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

[CCHIU]

How do I get more topspin on my two handed backhand? My backhand is really flat and I want to be able to hit more topspin. I know I need to start more below the ball. What grip should I use with my left and right hand? Currently my right hand is in an eastern forehand position and my left hand is continental. BTW, I am left handed too.

Is there an extreme grip for backhands that might help? I use an extreme western forehand grip on my forehand so my forehand is the polar opposite of my backhand right now. More people tend to pick on my backhand for that reason.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

[Borg Forever]

Roll over it a lot more with your left hand, assuming that you're right-handed.

Also, use more left arm extension than right arm.

Nadal does this very well on his backhand, which gives him tremendous topspin.

 

[CCHIU]

Thanks! I'll try that. I'm actually a lefty so I'll do the opposite of what you just told me. I love Nadal's backhand, that's why I'm trying to get more topspin.

 

[LeeD]

Yeah, pronate thru on every swing, but swing faster than you do now.
You can switch your grips more extreme, like lefty ebh and right SW or W, giving you tons of topspin, but your ball moves kinda slow and non aggressively.

 

[Limpinhitter]

How do I get more topspin on my two handed backhand? My backhand is really flat and I want to be able to hit more topspin. I know I need to start more below the ball. What grip should I use with my left and right hand? Currently my right hand is in an eastern forehand position and my left hand is continental. BTW, I am left handed too.

Is there an extreme grip for backhands that might help? I use an extreme western forehand grip on my forehand so my forehand is the polar opposite of my backhand right now. More people tend to pick on my backhand for that reason.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

I think your grip is fine. Remember that a two handed backhand is more of a right handed (for a lefty), forehand. Try allowing your right hand to be dominant and keep your left hand passive. That will allow your right hand to come up and over the ball imparting topspin.

 

[codagalie]

The left hand is the boss. It is the same shot as hitting the forehand. Try hitting the backhand just like you hit your forehand, but with your left hand only. Make sure the racket gets under the ball and use the left hand to rotate the racket fast behind the ball. Make sure that the backhand rotates the racket quick.

There are many variations of grips. You can try using continental/eastern for forehand and semi-western grip for backhand.

 

[codagalie]

Sorry what I mean is continental/eastern for right hand and semi-western for left hand.

 

[WildVolley]

Without seeing a video, I can tell you that topspin off the backhand is really just a matter of racket head speed and racket head path. Most people hit less topspin off the 2hbh because they don't swing as fast and they have a flatter approach.

Switching slightly toward SW with your right hand might help a little, but still make sure that you're getting the racket to dip below the ball before the up and forward movement. Also, make sure to load the right leg and really get a full shoulder turn away from the ball. You want to be looking at the ball over your left shoulder and have dynamic hip turn and shoulder turn prior to contact.

 

[TennisCJC]

As others have said, going to stronger grips can help.

A couple of other things to practice:

1. When you drop the racket to start coming forward, try to the the top edge of the racket to equal to the expected contact point. This means you will have to pull upward to get the sweetspot to contact with the ball resulting in a slightly upward swing path. This might not sound like enough drop but I find you can get decent spin if you are just getting that top edge below expected contact.
2. Take a few shadow strokes and watch the racket face as you transition from take back to forward. As you start the racket face forward, it should be slightly closed (strings pointing toward ground). It doesn't have to close as much as a FH typically does, but you want it to close a bit so you can have a slightly closed or square face at ball impact.

 

[Topspin Shot]

Try relaxing your wrists so the racket can drop below your hands at the bottom of the backswing.

 

[sovertennis]

Your left hand should hold on very loosely. This should help the right hand to accelerate the racket head more effectively.

 

[Alien]

Hit one hand backhand....

Actually Nadals bhand is rather flat.

 

[ext2hander]

Check my post today: Show me your two-hander (3-21-2015)

I hit my right-handed two-hand backhand fairly flat -- for max ball speed and try to swing it out wide to either side, or between opponents down the middle. Heavy Prince NXG racquet, with fast swing speed at impact. Loose compact swing, legs, and upper body. Some topspin from a slight low-to-high motion -- with fairly loose grip -- and the rest from strong lifting at the thighs. You'll see my waist elevate during the stroke. Yet, on occasion I can alter the backswing for greater topspin (particularly against topspinners), or for balls well behind the baseline that I elect to hit a disguised, heavy topspin lob (or very hard & flat and deep, away from net player).

I find hitting with excess topspin loses too much pace, and gives opponent more time to hit a ball that sits up nicely. And, takes too much effort, vs a more fluid, flatter stroke. For short high balls, I'll firm up the grip slightly and hit a bit downward to hit very hard and deep. For short low balls, I'll hit with very loose grip to assure more topspin by having the racquet face wrap around the ball longer with a slight roll action. Just Let-R-Rip

Left-hand backhands should dominate with the right-hand (normally positioned above the left hand on the grip). Post a short video clip of your two-hander, so we can give an honest eval (be brave!).