The One Handed Backhand Community!

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 23, 2008

Gyrik said:
Guys, I tried playing a match w/ one handers today, it seems like all the long shots have no power and sink to the net, while the close up shots killed my opponent. Any ideas?

I don't get the "sink to net" part at all, sorry.

Do you mean that your short shots were throwing your opponents off more than the deep ones? If you're playing against a lazy opponent it can be a GREAT strategy to mix it up with short slices. They want to stand on the baseline, they're usually not expecting you to mix it up and make them move forward.

Deep balls with pace on them should work though, were you struggling with power that day?

Rickson · Apr 23, 2008

Keep up the good work, DF. You da man.

The King of Swing · Apr 23, 2008

I'm developing a one handed backhand and I find by lightening up on the grip I get better action. My keys: light grip, flex knees to get low and below the ball, always think "brush up" on the ball and finish high.

split-step · Apr 23, 2008

Count me in. Use a western 1HBH, same grip as Henin.
I'm back to ripping backhands after getting over my right hand injury. Feels great to be able to drive the backhand again and not feel any pain.
I really did not want to change my grip

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 23, 2008

split-step said:
Count me in. Use a western 1HBH, same grip as Henin.
I'm back to ripping backhands after getting over my right hand injury. Feels great to be able to drive the backhand again and not feel any pain.
I really did not want to change my grip

You use a full western backhand? :shock:

Henin uses SW, but if you feel comfortable with that grip then good for you!

Added you to our ranks!

Rickson · Apr 23, 2008

Don't forget about these 2 coaching legends, Bungalo Bill and Mahboob Khan.

drakulie · Apr 23, 2008

You could count me in, but only if I get # 69.

Rickson · Apr 23, 2008

drakulie said:
You could count me in, but only if I get # 69.

You might have to wait a little while on that.

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 23, 2008

drakulie said:
You could count me in, but only if I get # 69.

You're in, but you're about 40 members away from making any sense at all. :-?

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 23, 2008

Rickson said:
Don't forget about these 2 coaching legends, Bungalo Bill and Mahboob Khan.

Eh, I don't know, BB never seems to take kindly to our "little arms"!

Gyrik · Apr 23, 2008

Djokovicfan4life said:
I don't get the "sink to net" part at all, sorry.

Do you mean that your short shots were throwing your opponents off more than the deep ones? If you're playing against a lazy opponent it can be a GREAT strategy to mix it up with short slices. They want to stand on the baseline, they're usually not expecting you to mix it up and make them move forward.

Deep balls with pace on them should work though, were you struggling with power that day?

By sink to net, I mean that it goes up at first, like it's gonna go over, but it falls into the net (it descends). Thx for the advice though.

itsstephenyo · Apr 23, 2008

Count me in still. I got a few questions for people, though.

1. Anyone regularly hit open stancers? I find it pretty decent on service returns or on the run.

2. The backhand flick, a la Federer. Who does this shot?

Rickson · Apr 23, 2008

itsstephenyo said:
Count me in still. I got a few questions for people, though.

1. Anyone regularly hit open stancers? I find it pretty decent on service returns or on the run.

2. The backhand flick, a la Federer. Who does this shot?

Open stance only for emergencies, but everything else is a closed stance one hander.

itsstephenyo · Apr 23, 2008

I'll hit 'em when I'm really, really lazy. Like today. I can usually get away with it in a real casual rally. But when I'm ripping one handers, it's definitely closed.

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 23, 2008

If you have time to set up then you should probably be using a closed stance. Of course, you won't always have time to do that.

Sometimes on serve returns you'll be better off blocking them back because an open stance backhand will be less consistent, at least for most people. It also makes it virtually impossible to go down the line.

Member #19, keep on hitting that one-hander!

fastswingVD · Apr 23, 2008

me is in lol
and put the list will ya?

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 23, 2008

fastswingVD said:
me is in lol
and put the list will ya?

Updated........

greenfan · Apr 24, 2008

Count me in too. I hit a decent one hand backhand, manage to take winners down the line, or crosscourt passing shots. Sometimes, especially when my motion is not full (don't turn my upper body or the follow through is rather right than up) my shot is weak or gets high, but I'm trying to improve it by getting ready earlier.

Diabolu · Apr 24, 2008

Members list:

1. Djokovicfan4life: All talk and no backhand!
2. Rickson: The two handed backhand is an abomination!
3. Sentinel: has resolved to rip bh serve returns, no more slice returns.
4. Silke1c: Searching for beauty in his backhand.
5. Boojay: Sausage McGriddles
6. Essential Tennis: Still working on his backhand.
7. Korangster: One handers turn him on.
8. Tennisplayer1981: Likes to rate threads.
9. My_forehand: I'm not touching that one, sorry. Custom comment, maybe?
10. PrinceAbubu: Left his two hander behind. A wise player, indeed.
11. Zebano: Not sure, dude, sorry. Custom comment, maybe?
12. ATXtennisaddict: running towards the light!
13. Es-0: starting to hit more backhand drives compared to slices.
14. Gantz: My 1HBH is my life...
15. Gyrik: Has a powerful backhand that he can't aim...
16. Chris_in_japan: AKA dirtballer
17. ARNICOLINI: Disgusted by the two-hander
18. Split-step: A master contortionist
19. Itsstephenyo: Likes the Federer flick
20. FastswingVD: His backhand is better than his grammar
69. Drakulie: A strange man
70. Diabolu: DTL is his nemesis

There's not a better stroke in tennis than taking a b/h early and creaming it down the line! Still working on the consistency of that shot on my backhand, but my b/h is very consistent, especially moving them wide with an angled short rolling over the ball!

double hander just feels all cramped! Single is....

...FREEEEEDOM!

Lol

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 24, 2008

Diabolu said:
Members list:

1. Djokovicfan4life: All talk and no backhand!
2. Rickson: The two handed backhand is an abomination!
3. Sentinel: has resolved to rip bh serve returns, no more slice returns.
4. Silke1c: Searching for beauty in his backhand.
5. Boojay: Sausage McGriddles
6. Essential Tennis: Still working on his backhand.
7. Korangster: One handers turn him on.
8. Tennisplayer1981: Likes to rate threads.
9. My_forehand: I'm not touching that one, sorry. Custom comment, maybe?
10. PrinceAbubu: Left his two hander behind. A wise player, indeed.
11. Zebano: Not sure, dude, sorry. Custom comment, maybe?
12. ATXtennisaddict: running towards the light!
13. Es-0: starting to hit more backhand drives compared to slices.
14. Gantz: My 1HBH is my life...
15. Gyrik: Has a powerful backhand that he can't aim...
16. Chris_in_japan: AKA dirtballer
17. ARNICOLINI: Disgusted by the two-hander
18. Split-step: A master contortionist
19. Itsstephenyo: Likes the Federer flick
20. FastswingVD: His backhand is better than his grammar
69. Drakulie: A strange man
70. Diabolu: DTL is his nemesis

There's not a better stroke in tennis than taking a b/h early and creaming it down the line! Still working on the consistency of that shot on my backhand, but my b/h is very consistent, especially moving them wide with an angled short rolling over the ball!

double hander just feels all cramped! Single is....

...FREEEEEDOM!

Lol

Added you to our list, but why did you put yourself at #70?

my_forehand · Apr 25, 2008

^ Yo DF4L, I can do the updated lists etc. for you?

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 25, 2008

my_forehand said:
^ Yo DF4L, I can do the updated lists etc. for you?

Go right ahead, I'm getting sick of writing comments!

Thanks.

herosol · Apr 26, 2008

ohai. i have resorted back to my 1HBH
I have to say, without much practice, i hit it alot better then i used to before my 2hbh switch a few months ago.

Shooot. its soo good now, i don't understand.
No shot is too impossible to retrieve with the 1hbh
Passing shots are nice

More versatility and feel in shots.

Sentinel · Apr 27, 2008

Guys,
I've had one take of Bollettieri's Bollistic backhand video. The main thing he talks of is pointing the buttcap to the ball, and swinging the racket like a hammer.
Does everyone agree with that tip/visualisation.
I tried it yesterday during rallies a couple times, and hit out. Obviously, this thing needs some practice to get right, but just wanted to know other people's view on this before I commit to it.

In NB's opinion (as I understood it), this is the key to blasting the backhand.

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 27, 2008

I agree that you should have the butt cap pointing towards the ball, but for the follow-through I prefer to think of it as pulling a sword out of a sheath. But then again, you're a flat hitter and I prefer heavy topspin.

P.S. Welcome aboard, Herosol!

Loco4Tennis · Apr 27, 2008

^^ i prefer the head of the racquet pointing up, more of a disguise issue for me, i also incorporate the backhand slice in my game and this method helps me achive this

OP, sign me up please, thanks to mr roger federer and youtube, my 1 handed back hand is one of the highlights of my game, ive gotten plenty of compliments and got people asking me if i had tennis training for it, i just reply that roger federer/youtube/and tennis warehouse where my teachers

Sentinel · Apr 27, 2008

Djokovicfan4life said:
I agree that you should have the butt cap pointing towards the ball, but for the follow-through I prefer to think of it as pulling a sword out of a sheath. But then again, you're a flat hitter and I prefer heavy topspin.

P.S. Welcome aboard, Herosol!

You are possibly right -- i probably do the pulling out of sheath thing !

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 27, 2008

Sentinel said:
You are possibly right -- i probably do the pulling out of sheath thing !

It depends on how much spin you want to hit.

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 27, 2008

Just found a great video of Federer rallying at court level. About half way through it gives a great slo-mo replay of his backhand down the line. And some people say he's a "flat hitter".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSf2rzVPU2I&NR=1

Fay · Apr 27, 2008

Djokovicfan4life said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSf2rzVPU2I&NR=1

That is an awesome clip ... thank for posting ... I love watching the pros and learning how to play better from their movements!

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 27, 2008

Thanks Fay, I added you to our ever-increasing ranks!

Fay · Apr 27, 2008

ThnX DF4L - I have been working on my BH finish and my stroke is becoming a little more consistent. (Has everyone abandoned the Super Drop Shot spot? I got a great one in a match on Friday! and no one is over there :-( )

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 27, 2008

Fay said:
ThnX DF4L - I have been working on my BH finish and my stroke is becoming a little more consistent. (Has everyone abandoned the Super Drop Shot spot? I got a great one in a match on Friday! and no one is over there :-( )

I've developed a decent dropper myself over the last few weeks, no super spin though.

More backspin than sidespin, really.

kerxny · Apr 27, 2008

I am a 1HBH. I was never able to get the 2H down.

One handed is superior.

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 27, 2008

kerxny said:
I am a 1HBH. I was never able to get the 2H down.

One handed is superior.

The perfect signature quote! Welcome to our community!

Korangster · Apr 27, 2008

today i hit some kick butt approaches w/ the backhand, really awesome

Rickson · Apr 28, 2008

We must support the best looking groundstroke in tennis, the one handed backhand. Old school? So what? Original is the best.

Djokovicfan4life · Apr 29, 2008

Oh, my backhand is anything but old school, I get some serious spin usually! My slice is my strength on the backhand side though. I hit a cross-court pass with it yesterday, I can put a surprising amount of drive on it for a slice!

Sentinel · May 1, 2008

Today, in a match I hit my first down the line pass, and a CC pass and they were both winners. Most drive returns are either winners or put me in control of the point.
But tell me this: towards the end of the set, I sort of became nervous and began playing safe. I tried a bh slice DTL pass. Is there such a thing ?

It curved, towards centre where my opp was standing and he easily volleyed it !!! So I am wondering if there is a slice pass at all.

Solat · May 1, 2008

Sentinel said:
Today, in a match I hit my first down the line pass, and a CC pass and they were both winners. Most drive returns are either winners or put me in control of the point.
But tell me this: towards the end of the set, I sort of became nervous and began playing safe. I tried a bh slice DTL pass. Is there such a thing ?

It curved, towards centre where my opp was standing and he easily volleyed it !!! So I am wondering if there is a slice pass at all.

the slice pass is the ultimate dagger thru any net-player's cold cold heart

Djokovicfan4life · May 1, 2008

Like I said before, I hit a slicing cross court pass a couple days ago, Sent! It's certainly possible, and certainly very demoralizing for your opponents, but usually topspin is best for these shots IMO.

spikyblackhair · May 1, 2008

Yeah, you can get very good pace with slices if you lean into them, although I've never thought about using a slice to pass someone, lol. Topspin down the line is satisfying enough for me. I really only slice on short balls as an approach shot because I made a conscious effort a while ago to exclusively use topspin for the practice, and the habit has stuck with me.

When that 1hbh is clicking, it's beautiful. Effortless, rhythmic, and powerful.

Sentinel · May 1, 2008

Yesterday i was watching James Jensens video on the Ultimate backhand. I was shocked to find that I've been hitting slices the wrong way - not that I ever claimed i could slice

I would bring the racket down vertically as though i was hitting into a log of wood. He says that way the ball will just sit up when it lands, and will be easy to kill and thats precisely whats been happening. I mentioned that when i slice my opp takes control of the point.

JJ talks of a "cutting the melon" metaphor - a kind of a "U". In this case, i think the rack is about 15 degrees when it strikes the ball. In my case it was like 75 degrees. Done correctly, the ball will skid and die out.

Djokofan, Odds and Ends ???

Sentinel · May 2, 2008

No, it won't die out. If the intention is to help, then it will survive. We must stay away from the "sloganeering" and cheerleading

BTW, a small one minute clip of Kohlschriebers shots (from Monte Carlo) including some backhands. I must collect some more and make a vid.

I really am thinking, Kohl hits the backhand with a lot more power than Roger. Is that right ? At MC, i felt Roger's bh was too loopy and slow, was that the strategy ? Or can he just not put the pace like Kohl seems to ?

I regret we lost that list of pro onehanders when the ole thread was deleted. Praps I'll start a list in the O&E itself.

Djoko, rather than maintain a manual list could you create a poll, with public option, so the names will be maintained by the software. You could have options like "new to 1h", "fairly comfortable", "good at 1h" - just 3-4 options, keep it simple. Cheers.

35ft6 · May 2, 2008

The reason I'm not playing with a two-hander is because I could never hit one for the life of me. Not sure why. Even now, just joking around, I can't hit a solid two-hander. But I wonder what it would be like to be able to smash returns with just a flick of two wrists.

WillAlwaysLoveYouTennis · May 2, 2008

Am a one-handed backhander, left hand as well. When playing tennis, nothing feels so good to me as to a hit a really clean, hard shot down the line. Makes me feel like Lendl at the top of his game LOL

I tried playing around with 2 handed a few years ago when it became so popular, but I found it just didn't work for me.

Sentinel · May 2, 2008

35ft6 said:
The reason I'm not playing with a two-hander is because I could never hit one for the life of me. Not sure why. Even now, just joking around, I can't hit a solid two-hander. But I wonder what it would be like to be able to smash returns with just a flick of two wrists.

I was studying the James Jensen video on Backhand, the guy hits cleanly and nice with both. He suggests we try both and see which suits us. He says usually one suits us more that the other. He does say that in today's power game you can hit harder with the 2h, and there are some angles he can get with the 2h that he can't with the one. (not to start a debate or anything here - just his take.)

OTOH, the Nick Bollettieri video teaches both, but he does tell one of his most promising juniors (Todd Reid) to change to a 1h so he can have long term success - unfort that boy did not go beyond Junior Wimbledon -- seems he is a coach now.

35ft, your last line reminds me of when i began with a 2h, and i could (without learning) easily hit back fast serves with just a flick of 2 wrists, deep into the backhand corner or DTL. When you say smash, i guess you do NOT mean overhead smash.

peter · May 2, 2008

Djokovicfan4life said:
This thread is for all you one handers out there! If you're a user of the prettiest and most versatile backhand in tennis, then this thread is for you!

Count me in! Even though I hit both one and twohanders depending on the situation and how I feel, I definitely prefer the onehander...

35ft6 · May 3, 2008

Sentinel said:
I was studying the James Jensen video on Backhand, the guy hits cleanly and nice with both. He suggests we try both and see which suits us. He says usually one suits us more that the other.

The one hander is definitely more natural to me. The slice is a natural shot. To come over requires more meticulous footwork, better preparation, and I just don't have time for that right now.

Legend of Borg · May 3, 2008

I noticed that one handed backhand players generally go to net more often. Probably because of the backhand volley being more convenient.

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