How do I get more topspin on my 2 handed backhand?

[Graham Scott]

I've been working a lot on my 2 handed backhand recently. I've been practicing just hitting left handed forehands, and I can generate quite a bit of topspin. However, when I add my right hand, the shot is just a lot flatter and I can see the ball doesn't have as much spin. Any tips? I'm using a continental grip on my RH with an Eastern forehand on my left. I did briefly try a semi-western forehand grip on my LH yesterday, and while it didn't feel quite as comfortable, I was able to get a bit more spin.

Should I persevere with a SW grip on my left hand, or look at changing my technique with an Eastern forehand to generate more spin?

 

[Dragy]

Try:
- loosening up your wrists at the beginning of forward swing (two hands on the handle hold the racquet with much less effort compared to single hand, so racquet head is kept from dropping and lagging without you noticing it);
- dropping your hands closer to your hip before swinging out towards the ball.

 

[kaninfaan]

The timing of the knee-bend is "usually" a factor...
#fwiw

 

[ballmachineguy]

I know very little about it, but I believe that players have the racquet head high on the backswing so when you do the loose wrist thing Dragy mentioned the racquet head drops lower than it otherwise would before bringing it forward. Easier that way than what Venus does where she just starts from low. What she does seems less fluid.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I've been working a lot on my 2 handed backhand recently. I've been practicing just hitting left handed forehands, and I can generate quite a bit of topspin. However, when I add my right hand, the shot is just a lot flatter and I can see the ball doesn't have as much spin. Any tips? I'm using a continental grip on my RH with an Eastern forehand on my left. I did briefly try a semi-western forehand grip on my LH yesterday, and while it didn't feel quite as comfortable, I was able to get a bit more spin.

Should I persevere with a SW grip on my left hand, or look at changing my technique with an Eastern forehand to generate more spin?

Cheers from the other side of the pond.

it sounds like you are more dominant arm dominant [ie your right arm is taking over] in your swing, causing the swing path to be more lateral than you'd like.

Maybe you ought to also practice one-handed BHs with your dominant arm and exaggerate the low-to-high. Video yourself from the side to your left and compare the lefty FH, 1HBH, and 2HBH swing paths. My guess is that the lefty FH will be significantly steeper than either the 1HBH or the 2HBH.

 

[Graham Scott]

Thanks for all this advice. Some great tips. I had a hit yesterday again with a SW forehand grip in the left hand. Definitely helps to generate more topspin. But I'll look at working on my swing path too.

 

[nyta2]

try 2hbh with just one or two fingers of your right hand on the handle.
do you drop the racquet equally as when you're hitting a lefty fh?

 

[socallefty]

Tell a coach your issue and get some lessons.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

I used to want more topspin on my 2HBH until watching Medvedev liberated me. Now I only use topspin when going for the sweet cross-court-landing-in-the-ad-serve-box-right-corner shot.

For something a bit more useful. I'd note that the successful grip combinations are:
- Continental/Eastern
- Eastern/Semi-Western

Continental/Semi-Western just doesn't flow well and not common with pros either.

 

[Miki 1234]

I've been working a lot on my 2 handed backhand recently. I've been practicing just hitting left handed forehands, and I can generate quite a bit of topspin. However, when I add my right hand, the shot is just a lot flatter and I can see the ball doesn't have as much spin. Any tips? I'm using a continental grip on my RH with an Eastern forehand on my left. I did briefly try a semi-western forehand grip on my LH yesterday, and while it didn't feel quite as comfortable, I was able to get a bit more spin.

Should I persevere with a SW grip on my left hand, or look at changing my technique with an Eastern forehand to generate more spin?

You should not use wrist a lot on backhand , even novak said he tries not do drop it to much.
Its very easy to get injured tendon like that.
Since the position is much more limited then forehand and strain on left hand wrist tendon is much bigger.
Its gona drop anyway a bit so no need to overdo it.
Why would you want extra spin in backhand anyway.
Its way better to hit it medium spin to flat since you have 2 hands and control is much better then flat forehand.
Be very carefull i hurt my wrist trying to do the same thing.
Best way to do is to go thru the ball bit faster not the wrist thing.
Nothice nadal and medvedev backhand , nadals finish is much faster . And medvedev quite slow compared to nadal so less spin.

 

[LeeD]

Swing faster.
Low start is fine..we are not pros.

 

[nyta2]

I used to want more topspin on my 2HBH until watching Medvedev liberated me. Now I only use topspin when going for the sweet cross-court-landing-in-the-ad-serve-box-right-corner shot.

one of my fave drills for that, is doing cc "mini"
put a pyramid of balls halfway between service line and net... on/near the singles side line
and first person to knock down the balls, wins.
forces you to really brush, hit outside of ball, to get that sharp angle

folks that don't do the drop/brush hate this drill, and won't do it.

For something a bit more useful. I'd note that the successful grip combinations are:
- Continental/Eastern
- Eastern/Semi-Western

Continental/Semi-Western just doesn't flow well and not common with pros either.

i'm in the c/sw camp... used to be e/sw... i think i developed this way, being short, and having to deal with more high balls to my 2hbh
i've found most pros are in the c/e camp - and just tend to hit flatter... i experimented with this, and like the pace i can generate, but prefer the consistency (a bit more spin) of the c/sw
that said i tend to study nadal's 2hbh, who gets insane spin... unfortunately i can't swing that fast