Good backhand tip I think I may have invented

[HunterST]

I'm sure this has been done before, but I just did it on my own today and it worked pretty well.

I struggle sometimes with being fluid on the 2hbh and letting my left arm do most of the work. To help, I simply moved my right hand down so the pinky hung off. This made it pretty much impossible to use too much right hand and let me get a much smoother motion going. I'll have to work up to having the whole hand on for preparation purposes, but I thought this helped.

Any thoughts?

 

[SStrikerR]

Been done and suggested here before. But yes, that can help. What some people do is hit some lefty forehands (if you're a righty), then add a few fingers of their right hand and continue, then eventually put their whole hand on.

 

[5263]

I'm sure this has been done before, but I just did it on my own today and it worked pretty well.

I struggle sometimes with being fluid on the 2hbh and letting my left arm do most of the work. To help, I simply moved my right hand down so the pinky hung off. This made it pretty much impossible to use too much right hand and let me get a much smoother motion going. I'll have to work up to having the whole hand on for preparation purposes, but I thought this helped.

Any thoughts?

That is excellent. There is nothing like when you find it and experience it internally like that. This is a big key and don't be surprised if you need to return to it now and then with all the strokes, as this is a key for each of them.

 

[HunterST]

Been done and suggested here before. But yes, that can help. What some people do is hit some lefty forehands (if you're a righty), then add a few fingers of their right hand and continue, then eventually put their whole hand on.

Lefty forehands never worked for me. Once you put the right hand back on, it interferes with the normal forehand path and extension unless you were doing a really old school forehand, maybe.

This didn't feel much different than a normal backhand other than I was forced to used more left hand.

 

[TeamOB]

I thought the "lefty forehand" theory of 2HBH was discredited. Didn't Agassi say that the right hand should be heavily involved in the stroke?

 

[dman72]

I've found even splitting the hands an inch or 2 gives a better feel to the mechanics of the backhand, and seems to provide more leverage for the top hand as you have a little bit of a pivot there.

There are multiple ways to approach the 2 hander, none has been "discredited", that is simply Agassi's approach.

 

[HunterST]

I thought the "lefty forehand" theory of 2HBH was discredited. Didn't Agassi say that the right hand should be heavily involved in the stroke?

He did, but I think most people thought that, while Agassi is one of the best players of all time and certainly knows what it feels like he's doing, he's not necessarily an expert on mechanics.

 

[mightyrick]

When I heard the clip of Agassi critiquing Roddick's backhand and saying that the greatest 2HBH's have a strong right (bottom) hand -- it changed my game. I had also been taught to pretty much have the right-hand being dead... just being along for the ride.

I now actively use the right-hand to assist the take-back and racquet drop... and then the right-hand actively pulls the racquet forward while the left hand brings the racquet head around.

I won't say my right (bottom) hand is dominant in the stroke, but in terms of contribution to the stroke, I'd say it is at least 35% or 40% involved. I hit a much more solid, stable, and consistent BH stroke now.

 

[blip]

. To help, I simply moved my right hand down so the pinky hung off. This made it pretty much impossible to use too much right hand and let me get a much smoother motion going.

Thanks! I'm going to give this a go. I have been struggling with the same and need 'something' to key off of.

I will still use all-on for a slice but pinky-off for the topper.

Will report back.

 

[HunterST]

Thanks! I'm going to give this a go. I have been struggling with the same and need 'something' to key off of.

I will still use all-on for a slice but pinky-off for the topper.

Will report back.

Awesome! Interested to see how it works for you.

 

[blip]

Heheheeheheheeeee worked like a charm.

I think it was a combination of focusing more and getting the left hand further down the handle for more power.

My strategy ended up being; first serve, everything on. My ready position is 2HBH grip. I found it was a little difficult to switch from pinky off to regular forehand when needed. Second serves, I'm still up in the air. This guy had a pretty good second so, I mostly kept everything on. If it was a person with a weaker second, I surely would have gone with the pinky off prep.

I'm keeping it for awhile to see how it goes. Thanks again!