Anyone else 2HBH like this?

[Headshotterer]

I often hear that the 2h backhand is a lefty's forehand, or a one handed backhand with an extra hand(andre agassi).However, I dont hit like this at all. In my shot, both arms get equal priority and most of the racket head speed comes from body rotation.

Just wondering if this is holding me back and should try to get that "left handed forehand" in

[ace_pace]

Need a video to really get what you are saying but if it works well and there's nothing harmful coming from it then I don't see why you shouldn't play with it. But a video would be nice.

[AYone]

I've tried to transition to a 2HB because I was getting overpowered on my 1HB, wrist injury issues, and because I am a baseline player and understand the consistency is better. I've had a lot of trouble with the transition. My timing is off, shots aren't solid and I just don't seem to have a feel for the swing. I've tried the lefty forehand concept. I think I just need to go in front of a ball machine until I get the hang of it. Anyone else experience this type of issue?

[TroutSc]

Our teaching pro teaches that way, has you start off hitting a bunch of lefty forehands, seems to help get it grooved in and then when you trans to 2h it is cleaner. its feels awkward and looks embarrassingly stupid at first (for me) but seemed to really clean up my 2hbh.

[LeeD]

The WAY you hit the ball is dependent on how well you hit it that way.
Some use the lefty forehand analogy.
Some use the lefty brace analogy.
Some use equal pressure.
Some spread their grip
Some overlap their grip.
Some grip next to the other hand.
Some wear yellow.
Some wear gray.
Some wear blue.
Some wear red.

[BevelDevil]

Originally Posted by Headshotterer

I often hear that the 2h backhand is a lefty's forehand, or a one handed backhand with an extra hand(andre agassi).However, I dont hit like this at all. In my shot, both arms get equal priority and most of the racket head speed comes from body rotation.

Just wondering if this is holding me back and should try to get that "left handed forehand" in

I think a lot of players use both arms. After all, it's called a two-handed backhand.

Look at those HD, super-slowmo videos of people hitting 2hbhs, and often times you'll see the muscles tighten up in their front arm.

As I've said before on these forums (and as Agassi himself said), I think too many people think of the 2hbh as a lefty forehand. At least from a footwork and weight-transfer perspective, this is not true on a closed-stance backhand.

Definitely don't try to muscle the ball with your left.

Originally Posted by AYone

I've tried to transition to a 2HB because I was getting overpowered on my 1HB, wrist injury issues, and because I am a baseline player and understand the consistency is better. I've had a lot of trouble with the transition. My timing is off, shots aren't solid and I just don't seem to have a feel for the swing. I've tried the lefty forehand concept. I think I just need to go in front of a ball machine until I get the hang of it. Anyone else experience this type of issue?

One huge difference between the two shots is where your head is looking at contact. If we define "center" as where your chest is facing, then:

-On the 1hbh, your head/eyes will be pointing center-right at the ball on contact.

-On the 2hbh, your head/eyes will be pointed left at the ball on contact.

Once you're conscious of this difference, make a point to look over your left shoulder when you make contact. Also make sure your hips open up to the court by contact.

Lastly, don't forget to step into the ball just like you would on a 1hbh.

[The3.5Ceiling]

Originally Posted by LeeD

The WAY you hit the ball is dependent on how well you hit it that way.
Some use the lefty forehand analogy.
Some use the lefty brace analogy.
Some use equal pressure.
Some spread their grip
Some overlap their grip.
Some grip next to the other hand.
Some wear yellow.
Some wear gray.
Some wear blue.
Some wear red.

"Sometimes...it rains.....think about that for a second...."

Sorry, a favorite movie line....couldn't resist

[user92626]

OP and AY,

I wouldn't worry about it. The more violent you hit the stroke, and you should, the harder it is to distinguish which hand dominants. So, it doesn't make sense to try. If you see top pros, they keep both hands well on the racket all the way. Timing and lining up your feet and rotation are keys for this stroke. Try to let the ball come closer to your side, as opposed to "in front" like the FH, and hit through and rotate as hard fast as posible. Look at Djokovic, he rotates flexibly like a ballet dancer, and I'm not surprised if sometimes you get back pain due to this.

[TennisCJC]

Yea, very few really hit 2HBH like a L handed FH.

Djoko has one of the best 2HBHs but it is very different than his forehand. Ignore the weird running stretching sliding BHs he hits and just consider his normal rally 2HBH.

He hits them all with a neutral or even slightly closed stance, complete shoulder turn (not quite as much shoulder turn as 1HBH but a lot), racket head is above hands on the take back but not straight above hands like FH take back, take back is pretty much straight back while FH is a loop, starts swing with right arm dominate, at contact the left arm takes over and pulls up, thru and across.

To me, 2HBH has attributes of 1HBH and L handed forehand. But, at contact thru follow-thru it is very similar to L handed FH.

Look at old footage of Borg and Wilander hitting 2 HBH. They used a lot of the right arm/hand. Borg's was very much like a 1 HBH with the L hand along for support.

[rkelley]

Originally Posted by Headshotterer

I often hear that the 2h backhand is a lefty's forehand, or a one handed backhand with an extra hand(andre agassi).However, I dont hit like this at all. In my shot, both arms get equal priority and most of the racket head speed comes from body rotation.

Just wondering if this is holding me back and should try to get that "left handed forehand" in

Hard to say. Both hands equally is great for punching balls back, especially if you're out of position, and generally redirecting your opponent's power. It's the Jimmy Connors backhand, and one of the big advantages of a 2hbh.

But I think using both hands equally will generally make for a pretty stiff stroke. You still want to get some stretch shortening cycle in the arms and wrists, just like in the other strokes, to store energy that's been generated by the rest of your body. I think it's easier to do that if you let one hand be dominant and just use the other to add power at contact. The left hand is in a much stronger position to control the racquet, so I think it's a better choice.

I know my bh improved a bunch when I let my left hand control the racquet, thought of it more as a left handed fh, and used to right mostly to assist in snapping the racquet through at contact.

[monomer]

Originally Posted by AYone

I've tried to transition to a 2HB because I was getting overpowered on my 1HB, wrist injury issues, and because I am a baseline player and understand the consistency is better. I've had a lot of trouble with the transition. My timing is off, shots aren't solid and I just don't seem to have a feel for the swing. I've tried the lefty forehand concept. I think I just need to go in front of a ball machine until I get the hang of it. Anyone else experience this type of issue?

I switched to a 2HBH after 20+ years of hitting a 1-hander. It has taken about a year and a half to get comfortable with it. My 2HBH now is much more consistent now than the 1HBH. I feel like I can place it anywhere on the court which I was never able to do with the 1HBH.

For me it was all about letting the left arm take over. The "left handed FH" is the most important thing to focus on for me. One think that helped me was to let my RH pinkie finger hang off the end of the grip. Prior to doing this I would find my RH taking over too often. You just need to hit a lot of balls and the feel will come to you.

[rkelley]

Originally Posted by monomer

I switched to a 2HBH after 20+ years of hitting a 1-hander. It has taken about a year and a half to get comfortable with it. My 2HBH now is much more consistent now than the 1HBH. I feel like I can place it anywhere on the court which I was never able to do with the 1HBH.

For me it was all about letting the left arm take over. The "left handed FH" is the most important thing to focus on for me. One think that helped me was to let my RH pinkie finger hang off the end of the grip. Prior to doing this I would find my RH taking over too often. You just need to hit a lot of balls and the feel will come to you.

Agreed.

I personally keep my right hand pinky on the racquet, but I often loosen my right hand grip to the point that I'm hardly holding the racquet with it during my prep to really emphasize the lefty fh aspect of the shot. I'll tighten the grip on my right hand some as I start my swing.

[dlam]

I switch between 2h and single hand on both wings
I usually hit a lot of single handed backhands and 2h forehands when I play 3.0 or lower as the ball pace tends to be slow
With jrs or guys that can hit the ball I tend to use more 2hBH and single handed forehand.

[Thepowerofchoice]

I think I use both arms equally depends on what I want to do with the ball. I started with 1handedbh in the past but now a fulltime 2handedbh (switched 2 years ago) I met Agassi couple of months ago and asked him about that and he told me to use more right hand for 2handedbh (I'm a right handed).

Sometimes I let go of my left hand at the end of follow through...Anyone do this?

[Moz]

When I want to go crosscourt with a lot of topspin I use the non-dominant hand a lot, I get a lot more action on the ball. With dtl shots, down the middle and flatter shots I don't notice its role in the shot.

When I use the non-dominant hand more consciously I typically include a significant component of round the ball rather than just over the ball. It's probably my best shot - in relative terms.

[rkelley]

Originally Posted by Thepowerofchoice

I think I use both arms equally depends on what I want to do with the ball. I started with 1handedbh in the past but now a fulltime 2handedbh (switched 2 years ago) I met Agassi couple of months ago and asked him about that and he told me to use more right hand for 2handedbh (I'm a right handed).

Sometimes I let go of my left hand at the end of follow through...Anyone do this?

You met Agassi. OK, color me impressed.

I'm certainly not going to contradict one of the best players who ever touched a racquet, and one with a very sweet 2hbh. I've heard Agassi comment on allowing one's right hand to dominate the stroke. Check out his guest commentary of the 2007 QF at the USO between Fed and ARod. Early in the match he gives that advice along with a brutally honest assessment of Roddick's chances.

Nevertheless, the general coaching advice one hears is to allow the left hand to dominate. I know for me I had a more right hand dominated 2hbh for years. Some days it was good, other not so much. Maybe I wasn't doing it correctly. Maybe I don't have the talent to pull of those mechanics - idk. Obviously I don't have Agassi's talent. But since I've switched to allowing my left to mostly control the racquet and mostly using the right for extra power and stability I hit it more consistently, with more control, and more spin and pace (just generally more rhs).

[LeeD]

Bottom line, do it your way.
There is NO one, correct way.
Results are much more important than how you got there.