1hbh, 2hbh, & balance

[Lance L]

Has anyone switched from 1hbh to 2hbh and changed your balance point?

I've always had a 1hbh but I've always liked the idea of a 2hbh, and continue to work on developing a 2hbh.
I've also always preferred a quite HL balance, 8-11 pts HL or so.
As I get more and more comfortable with the 2hbh I'm noticing that it feels too HL.

My theory is that my 1hbh is the one thing that has been driving the balance. In order to make the physically weaker 1hbh work I needed a seriously HL balance(ex: 12.25oz and 10pts HL). Not light, just really HL.
I'm going to take one of my racquets and move some weight from handle to head and see what happens when using a 2hbh, or maybe just leave the handle alone and add some weight in the head.

 

[heninfan99]

For me it is just whatever I'm used to. I used to play with an almost even balance when my one hander was at its best but that didn't have to do with the racquet.

 

[Dartagnan64]

The biggest thing that changes my 2HBH is racket length. By far my best 2HBH's are hit with the Wilson Blade 104 SW model. The added leverage from the length really allows me to develop RHS quicker on the 2 Hander and get considerable speed.

I try to keep all my racquets HL in balance as that allows even the longer racquets to maneuvre better at the net.

 

[ByeByePoly]

Has anyone switched from 1hbh to 2hbh and changed your balance point?

I've always had a 1hbh but I've always liked the idea of a 2hbh, and continue to work on developing a 2hbh.
I've also always preferred a quite HL balance, 8-11 pts HL or so.
As I get more and more comfortable with the 2hbh I'm noticing that it feels too HL.

My theory is that my 1hbh is the one thing that has been driving the balance. In order to make the physically weaker 1hbh work I needed a seriously HL balance(ex: 12.25oz and 10pts HL). Not light, just really HL.
I'm going to take one of my racquets and move some weight from handle to head and see what happens when using a 2hbh, or maybe just leave the handle alone and add some weight in the head.

I didn't change racquets or customize for the new 2hbh, but have made similar comments.

First, to me the HL preference (4-5 HL, 11 -11.5 oz) was mainly driven by the FH. I found if I got to heavy or to HH it made it harder for me to hit topspin.

My 1hbh was never that balance sensitive, but static weight beyond 11.5ish got to heavy.

Now ... with the 2hbh I really feel like I could swing a 13 oz racquet no problem. Two arms, two hands, compact prep. I feel the same about less HL. I really think more HH could work in your favor ... the stroke is different than a FH flip (at most a mini flip compared to atp fh flip).

I posted recently we may actually play better with less HL on both FH and BH. If you pick up a super light racquet at the pro shop ... it will feel great. But we know from playing that it would be to light. I suspect we fool ourselves sometimes with to much HL. A skilled player that hits a FH flip would be able to do that 10pts HL or neutral... just an adjustment in timing. Gilbert and Cahill claimed during a tournament several weeks ago that Nadal's racquet is now HH.... more weight added to hoop.

So to your question ... for me it's more about being able to handle more static weight, than much sensitivity about balance. I haven't had the chance to test the 2hbh with a heavier racquet. There is not much point, because I still have FHs and 11.5ish is the preference.

 

[snvplayer]

Has anyone switched from 1hbh to 2hbh and changed your balance point?

I've always had a 1hbh but I've always liked the idea of a 2hbh, and continue to work on developing a 2hbh.
I've also always preferred a quite HL balance, 8-11 pts HL or so.
As I get more and more comfortable with the 2hbh I'm noticing that it feels too HL.

My theory is that my 1hbh is the one thing that has been driving the balance. In order to make the physically weaker 1hbh work I needed a seriously HL balance(ex: 12.25oz and 10pts HL). Not light, just really HL.
I'm going to take one of my racquets and move some weight from handle to head and see what happens when using a 2hbh, or maybe just leave the handle alone and add some weight in the head.

It's the same way for me. My 1hbh is usually the deciding factor for weight and balance. It makes sense since fewer muscles engaged with 1hbh than with 2hbh.

 

[Lance L]

The biggest thing that changes my 2HBH is racket length. By far my best 2HBH's are hit with the Wilson Blade 104 SW model. The added leverage from the length really allows me to develop RHS quicker on the 2 Hander and get considerable speed.

I try to keep all my racquets HL in balance as that allows even the longer racquets to maneuvre better at the net.

I don't think I've every even picked up an extended racquet, but I bet it would be a similar dynamic. My 1hbh couldn't handle it, my fh could, and so could a 2hbh.

 

[Lance L]

I didn't change racquets or customize for the new 2hbh, but have made similar comments.

First, to me the HL preference (4-5 HL, 11 -11.5 oz) was mainly driven by the FH. I found if I got to heavy or to HH it made it harder for me to hit topspin.

My 1hbh was never that balance sensitive, but static weight beyond 11.5ish got to heavy.

Now ... with the 2hbh I really feel like I could swing a 13 oz racquet no problem. Two arms, two hands, compact prep. I feel the same about less HL. I really think more HH could work in your favor ... the stroke is different than a FH flip (at most a mini flip compared to atp fh flip).

I posted recently we may actually play better with less HL on both FH and BH. If you pick up a super light racquet at the pro shop ... it will feel great. But we know from playing that it would be to light. I suspect we fool ourselves sometimes with to much HL. A skilled player that hits a FH flip would be able to do that 10pts HL or neutral... just an adjustment in timing. Gilbert and Cahill claimed during a tournament several weeks ago that Nadal's racquet is now HH.... more weight added to hoop.

So to your question ... for me it's more about being able to handle more static weight, than much sensitivity about balance. I haven't had the chance to test the 2hbh with a heavier racquet. There is not much point, because I still have FHs and 11.5ish is the preference.

I'm definitely adding some head weight to a racquet to see, but also keep the static weight up, 12.25-12.5 oz. If the 2hbh can become a competent stroke I wouldn't be surprised if I end up more like 12.5-12.75 and 3-5ish pts HL.

 

[ByeByePoly]

I'm definitely adding some head weight to a racquet to see, but also keep the static weight up, 12.25-12.5 oz. If the 2hbh can become a competent stroke I wouldn't be surprised if I end up more like 12.5-12.75 and 3-5ish pts HL.

My two v1 pros 11.6 4 hl, 11.5 3 hl.

I don't customize, but if I did I would test even balance. My guess is I would prefer it on 2hbh, but not on the FH. Definitely not on touch shots, drop shots, or even 1hbh slice. Lots of tradeoffs.

 

[Dartagnan64]

I don't think I've every even picked up an extended racquet, but I bet it would be a similar dynamic. My 1hbh couldn't handle it, my fh could, and so could a 2hbh.

Thing about an extended length racket is you can always choke up. Hard to make a short racket longer.

 

[Lance L]

Thing about an extended length racket is you can always choke up. Hard to make a short racket longer.

Hard to fault that logic.