At what age do coaches let juniors choose their backhand?

Gadz

Semi-Pro
Hi all,

I just wanted to know at what age do coaches let junior's choose what type of backhand because i noticed the coaches at my club only teach the double due to strength reasons i guess? I wanted to know at what age do you think the coach will allow them to try the single and is this why we have such a decline in the single handed backhand as the juniors are not having a choice? I started tennis as a early teenager so i had the choice of backhand but why are modern coaches telling them to use two hands. Thoughts...
 

BlueB

Legend
Starting as teen - choice. Starting below 10 - slim chances you'd see a SHBH. As a matter of fact, some small kids show tendencies towards 2H forehand too.
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
I'm not sure it's about "letting" them choose, it's about coaching and guiding them towards what the team feel will be the best long term option. With the advent on mini-tennis based programmes I feel we should see more and more single handers as the progressive nature of mini-tennis removes most of the traditional concerns around younger kids hitting singles.

If I was coaching a kid who I felt would be better served by a single hander, for whatever reason, I would have no qualms about helping them develop it whatever age they were.
 

Gadz

Semi-Pro
I mean what about the professionals who use single handers, Dimitrov, Thiem, Federer and many more. They must have started playing at an age below 10 and would they have started with two hands on the racket at first?
 

Easy Rider

Professional
It is coach, team of coaches or whoever work with them to find out what is best suited for particular player ...
 
In countries where tennis is centrally planned (Canada, France, UK,...) kids are not allowed to play one-handed backhand.
Where tennis is more a free enterprise endeavor (Florida?, some East European countries?), coaches may teach one-handed backhand if kids and parents desire so.
 
I'm not sure it's about "letting" them choose, it's about coaching and guiding them towards what the team feel will be the best long term option. With the advent on mini-tennis based programmes I feel we should see more and more single handers as the progressive nature of mini-tennis removes most of the traditional concerns around younger kids hitting singles.

If I was coaching a kid who I felt would be better served by a single hander, for whatever reason, I would have no qualms about helping them develop it whatever age they were.

When do you think is too late for a kid to switch from one-handed to two-handed backhand? We are talking about a boy or a girl with ambitions to rise to the very top of the game.
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
^^^ which half!?!?

As for by when, very difficult to change anything major after 18/19, so would need to be in place and up to spec before then.
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
^^^ not necessarily no, I think Pete changed around those ages from memory. It will depend on the volume of training, the ability of the coach and the right fit for the athlete, but there's nothing to say it couldn't work.
 

Coolio

Professional
Um, no kidding. I guess my question is, is 11 too late, is 13?

Dominic Thiem and Pete Sampras were both amongst the best juniors in their country and Pete changed to a one handed backhand at 14 I believe and Thiem at around 12 I think.

Thiem was one of the best players in his country with 2 handed backhands and defensive playstyle and Gunther Bresnik changed him to one handed with the aim to win Wimbledon with an attacking gamestyle.
 
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Dominic Thiem and Pete Sampras were both amongst the best juniors in their country and Pete changed to a one handed backhand at 14 I believe and Thiem at 14 or 15 I think.

Thiem was one of the best players in his country with 2 handed backhands and defensive playstyle and Gunther Bresnik changed him to one handed with the aim to win Wimbledon with an attacking gamestyle.

Great. Thanks.
 
When do you think is too late for a kid to switch from one-handed to two-handed backhand? We are talking about a boy or a girl with ambitions to rise to the very top of the game.

I just noticed I made a mistake. My question, of course, was intended to be "switch from two-handed to one-handed backhand". I flipped the two backhands in my original post.

But, everybody appears to have understood what I wanted to ask in the first place.
 

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah, my 6.0 coach told me he switched coaches at 15 or 16 and told the new guy we can work on anything but you CAN'T CHANGE MY STROKES.
He was 6.0 at 16 yrs old.



^^^ which half!?!?

As for by when, very difficult to change anything major after 18/19, so would need to be in place and up to spec before then.
 

julian

Hall of Fame
Thiem lost in a first round of 2014 Wimbedon

Dominic Thiem and Pete Sampras were both amongst the best juniors in their country and Pete changed to a one handed backhand at 14 I believe and Thiem at around 12 I think.

Thiem was one of the best players in his country with 2 handed backhands and defensive playstyle and Gunther Bresnik changed him to one handed with the aim to win Wimbledon with an attacking gamestyle.
How far away is Thiem from winning Wimbledon?
Please see the title of my post.
Thiem lost in a first round of Basel to Goffin.
 
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julian

Hall of Fame
Fyi

I'm not sure it's about "letting" them choose, it's about coaching and guiding them towards what the team feel will be the best long term option. With the advent on mini-tennis based programmes I feel we should see more and more single handers as the progressive nature of mini-tennis removes most of the traditional concerns around younger kids hitting singles.

If I was coaching a kid who I felt would be better served by a single hander, for whatever reason, I would have no qualms about helping them develop it whatever age they were.
USTA recommends implementing a double hander for TAUT.
Therefore I do not understand your word "progressive" above.
 

Easy Rider

Professional
Thiem is as far from winning a Wimbledon as I am ... I really cant see him as title contender in the next 4,5 years ...
Speaking about Thiem, can some1 confirm : Is he holding his thumb over index finger on his BH grip ?!
 

Easy Rider

Professional
I switched from 2HBH to 1HBH at the age of 13 ... I remember I could *NOT hit the ball in court with 2HBH, felt too unnatural to me
 
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Crisp

Professional
I agree with ash the advent of smaller courts has taken away some of the major concerns with teaching a single to young kids. They have time to fully progress the backhand up to the full court size. How many coaches have realised this though? Sometimes it is hard to "experiment" with a player or with new ideas but coaches should be willing to look for a better way.
 

tennis_balla

Hall of Fame
Thiem is as far from winning a Wimbledon as I am

You were in the Wimbledon main draw this year?

Anyways it depends on the situation and mind set of the player. A few years ago a friend of mine was working with a young junior who wanted nothing else but to hit one handers. The answer is obvious in that situation, and he was pretty good at hitting them as well. I like what Ash said and I agree that with the whole mini tennis, small nets, soft balls etc coaches should be able to develop that stroke earlier and easier. Depends on the coach, as a large majority hit 2 handers, don't really know how to teach a proper one hander or don't care for it. This is from my experience, because I get asked all the time how to teach it and for help.
 

Gadz

Semi-Pro
Yeah, i started off with a single hander in my early teens, i tried looking at the double handed backhand but after using the single it felt so awkward and unnatural, it just felt so pushy, but maybe if i was to spend hours on a ball machine hitting a double hander it would come more natural? I just want the single handed backhand to make more of a break through. I know we have Federer who is probably the best player of all time in my eyes but once he retires I'm not sure who else there is that will win alot of titles who has a single handed backhand. I guess you have stanislas but he seems to be fading at this moment of time. Did Federer begin hitting a backhand with two hands and when he got older switched? I still think the two handed backhand is more of a womens shot! :). I guess if the junior has a strong mind set of wanting a single then the coaches have to try and see how they get on
 
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Gadz

Semi-Pro
I switched from 2HBH to 1HBH at the age of 13 ... I remember I could *NOT hit the ball in court with 2HBH, felt too unnatural to me

Did you make the choice yourself or did your coach mention at the time say try the single hander? I read that stanislas made thr change feom a double to single for the same reason of thes stroke feeling unnatural
 

kingcheetah

Hall of Fame
I don't know how many coaches really let students "choose." When I was a junior virtually all of us learned the 2h backhand, and we were told the advantages of doing so, and that's how we all continued (one of the coaches hit a one handed backhand, as his coach had made him switch to it from the 2hander, and he always tells his students that is the one decision he wishes he'd rejected-- he prefers the advantages of the 2hander. At the club where I'm playing in Spain right now, all of the juniors hit two handers, and they aren't interested in switching.

I think the only reason to switch would be if one style just weren't clicking for a junior at all... growing up my 2h was solid but was never really a strength of mine... I could get decent angles, and it was consistent, but the power was always lacking. I eventually did some strengthening of my core and now my backhand is my most frequently complimented shot.
 

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
The bigger question is WHY make a switch? A change that big has to have a plan behind it like Pete's did. Why would it better for this players' game? Is it just to emulate Fed, Dimitriov, Wawrinka, or is there a plan behind it?
 

Gadz

Semi-Pro
Well i started with a single handed backhand and i have a new coach now and i wanted to make the switch from a single to a two handed backhand and he wont have any of it. I was using a single for years but decided I wanted to try the switch and he wont let me because he says my single handed backhand is alot more attacking than my double and that its my best shot but i want to switch. I will end up changing my coach i think... Thoughts?
 

kingcheetah

Hall of Fame
Well i started with a single handed backhand and i have a new coach now and i wanted to make the switch from a single to a two handed backhand and he wont have any of it. I was using a single for years but decided I wanted to try the switch and he wont let me because he says my single handed backhand is alot more attacking than my double and that its my best shot but i want to switch. I will end up changing my coach i think... Thoughts?

I think it depends on why you want to make the switch... if it is because the 2 hander might help your game more, and its benefits align with your playstyle, I say it's worth a shot. If you want to change just to change, I can see why the coach would be hesitant... he's probably looking out for you if it really is your best shot.
 

Gadz

Semi-Pro
I think it depends on why you want to make the switch... if it is because the 2 hander might help your game more, and its benefits align with your playstyle, I say it's worth a shot. If you want to change just to change, I can see why the coach would be hesitant... he's probably looking out for you if it really is your best shot.

I think regardless my backhand will always be my strong point of my game. I just want my coach to give me a chance to see but he's not having it. I would enjoy my tennis more if i was to have a double hander. I guess look at Federer, setting records and he uses a single handed backhand. I feel I'm behind the times with a single handed backhand though. I just cant seem to sway my coach towards the two hander.
 

Easy Rider

Professional
Did you make the choice yourself or did your coach mention at the time say try the single hander? I read that stanislas made thr change feom a double to single for the same reason of thes stroke feeling unnatural

My coach was convinced that he would develop my Bh, although I was spraying the shots all over the court.
after few months, I went on holiday with my family, and for two weeks i ve been playing with my father (he was rec player) ... he asked me how do I feel about my BH ... I remember saying that I felt jammed, squeezed, wrestling with the ball and we tried 1HBH ... I felt relief !!!
And decision was made.
For year and a half, Ive been heavily punished during long ball exchanges, coached by some guy who was atp player at that time, we`ve been hiding my Bh weakness, with slice and net rushing. I had average season, but developed 1HBH and net game by the age of 15 ... later, I ended up like a S&V player, with excellent BH return, slice, drop shot, chip ... Very important to listen to a player and work on his affinities first coach didnt do that
 

kingcheetah

Hall of Fame
I think regardless my backhand will always be my strong point of my game. I just want my coach to give me a chance to see but he's not having it. I would enjoy my tennis more if i was to have a double hander. I guess look at Federer, setting records and he uses a single handed backhand. I feel I'm behind the times with a single handed backhand though. I just cant seem to sway my coach towards the two hander.

Well, you could be correct that your backhand will always be the strongest point of your game, but I think you should keep in mind how different the mechanics are between the two strokes, in terms of contact point, body rotation, where the strain will be on your body, and timing. If you are adamant in changing, I'm sure you'll be able to find a coach to teach you a two handed backhand... I just don't see why you would change what has been working for you.
 

Gadz

Semi-Pro
My coach was convinced that he would develop my Bh, although I was spraying the shots all over the court.
after few months, I went on holiday with my family, and for two weeks i ve been playing with my father (he was rec player) ... he asked me how do I feel about my BH ... I remember saying that I felt jammed, squeezed, wrestling with the ball and we tried 1HBH ... I felt relief !!!
And decision was made.
For year and a half, Ive been heavily punished during long ball exchanges, coached by some guy who was atp player at that time, we`ve been hiding my Bh weakness, with slice and net rushing. I had average season, but developed 1HBH and net game by the age of 15 ... later, I ended up like a S&V player, with excellent BH return, slice, drop shot, chip ... Very important to listen to a player and work on his affinities first coach didnt do that

Sounds interesting! I'm rather annoyed at present because I want to learn the two handed backhand and see how I get on but my current coach wont let me as he thinks i hit a single handed backhand so sweetly. I think its my game so i can choose whatever stroke I want, say if i even wanted a two handed forehand, he can only advise against it and not make the decision for me.
 

thomasferrett

Hall of Fame
1hbh is not necessarily more 'risky' a shot than the 2hbh.

You could say that 1hbh is more risky because of the longer and more upwards swing - there's going to be a bigger chance of shanking.

But then you could say that the 2hbh is more risky because you aren't able to hit as much topspin, so you have to aim lower over the net with every shot.

1hbh players are not necessarily all net-charging attacking players. These days there is actually a larger subset of 1hbh pro players that are clay-court specialists who just want to rally from the baseline all day with massive spin and height over the net from both sides.

I am definitely a more defensive-orientated baseline player, and I picked the 1hbh because I felt it was a safer shot for me - I can screw the shot up somewhat and more likely than not the spin will still bring it back into the court (and make it difficult to deal with) whereas with the 2hbh I felt like I needed to aim perfectly every shot not to make a mistake.
 

Easy Rider

Professional
Sounds interesting! I'm rather annoyed at present because I want to learn the two handed backhand and see how I get on but my current coach wont let me as he thinks i hit a single handed backhand so sweetly. I think its my game so i can choose whatever stroke I want, say if i even wanted a two handed forehand, he can only advise against it and not make the decision for me.

well ... I havent allow player I coach to switch to a 1HBH:(
We had around 6 months till spring, and decided to give it a shot. If we dont make it, we gonna switch to a 1HBH ... We`ve been hiding his BH with his huge FH, Playing inside FH on every opportunity etc ... he made it, now his 2HBH is smooth, dangerous ... and we ended up with another "problem" : developing rock solid BH, he stopped dictating the point with his FH. He was strong on both sides, and become "lazy" ... but it was not big problem at all just a minor side effect

When I watch him play on tournaments, I wonder how he would look like with 1HBH:(
 

julian

Hall of Fame
You are completely off the topic

1hbh is not necessarily more 'risky' a shot than the 2hbh.

You could say that 1hbh is more risky because of the longer and more upwards swing - there's going to be a bigger chance of shanking.

But then you could say that the 2hbh is more risky because you aren't able to hit as much topspin, so you have to aim lower over the net with every shot.

1hbh players are not necessarily all net-charging attacking players. These days there is actually a larger subset of 1hbh pro players that are clay-court specialists who just want to rally from the baseline all day with massive spin and height over the net from both sides.

I am definitely a more defensive-orientated baseline player, and I picked the 1hbh because I felt it was a safer shot for me - I can screw the shot up somewhat and more likely than not the spin will still bring it back into the court (and make it difficult to deal with) whereas with the 2hbh I felt like I needed to aim perfectly every shot not to make a mistake.
You are completely off the topic.
 

Coolio

Professional
How far away is Thiem from winning Wimbledon?
Please see the title of my post.
Thiem lost in a first round of Basel to Goffin.

I don't think you understand my post, because what you say makes no sense?
They changed to a one hander to play more aggressive tennis suited to the grass at SW19.
What does it matter if he lost at Wimbledon and to Goffin this week, nobody said he was going to win Wimbledon.
You could have made the same comment about Federer when he lost the first round at Wimbledon years ago.
 

julian

Hall of Fame
I understand your post

I don't think you understand my post, because what you say makes no sense?
They changed to a one hander to play more aggressive tennis suited to the grass at SW19.
What does it matter if he lost at Wimbledon and to Goffin this week, nobody said he was going to win Wimbledon.
You could have made the same comment about Federer when he lost the first round at Wimbledon years ago.
I understood your post.
You missed my sarcasm.
It was you who used the phase
"the aim to win Wimbledon".
Please read your own post.
 
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