2HB: Just Can't Do It

[AYone]

I'm a 4.0 player with a natural 1HB. It feels smooth and comes easily. I tried to transition to a 2HB to give my wrist a break, improve my ability to handle high paced shots, and to increase my consistency being a mostly baseliner. I had a lesson with an advanced instructor in the area yesterday and we tried for a while to tweak my 2-hander. It just comes off too stiff, relies on the wrong muscles, and does not feel natural. After a while, I showed the instructor my 1HB and he recommended sticking with it. I hate to give up on anything, but not sure what else to do. I guess everybody presents there own case for the strokes and styles that work the best for them.

Anybody have a similar situation?

[IA-SteveB]

I am a 3.5 player who has always used a 1HBH. I hit mainly slice backhands and they feel really good to me. I tried switching to 2H but it didn't feel right to me at all and the ball had less pace on it. I gave up on it after practicing with my 4.5 friend who is pretty good at casual instruction. I always thought I would get more power with a 2H but it ended up not being the case for me at all. I kind of attributed that to playing too much attention to form and the stroke itself but it just never worked out for me at all.

I think another thing that messed with me was being a former baseball player who batted right handed and couldn't switch hit. 2HBH felt as un-natural as trying to bat left handed.

[NE1for10is?]

I had a coach for a short time who tried to convince me to use a 2HBH, and I tried it for a while, but the balls were always landing short and it never felt natural for me. If the one hander is natural for you I'd try to keep it if you can.

I would think in general the one hander is easier on the wrist than the 2 hander anyway. Think of all the pros with 2 handers that have had wrist operations like Del Potro and Agassi. Is there something in your technique that is causing the pain? Are you sure it's the BH that is causing it? Are you using poly strings? The only time I ever had wrist pain the culprit turned out to be from using poly strings and a racquet that was too stiff as well, but even then it was more the FH when I felt the wrist pain and never the BH.

[VeeSe]

The two backhands are different. I think the simple answer is: you aren't going to learn to hit the 2HBH well overnight, much less over the course of one lesson. You have a choice to make. You can either commit to the switch and accept that you will regress on the backhand side for 1 year until it is practiced enough (having a coach will help), or you can stick with your 1HBH and keep working on it. Anything in between will do you absolutely no favors and will hurt your overall potential, so I vote for just making up your mind (either way) and putting in the effort to make it work.

[slowfox]

I feel more natural with my 1hbh. However, last year I played around with a 2-hander. Even practiced hitting "left-handed" forehands to help. But alas, it never really felt good. Perhaps it was just a matter of sticking with it and practicing, but I decided to go back to one hand. All the better too, as I'm now attempting to build an attacking S&V game.

[Muppet]

I'm in the process of switching from 2HBH to 1HBH. I find so much more freedom in the 1HBH. The only thing I'll miss from 2HBH is the easy topspin. I could do TS or flat shots with the same grip. Slice was harder though. If I were you, I would keep the 1HBH and learn an extreme 1HBH grip for topspin. And one hand is much better for getting jammed, especially on the backhand side.

My recommendation suggests that you add something to your game rather than dismantle and reconstruct it. I think that two hands is far to restrictive of a body structure. If your racquet is being pushed around on your 1HBH, maybe you need a heavier racquet or some lead tape.

[Relinquis]

gasquet, federer, almagro, wawrinka and the list goes on... they're a fair bit above 4.5 and have great single handed backhands.

just get better at your backhand and adjust other parts of your game as well (strategy, movement, positioning, mid-court/net game, etc...).

[Orange]

I'm a 3.0 who tried to learn a two-handed backhand in order to get more power. I found it to be incredibly awkward.

I decided to stick with my one-handed bh because I don't want to commit the time to switching when I have lots of other things to improve, it is easier to stretch to get shots almost out of my reach with a 1HBH than with a 2HBH, and I learned how to hit a slice, which can be very effective. At my level (much lower than yours), my opponents sometimes find it hard to get to a slice drop shot and sometimes misjudge where to position themselves to return a deep slice BH.

I don't view this as quitting; I view this as making the most of what I have and using what time I have to improve other strokes.

[AYone]

Thanks for all the insight and views. I think I hurt my wrist from a lot of wear and not enough rest -- weight training 4-5 days a week and using some some stiffer frames. I would think that a 2HB puts less stress on the right wrist (if you are a righty), no? It has to.

I've been frustrated because I usually pick up things relatively quickly. I've tried the 2-hander for the last two months. As recommended, I am going to stay with the 1-hander at this point and continue to work on my overall game.

[pvaudio]

I am the opposite of many of you. I found for many many years that the 1HBH was my stroke of choice. A year ago this month, I decided to switch to a 2H. It's just so much easier to use from all areas of the court, and I still have my slice from hitting 1H. I had shied away from it because it'd always felt cramped, but once you practice it and force yourself to get worse in order to get better, it ends up paying off.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

I can hit both (well, you need to be able to if you are going to coach) but every time I use the 2HBH in a match someone always says 'if I had a one handed backhand like yours, i wouldn't waste my time with 2!!'

It IS easy, though, which is appealing in itself..

[sundaypunch]

Originally Posted by VeeSe

The two backhands are different. I think the simple answer is: you aren't going to learn to hit the 2HBH well overnight, much less over the course of one lesson. You have a choice to make. You can either commit to the switch and accept that you will regress on the backhand side for 1 year until it is practiced enough (having a coach will help), or you can stick with your 1HBH and keep working on it. Anything in between will do you absolutely no favors and will hurt your overall potential, so I vote for just making up your mind (either way) and putting in the effort to make it work.

Very true. It has taken me about a year and a half with the 2HBH to feel comfortable with it. Highly unlikely that anyone with a decent 1-hander will feel immediately comfortable with the switch.

[Mike2228]

I for the life of me can't get comfortable with a 2HBH. My 1HBH is nothing special either though to be honest.

[sansaephanh]

i think my problem was the foot work involving the two. I'm a natural 2hbh who was forced to try 1hbh due to off hand strain from thwacking the ball funny. I gotta say, both feel awkward now, I'll just be like fed and run around to my fh all day. lol

All kidding aside, through a few weeks of 1hbh I found the most important thing was timing aggression. I have to go after my shots to really get the results i want. from drop to lob, go after it. Though I'm having a troublesome time trying to drive my 1hbh

[Mick3391]

Originally Posted by AYone

I'm a 4.0 player with a natural 1HB. It feels smooth and comes easily. I tried to transition to a 2HB to give my wrist a break, improve my ability to handle high paced shots, and to increase my consistency being a mostly baseliner. I had a lesson with an advanced instructor in the area yesterday and we tried for a while to tweak my 2-hander. It just comes off too stiff, relies on the wrong muscles, and does not feel natural. After a while, I showed the instructor my 1HB and he recommended sticking with it. I hate to give up on anything, but not sure what else to do. I guess everybody presents there own case for the strokes and styles that work the best for them.

Anybody have a similar situation?

That's rediculous, work your single hand, you can do more variety.

[AYone]

Yeah, probably was dumb in hindsight. But when my wrist felt weaker, it helped me stay on the court -- probably dumb too not to shut down completely. I threw on a McDavid wrist support and was golden. Just started taking it off and so far I'm good with the 1HB (knock on wood). Also, the softer set ups and frames are so far so good.

[PhrygianDominant]

I have switched back and forth a bunch of times. I play better during points/matches with the two hander. Not because the best shot I have is the two hander, because I can hit he two hander a lot better when I am rushed, jammed, or off balance. Return of serves is where this really makes a difference. Think about it.

Also you have to pick one and commit. That's the biggest thing.

[vandre]

Originally Posted by NE1for10is?

I would think in general the one hander is easier on the wrist than the 2 hander anyway. Think of all the pros with 2 handers that have had wrist operations like Del Potro and Agassi. Is there something in your technique that is causing the pain? Are you sure it's the BH that is causing it?

you do understand that you've cited 2 guys for your examples of the existence of the "faulty" mechanics of the 2hbh who smacked the snot their forehands. and neither of the these guys changed their backhands at all post surgeries: aa used a funky service motion for part of 93 and delpo has changed his windup off the fh side. that's it. as long as we're speculating wildly, wouldn't you assume that if their 2hbhs caused their wrist problems they both would have made changes on that wing???

[Avles]

Originally Posted by AYone

Yeah, probably was dumb in hindsight. But when my wrist felt weaker, it helped me stay on the court -- probably dumb too not to shut down completely. I threw on a McDavid wrist support and was golden. Just started taking it off and so far I'm good with the 1HB (knock on wood). Also, the softer set ups and frames are so far so good.

I don't think it's dumb at all. It's not like you're a pro who has to scrap for every ranking point and can't afford to experiment. Even if the 2hbh doesn't stick there's nothing wrong with trying something new.

[Nellie]

If you are having wrist troubles, you really should have your one hander looked by a good pro to see if you have technical issues. I don't see any reason you should have any more problems with the one hander. Personally, I play with a two hander, but get tennis elbow when I go through periods when I am hitting a lot of slices because I grip the racquet too tightly. With a sore wrists, I would suspect your stroke is too wristy (e.g., flicking the wrist during the stroke).