My backhand is by far my most neglected stroke in my game. I have a solid serve and forehand.. but my backhand is really holding me back. For the longest time i used a weak slice that all i could really do is "pop it back in play." I've been experimenting with the two hander, one hander and trying the improve my slice but to no avail. My two hander feels awkward and i can only hit a decent shot when the ball is coming slowly and i can set up. My one hander has a lot more power and penetration and is definitly the more natural feeling stroke. But i have trouble developing topspin and often net it or hit it long. My slice isn't really a slice.. mostly because there is not a lot of backspin and it doesnt stay very low either. So my question is what do I do? At this point I'm just looking for a solid shot I can get back every time. I feel like the two hander might offer more in consistency.. but I can't seem to use it on the run whereas my one hander feels much more fluid and powerful but i just dont seem to be able to "spin it in" when i need to.
I have virtually no backhand.. help?
- Thread starter BirdWalkR
- Start date
CaldwellYSR
Rookie
Then you should stick with the one hander. If you're already close with the one hander (which it sounds like you are) then switching will take alot more work. What grip do you use on your 1 handers? Also do you have an open stance or closed? The thing that helped me the most was switching to and eastern backhand grip (bevel 1 methinks) and closing my stance. If you leave your stance open the the moment in your stroke where the strings are facing the right direction is really small and you have to contort your wrist to get it over if the timing is off. Closing the stance makes more of your swing path orient your racquet head the correct way.
As for topspin, I don't have that shot consistant yet but when I practice it I move from bevel 1 to bevel 8 and try to follow through higher.
The method of practice that helped me the most was standing at the service line facing the sideline then having almost no backswing. Get someone to toss balls to you, hold the grip you want, step into the ball, then just swing soft and follow through. Once you hit 10 in a row that are over the net and in back up a step and add more backswing into the stroke. Keep doing this until you're at the baseline with a full stroke.
Last edited:
TomT
Hall of Fame
I can sympathize with your situation. It will eventually come to you if you work on it a lot. I agree with CaldwellYSR that if you're more comfortable with the onehander, then you might as well continue with that.
Personally, I use what I guess is basically a Continental grip for all backhand strokes (flat, slight topsping, slight undercut) except the extreme topspin where I think I adjust a little toward Eastern. And a closed stance on contact. For extreme topspin, my racket is coming from a bit lower and brushing up on the ball more.
The essentials to hitting consistent backhands are, imo, basically the same as hitting consistent forehands, ie., footwork-preparation-eyeing the ball all the way to contact-and follow through. The more I practiced these things (along with different grips) just hitting against the practice wall (trying to emulate certain pros), the more consistent my backhand became and the more confident I became regarding hitting out with it on the court.
You should post some videos so that people people here who can analyze strokes really well (which I'm not one of) can give you some pointers. It might shorten the time it takes for you to develop your backhand, and avoid some of the mistakes that trial-and-error learners like myself apparently had to make before things started to click.
Last edited:
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
If you want to pursue or experiment further with a 2-handed BH, the try developing your non-dominant arm. If you are a righty, then try hitting left-handed FHs. Do this with the left hand near the top of the grip -- where it would normally be for your 2-handed BH. Most players use a modified Eastern or SW grip for the top hand. Execute a classic (OTS) topsin FH using a neutral stance. (Do not use an open-stance WW Fh for this).
Do this exercise with easy self-feeds. After dropping the ball, make sure that you start to uncoil your body to initiate the forward swing. That is, do not swing first and then uncoil. Once you can get the ball over the net with your off-hand most of the time, try it with a faster racket speed. Try to deliver more spin and speed to the ball with your non-dom arm.
After you've mastered this, add your dominant hand back to the racket after gently tossing the ball (for a self-feed). Most players use a continental grip on the lower hand.
Do this exercise with easy self-feeds. After dropping the ball, make sure that you start to uncoil your body to initiate the forward swing. That is, do not swing first and then uncoil. Once you can get the ball over the net with your off-hand most of the time, try it with a faster racket speed. Try to deliver more spin and speed to the ball with your non-dom arm.
After you've mastered this, add your dominant hand back to the racket after gently tossing the ball (for a self-feed). Most players use a continental grip on the lower hand.
BevelDevil
Hall of Fame
For the 1hbh:
1. Use the right grip! This is the starting point, and a bad choice here is what derails a lot of players.
I highly recommend a "hammer"-like Eastern backhand grip.
Here's a video showing how to obtain this grip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IurGIKVFKQ#t=0m19s
2. Watch: Two of the best videos on the 1hbh, Part I and Part II.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW2_dyj6QiM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWTPw1l3qIU
Whoa, bevel 8 is way too far back. No pro I know does that. At most, your knuckle should go to the ridge between bevel 8 and bevel 1.
Also, the Eastern position can be made more "extreme" simply by moving the heel pad of your palm more behind the handle. Knuckle on bevel 1 and heel pad on bevel 8 or 7.5 is a good grip
1. Use the right grip! This is the starting point, and a bad choice here is what derails a lot of players.
I highly recommend a "hammer"-like Eastern backhand grip.
Here's a video showing how to obtain this grip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IurGIKVFKQ#t=0m19s
2. Watch: Two of the best videos on the 1hbh, Part I and Part II.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW2_dyj6QiM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWTPw1l3qIU
Whoa, bevel 8 is way too far back. No pro I know does that. At most, your knuckle should go to the ridge between bevel 8 and bevel 1.
Also, the Eastern position can be made more "extreme" simply by moving the heel pad of your palm more behind the handle. Knuckle on bevel 1 and heel pad on bevel 8 or 7.5 is a good grip
CaldwellYSR
Rookie
This might actually be what I do. I'll have to check when I get the racquet back in my hand. I'm still pretty noobie myself. Sounds more correct when I think about it.
Those videos are outstanding. Thanks.
Similar threads
- SageOfDeath
- Tennis Tips/Instruction
