Stronger One-Hand Backhand
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aimr75
Hall of Fame
well, i try to take some things from his backhand that i think are useful like
setting the backhand grip prior to the unit turn (others do this as well, haas, gasquet, dimitrov..)
Ive been working on moving to the ball with my racquet set up higher so that all that needs to be done with the unit turn is just that, turn
Working on greater shoulder turn with the unit turn as he, and others do it
The overall swing pattern is more a smile pattern, rather than a gasquet style C pattern, which i think is more difficult
setting the backhand grip prior to the unit turn (others do this as well, haas, gasquet, dimitrov..)
Ive been working on moving to the ball with my racquet set up higher so that all that needs to be done with the unit turn is just that, turn
Working on greater shoulder turn with the unit turn as he, and others do it
The overall swing pattern is more a smile pattern, rather than a gasquet style C pattern, which i think is more difficult
vincent_tennis
Professional
I DO (if u're talking about a eastern BH grip and a bit too "wristy" follow thru, bad habit from badminton -,-)
aimr75
Hall of Fame
I think if you just keep the breaking of the wrist structure contained to just the follow through, i think its fine.. as long as the wrist isnt wristy prior to/at contact
pheonix6579
Semi-Pro
I use Federer's backhand grip
I think that the biggest thing for me is getting and stepping into the shot. When I concentrate on that step it helps everything come into place (Swing, Shoulder turn, etc). The biggest thing is that it helps you move forward and not lean back form the shot which makes you lose balance
The second thing is the follow through which really needs to be good and high (I think of it as a victorious gladiator raising his sword in victory...eh, it works for me)
I think that the biggest thing for me is getting and stepping into the shot. When I concentrate on that step it helps everything come into place (Swing, Shoulder turn, etc). The biggest thing is that it helps you move forward and not lean back form the shot which makes you lose balance
The second thing is the follow through which really needs to be good and high (I think of it as a victorious gladiator raising his sword in victory...eh, it works for me)
Djokovicfan4life
Legend
"Federer style one handed backhand"? Fed uses the classic one handed backhand technique, it's really not specific to him.
I use McEnroe's 1hbh topspin style for return of serves. Shorter backswing, racketface vertical.
For groundies, it's what works for me that moment. Sometimes it's ClintThompson's, sometimes it's not. Whatever gets me early enough to stroke thru the ball and keeping it within the confines of the other court.
I don't even care if I'm jumping or sometimes leaning backwards, feet open or closed, as long as I can hit the shot with depth and pace, placement and some consistency.
I"m me, not Fed, not Clint, not Lendl.
For groundies, it's what works for me that moment. Sometimes it's ClintThompson's, sometimes it's not. Whatever gets me early enough to stroke thru the ball and keeping it within the confines of the other court.
I don't even care if I'm jumping or sometimes leaning backwards, feet open or closed, as long as I can hit the shot with depth and pace, placement and some consistency.
I"m me, not Fed, not Clint, not Lendl.
xFullCourtTenniSx
Hall of Fame
People say my backhand looks like his, but the backhand is one stroke that really took me a while to perfect, and I learned how to get it down through feel alone. People probably think mine looks like his because one handed backhand players are a rare sight for them. That and I apparently hit a very beautiful one as well. I doubt the video camera would agree. LOL
Djokovicfan4life
Legend
Yeah, just look at the OP. It seems that anyone who hits a 1HBH nowadays is "Federer", haha! It's just a backhand, guys, it's not really anything out of this world.
Yes, setting the racquet high makes it easier to turn.
This backhand has a very high finish so the rotation dosen't over rotate,
The racquet finishes right above the head. It's a very good style that Federer uses.
There's also other styles as well. But I was taught the classic one-hand
backhand style that Federer uses.
xFullCourtTenniSx
Hall of Fame
Too many people think they play like Federer simply because they use a one handed backhand.
I for one never had the benefit of being able to use a two handed backhand during my development. It just wasn't working out. I would rather play lefty.
My backhand is the total opposite of Federer. It's actually comfortable on high balls. XD
charliefedererer
Legend
I can honestly say I'm trying to mimic Federer's 1HBH using mainly topspin, but also the occasional hard slice to try and upset my opponent's timing and rythmn.
I am sure other player's who watch this attempt can only shake their head and wonder why I don't I stop all the mishits and attempt to play more like Federerer.
I am sure other player's who watch this attempt can only shake their head and wonder why I don't I stop all the mishits and attempt to play more like Federerer.
RoddickAce
Hall of Fame
I used to have an eastern backhand grip, but a couple months ago I switched to an extreme eastern backhand.
I think I used to have more pace consistently, but now my backhand has a lot more control and spin; and I can flatten it out when needed. Also, I love hitting high balls to my backhand now XD.
I think I used to have more pace consistently, but now my backhand has a lot more control and spin; and I can flatten it out when needed. Also, I love hitting high balls to my backhand now XD.
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aimr75
Hall of Fame
i think thats because the most noticeable part of the swing is the follow through.. once the arm flings up into the air, it surely is federer like
i think thats because the most noticeable part of the swing is the follow through.. once the arm flings up into the air, it surely is federer like
It may have been the one hand classical backhand, but Federer is using it, so that's the style my coach prefered for me to use.
The most noticeable part for me with the swing of this backhand is the sudden whip
of the racquet as it follow's through into the ball.
chaddles
Semi-Pro
I was at a point with my 1HBH where I was considering a switch to the 2 hander, and then a friend (who is a coach) showed me the Fed style. It made my bh more consistent and then I have just worked on trying to get more power and control on it.
I started on an eastern bh grip and have moved towards the extreme eastern, and have been able to get some excellent angles and spin. I have only really got good consistancy on the cross court backhand, and don't really have the control or technique for down the line shots as yet. It does feel good when you crush a cross court winner though.
I started on an eastern bh grip and have moved towards the extreme eastern, and have been able to get some excellent angles and spin. I have only really got good consistancy on the cross court backhand, and don't really have the control or technique for down the line shots as yet. It does feel good when you crush a cross court winner though.
Fed Kennedy
Legend
What do you guys mean by smile pattern and c pattern?
Also, i was taught a different finish to take it up the line rather than cc. Do you agree?
Also, i was taught a different finish to take it up the line rather than cc. Do you agree?
aimr75
Hall of Fame
if you trace the path of the racquet on the takeback for the smile pattern, its more like a U, where as guys like gasquet traces a path thats in the shape of a C
drakulie
Talk Tennis Guru
Exactly. Not sure what everyone means here.
Fed uses a standard eastern grip on his backhand. big deal. This isn't exclusive to him. And he doesn't have a "floppy" wrist, or snap it, etc.
Federer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQpBaCnVYbE
Drakulie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syp_nZ8N-Jk
I have a one handed backhand... but I don't think it is a wristy as Federer's... mine is pretty conventional. I find Federer goes across his body a little... where mine goes through to the target .
But Federer has great form... nice knee bend etc... it is a thing of beauty... IMHO much nicer than Henin's, who most commentators use as the standard for one handed backhands.
But Federer has great form... nice knee bend etc... it is a thing of beauty... IMHO much nicer than Henin's, who most commentators use as the standard for one handed backhands.
Unless you are hitting a shot with underspin.
drakulie
Talk Tennis Guru
federer DOES NOT have a "wristy" backhand, no matter how many times commentators say it is.
Ok... let me rephrase that... Federer rotates his arm through his backhand... I hit through and up the ball to generate topspin.
http://vodpod.com/watch/1476252-roger-federer-slow-motion-topspin-backhand-closeup
aimr75
Hall of Fame
I think you explained it better
I dont think i use the C method, but i keep the racquet above the ball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KVgCOmkiVA
Fed Kennedy
Legend
How does fed hit those extreme angle cross court bhs like the ones that were dragging murray off the court up by the net?
Exaggerated topspin motion/headspeed with the contact point way out in front?
Exaggerated topspin motion/headspeed with the contact point way out in front?
RoddickAce
Hall of Fame
I was a bit confused about that too. I don't think I use the C method (especially with my old backhand when I used an eastern grip) either but I take the racquethead above the ball too.
Old backhand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPvTPxv69QA
New Backhands:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FTtLm999o0
You use the C. (And RoddickAce, I think you do too.) Actually, I think Federer does as well.
Of course, your swing doesn't look like Gasquet. That's because your forward swing is still a fairly traditional, down-to-up motion (though you do open up a little bit more than what a classic smile-pattern stroke.) As a result, your C takeback is smaller (reflecting that your shoulder doesn't turn as much.)
Part of it is visualization. If you visualize that you'll swing across your body, as if you're drawing a sword, then your C-takeback will become much larger (reflecting a bigger shoulder turn.) It will look more like Gasquet.
aimr75
Hall of Fame
ah right, i actually thought i wasnt doing a C pattern.. i guess when i thought C pattern, i always pictured Gasquets exaggerated takeback.. i actually try not to open up the shoulders alot in the follow through as i always thought it is more correct to maintain a closed/neutral stance throughout..
Is there a benefit to a larger C-takeback, thus swinging across the body more? Ive always been trying to avoid this actually
It's actually a WW-style backhand (where your body opens up a lot.) Which is a key point I want to make. You can use this takeback for either a traditional finish or a WW-style finish, just like you can use a loop in your FH and go either over-the-shoulder or a WW-style finish. As you know, depending on your finish, that affects the size of the takeback.
In other words, if you visualize a WW-style finish for your backhand, then when you start the takeback with the C motion (or taking the racquet above the ball), you'll get a big C / Gasquet-style takeback with your BH. Whereas if you visualize a traditional finish, you'll get a small C.
This has marvelous upside, in that you'd have a BH with marvelous power and spin potential. However, it's also flawed in that you have to choose between hitting the ball flat and with power, or with a lot of spin. And if you notice with Gasquet, he tends to default to high spin BHs, rarely going for a pure flat shot.
There's also a third style: a turn-based takeback. This is used by Henin and Kuerten. To do this one, initiate the takeback by "left elbowing" somebody behind you. And then go with the WW-style or "draw the sword" visualization. Theoretically, this is the most advanced version of the 1H BH.
Note: this is all rocket scientist type stuff. At the end of the day, footwork is the most important thing.
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mikeler
Moderator
RoddickAce
Hall of Fame
That's an interesting comparison; never thought of it that way. And it seems to fit perfectly XD.
aimr75
Hall of Fame
aimr75
Hall of Fame
aimr75
Hall of Fame
35ft6
Legend
His one hander is a pretty advanced motion. He really uses a lot of wrist. The way he takes the racket back with the head pointing directly into the air, I think it's better to emulate somebody like Scheng Schalken. You can start making it more complicated and whippy as you progress.
