Which Pro has the best 1 hand backhand to emulate?

[armand]

All you need to be told to do a good BH is

1. turn your back toward the court


2. Keep your hand above the racquet head


the rest is all up to your god given talent.

[SydneyJim]

federer or gonzales

[Bungalo Bill]

Originally Posted by TennsDog

Two tips I would say, though, are just to keep your shoulders still through contact as well as keeping your wrist firm. Do these two things and you should be in good shape.

Nice tips, wish it were that easy.

[odessa]

Originally Posted by adely

All you need to be told to do a good BH is

1. turn your back toward the court


2. Keep your hand above the racquet head


the rest is all up to your god given talent.

Keeping your hand above the racket hand ?

At contact. I dont think so.

Before contact it is happening with the pros but for most players this spells even more disaster. In fact the opposite tip to not let your racket fall below the hand is the better way to go for 95 % of all club players.

[stormholloway]

Originally Posted by quest01

If you want to emulate a pro's backhand i would have to say Pete Sampras, he has the best backhand in the business. His backhand was a big part of his success in reaching 14 majors.

Best backhand in the business? I'm not so sure about that. Correction: I definitely disagree with that. I always thought his backhand was rather attackable. He didn't like hitting it high, hence is lack of success at the French.

It was a good backhand but not that great.

[armand]

Originally Posted by odessa

Keeping your hand above the racket hand ?

At contact. I dont think so.

Before contact it is happening with the pros but for most players this spells even more disaster. In fact the opposite tip to not let your racket fall below the hand is the better way to go for 95 % of all club players.

No, I said keep your hand above the racquet head, so gravity is not working against you. I always try to do this and I never had a disaster.

Most of the time pros actually have the racquet head level with the hand by the time of ball kontact as they use their wrist more to get topspin. It's more difficult to time, so that's why klub players shouldn't do it often.

[Tim Set Match]

Originally Posted by adely

No, I said keep your hand above the racquet head, so gravity is not working against you. I always try to do this and I never had a disaster.

Most of the time pros actually have the racquet head level with the hand by the time of ball kontact as they use their wrist more to get topspin. It's more difficult to time, so that's why klub players shouldn't do it often.

Hand above the racquet head at contact? Where did you get this tip from?

I haven't been coaching for very long but I always thought the racquet should be parallel to the ground (i.e. hand exactly in line with the middle of the racquet head) at contact. The same is true for the forehand.

I've seen some beginners make contact with their hand above the racquet head, and that leads to them ending with their hand above the racquet head also (you're supposed to end with the racquet pointing straight up in the air). They can't get much pace on their backhands and it gets a bit of sidespin on it.

I think the only time you would want to have your hand above the racquet head is if you were trying to generate topspin. And even then, it happens before and not during contact.

For example, here is Hennin-Hardenne before contact:


And here she is during contact:


Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!

[armand]

Originally Posted by Tim Set Match

And here she is during contact:


Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!

Well, I said the pros usually have the racquet level, but even this unknown pro has her hand above the racquet head.

If you do it like this, you do get less topspin, but the timing is easier because only your elbow and wrist are working and your wrist is still. And you're not fighting gravity so much with the weaker muscles.

Where'd I get the tip from? I guess just from myself, after hitting the shot for years and seeing what works.

Maybe we're getting different ideas because I don't like to hit with the straight elbow either. I use it for reach, but I lose power if the elbow isn't helping out.

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by Tim Set Match

:


And here she is during contact:

Hmmm....off topic, but did Henin-Hardenne switch to a nBlade paintjob?

Anyway, keys to hitting a good 1HBH are:

1. Turn sideways and point your hitting shoulder at the ball (so your feet are in line with the path of the ball).
2. Hit the ball well out in front.
3. Bend your front knee to allow you to swing from low to high.
4. Plant your front foot and then swing smoothly with your arm while keeping the rest of your body and head still.
5. Do not raise your body up until you have finished following through.

[darkavgr]

Ljubicic's backhand is one of the best on the men's tour...

[darkavgr]

Ljubicic's backhand is one of the best on the men's tour...
his backhand slices are sweet too...

[35ft6]

Saulnier, Pavel, and Schalken.

Ken Rosewall. http://www.operationdoubles.com/index.htm -> shot making tips -> backhand

[rfprse]

Originally Posted by limitup

Title says it all. Federer's backhand is insane but I don't think it's a good one to try to copy LOL. So who do you think has a technically "correct" 1h backhand that would be good to study?

The backhands like Pavel's (or Haas's which has little more 'mordern' flavor) would fit the description.

[zhan]

ugh... a good clean backhand check out henin hardenne (it doesnt matter if u model it from the best female player does it?)
she uses Semi-Western grip...

[Mick]

Originally Posted by zhan

ugh... a good clean backhand check out henin hardenne (it doesnt matter if u model it from the best female player does it?)
she uses Semi-Western grip...

haha. Actually, I prefer copying the techniques from the female pros because i think I would have a better chance of getting them right. The male pros hit the ball too hard, it's impossible for me to copy them. That applies to some female pros too.

[zhan]

Originally Posted by Mick

haha. Actually, I prefer copying the techniques from the female pros because i think I would have a better chance of getting them right. The male pros hit the ball too hard, it's impossible for me to copy them. That applies to some female pros too.

i agree...
but normal WTA player's technique isnt really designed for the male player like the 2hbh with arms bent ...
but JHH's backhand is very smooth and finishes clean so it has modeling potential...
i am trying to change 2hbh to JHH-esque 1hbh at the moment...

[Ano]

Originally Posted by theace21

Player from a few years ago - Edberg. So smooth.

100 % agre with you.

[Hondasteve]

After watching last night's match-Gasquet all the way!

[VolklVenom]

how can anyone go past Federer on this one. I mean, really!