My 1 hander

aimr75 · Oct 8, 2009

Pieced together a few backhands from a short vid before the battery died. My hitting partner kept hitting to my forehand so backhands were few and far between.. any feedback would be great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4BIVKgyxzY

drakulie · Oct 8, 2009

^^^sweeet!

Love the way you really step into the ball.

Thanks for sharing the vid!

TheMagicianOfPrecision · Oct 8, 2009

aimr75 said:
Pieced together a few backhands from a short vid before the battery died. My hitting partner kept hitting to my forehand so backhands were few and far between.. any feedback would be great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4BIVKgyxzY

Cool video! What about that court??:shock: Did a bomb explode inside the facility?
Technic-wise it would be even better if you stepped into the ball a bit more and rotate your shoulders, but im sure u were just warming up

NickH87 · Oct 8, 2009

Solid form, the last hit seemed like it was the best because you stepped into it, used your off arm to balance and make solid contact.

smoothtennis · Oct 8, 2009

Very nice 1HBH.

Anything to improve it a little? I see two small things that could help optimize an already good stroke.

1. A little more leg loading (front leg bend).
2. Left arm could counterbalance your shot a little more for even better overall body power and balance.

boojay · Oct 8, 2009

Nice. I'm really liking your progress and how insanely still your head is. So far your backhand looks a lot like mine in this older vid. I guess my next suggestion would be to incorporate more of the unit turn and throw more of your weight into the shot (which I'm still trying to learn/perfect myself). In my old backhand vid, I'm arming the ball and there's very little weight going into it. I'm focusing less and less on actually swinging with my arm and concentrating on initiating the swing from my hips/torso.

EikelBeiter · Oct 8, 2009

aimr75 said:
Pieced together a few backhands from a short vid before the battery died. My hitting partner kept hitting to my forehand so backhands were few and far between.. any feedback would be great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4BIVKgyxzY

Very nice backhand. Using an ugly double hander myself I can't give any more feedback

smoothtennis · Oct 8, 2009

EikelBeiter said:
Very nice backhand. Using an ugly double hander myself I can't give any more feedback

Hey EikelBeiter - I don't want to hihack this thread, but did you try out not taking that left arm back so far on your forehand prep last year?!? Dying to know. We need some more vids! You have a very nice game.

EikelBeiter · Oct 8, 2009

smoothtennis said:
Hey EikelBeiter - I don't want to hihack this thread, but did you try out not taking that left arm back so far on your forehand prep last year?!? Dying to know. We need some more vids! You have a very nice game.

Well yes I did try that. And i definitely change my forehand a bit. but I only have my old vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gTNe5OIuus

But let's keep this thread about hte op's very nice looking backhand. I'm actually in the middle of a 3 month test to try and change to a 1-hander. Since it is the off season I thought i'd give it ago. But it is tough

LeeD · Oct 8, 2009

Yeah, nice casual, consistent, effortless backhands....
Would be nice to see you move a little (to see how you set up), some shorter balls, some deeper, and maybe some more variety besides mindless hitting back to center of court. You have great height control, so you must easily be 5.0 or +.
Other's have commented on possible need for more effort in kneebend and earlier prep, but you have a working backhand which can take you to 5.5 levels, it seems.

edberg505 · Oct 8, 2009

TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
Cool video! What about that court??:shock: Did a bomb explode inside the facility?
Technic-wise it would be even better if you stepped into the ball a bit more and rotate your shoulders, but im sure u were just warming up

I was going to say the same thing. He'd get more pop if he did that.

BullDogTennis · Oct 8, 2009

is there like basketball practice goin on in there?

4sound · Oct 8, 2009

Nice and solid on contact.

A couple of things you may want to try:
Get racket at end of back swing by the time ball bounces on your side.
Keep shoulders forward in front of the hips on follow thru.
Load early on the left leg to get rhythm distribution to right.

Rhythm forward to strike is key.

aimr75 · Oct 8, 2009

drakulie said:
^^^sweeet! Love the way you really step into the ball.

Thanks for sharing the vid!

thanks drak

TheMagicianOfPrecision said:
Cool video! What about that court??:shock: Did a bomb explode inside the facility?

yeah its not a nice facility, but the only one nearby thats indoor, so its convenient

boojay said:
Nice. I'm really liking your progress and how insanely still your head is. So far your backhand looks a lot like mine in this older vid. I guess my next suggestion would be to incorporate more of the unit turn and throw more of your weight into the shot (which I'm still trying to learn/perfect myself). In my old backhand vid, I'm arming the ball and there's very little weight going into it. I'm focusing less and less on actually swinging with my arm and concentrating on initiating the swing from my hips/torso.

thanks for the feedback, yeah ive seen alot of your vids and like your backhand.. your advice reflects alot of the advice provided by the other posters, i dont put enough weight into the shot/leg drive which i should be attempting, including better unit turn and footwork, even when hitting casually like in this vid, i should be attempting it

be sure to post a vid up here when you get some footage

LeeD said:
Yeah, nice casual, consistent, effortless backhands....
Would be nice to see you move a little (to see how you set up), some shorter balls, some deeper, and maybe some more variety besides mindless hitting back to center of court. You have great height control, so you must easily be 5.0 or +.
Other's have commented on possible need for more effort in kneebend and earlier prep, but you have a working backhand which can take you to 5.5 levels, it seems.

I have a couple other vids that displays more movement if you want to look at my other youtube clips, youre right in that its pretty casual

BullDogTennis said:
is there like basketball practice goin on in there?

its a beach volleyball court, right next to the court im on

thanks all for the feedback, all valid points which i will try to address

ubermeyer · Oct 8, 2009

as hideous as gasquet's

how do you generate so much power with so little apparent effort?

Deleted member 56360 · Oct 8, 2009

Roger Federer.

aimr75 · Oct 8, 2009

ubermeyer said:
as hideous as gasquet's

how do you generate so much power with so little apparent effort?

something i should be doing more of, but i think mostly its to do with forward momentum and putting your weight into the shot. Try hitting off your back foot, then do the same on your front moving forward, its practically night and day as to what you can put into the shot

Hrandyrko said:
Roger Federer.

yeah, 2% of feds backhand..

What i have picked up from his though is how he changes grip to hit the backhand, he changes it by moving his right hand into position, rather then turning the racquet with his left hand to the eastern position. I used to do it with my left hand turning the racquet while holding the throat, but with this method, i seem to get a more consistent grip position, hence more consistent strokes

LanEvo · Oct 8, 2009

very nice bhs, kinda similar to mine, except i dont have the consistency to always hit the ball onto the same part of the racquet, overall very nice, id love to own that bh

aimr75 · Oct 9, 2009

LanEvo, thanks..

by the way, do you own an Evo? drove an evo8 once, holy crap they are quick when the turbo kicks in

wyutani · Oct 9, 2009

wot grip is that?

TheMagicianOfPrecision · Oct 9, 2009

wyutani said:
wot grip is that?

Its the smack-grip

boojay · Oct 9, 2009

aimr75 said:
thanks for the feedback, yeah ive seen alot of your vids and like your backhand.. your advice reflects alot of the advice provided by the other posters, i dont put enough weight into the shot/leg drive which i should be attempting, including better unit turn and footwork, even when hitting casually like in this vid, i should be attempting it

be sure to post a vid up here when you get some footage

Thanks

. I've been tracking your vids as well and I can definitely say I can sense the connection between our games and similar approaches/patterns we're taking to improve as well. It's too bad we weren't from the same city as I think we could've helped each other progress quite a bit since it seems we both have the same goal.

aimr75 · Oct 9, 2009

wyutani said:
wot grip is that?

i use an eastern

boojay said:
Thanks . I've been tracking your vids as well and I can definitely say I can sense the connection between our games and similar approaches/patterns we're taking to improve as well. It's too bad we weren't from the same city as I think we could've helped each other progress quite a bit since it seems we both have the same goal.

yeah, i dont know anyone such as yourself that has a similar game and approach in trying to improve.. would have been really helpful.. the closest i get to talking about technique in more detail is on this forum..

Badger · Oct 9, 2009

That backhand is sweet. One I'm going to aspire too!

Deleted member 56360 · Oct 9, 2009

I went out today and I remembered you. My backhand improved greatly. Thanks a lot for this thread! I love you.

EikelBeiter · Oct 10, 2009

Hrandyrko said:
I went out today and I remembered you. My backhand improved greatly. Thanks a lot for this thread! I love you.

next time, try and remember Gasquet. See what happens!

aimr75 · Oct 10, 2009

EikelBeiter said:
next time, try and remember Gasquet. See what happens!

EikelBeiter, saw that vid of yours, great strokes and movement.. hows the 1hbh project going? your 2 hander looks really solid though, doesnt seem like a stroke you should tamper with

Djokovicfan4life · Oct 10, 2009

Hrandyrko said:
I went out today and I remembered you. My backhand improved greatly. Thanks a lot for this thread! I love you.

Aw, your first man crush. How sweet.

aimr75 · Oct 10, 2009

Djokovicfan4life said:
Aw, your first man crush. How sweet.

:lol:

DF4L, aside from whats been mentioned, anything you see in the backhand? I used to lean back a bit when hitting it which ive tried to alleviate

EikelBeiter · Oct 10, 2009

aimr75 said:
EikelBeiter, saw that vid of yours, great strokes and movement.. hows the 1hbh project going? your 2 hander looks really solid though, doesnt seem like a stroke you should tamper with

Thank you! Well the offseason has just started and I figured i will give it three months, see what happens. At this point i can hit some very decent 1 handers if i'm 3 feet behind the baseline waiting for the ball to approach me. However when I want to take the ball earlier it is tough. And serve returns are nasty. But hey i've got 3 months left

aimr75 · Oct 10, 2009

EikelBeiter said:
Thank you! Well the offseason has just started and I figured i will give it three months, see what happens. At this point i can hit some very decent 1 handers if i'm 3 feet behind the baseline waiting for the ball to approach me. However when I want to take the ball earlier it is tough. And serve returns are nasty. But hey i've got 3 months left

thats great.. i think at your level, you should pick it up pretty quick.. you should post a vid of it some time

EikelBeiter · Oct 10, 2009

aimr75 said:
thats great.. i think at your level, you should pick it up pretty quick.. you should post a vid of it some time

Yes I probably will make a vid soon with some double handers and 1-handers.

I think i should get a decent 1-hander in three months, how i'm able to hit it in a match though is the tricky part.

But your backhand is really solid, great balance.

Ged · Oct 10, 2009

aimr75 said:
yeah, 2% of feds backhand..

What i have picked up from his though is how he changes grip to hit the backhand, he changes it by moving his right hand into position, rather then turning the racquet with his left hand to the eastern position.

Could you please explain this in more detail?
Thnx.

aimr75 · Oct 10, 2009

Ged said:
Could you please explain this in more detail?
Thnx.

its just the grip change to an eastern backhand grip.

The way i used to do it was like this description on FYB:

http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/vid...one-handed-backhand-fundamentals/grip-change/

I kept my right hand in the same position and turned the racquet with my left hand until it ended up in the eastern backhand grip

Federer doesnt use his left hand to turn the racquet as per the above method, he switches to the eastern grip by just turning his right hand counter clockwise to get it into position. It is very subtle, but you can see in this vid a slight turn on the right hand while his left hand doesnt turn (note, Haas does this as well)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCQ50D2fIKI

Ged · Oct 10, 2009

Thanks for the replay, I'll try it. Even though it'll be tough to brake from the old habbits.

aimr75 · Oct 10, 2009

^^ yeah its worth a try, might take a bit of adjustment to get used to it, but feels like it has helped me

griggs1140 · Oct 12, 2009

smoothtennis said:
Very nice 1HBH.

Anything to improve it a little? I see two small things that could help optimize an already good stroke.

1. A little more leg loading (front leg bend).
2. Left arm could counterbalance your shot a little more for even better overall body power and balance.

I agree. also add more shoulder rotation. Nice job so far.

aimr75 · Oct 12, 2009

^ with that second point, i think i mostly do counterbalance with the left arm, its just not overly visible from that angle, you can see sometimes my left hand peaking out on the shots

but with the shoulder rotation, i am working on trying to get this happening.. i sort of feel as though i can potentially lose control of the shot rotating too much, this is not based on what may really happen, its just a mental thing.. just feels a bit less compact.. need to try and develop the confidence to rotate the shoulders more

ender666 · Oct 13, 2009

Thanks guys -- I have a 1HBH and will try to implement what I learned from your videos and this thread.

Djokovicfan4life · Oct 13, 2009

Aimr, I really don't see how changing your grip with the right hand would help with anything. If it's more comfortable for you, great, but how does that make your backhand any better?

Just curious.

aimr75 · Oct 13, 2009

Djokovicfan4life said:
Aimr, I really don't see how changing your grip with the right hand would help with anything. If it's more comfortable for you, great, but how does that make your backhand any better?

Just curious.

its more a case of having the feeling of finding the grip easier, by feeling the bevels a little more i think. i found at times using my left hand to turn the racquet while my right hand glides over the handle, id sometimes lean toward a continental grip unintentionally.

Its not that it has outright improved my backhand and Im not advocating it as something that will fix a backhand, its just something thats helped me get a more consistent shot since the grip more often then not is the same

it may be a non-issue for many, but wasnt for me

edit: one thing that also came to mind was the timing of when you set the grip, this may not be an issue, but with the right hand method, you are essentially gripping the eastern as soon as you realise you are hitting a backhand before even initiating the unit turn, with the left hand turn of the racquet (as described in fyb which is how i did it), you are setting the grip alot later in the swing (during the unit turn), it could be beneficial potentially during faster paced rallies

Mick · Oct 13, 2009

wow. nice backhand.

aimr75 · Nov 4, 2009

bumped, BB, you mind taking a look?

My 1 hander

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