Andre Agassi says he primarily uses his right hand on the two-handed backhand

[KayFactor]

http://simplemoderntennis.wordpress...es-his-right-hand-on-the-two-handed-backhand/

Here's my take on it^

What are your guys' thoughts?

 

[heninfan99]

It helps create "the flip" Macci talks about. Many modern teachers don't teach it as an off-hand forehand anymore.

 

[KayFactor]

It helps create "the flip" Macci talks about. Many modern teachers don't teach it as an off-hand forehand anymore.

Hey, is there a video on it? Or article?

 

[snvplayer]

You have to remember that he says that hits primarily with his right hand "until" he makes the contact.

This helps him to swing through the ball more, and prevents him from "slapping" at the ball.

 

[Raul_SJ]

I use a one handed backhand, but isn't the two hander supposed to be essentially a left-handed forehand?

i.e., I hear people say, "If you want to learn the 2 hander, start off hitting lefty forehands..."

 

[dominikk1985]

I use a one handed backhand, but isn't the two hander supposed to be essentially a left-handed forehand?

i.e., I hear people say, "If you want to learn the 2 hander, start off hitting lefty forehands..."

agassi uses a straight/straight arm configuration that will use the right arm more while the bent/straight configuration will use the left arm more and has the right arm more for stabilisation purposes.

 

[Tight Lines]

http://simplemoderntennis.wordpress...es-his-right-hand-on-the-two-handed-backhand/

Here's my take on it^

What are your guys' thoughts?

Agassi has an eastern bottom hand which means his two handed backhand is more like a one handed backhand. Since most people have a conti bottom hand, what he says does not apply to them.

Harry

 

[rkelley]

http://simplemoderntennis.wordpress...es-his-right-hand-on-the-two-handed-backhand/

Here's my take on it^

What are your guys' thoughts?

Basically agree with some caveats, and I think arm structure at contact has a big effect on the roles played by each arm which you didn't address. However the overall point that the right arm is important for power I totally agree with.

 

[TennisCJC]

Yea, I have never totally bought into the concept that it is a L handed FH. Personally, I think it is a 2 handed stroke and both arms play a role. Agassi leads with R arm and finishes with the L arm straightening and driving into the follow through. I practice using both arms in unison but I am not a coach so what do I know.

 

[julian]

Another thread

Yea, I have never totally bought into the concept that it is a L handed FH. Personally, I think it is a 2 handed stroke and both arms play a role. Agassi leads with R arm and finishes with the L arm straightening and driving into the follow through. I practice using both arms in unison but I am not a coach so what do I know.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?p=8766280#post8766280
covers the same topic

 

[5263]

You have to remember that he says that hits primarily with his right hand "until" he makes the contact.

This helps him to swing through the ball more, and prevents him from "slapping" at the ball.

And think this is the main point and it deals with dragging to contact.

 

[donquijote]

Tennis is the most versatile sport in terms of technique and style because it is an individual sport. So no technique is better than the other. Whatever works for you is OK. Champion players like Agassi most probably have a special style that distinguishes them from others but probably something harder to apply. But that doesn't mean ATP No.200 player would not beat everyone in your club.

I personally believe that the left hand and arm has to play a significant role in the 2HBH, otherwise it'd be meaningless to use both hands.

 

[LobService]

I'm pretty sure I hit my backhand mostly with my left arm, and it's one of my best shots. There are multiple "correct" ways to hit it. I know a guy who doesn't change grips between his forehand and backhand, but his shots still work.

 

[Topspin Shot]

Tennis is the most versatile sport in terms of technique and style because it is an individual sport. So no technique is better than the other. Whatever works for you is OK. Champion players like Agassi most probably have a special style that distinguishes them from others but probably something harder to apply. But that doesn't mean ATP No.200 player would not beat everyone in your club.

I personally believe that the left hand and arm has to play a significant role in the 2HBH, otherwise it'd be meaningless to use both hands.

Tell that to Derek Jeter.

 

[rkelley]

Tennis is the most versatile sport in terms of technique and style because it is an individual sport. So no technique is better than the other. Whatever works for you is OK.

It would depend on how you define "better." If your goal is to have some not too serious fun playing tennis, get a few balls over the net, and not be too concerned with maximizing the effectiveness of you strokes (which totally fine), then I'd agree mostly. As long as your technique doesn't cause injury problems, go for it.

However if you define "better" as maximizing the effectiveness of your strokes (more pace, more spin, more consistency) then no, I don't agree that any technique is OK. There are fundamentals in technique that high level players employ that are fairly common. If you're interested in hitting like those players, then one of the keys is understanding and implementing those high level techniques in your own strokes.

Don't confuse the range of styles in set-up and specific nuances of movement with a broad range of basic stroke technique. The former is easy to see, but the latter is what matters.

 

[TobyTopspin]

I modeled my strokes after Agassi back in the day. They have changed over time to a loop on the backhand and more modern WW on the forehand.

The easiest way to explain it is that the bottom hand takes the racquet back and starts the forward swing, but when it comes time to unhinge my top hand takes over. It provides all of the pace and brushing of the ball. The bottom hand still is important though as it provides the pivot point on which the racquet begins the windshield whipper like motion (Agassi doesn't do this).

 

[donquijote]

However if you define "better" as maximizing the effectiveness of your strokes (more pace, more spin, more consistency) then no, I don't agree that any technique is OK. There are fundamentals in technique that high level players employ that are fairly common. If you're interested in hitting like those players, then one of the keys is understanding and implementing those high level techniques in your own strokes.

Take the ATP Top 20 and you will see almost each one has a unique style. Yes, they all have two legs and a racquet and they try to hit a clean stroke but there are significant differences among them. When I said, 'no technique is better than the other', what I meant is a technique that gets results is a good technique. You would not teach Gulbis forehand to a youngster but it works for him and not everyone can imitate Federer's forehand or Novak's backhand.

 

[TennisCJC]

Take the ATP Top 20 and you will see almost each one has a unique style. Yes, they all have two legs and a racquet and they try to hit a clean stroke but there are significant differences among them. When I said, 'no technique is better than the other', what I meant is a technique that gets results is a good technique. You would not teach Gulbis forehand to a youngster but it works for him and not everyone can imitate Federer's forehand or Novak's backhand.

Yes, but I think there are basic fundamentals that apply to tennis strokes and players should work to learn the basics with some allowance for differences based on players. Also, just because some players play with a radical stroke that is far outside the bell curve of normalcy doesn't mean that is an OK stroke to copy. I would not teach anyone to copy Gulbis' FH but he is quite effective with that butt ugly swim stroke.

Case to prove my point is you might think Federer and Nadal employ vastly different techniques on their FHs. But, if you their basic rally stroke side by side in slow motion, you will see there is more alike than different. They have similar "fundamentals".