on the front foot when setting up. That was for both the forehand and backhand. It made torso turning easier and I felt more in control of the shot. That might help you keep your back foot from leaving the ground.

I'm the direct opposite in that my backhand is my best shot and that I have at times run around the forehand to hit it. I hit by myself on open tennis courts just so I can visualize what I'm doing and what I want to do under situations I've imagined. I hit against a wall on occasion, but I used to hit with so much topspin that it would fly over the wall. That and the wall seems to discourage the use of hitting with spin and pace as you naturally want to maintain a rally.

[toP SPin GEEk]

count me in, two handed backhand is the way to go

[soyizgood]

Originally Posted by toP SPin GEEk

count me in, two handed backhand is the way to go

Welcome aboard! You tell them, man! #270

[soyizgood]

I'm on vacation in Ukraine. So far so good. Nice to know Jie Zheng is doing so well at Wimbledon. I don't think she has a chance against Serena, but here's her moment on our thread:

[SempreSami]

My one hander got too erratic at times, so I'm on the two fisted bandwagon now

[soyizgood]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

My one hander got too erratic at times, so I'm on the two fisted bandwagon now

Welcome to the club, man. We're here to help.

[soyizgood]

Nadal is THE man! He had me worried after blowing a 2-0 set lead, but he beat the grass master. First man to hold both French Open and Wimbledon the same year since the great Borg!

[soyizgood]

I didn't forget about Venus. Her and grass are a perfect match. 5 Wimbledons now. If she didn't lose so many times to Serena in slam finals, she'd be sitting on 12 slams herself.

Congrats Venus!

[soyizgood]

Let me do the ATP math for 2008:

Masters Series and slams:
2HBH 8
OHBH 0

Similar numbers on the WTA too.

Oh, and for those Fed trolls:
Number of events Federer has played 11
Number of events Federer has won 2 (Nadal 6, Djokovic 3, Davydenko 3, have more and better quality titles so far)
Number of events Federer played won by 2HBH players 9
Federer's H2H vs Nadal: 6-12

[moonbat]

I hit a screaming monster backhand down the line for a winner today. I have a pretty good backhand anyway, but this was by far the best I've ever hit one. Even people on the next court said "Nice shot!". Either Wimbledon inspired me, or I was suddenly possessed by Djokovic. I'll probably never hit another like it, but it felt really sweet.

[beedlejuice22]

^^I hit an amazing shot like that a couple months ago. I just unloaded on the ball and it was incredible. The weird thing about it was that i wasn't even looking into the court. I dropped my head down to look at the ground and hit it as hard as i could. It was weird because I wasn't looking into the court like I normally do. I tried a couple more like that and it seemed to work for backhands down the line. Maybe it caused my shoulders to rotate differently or something. Any body else have any experience with this?

[TacoBellBorderBowl1946]

add me brothers and sisters, two handers rule!

[JXshadow]

My 2h backhand is horrible, but I'm improving.

[soyizgood]

Originally Posted by beedlejuice22

^^I hit an amazing shot like that a couple months ago. I just unloaded on the ball and it was incredible. The weird thing about it was that i wasn't even looking into the court. I dropped my head down to look at the ground and hit it as hard as i could. It was weird because I wasn't looking into the court like I normally do. I tried a couple more like that and it seemed to work for backhands down the line. Maybe it caused my shoulders to rotate differently or something. Any body else have any experience with this?

One day in a short rally playing doubles a friend hit slice backhand approach shot at me. I was tempted to unload and when I did I hit it so fast my friend fell to the ground to avoid being hit. His partner laughed at him and told him the ball hit the singles line.

[soyizgood]

Originally Posted by JXshadow

My 2h backhand is horrible, but I'm improving.

What do you think is not working? Maybe it's the torso turn, the follow through, not hitting at the optimal point of contact? If you want, we can try to help you along.

[lecter255]

Hey people, I really want to switch to a 2hbh from a 1hbh. I want a consistent 2hbh, which probably will mean a fair amount of topspin to keep it safe. I just want one that's consistent. I'll worry about power and flat shots later, much much later. Can you guys give me some tips on how to switch? Questions in bold are the most pressing ones to me. I am a weak 4.0 player due to my inconsistent bh. If i have a good bh I would be a solid 4.0 I think.

Should I hit the wall with a left-handed forehand to develop some feel then tack on the right hand? Also, I notice that Roddick holds the racquet pretty high with his right hand. I know he doesn't have the best 2hbh, but the grip change is simplest for me because I wait for the ball with a forehand grip for my right hand. I would love a bh like safin or agassi but since I am new to this their grip change takes a bit longer and kinda throws me off... or should I start off learning it the safin or agassi way? I think I should go with safin's way because he waits with a forehand grip also.

Please give me some drills that I can do on my own. Also, am I suppose to remember the feel on my right hand when hitting the ball correctly or remember the feel on my left hand? Also, does the right arm dominate the power generated by 2hbh or is it more due to body rotation. I am thinking the latter because on my fh I rotate body and not swing arm as much. By the way my right hand would be in a continental grip.

I have used 2hbh b4 but sucked. One thing I noticed is that I am not swinging forward enough since it's so compact. Then I try hitting a few with a 1hbh, which I am more use to, and I could swing forward more because it's not as compact and because I am more use to it. So this time around I want to learn how to hit through the ball more.

should I weight-lift to build up my left arm? my left arm is pretty darn weak since it gets no exercise since I use a 1hbh. would building it up give quick improvement? I will prolly hit the gym regardless, but I am thinking maybe doing a extra set or a few extra reps on my left arm when lifting.

finallyabout how many hours of practice do you reckon before I can hit ten bh deep and consistent? i play about 4 hours a week, 2 hours sessions at most. I try to get out more but no one to hit with and there is this one low wall to hit against but if i hit the ball over I can't get it back... so I am kinda hesitant about hitting against it.

thanks in advance.

[AznRamenDude]

2HBH is natural for me

I thought it was weird at first because i have always used 1 hand in badminton, but i must say it is a lot easier on my arm to swing with 2 to return a tennis ball. Count me in.

[soyizgood]

Originally Posted by lecter255

Should I hit the wall with a left-handed forehand to develop some feel then tack on the right hand?

When I started using a 2HBH, I didn't bother to work on left-handed forehands. Then again, I was using a an eastern-eastern backhand combination at the time. So I was generating force with both hands as a result. I do occasional shadow swinging with the left hand. I do this and then pause the stroke to determine my ideal point of contact (where the racquet face is square).

Please give me some drills that I can do on my own. Also, am I suppose to remember the feel on my right hand when hitting the ball correctly or remember the feel on my left hand? Also, does the right arm dominate the power generated by 2hbh or is it more due to body rotation.

In the ready position, my left hand is loosely on the racquet in the semi-western grip I use for my backhand. When I switch to the backhand, I take my left hand and firmly grab the racquet. The left hand then twists the racquet so that my right hand is in the continental grip.

Generally, the weak arm is the arm that powers the backhand. Most of the power comes from lowering the shoulder, leaning on the front foot, and turning the torso. Agassi is more of an exception, but even then he still drove the ball with the weak arm.

One thing I noticed is that I am not swinging forward enough since it's so compact. So this time around I want to learn how to hit through the ball more.

I would not recommend a compact stroke for the 2H backhand. Because doing so results in your point of contact being further out in front and higher than if you took the racquet back for a longer stroke. A full take back allows you to hit the ball later, less vulnerable to unexpected bounces, easier to control and hit aggressively to name a few. Look up slow motion video clips of Nalbandian, Djokovic, and Davydenko as their backhands are very solid and fluid. The first post has a video I compiled that has many 2HBH players and their strokes.

You do not need to lift weights to hit a solid 2HBH. That is purely optional. For every Nadal and Safin there are plenty of Murrays and Davydenkos that do quite well with their backhand. Just keep practicing. Swing through the ball and finish the stroke with the racquet head over your shoulder. Hope I was able to help a bit.

[lecter255]

thx soy. i tried hitting some balls with a left-handed forehand last night. after a few hoppers worth of practice, i tacked on my right hand and it feels much better. i think i'll practice a bit more that way.

and from that experience, I agree that power generation is from rotating torso and I understand the concept of loading weight to front foot (I know I should do it and I have done it before but I just need to get consistent with it). However, can you expand on what you mean by lowering the shoulders?

I am not trying to do a compact stroke on the 2hbh. it just feels more compact compared to my 1 hander. I have heard mixed opinions on whether to do a full take back or not. I know a full take back is probably the right thing to do, but since I am a beginner at 2hbh, maybe I should start with a small take back and work my way to a bigger take back?

What I mean by hitting through the ball is that watching vids of djoker and safin and pros, I notice that they swing through the contact zone, while I feel that a lot of times I am pulling across my body. that is something I want to correct. Any tips or drills to correct that?

thanks in advance