Agassi two-handed backhand, right-hand dominant or left-hand dominant?

[1171]

Tennis magazine last month had a small piece on Agassi's two-handed backhand. It mentioned how he instructed a junior next court on how to properly hit a backhand.

Agassi mentioned how he held his left hand lightly on the racket, how his left hand does not come into play until extension phase.

So, Agassi backhand is not left dominant at all.

All my previous reading of how "Agassi practice his backhand by swining left-handed forehand" is probably all bogus. His backhand is not left-hand dominat at all.

Comments?

 

[brucie]

Good use of left hand is essential else agassi would hit every ball long with little topspin is this the case? No.

 

[odessa]

Agassi is a example of a two handed backhand in which the right arm is very important.

1. He has a backhand grip with right hand.
2. He is hitting with a straight right arm.
3. his shoulders are pretty level when making contact.

Hitting with the left hand is still a good exercise and very likley agassi has done it.

 

[TennsDog]

I wonder if, due to added use of the right hand, Agassi can actually hit a decent one-hander. Most two-handed backhand players can't hit a one-hander very well because the standard two-hander utilizes more of the non-dominant hand than dominant. But if Agassi actually uses more right arm than left (still not sure how one would go about doing this or how it must feel), he should probably be able to get some good results with one hand.

 

[TrueAce]

All great two handers keep both hands pretty loose I would think. With both hands on the racquet you have a lot of stability with less range of motion so keeping loose is essential. At least thats how I feel when hitting my two-hander well.

 

[ZPTennis]

I hit my backhand with about equal force with both hands. And I know i've never been left hand dominant. In fact I used to be right arm dominant and have changed it to being more in balance. I've always known that my backhand was wrong when I hit with almost all right hand.

Believe it or not, you can get extreme amount of power this way but it was more of a bat shot than an actual stroke. I have tried changing it to being left hand dominant but have always found it very difficult for me. So I decided to go with what worked and now hit it pretty evenly with both hands.

Zach

 

[TrueAce]

If you watch Davenports backhand which is one of the most free flowing smooth two handers for woman or men you can see what agassi is talking about. She takes keeping her left hand loose to an extreme. It seems to be almost completely off the racquet on the takeback then when dropping into the slot is when the left hand takes grip again.

 

[bkc]

I started playing lefthand dominant, so my backhand was like a forehand, only two-handed, and then I gradually started letting go at the end with my right hand. Then I decided well why not just forget the right hand and hit another forehand. Did that about a year ago. I had to make some adjustments, but it is really fun! You can hit a killer forehand with either hand. No reason to have a weak side. This will be the next change in the sport. I'm just a little ahead of the change.

 

[TennsDog]

I like that idea, and have messed with it a bit myself. I just think there is one "flaw" in the logic. Those who have a good enough backhand such that they could more or less readily let go with the right hand probably have a good enough backhand that it isn't weak enough to be attacked anyway. I have no doubt that I would be able to develop a lefty forehand if I had enough time off to play with it, but my backhand is actually better than my forehand (or at least was when I had a two-hander). The backhand has different things to offer, and if you can utilize them well enough, there is no reason to give them up.

 

[ZPTennis]

but my backhand is actually better than my forehand (or at least was when I had a two-hander).

Why did you decide to change to a one hander?

 

[TennsDog]

Why did you decide to change to a one hander?

Why NOT change to a one-hander? Heh. (Read more posts about one vs two handed backhands for a more detailed analysis between the two.) But really, I'm a natural one-hander. That is how I learned. I was taught the two-hander later in my career, actually, only 4 years ago. I never liked it as much as the one-hander, but it worked better. Now I have grown my game enough to be able to use the one-hander effectively. It is actually more consistant for me and feels much more comfortable. I still use the two-hander at certain strategic points, though. And in case you're wondering about my comment stating that my two-hander "was" better than my forehand and that implies my one-hander isn't now, that's because my forehand has since improved along with the change of backhand. So I did no downgrade my backhand.

 

[ZPTennis]

Ah ok. I misinterpreted.

I mostly use a 2 hander but have a one handed slice as a combo for use in certain situations and also for my approach shots.

If I had to guess I'd say you kept your 2 hander for return of serve and high shots. but just a guess.

 

[TennsDog]

Actually, last year, I was experimenting with using one-hander only for returns of serve because it would be quicker. I didn't do it, though. I haven't hit any service returns since switching, but my intent is to do so with one hand. The two-hander is for half volleys (I have a great two-handed backhand half volley) and high shots primarily, but also some other times when it just feels like the right thing to do: maybe stretched wide, maybe against a really heavy shot, it just depends.