How To Get More Power On My One Handed Running Backhand.

[TnsGuru]

I have a pretty solid one handed backhand and use the classic eastern backhand grip. My preparation is similar to RF's but the only thing I can't do with it is to hit a running backhand with authority consistently. Sometimes I can rip it for a winner on the run but it feels muscled and awkward. For years, when I'm on the run I would just resort to a decent neutral slice to get me back into the point. My running forehand on the other hand is a blast to hit and I can hit it down the line, sharp angle cross-court or topspin lob and sometimes if I'm pulled off the court I can smack the ball around the netpost. (my friends who play doubles with me hate that shot and keep telling me its illegal). This may sound weird but I prefer to hit a running forehand then a stationary one.

For those one handers out there, any tips that can help me to improve the running backhand? I need this to compliment my forehand.

 

[LeeD]

Possibly, your moving away from the baseline as you strike the running backhand, so you lose power. You need to run any possible way to arrive, but arrive in hitting position closed stanced, balanced, and with good posture, racket back, shoulder's turned. All those have to happen to have power when run wide on the backhand side.
Too remedial? OK, just get the racket back and hit flatter than normal for more ball speed, penetration, and depth.

 

[10isMaestro]

That is a very tough shot to hit. I would suggest wqtching how top pros do it - specifically, the footwork patterns and rhythm. On a running forehand, even when you're not in ideal conditions you have plenty of power to tap into unlike on your backhand side. For starters, you can give yourself plenty of space by reversing your follow-through. With a one handed backhand, you need better conditions to make it happen.

 

[TnsGuru]

That is a very tough shot to hit. I would suggest wqtching how top pros do it - specifically, the footwork patterns and rhythm. On a running forehand, even when you're not in ideal conditions you have plenty of power to tap into unlike on your backhand side. For starters, you can give yourself plenty of space by reversing your follow-through. With a one handed backhand, you need better conditions to make it happen.

I agree that it is a very tough shot to hit. The disadvantage of the one handed backhand is that it feels weak on the run but I like to read the forums because I learn a lot by just reading tips from fellow players. I even thought of just abandoning the one hander and go two handed but after a few tries it felt too awkward. I look at guys like Fed, Gasquet, Wawrinka and now Thiem and marvel at the power they generate when moving to their backhand side....one day maybe!

 

[esgee48]

An on the run FH can be hit open stance or neutral stance even when running. On on the run BH still requires that you plant your outer foot (left foot if righty) and step towards or into the ball to drive it. If you try to hit open stance, you cannot hit a flat or TS drive with any consistency. You can slice or lob with consistency from the open stance. If you can't get to the ball and set up, then the logical choice is lob to reset the point. Caveat if you have a really strong wrist/forearm, you should be able to hit from open stance, but this shot is normally reserved for 4.5+ players.

 

[kiteboard]

An on the run FH can be hit open stance or neutral stance even when running. On on the run BH still requires that you plant your outer foot (left foot if righty) and step towards or into the ball to drive it. If you try to hit open stance, you cannot hit a flat or TS drive with any consistency. You can slice or lob with consistency from the open stance. If you can't get to the ball and set up, then the logical choice is lob to reset the point. Caveat if you have a really strong wrist/forearm, you should be able to hit from open stance, but this shot is normally reserved for 4.5+ players.

LIsten to this guy.

 

[TupeloDanger]

An on the run FH can be hit open stance or neutral stance even when running. On on the run BH still requires that you plant your outer foot (left foot if righty) and step towards or into the ball to drive it. If you try to hit open stance, you cannot hit a flat or TS drive with any consistency. You can slice or lob with consistency from the open stance. If you can't get to the ball and set up, then the logical choice is lob to reset the point. Caveat if you have a really strong wrist/forearm, you should be able to hit from open stance, but this shot is normally reserved for 4.5+ players.

If you can plant your leg -- whether the front leg for a closed BH, or the outside leg for an open one -- it's not a running BH. It's a wide one you had to hustle for.

On the run, by definition, means you're running, which is very much the opposite of planting. Stick with the defensive slice, and if you want to put yourself in position to have to resort to it less often, improve your recognition, preparation, and fitness.

 

[movdqa]

Your footwork and stance can be fairly loose on the running forehand as you can be open, closed, in-between, etc.

On the running backhand, you generally need to wind up with a closed stance or using an open-to-closed movement as you're coming through the ball. So you have to do some quick mental calculations (or build it into muscle-memory) to figure out how you need to land to hit it and then execute the right steps and body alignment to hit it.

 

[kiteboard]

The only way to get pop running is to chin your frame arm to your shoulder, and coil extremely well and hit off the plant foot into the stepping hitting foot, off a closed stance.

 

[TnsGuru]

Your footwork and stance can be fairly loose on the running forehand as you can be open, closed, in-between, etc.

On the running backhand, you generally need to wind up with a closed stance or using an open-to-closed movement as you're coming through the ball. So you have to do some quick mental calculations (or build it into muscle-memory) to figure out how you need to land to hit it and then execute the right steps and body alignment to hit it.

As far as the wind up/preparation of the stroke is concerned, do you think it should be abbreviated somewhat, maintain the same size loop like my regular backhand or use a straighter swing to achieve a better result?

 

[TnsGuru]

An on the run FH can be hit open stance or neutral stance even when running. On on the run BH still requires that you plant your outer foot (left foot if righty) and step towards or into the ball to drive it. If you try to hit open stance, you cannot hit a flat or TS drive with any consistency. You can slice or lob with consistency from the open stance. If you can't get to the ball and set up, then the logical choice is lob to reset the point. Caveat if you have a really strong wrist/forearm, you should be able to hit from open stance, but this shot is normally reserved for 4.5+ players.

As far as the wind up/preparation of the stroke is concerned, do you think it should be abbreviated somewhat, maintain the same size loop like my regular backhand or use a straighter swing to achieve a better result?

 

[TnsGuru]

Possibly, your moving away from the baseline as you strike the running backhand, so you lose power. You need to run any possible way to arrive, but arrive in hitting position closed stanced, balanced, and with good posture, racket back, shoulder's turned. All those have to happen to have power when run wide on the backhand side.
Too remedial? OK, just get the racket back and hit flatter than normal for more ball speed, penetration, and depth.

As far as the wind up/preparation of the stroke is concerned, do you think it should be abbreviated somewhat, maintain the same size loop like my regular backhand or use a straighter swing to achieve a better result?

 

[TnsGuru]

The only way to get pop running is to chin your frame arm to your shoulder, and coil extremely well and hit off the plant foot into the stepping hitting foot, off a closed stance.

As far as the closed stance is concerned, doesn't this limit and lock your hips so the only option is to hit down the line? Also, if this is something I may try to experiment with, is there a proper way to recover after planting from a closed stance?

 

[kiteboard]

As far as the closed stance is concerned, doesn't this limit and lock your hips so the only option is to hit down the line? Also, if this is something I may try to experiment with, is there a proper way to recover after planting from a closed stance?

No, as your right hip drives the shot, and opens up powerfully first, creating whip lash/drag, and then recovery, you drive the left foot out to the side after hitting the shot, and plant powerfully, so you can then recover.

 

[TnsGuru]

No, as your right hip drives the shot, and opens up powerfully first, creating whip lash/drag, and then recovery, you drive the left foot out to the side after hitting the shot, and plant powerfully, so you can then recover.

When recovering towards the center of the court after hitting a backhand, do you cross step after planting your left leg or shuffle step? I heard cross stepping covers more ground....opinion?

 

[10isMaestro]

I agree that it is a very tough shot to hit. The disadvantage of the one handed backhand is that it feels weak on the run but I like to read the forums because I learn a lot by just reading tips from fellow players. I even thought of just abandoning the one hander and go two handed but after a few tries it felt too awkward. I look at guys like Fed, Gasquet, Wawrinka and now Thiem and marvel at the power they generate when moving to their backhand side....one day maybe!

I played a one handed backhand for eight years and just changed to a two hander. It feels awkward for a while, then only tougher shots feel awkward until, finally, it just feels great.

As for the running backhand, I can't tell a lot from my experience. On a good day, I was hitting it bigger than my forehand -- even on the run. The key was to get the rhythm right, using my strides to initiate the swing. As for footwork, it depends on the situation. You can selectively use an open stance and hop off your non hitting side leg as you come out of the stroke (i.e., just like Federer often does on his forehand). If you have less time, you have to hit heel to toe on your hitting side foot as you stride to initiate your swing and allow yourself to open up after contact. You can see even two handed backhand players do something similar (this is how you hit big cross court with a fully closed stance on all top spin groundstrokes). As you open up, you use your no hitting leg to stop your motion and start recovery. Beware, you have to let your legs and hips come around after contact -- you face the net later on closer stances.

 

[10isMaestro]

As far as the wind up/preparation of the stroke is concerned, do you think it should be abbreviated somewhat, maintain the same size loop like my regular backhand or use a straighter swing to achieve a better result?

It depends on your intentions. Usually, I go for as big a cross-court shot as I can when I hit on the run. I want that ball deep and big, so the DTL option is a very tough shot. Chances are, they'll miss or send a poor ball right down the middle.

Your takeback also depends on the shot you receive. The harder your opponent hits, the same you have to do in order to hit big yourself.

 

[LeeD]

As far as the wind up/preparation of the stroke is concerned, do you think it should be abbreviated somewhat, maintain the same size loop like my regular backhand or use a straighter swing to achieve a better result?

When you're running full speed out wide, you can NEVER hit with as much power as when you're set. Your momentum is going wide, not forward.
As for takeback length, that depends on you and how your body works. It's easier to shorten, but you lose even more power.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

I have a pretty solid one handed backhand and use the classic eastern backhand grip. My preparation is similar to RF's but the only thing I can't do with it is to hit a running backhand with authority consistently. Sometimes I can rip it for a winner on the run but it feels muscled and awkward. For years, when I'm on the run I would just resort to a decent neutral slice to get me back into the point. My running forehand on the other hand is a blast to hit and I can hit it down the line, sharp angle cross-court or topspin lob and sometimes if I'm pulled off the court I can smack the ball around the netpost. (my friends who play doubles with me hate that shot and keep telling me its illegal). This may sound weird but I prefer to hit a running forehand then a stationary one.

For those one handers out there, any tips that can help me to improve the running backhand? I need this to compliment my forehand.

Use a heavier racquet. That's the key to a 1HBH.

 

[philosoup]

I used to have this similar problem. It could be that the stance is not too close and the ball is too close in distance to your body by the time you reach the hitting zone. In that case, the net effect is you wouldn't have enough space for swing, resulting in less power and having to do ball-muscling. Another psossibility is you forgot to do body twisting/coiling while running towards the hitting zone. So try to adjust approaching speed, make pre-coiling would make a difference, e.g. make the last step bigger on your front foot to help racquet takeback, etc.

 

[Crocodile]

I have a pretty solid one handed backhand and use the classic eastern backhand grip. My preparation is similar to RF's but the only thing I can't do with it is to hit a running backhand with authority consistently. Sometimes I can rip it for a winner on the run but it feels muscled and awkward. For years, when I'm on the run I would just resort to a decent neutral slice to get me back into the point. My running forehand on the other hand is a blast to hit and I can hit it down the line, sharp angle cross-court or topspin lob and sometimes if I'm pulled off the court I can smack the ball around the netpost. (my friends who play doubles with me hate that shot and keep telling me its illegal). This may sound weird but I prefer to hit a running forehand then a stationary one.

For those one handers out there, any tips that can help me to improve the running backhand? I need this to compliment my forehand.

My advice is to beat the ball and get there earlier so you can lock and load and set up for the shot. I would practise the one legged split step, where you prop on your right leg then land on it and push off and land on your left leg. You could do this with a medicine ball. I think you are better with your forehand because you move better to the right and can execute off your right leg, with the backhand you have to be quicker because open stance one handed topspin backhands while possible is harder to do.