Help with my back hand

[Haztrick]

Hi guys.

I've been stuck for some while on this issue. I use to hit a 2 handed back hand and then changed to the Federer-styled 1 handed back hand.

I now find myself varying between the two due to comfort. I've had a bit of coaching on the back hand but I still get frustrated. I like to hit one handed but there are situations that I just find myself automatically putting two hands on the racquet.

Are there any tips that you guys can offer me?

Also, I find myself slowly becoming a tad inconsistent on my forehands. Any general forehand tips?

Thanks a lot

 

[sh@de]

You've just got to pick one and stick with it. Then hit thousands, heck, millions of shots over and over again. You've got to do it until your timing is right, your footing is smooth and everything clicks. And I mean it. And when you're training the topspin drives, do not try and mix in slices. Train slice and topspin separately.

 

[Haztrick]

Thanks for the advice.

One issue I have, in a way I can explain it, is when the ball comes across and I stuff up my timing or my footwork I hit a sloppy back hand. What kind of shot do you recommend I hit when I can't hit a full back hand? That is when I find myself slapping on two hands and just dabbing it over.

Should I hit a slice? Should i just try and hit it over with my backhand style but with no power?

 

[SeekHeart]

on those, I just flick or half volley it over, maybe slice I can't really tell based on that description.

 

[sh@de]

If you find yourself out of position, I'd slice it if I were you, given you have a 1hbh. If you have a 2hbh, then it's fine, just smack it back with arm bend adjustments. Ideally though, you should train enough so that your footwork is good enough so that you won't be forced into awkward positions. To be honest, footwork and timing is more difficult for 1hbh. So which one are you going to choose?

 

[Grizvok]

Work on your slice too when you need it. In the lower levels of tennis (hell and even in the pros) you can cause unforced errors with deep penetrating slices that neutralize topspin. Having the one-handed backhand gives you plenty of variety and is one of its bigger strengths.

And you really need to actually stick to one or the other. Sorry to say but switching up hitting 2hb and 1hb is rookie stuff...

 

[Haztrick]

You're right, I definitely need to choose one and I had a hit for about 2 hours today and I felt much more comfortable and was able to hit much sweeter shots using a 2hbh so I'm going to stick with that.

It needs work no doubt. I'm about to turn 19 and have only been playing tennis for a bout 9-12 months.

 

[sh@de]

2hbh eh? Make sure you work on your slice mate. You'll need it when you're forced wide. And it's always good to be able to hit deep slice shots so as to further your disguise for a backhand drop shot. Good luck!

 

[Haztrick]

Cheers mate. I have an excellent slice shot, it's something I use to always hit as a kid playing for fun as it was pretty much the only shot I could do LOL so I am pretty good at slicing if I do say so myself.

 

[Rickson]

You won't be able to hit a 2 hander anymore if you develop a good one hander. A good 1hbh takes a grip beyond continental (sw bh grip) so if you try to go back to the 2hbh, you'll find yourself netting a lot of balls. You have to make a decision and choose. Go with the one hander.

 

[Haztrick]

I've never been able to nail the one hander.. Put it this way, if I were to hit 10 1hbh then probably 1 would go over with enough accuracy and power for a decent winner.. If I were to hit 10 2hbh then I'd say a good 5-7 of them would go over sweetly.

So I think it's good to try and work on the 2hbh. Does anyone have tips on how to grip it correctly etc as back hand has always been a weak one for me.

 

[Rickson]

Assuming you're a righty, use an eastern forehand grip with the left and a continental with the right. Good luck.

 

[jmjmkim]

Slice BH is a bread n butter shot.

 

[Grizvok]

Assuming you're a righty, use an eastern forehand grip with the left and a continental with the right. Good luck.

To begin, this is a great grip combination to use on the 2hb, however; when you start getting more advanced with the shot you may find your stroke is all together better by changing the left hand to a more extreme grip (I use semi-western).

The right hand should always stay continental.

 

[Rickson]

I used to use eastern/eastern, but when I switched to the 1hbh, I used a sw bh grip and it totally messed up my former 2 hander. Whenever I try the 2 hander now, it comes out super spinny and usually goes into the net.