1hbh - how do you feel the racket face?

[dozu]

my 1hbh is serviceable but still has lot of room to improve.

1 thing that has been a bit frustrating for me, is the difficulty to feel the face angle during the backswing.... I have been playing racket sports for 30+ years... pingpong, badminton, tennis.... so the 'racket sport athleticism' is already well built in if the central nervous system can get enough information to process.

my fh grip, the big flat bevel 3 lies comfortably on my palm and I can sense the angle perfectly.

my 1hbh slice, the flat bevel 3 is also touching the sensitive part of the right palm, plus my left index finger is on the string bed, so I can feel the face angle perfectly.

now problem comes with the 1hbh topspin shot... bevel 3 is now on the part of the fingers that can't feel much.. and bevel 7 is now in the V between the thumb and the index finger and I can't feel a thing there..... now the left hand, I can no longer put the index finger on the strings because it feels very awkward, and if I hold the neck with my left thumb and index finger, the volkl rackets have these beams with oval-shaped cross section, so the edges are not clearly defined and I can't feel much there either.

As a result, my swing often feel confused because I am not sure where the face is looking, and the swing often get 'short-circuited' mid way thru when I finally realize that the face angle is wrong.

I did hit with a Head MG, and the rectangle beam shape helped a lot... the feedback from my left thumb and index finger tells me exactly where the face is looking.

I am gonna give the volkl some more try... but before I switch rackets, I wonna get some advice on how you 1hbh'ers out there solve this issue.

 

[ReopeningWed]

I change my grip with my left hand up on the shaft.
Always always always.

 

[dozu]

you mean left hand on the part where the handle connects with the neck? I've thought about it, but it feels quite awkward to me.

 

[LeeD]

I also switched from a box beam (Mfil and Aero200's) to a rounded beam racket (Aero500) recently and thought I'd have a problem finding my topspin strong eastern grip on demand, but..... I just hold my oft hand the same way every time, and mostly switch from SW forehand to strong eastern backhand for topspin shots with a low, vertical face.
I've kept my conti/eFOREhand grip for defensive slices and hard low slices, half volleys and most volleys, so that didn't change at all.
Haven't had occasion to switch from conti volley grip to topspin 1hbh, but there might be a day, so I'd better plan for it now...
Some players choose to use their oft hands to turn the racket for the grip change, but I seem to rotate my dominant hand and hold the throat vertical with my oft hand.

 

[rfm29]

Wish I could help you. I've never had to worry about that with mine. I know where and how I'm gripping it, so I know where the racquet face is, and where I need to make contact.

I tell where I grip it by where my dominant hand is, NOT with my left hand that I'm using to adjust the racquet.

 

[dozu]

^^ to LeeD and rfm.... then I think I'd be categorized as an 'off hand grip changer' lol.... at preparation and early stage of backswing, my right hand has so little grip pressure, the racket will literally drop to the ground if my left hand lets go.

 

[Majik]

Try making a 90 degree angle between your forearm and the racket somewhere in your takeback procedure. You can feel the bevels easier if you force the angle against your hitting hand. And setting your orientation with respect to the racket face is easier because your off hand definately feels the angle of the racket face while your hitting hand's wrist angle is easier to feel than how your forearm is twisted.

 

[dozu]

^^ lately I have been mostly using Fed's type of take back and do have the 90 degree angle... I guess my right hand being so relaxed is why it can feel so little.... thanks for the input anyway.

 

[Majik]

^^ lately I have been mostly using Fed's type of take back and do have the 90 degree angle... I guess my right hand being so relaxed is why it can feel so little.... thanks for the input anyway.

Change to using Turnagrip. It's thinner so you can feel that bevel edges a little better. And again, try forcing the 90 degrees against your hitting hand. Your hitting wrist will become stiffer in reaction and it makes you feel the bevel edges a little more.

 

[dozu]

Change to using Turnagrip. It's thinner so you can feel that bevel edges a little better. And again, try forcing the 90 degrees against your hitting hand. Your hitting wrist will become stiffer in reaction and it makes you feel the bevel edges a little more.

hm... good point... I have 2 layers of gamma supreme (pretty thick overgrips) wrapped around bare handle (with the original grip removed)... so the handle is rounded out a bit.

 

[GetBetterer]

Perhaps it is the grip itself. I don't quite understand what your grip is, but if you look up Eastern Backhand Grip, it shows you where to place your base knuckle index finger.

This grip is ideal, as at contact you will generally have a flat racket, or a slightly bent racket, either way you will get topspin on the ball.

Also, once you feel it you won't forget it. The ball at such a high pace or topspin is going through your entire arm because it's a one-handed backhand, so the energy isn't absorbed by two arms, so you can feel it entirely and it feels great.

Then, when you hit more in every game, it feels even more amazing.

 

[dozu]

^^ grip is in-between Eastern and Conti.... I know a true eastern with index base knuckle on top of bevel #1 does make it easier to feel... but the grip feels a bit extreme to me.

this sort of mirrors my fh grip which is in between Eastern and SW.