Help please on the one handed backhand

[millenium]

I have been looking at many top players one handed backhand and I see that at the beginning of their backswing at the highest point.... At the unit turn the racket face is slightly open or facing the sky. Is that how the racket face should be at the start of the backswing on the single hander?

 

[Ash_Smith]

Doesn't have to be, but it is a common trait amongst many single handers (as you have noticed). It isn't something I would necessarily teach outright, but if, as a function of everything else being right it happened, then I wouldn't be worried. It is most likely because the player is pre-setting wrist extension.

I would only "correct" it if it was effecting the contact in some way, for example they were open face at contact.

 

[Lukhas]

I start with the racquet down to gain time. Shorter swing, but I'm more at ease like this. On the forehand side you have all the scale from loopy Del Potro to ultra short Ferrer/Nishikori. Just do what you're at ease with.

 

[RetroSpin]

... It is most likely because the player is pre-setting wrist extension.

I would only "correct" it if it was effecting the contact in some way, for example they were open face at contact.

I wondered about this as well. Isn't the wrist going to be slightly bowed, ie flexed, at contact, not extended? And isn't it flexed at the bottom of the backswing loop?

 

[LeeD]

There is NO "should be" here.
Players use what works for them.
Some guys, like McEnroe, tend to keep the racketface vertical, while lots of pros and good players face the hitting side up at the sky.
Like loop forehands against straight back forehands.
Just hit more backhands, and water seeks it's level.
Basic vert face is easier to learn, while facing sky gives a longer swing.

 

[Ash_Smith]

I wondered about this as well. Isn't the wrist going to be slightly bowed, ie flexed, at contact, not extended? And isn't it flexed at the bottom of the backswing loop?

hmmm, I wouldn't want the wrist to be in flexion at contact, flexion is a weak position in comparison to extension. Many one handers have wrist extension at contact - Gasquet, Wawrinka, Federer and Haas all have (varying degrees) of wrist extension at contact.

 

[boramiNYC]

when you grip something in a stable position the wrist naturally extends a little bit. in take back, what to be focused on is firm and stretched state of the thumb. wrist extension achieves this.

 

[Cheetah]

The open face on a 1hbh at the end of takeback is just a function of grip type and a neutral or very close to neutral wrist position. The more conservative the grip the more open the racquet is. If you have an eastern backhand grip and your wrist is neutral the racquet will be in the position you are referring to. The more extreme the grip the less the racquet will be open at this position.

Haas doesn't have wrist extension at contact. He's one of those 'turn the wrist down to close the racquet face at contact' guys. So effectively haas' wrist is neutral at contact as you can see in the following photo.

 

[RetroSpin]

hmmm, I wouldn't want the wrist to be in flexion at contact, flexion is a weak position in comparison to extension. Many one handers have wrist extension at contact - Gasquet, Wawrinka, Federer and Haas all have (varying degrees) of wrist extension at contact.

Flexion might have been a poor choice of word. I meant slightly bowed, which can be achieved with a combination of supination and flexion. It's the same position golfers strive to achieve with their lead wrist at contact, and they don't do it because it is a weak position.

I will look at the examples you cited.

 

[LeeD]

Oftentimes, a great player, thru years of repetition, can hit great shots with "technically flawed" strokes.
So can amateurs and rec players.

Just what IS a technically correct 1hbh topspin?

 

[RetroSpin]

hmmm, I wouldn't want the wrist to be in flexion at contact, flexion is a weak position in comparison to extension. Many one handers have wrist extension at contact - Gasquet, Wawrinka, Federer and Haas all have (varying degrees) of wrist extension at contact.

OK, I went back and reviewed the guys you cited. Except for Haas, they all do exactly what you said, my apologies for doubting. Haas, as shown in the picture, seems to have more of a flat wrist at contact. Probably it is a grip issue. The more toward a continental one is turned, it would seem the flatter their wrist would be.

This is something I have been doing wrong for years apparently. I appreciate you setting me right.

 

[Ash_Smith]

^^^Yep, you're right - I cited the examples from memory and Hass indeed has a neutral wrist. Either I remembered wrong or he has modified his technique to have a more neutral wrist position - i'm thinking my memory has probably let me down!

 

[LeeD]

Superior skills and athleticism can sometimes make up for "technically" flawed strokes.