What is the biggest key to a powerful 2H backhand?

[LubbockAg]

My two hander used to be a weapon for me. Now, I can get as much pace on it, and hit it in the net a lot. What are some good swing thoughts?

[Ultra2HolyGrail]

It depends, one would really need to see your swing. But generally it's probably a lack of racquet head speed, or a technique problem. Try hitting more topspin, and try to hit it deep.

[Satch]

early takeback, good grip, transfer of weight... extended arms.

[Ultra2HolyGrail]

Originally Posted by Satch

extended arms.

That's a good tip.

[Satch]

Originally Posted by Ultra2HolyGrail

That's a good tip.

i got that by watching Agassi...

[Ultra2HolyGrail]

Originally Posted by Satch

i got that by watching Agassi...

Yup agassi is great to try to emulate. So is connors and wilander.

[Power Player]

It seems like Agassi keeps an elbow in though when he swings through his backhand. That is how he keeps the racquet square at contact. Do you mean to extend the arms on the back swing?

[Bungalo Bill]

Originally Posted by LubbockAg

My two hander used to be a weapon for me. Now, I can get as much pace on it, and hit it in the net a lot. What are some good swing thoughts?

1. Hitting cleanly through good movement, being in position, and having a good weight transfer.

2. Hitting on time through good movement, being in position, and having a good weight transfer.

3. A shoulder to shoulder rotation.

4. Relaxed arms/hands.

5. Not straightening the front leg too soon or too much at or near contact.

[user92626]

2hbh has become a real challenge for me lately, too. It's funny that I comprehend all the points BB and others wrote, which have been written before, but somehow I can't find that whippy powerful feeling in this stroke, where I can assert more power.

If you're careful, you could move the racket in the brushing & forward motion similar to the FH, but this feels like pushing the ball rather than whipping it. The ball goes over with no power or intention.

I bet the OP's problem is similar.

[Tombhoneb]

I am the same as the OP.. My 2BH just has started feeling so.. stiff and so i am not getting any power on it. It feels like im a robot hitting it. Extended arms .. maybe i am doing it wrong.. can anyone tell me w/o seeing my technique what i could change to make it feel like a more fluid motion so i am able to release and get the extra power ?

[LubbockAg]

If you're careful, you could move the racket in the brushing & forward motion similar to the FH, but this feels like pushing the ball rather than whipping it. The ball goes over with no power or intention.

I bet the OP's problem is similar.

A little bit, yes. Also, I find that I am almost cutting across the ball a little and my left elbow flairs out, keeping me from getting full extension. Seems to happen most often on serve returns when I rush the stroke and try to muscle the ball over.

[kungfusmkim]

After you bring your arms back you should have that rotating motion with your wrists
Here is a video of serena williams hitting a flat backhand. Whatch how her racquet comes down and swings upward to the height of the ball http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrEHk...eature=related

[kungfusmkim]

Another big key is to transfer your whole body weight into your bakchand side and use that weight as power.

[IwishIwasbetter]

2hbh is my best shot, i think its all about learning how to use your torso, keeping your knees bent throughout, and getting into a balanced position before striking the ball.

[bhupaes]

Try this experiment - follow all the good advice about positioning, shoulder movement etc, no problem - but focus your mind on your left wrist as you are hitting. Note, I am not saying you should flick your wrist or anything like that - just feel the ball in your left wrist (if you are a righty hitting a 2hbh). The quality of your shot should greatly improve with some practice hitting this way.

Let me know if this changes anything for you. If it doesn't work, ah well, nothing is lost...

The other thing I do is that I visualize I am contacting the ball at the top portion of the racquet head rather than the middle. This has helped me in generating racquet head speed, and also in giving me the "whippy" feel when hitting the 2hbh.

[10nistennis]

I find that leaning into the hit puts more power into the shot. Don't forget about the shoulder rotation. You also have to be in a ready and balanced position to hit a 2hbh. A lot times you hit a weak or off center shot is because you have poor footwork which causes you to be in a bad position to hit the ball. Also, don't tense up your arms, just have them relaxed and brush up and through the ball.

[[K]aotic]

biggest one is stepping in. noticed how when murray hit all those winners on his backhand side against nadal, he stepped well into the court.

[DarthCow]

Rotate from the core, not just with the racquet.
Then uncoil all the stored energy.

[jb193]

I know this has been debated before, but I put a lot of emphasis on my dominant arm (right hand for a righty). I try to treat it as a one handed backhand with the other one "helping" out the stroke. Now let me add though, that the non-dominant arm helps tremendously, though. This to me, helps me with balance, helps me with weight transfer, arm extension, and it helps me loosen up my non-dominant arm, shoulder, & wrist, therefore multiplying my racquet acceleration. Before hand, I would just try to "muscle" the ball with my non-dominant arm and that wasn't nearly as effective........

I also try to stay away from a too western of a grip for my non-dominant hand. I think that really robs this stroke of needed power because the non-dominant hand is so far up the handle, it is in a weak position and it necessitates a flatter grip. My grip is somewhere between the eastern and SW grip, FWIW. That was just my experience. Stronger players may find that advice useless and may be able to whip the heck out of the ball with a stong SW or western grip. Anyway, that is my experience with this stroke and I am somewhat of a smaller guy and that pointer really helped this stroke for me. Good luck.....

[Bungalo Bill]

Originally Posted by user92626

2hbh has become a real challenge for me lately, too. It's funny that I comprehend all the points BB and others wrote, which have been written before, but somehow I can't find that whippy powerful feeling in this stroke, where I can assert more power.

I am not even sure you want a "whippy" feel in the twohanded backhand. Perhaps the feeling you are after is not the feeling you should have.

The twohanded backhand is not going to feel exactly like your forehand. With relaxed arms, wrists, and hands, you need to swing the racquet from the torso.

If you coil properly which is what I meant by having good shoulder rotation, you should use yoru torso to uncoil as well. You must have bent knees here and you can not straighten the leg to soon as you uncoil or the twohanded will feel very stiff.

Further, just because you can hit your forehand, as an example, at a 3.5 - 4.0 level doesn't mean your backhand is at that level. It could be that your balance, movement, setup, weight transfer, etc...are not at that level and the speed of the ball with everything else that is happening is overloading that wing.

Maybe slow it down and work on hitting balls that are not as challenging and work your way up. Remember, you need to train your weaker side to take control from the ground up. Many times the lack of power is not in the upper body but in the lower body.