oserver
Professional
What can be done to improve the odds for backhand stroke to rival the modern forehand?
The single handed backhand is less and less likely to be the good option.
The current two handed backhand is a better choice than the single handed backhand,
but it still appears to be a weak choice. The need for all top players to hit the inside out
shots is the proof.
The good news is that we have not tried all options yet.
Here is an alternative backhand style with comparisons to the popular two handed backhand -
Hybrid lefty two handed backhand------------Popular two handed backhand
Right hand grip - #3 eastern or semi-western---Right hand grip - #2 continental
Left hand grip - #4 semi-western or eastern-----Right hand grip - #3 eastern or semi-western
Right hand position - front-------------------------Right hand position - back
Left hand position - back--------------------------Left hand position - front
Right hand swing - windshield--------------------Right hand swing - more drive through the ball
Left hand swing - windshield----------------------Left hand swing - more drive through the ball
Wrist - very loose-----------------------------------Wrist - cannot be very loose
Arms swing - passive-------------------------------Arms swing - more active
Arms swing - angular, cross body-----------------Arms swing - more linear, more drive through the ball
Likeness to a lefty forehand - mostly--------------Likeness to a lefty forehand - not much
Body rotation - more--------------------------------Body rotation - less (left hand in front)
Grips - not using #1 and #2------------------------Grips - not using #1
Grips total 3+4=7 or 4+4=8------------------------Grips total 2+3=5 or 2+4=6
Grips total 7 or 8 - more topspin oriented--------Grips total 5 or 6 - more linear
Style - like a forehand------------------------------Style - not like a forehand
The hybrid lefty two handed backhand can also be called Forehand Style Backhand for the above similarities to the modern forehand. It require some changes; the biggest one is the hand position changes from serve/forehand to backhand; then the increases of grips from smaller #s to bigger #s. We already know what it means from the forehand grip increases from #2 to #3, #4 or even to #5 in the modernization of forehand.
Fore experienced players, the good news is that one already know how to hit the forehand. So the hybrid lefty two handed backhand is not totally new mentally, and to borrow the forehand muscle memory from forehand to backhand won't be time consuming.
Fore beginner level players, this style can be short cut to achieve speedy learning progresses, since the teaching and learning of both backhand and forehand are mostly the same, not totally different.
For someone who like the try this style, here is a tip for the hand position changes -
At ready position, leave the back position (end of the racket handle) open with out any hand to occupied the spot. If you are receiving a serve and you are a right hand forehand player, you can use you left hand to hold the front position on the racket handle; the right hand position in front of the lefthand. If the opponent serve to the forehand, the right hand quickly pass the left hand to the bottom position to hit the single handed forehand return. If the opponent serve to the backhand, the right hand grip the handle to let the left hand to quickly slide to the bottom position first, then right hand also slide down. Certainly, one need some practice to get used to the hand position switches, plus the adjusting the right grips for both hands. You can also switch the hands positions to let the left hand grip in front of the right hand at first.
The single handed backhand is less and less likely to be the good option.
The current two handed backhand is a better choice than the single handed backhand,
but it still appears to be a weak choice. The need for all top players to hit the inside out
shots is the proof.
The good news is that we have not tried all options yet.
Here is an alternative backhand style with comparisons to the popular two handed backhand -
Hybrid lefty two handed backhand------------Popular two handed backhand
Right hand grip - #3 eastern or semi-western---Right hand grip - #2 continental
Left hand grip - #4 semi-western or eastern-----Right hand grip - #3 eastern or semi-western
Right hand position - front-------------------------Right hand position - back
Left hand position - back--------------------------Left hand position - front
Right hand swing - windshield--------------------Right hand swing - more drive through the ball
Left hand swing - windshield----------------------Left hand swing - more drive through the ball
Wrist - very loose-----------------------------------Wrist - cannot be very loose
Arms swing - passive-------------------------------Arms swing - more active
Arms swing - angular, cross body-----------------Arms swing - more linear, more drive through the ball
Likeness to a lefty forehand - mostly--------------Likeness to a lefty forehand - not much
Body rotation - more--------------------------------Body rotation - less (left hand in front)
Grips - not using #1 and #2------------------------Grips - not using #1
Grips total 3+4=7 or 4+4=8------------------------Grips total 2+3=5 or 2+4=6
Grips total 7 or 8 - more topspin oriented--------Grips total 5 or 6 - more linear
Style - like a forehand------------------------------Style - not like a forehand
The hybrid lefty two handed backhand can also be called Forehand Style Backhand for the above similarities to the modern forehand. It require some changes; the biggest one is the hand position changes from serve/forehand to backhand; then the increases of grips from smaller #s to bigger #s. We already know what it means from the forehand grip increases from #2 to #3, #4 or even to #5 in the modernization of forehand.
Fore experienced players, the good news is that one already know how to hit the forehand. So the hybrid lefty two handed backhand is not totally new mentally, and to borrow the forehand muscle memory from forehand to backhand won't be time consuming.
Fore beginner level players, this style can be short cut to achieve speedy learning progresses, since the teaching and learning of both backhand and forehand are mostly the same, not totally different.
For someone who like the try this style, here is a tip for the hand position changes -
At ready position, leave the back position (end of the racket handle) open with out any hand to occupied the spot. If you are receiving a serve and you are a right hand forehand player, you can use you left hand to hold the front position on the racket handle; the right hand position in front of the lefthand. If the opponent serve to the forehand, the right hand quickly pass the left hand to the bottom position to hit the single handed forehand return. If the opponent serve to the backhand, the right hand grip the handle to let the left hand to quickly slide to the bottom position first, then right hand also slide down. Certainly, one need some practice to get used to the hand position switches, plus the adjusting the right grips for both hands. You can also switch the hands positions to let the left hand grip in front of the right hand at first.
Last edited: