Fully formed functional and powerful 2HB after 2.5 months and 30 hitting sessions

zill

Legend
After spending the first 15 years of my tennis life playing with ONLY a 1HB.

Just thought to give an update. I did make many threads here earlier about the 2HB. So thanks to everyone who contributed.

Just need to work on retrieving tricky balls now. eg very high, low or wide.

[EDIT] If anyone have questions on this stroke. Please ask me in this thread. Or PM me if you want wish.
 
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zill

Legend
The first six words read like a grocery store checkout lane “newspaper” headline, as long as 2HB stands for two-headed baboon.

Of course, it would then have to be followed by “roams streets of Poughkeepsie at night,” accompanied by a grainy, poorly photoshopped picture.

You got any constructive things to say? No trolling please.
 

zill

Legend
Says the guy that spams the board with threads that don’t invite constructive comments. What’s next?
“Is it better for players with long fingers to use and Eastern or Semi-Western forehand grip?”

You are clueless. What level tennis you play btw? Keen to know.
 

ballmachineguy

Hall of Fame
You are clueless. What level tennis you play btw? Keen to know.
I open a thread to find that there is really nothing to say other than possibly what Dragy did, but you aren’t going to get tips/instruction with it. I saw a random string of words that made me think of what I posted. Maybe someone found it amusing. Nothing else was going to come from this thread. Why you took post #2 personally, I don’t know. Now, after post #3, it is on like Donkey Kong! : )
 

zill

Legend
I open a thread to find that there is really nothing to say other than possibly what Dragy did, but you aren’t going to get tips/instruction with it. I saw a random string of words that made me think of what I posted. Maybe someone found it amusing. Nothing else was going to come from this thread. Why you took post #2 personally, I don’t know. Now, after post #3, it is on like Donkey Kong! : )

I was going to suggest I am happy and open for others who are struggling with the 2HB to ask me questions they have about the stroke as I have thought a lot about this recently.

Even you. You got any questions about this stroke?
 

ballmachineguy

Hall of Fame
I was going to suggest I am happy and open for others who are struggling with the 2HB to ask me questions they have about the stroke as I have thought a lot about this recently.

Even you. You got any questions about this stroke?
I think my feelings on the 2hbh are well documented here. Plus, I crashed to the asphalt from the rim playing pickup basketball when I was 26. Couldn’t cheat, er, I mean hit with two hands, with the limited range of motion in my left wrist, even if I wanted too.
 

zill

Legend
15 years playing a one hander and in 2.5 months your two hander is already better? I'm keen to see the video showing your progress!

Yes I found out my single backhand was intrinsically flawed for all that 15 years. The first time I hit a two handed backhand I could barely hit the ball onto the wall but it looked so good on camera. 2.5 months of dedicated analysis and got myself a perfect 2HB.
 
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PocketAces

New User
Yes I found out my single backhand was intrinsically flawed for all that 15 years. The first time I hit a two handed backhand I could barely hit the ball onto the wall but it looked so good on camera. 2.5 months of dedicated analysis and got myself a perfect 2HB.
That's awesome! Let's see this beautiful backhand! I want to admire it and take inspiration from it.
 

PocketAces

New User
Here it is @PocketAces . In the end took 3 months to fully sort it out actually.


Great stuff Zill! It takes courage to share video of your strokes (something I have yet to do on this forum!). I'm glad you're enjoying and finding your range with your new two hander. I'm on the opposite journey: I switched to a one-hander last year. I'm inspired by your example. I'll try to post some videos of some practice sessions.
 

zill

Legend
Great stuff Zill! It takes courage to share video of your strokes (something I have yet to do on this forum!). I'm glad you're enjoying and finding your range with your new two hander. I'm on the opposite journey: I switched to a one-hander last year. I'm inspired by your example. I'll try to post some videos of some practice sessions.

Why did you get rid of your two hander?
 

PocketAces

New User
Why did you get rid of your two hander?

I was coming back to tennis after a two year break and decided I wanted to try a new approach. Prior to the break I had been arming the ball on both forehand and backhand. All of my strokes were stiff and tense and I struggled to generate power. I figured with two hands holding the racquet it would be twice as difficult to overcome the stiffness issue, so I switched to a one-hander. At this point in my journey, my one-hander seems to give me more spin and it's probably not as stiff. However it's not as reliable as the two-hander was. At the moment, my primary focus is on fixing my forehand though.
 

zill

Legend
I was coming back to tennis after a two year break and decided I wanted to try a new approach. Prior to the break I had been arming the ball on both forehand and backhand. All of my strokes were stiff and tense and I struggled to generate power. I figured with two hands holding the racquet it would be twice as difficult to overcome the stiffness issue, so I switched to a one-hander. At this point in my journey, my one-hander seems to give me more spin and it's probably not as stiff. However it's not as reliable as the two-hander was. At the moment, my primary focus is on fixing my forehand though.

Important to be as loose as possible on all strokes and also racquet lags the body in the prep and initial stages of the forward swing. So take the racquet back with the body in the prep and swing forward from the body in the forward swing.
 

vex

Legend
After spending the first 15 years of my tennis life playing with ONLY a 1HB.

Just thought to give an update. I did make many threads here earlier about the 2HB. So thanks to everyone who contributed.

Just need to work on retrieving tricky balls now. eg very high, low or wide.

[EDIT] If anyone have questions on this stroke. Please ask me in this thread. Or PM me if you want wish.
Great job. I made the same switch. Took about a year before it got to the point where I was fully locked in on it from every angle on the court.
 

zill

Legend
Weird. No vids showing the result of the stroke? Are the balls even in? Hard to tell.

Lol will post with view of the ball in a few days. There were a few rallies so if most of them were going out then the other person must be highly skilled to hit them back nicely!
 

johnmccabe

Hall of Fame
After spending the first 15 years of my tennis life playing with ONLY a 1HB.

Just thought to give an update. I did make many threads here earlier about the 2HB. So thanks to everyone who contributed.

Just need to work on retrieving tricky balls now. eg very high, low or wide.

[EDIT] If anyone have questions on this stroke. Please ask me in this thread. Or PM me if you want wish.

When I hit 1hbh, I mostly hit flat and have to deliberately add top spin. but when I started to try 2 hander recently, I always end up brushing the ball and not hitting through. Any advice what may be going on?
 

zill

Legend
When I hit 1hbh, I mostly hit flat and have to deliberately add top spin. but when I started to try 2 hander recently, I always end up brushing the ball and not hitting through. Any advice what may be going on?

How are you using your left arm? Seems you are not using your left arm right. You are brushing too much of the ball with your left arm in the 2hb?
 

johnmccabe

Hall of Fame
How are you using your left arm? Seems you are not using your left arm right. You are brushing too much of the ball with your left arm in the 2hb?
I think my unit turn is often late and contact is late as well. I'm still pretty clueless about how to use left arm. see the video I just posted in this thread.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
Looks pretty good from what you can see in this video. Need to see you actually playing some points and having to move to see if it works under pressure. It’s not real tough to look good just hitting easy feeds to the same spot, but during point play not so easy.
 

zill

Legend
I think my unit turn is often late and contact is late as well. I'm still pretty clueless about how to use left arm. see the video I just posted in this thread.

Yes two clear issues I see.

1. The Unit turn should be done in two steps. It's actually two separate turns. First fully turn side on with racquet beside your body and shoulder joint pointing to opponent. Second fully rotate torso backward thereby dangling your racquet loosely back behind your body. The two steps done continuously is what is known as the unit turn. You are trying to combine the two steps into one which results in an inadequate unit turn and often late as you pointed out.

2. You are not using your two arms correctly. You should swing forward in 3 steps. First transfer body weight forward then right arm forward then left arm forward. So it's done literally as a chain. One thing done at each stage don't overlap them. This results in a long full swing which you don't have.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
From the back point of view. Still can't see where the ball lands unfortunately. I'll try to put the camera on the fence next time.


Better yet show some video of playing points and using the 2 hander. It looks like you are hitting the backhand well, but would be better to see it under pressure.
 

pencilcheck

Hall of Fame
Better yet show some video of playing points and using the 2 hander. It looks like you are hitting the backhand well, but would be better to see it under pressure.
A lot of the ball land short, the ball didn't bounce far. And this is a easy ball where he doesn't have to move, I can already see his 2hbh failing when running or stretched already using his current technique in intense moment or facing someone who has better technique
 

zill

Legend
A lot of the ball land short, the ball didn't bounce far. And this is a easy ball where he doesn't have to move, I can already see his 2hbh failing when running or stretched already using his current technique in intense moment or facing someone who has better technique

Your right. I will tweak my technique a little this week. See how that goes.
 

pencilcheck

Hall of Fame
I would suggest trying everything you can, and observe what you are currently, doing and see if you can improve as much as you can.

I posted a video about iori atttempting spanish drill, the coach actually gave a lot of good tips that might also help you:
 

zill

Legend
I would suggest trying everything you can, and observe what you are currently, doing and see if you can improve as much as you can.

Have been doing everything I can since the day I switched to a 2hb 3.5 months ago. I was trying to hit Agassi style backhands there which clearly isn’t the optimum for me. Was hitting too flat hence many balls landing short. I think my natural style is a backhand with more loop and topspin to it.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Nice 2 hander. One thing that will take it even further - step more into the ball so your legs are a bit more spread out (think about a bit of a lunge) and you are leaning more into the shot. You can put more weight into it than you currently are doing. If you do this right you will notice your back foot swinging more through the shot.
 
S

Slicehand

Guest
I got a fully formed functional and powerful thing myself and no one has complained at hitting sessions yet
 

zill

Legend
looking good, but lots of editing. Sometimes showing the bad ones can be more helpful IME.

Edited out a lot of slices! Lol But yeah good suggestion will do next time. I have trouble when the incoming ball is fast and wide. Will slice it back if that happens.
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
Edited out a lot of slices! Lol But yeah good suggestion will do next time. I have trouble when the incoming ball is fast and wide. Will slice it back if that happens.
dude thats funny. I recall an argument in the past about the 2 hander being better because you could hit it open stance and there was a pict of joker doing the splits on an out wide service return. I recall some posters arguing that you could slice that anyhow and no one here was joker.
 

zill

Legend
dude thats funny. I recall an argument in the past about the 2 hander being better because you could hit it open stance and there was a pict of joker doing the splits on an out wide service return. I recall some posters arguing that you could slice that anyhow and no one here was joker.

Maybe also its because of me being extremely inflexible, opposite of Djoker. But Thiem also said you lose a tiny bit of reach with the 2 hander compared to the 1 hander. From memory you had a one hander. You considering a change to a 2 hander?
 
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Shroud

G.O.A.T.
Maybe also its because of me being extremely inflexible, opposite of Djoker. But Thiem also said you lose a tiny bit of reach with the 2 hander compared to the 1 hander. From memory you had a one hander. You considering a change to a 2 hander?
been there done that. I could hit them both pretty good...wont bore you with the 2 hander vid. CHanged back to 1 hander because the 2 hander was bad for my back, and that was when I was in my 20s! would wreck it now.
 

zill

Legend
been there done that. I could hit them both pretty good...wont bore you with the 2 hander vid. CHanged back to 1 hander because the 2 hander was bad for my back, and that was when I was in my 20s! would wreck it now.

Why are you so keen to watch my two handers then, even the bad ones? Lol
 
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