increase 1h bh power tips ??

[coyfish]

I recently switched over to a 1H backhand. Im a 4.5 and I wanted to give this shot an adequate chance to see what I could do with it. After 2 sessions with the ball machine and a couple friendly matches / rallies I started getting the hang of it. My only real issue is that I haven't been able to get much power off it. I know this is pretty much impossible to do without seeing a vid of me but any tips on how to add some power. I think the problem is I emphasize keeping my head down so much that I don't step into the shot enough. I hit it hard enough / place it well enough to play competative 4.5 but sometimes I wan't to rip an easy winner and I just can't hit it as hard as I would like.

As for my opinion on the shot I love it. For some reason I can position myself so much better. I thought it would be "easier" than my 2 hander but I was wrong. Its mandatory that you move your feet to get in proper position unlike the 2hander which you can get away with a little more imo.

 

[In D Zone]

Couple of ways to hit a good penerating 1hbh.

First is the weight transfer from the back foot to the front as you make contact with the ball. Think of it as you are attack the 1hbh by moving forward. Yes, its easy as it may sound but its really one of the toughest movement to remember. As you realized there are alot more movement involved on 1hbh with only a fraction of a second to execute the shot to its perfect form. Relax your stroke is also important so you can generate more racquet speed - to whip thru the shot.

Second option is hit the ball long and with alot of topspin - basically you want to push your opponent back and driving the ball to kick up. Drop your racquet low to the ground and increase the racquet speed as you brush up to generate topspin.

Third option I think is the hardest shot - hitting 1hbh dtl. Very effective when you are able to pin the opponent to the ad side (righty player) and then hitting the bh shot dtl. You don't have to hit a hard 1hbh shot but more control.

 

[RoddickRook]

I recently switched over to a 1H backhand. Im a 4.5 and I wanted to give this shot an adequate chance to see what I could do with it. After 2 sessions with the ball machine and a couple friendly matches / rallies I started getting the hang of it. My only real issue is that I haven't been able to get much power off it. I know this is pretty much impossible to do without seeing a vid of me but any tips on how to add some power. I think the problem is I emphasize keeping my head down so much that I don't step into the shot enough. I hit it hard enough / place it well enough to play competative 4.5 but sometimes I wan't to rip an easy winner and I just can't hit it as hard as I would like.

As for my opinion on the shot I love it. For some reason I can position myself so much better. I thought it would be "easier" than my 2 hander but I was wrong. Its mandatory that you move your feet to get in proper position unlike the 2hander which you can get away with a little more imo.

Well I don't know what exactly your doing, but basically make sure you bring the racquet head all the way back in the backswing, as a unit beginning with the shoulders, turn to where your back is almost parallel with the baseline and make sure your back (left) foot is parallel as well. Utilizing gravity, let your racquet head drop below your waist and keep a straight arm. By this time you will start you're forward motion by moving your front (right) leg forward and placing it at a 45 degree angle to the baseline or serviceline (depending where you are) and bend your knees so that you aren't completely erect, this helps with some leverage. Your left hand you will try to balance yourself out, and then end up high with the racquet, making sure you yourself aren't turned facing the net completely (you don't want to open up too much).

Hope this helps.

 

[Sublime]

Stepping into the shot and getting into a closed stance are all very important and others have covered those.

Just focusing on the upper body...

Make sure you keep your hitting arm straight through the entire swing.

Focus on popping your chest out through contact.

Apply a little bit of pressure with your non-hitting hand on the throat of your racket. Rip the racket out of this hand with your hitting arm. This will give you sort of a slingshot effect and help increase your racket head speed.

 

[coyfish]

Thx for the tips. My backhand is not a loopy (the ball not the swing) shot but its in that direction. They have plenty of topspin and come down deep which is nice but im trying to figure out how to flatten them out a bit more.

 

[Power Player]

Prepare earlier and keep your head down through contact. Make sure your chin is on the shoulder. All basics, but many times they got lost in the shuffle of learning a new stroke. It sounds like your head is down, but you are not turning your shoulders enough and letting your body generate the power. I am guessing this since I can not see video of you.

 

[In D Zone]

Thx for the tips. My backhand is not a loopy (the ball not the swing) shot but its in that direction. They have plenty of topspin and come down deep which is nice but im trying to figure out how to flatten them out a bit more.

To flattend the shot - finish the shot right about shoulder height instead of swing it up towards the sky. The racquet take back (using your non dominant hand to help prep ), line your shoulder right below your chin - this will add more hip rotation and power to your shot.

 

[RoddickAce]

http://www.tennis.com/yourgame/instructionarticles/backhand/backhand.aspx?id=741

"Problem
You lack the power you’d like on your one-handed backhand, especially since you seem to swing with plenty of force. Many times this happens because your racquet is accelerating at the wrong time."

"Solution
On your backswing, hold the upper throat of your racquet with your nondominant hand so the head is back by your hip and your hitting arm is away from your body. Don’t let go of the racquet until the forward swing snaps it out of your grasp."

 

[smack that]

more shoulder rotation

 

[tennis939]

of all the advices....be sure to hit the ball right front of the body

and chin on ur shoulder when ur taking back...that's what my coach told me..and it helps me...

 

[WildVolley]

You need to get that front shoulder under your chin on the takeback and then use the shoulders to get into the shot. I find the ball can be hit the hardest when the shoulders and chest open a little more into the shot and then stop abruptly.

 

[fuzz nation]

When I was developing a 1hbh, I had trouble understanding the radius of the swing compared with the 2hbh, which can seem much more restricted. To go out to the correct hitting area, a teaching pro told me to concentrate on hitting around the outside half of the ball and... BOOM! I just about blew his head off with a couple of full rips.

To find that correct strike zone, you may want to have someone feed you some balls and instead of trying to hit to a target, just take a full release through the ball so that you get around it enough to hit it almost sideways. I'm still amazed by just how much farther out in front I need to go to hit the ball well for my 1hbh. Once you find that hitting area out there in front of you, I'll bet the lights go on.

I'd also encourage you to get onto your front foot before contact, not as you hit in the way that we often hit a forehand. Unless your weight is on that front foot, your hips will be unable to engage and help drive your turn through the stroke and there's a whole lot less energy potential on that one-hander.

 

[NamRanger]

Staying through the shot, aka keeping bent throughout the shot. Don't actively push up with your leg.

 

[righty]

Turning your shoulders around and taking the racquet head back, are the two most critical things you need to check.

 

[coyfish]

Worked a couple hours with the ball machine today on my backhand and it really helped. I changed my grip a bit. I was using a too extreme eastern backhand grip. Also I took your advice and held on to the racket with my left hand and let it explode out when I was ready to swing. This really utilized all my momentum / power and transfered it to the ball. I was really hitting some nice shots with very little effort. Felt easier than hitting my forehands to be honest . Still need to work on my consistancy (was hitting about 2/3 in the court) but I know how it is supposed to feel which helps a bunch. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[luthertn]

I recently switched over to a 1H backhand. Im a 4.5 and I wanted to give this shot an adequate chance to see what I could do with it. After 2 sessions with the ball machine and a couple friendly matches / rallies I started getting the hang of it. My only real issue is that I haven't been able to get much power off it. I know this is pretty much impossible to do without seeing a vid of me but any tips on how to add some power. I think the problem is I emphasize keeping my head down so much that I don't step into the shot enough. I hit it hard enough / place it well enough to play competative 4.5 but sometimes I wan't to rip an easy winner and I just can't hit it as hard as I would like.

As for my opinion on the shot I love it. For some reason I can position myself so much better. I thought it would be "easier" than my 2 hander but I was wrong. Its mandatory that you move your feet to get in proper position unlike the 2hander which you can get away with a little more imo.

I also have a same problem as you , most of mine 1hbh shot are mostly topspin but it goes deep to the opponent , i ask my friend on the problem like yours they say that my 1hbh is good dont power it just angle it and rip the ball with lots of spin and your good.

 

[mental midget]

Worked a couple hours with the ball machine today on my backhand and it really helped. I changed my grip a bit. I was using a too extreme eastern backhand grip. Also I took your advice and held on to the racket with my left hand and let it explode out when I was ready to swing. This really utilized all my momentum / power and transfered it to the ball. I was really hitting some nice shots with very little effort. Felt easier than hitting my forehands to be honest . Still need to work on my consistancy (was hitting about 2/3 in the court) but I know how it is supposed to feel which helps a bunch. Thanks for all the help guys.

you'll know when you get it. with good timing, you should be able to absolutely rip a one-hander. keep the shoulder pretty loose, but closed, through contact. like you mentioned, it is a pretty effortless stroke when you start feeling it. the effort comes in when you start trying to really rip over it for heavy spin, while preserving as much pace and depth as possible. i don't think there's a more entertaining shot to hit, nothing like ripping one down the line or rolling over a short angle for the pass.

 

[coyfish]

Yeah i was really hitting them clean and hard. Much better feeling than my 2H backhand thats for sure. Much more natural / fluid feeling as well. Only thing I was having trouble with was putting a lot of topsin. Have to have good timing with your wrist to generate that spin. Im talking about like midcourt shots that you want to topspin off the court.

 

[Double bagel]

Make sure you bend those knees..this is so imperative to striking a 1hbh. The rear leg needs to bend more than the lead leg, this will ensure a vertical, proper posture when making contact.

 

[supertrex]

you'll know when you get it. with good timing, you should be able to absolutely rip a one-hander. keep the shoulder pretty loose, but closed, through contact. like you mentioned, it is a pretty effortless stroke when you start feeling it. the effort comes in when you start trying to really rip over it for heavy spin, while preserving as much pace and depth as possible. i don't think there's a more entertaining shot to hit, nothing like ripping one down the line or rolling over a short angle for the pass.

what u mean by loose shoulder?

 

[dr_punk]

Ease your grip, Ease your swing, and try and use that wrist a bit more. Make sure you have plenty of preparation time, too.

 

[2ndServe]

if you're in Orange County I can give you some tips, its' tough without a video. Have western backhand, catch the ball wayyy out in front, always keep you arm straight, it can be bent on the backswing but once you start your forward swing make sure it's straight because a bent elbow at contact on a 1hb is the worst thing. Catch the ball on the rise and step into it. I hit it harder than just about any forehand around with this approach.

Oh also you need to get stronger, It's not a coincidence that the GOAT contenders on the mens tour are almost all 1hb. It develops great strength on your arm. The hardest part is returning serve and resisting the urge to slice. Go over it, you'll be late but as your arm gets stronger you can just power through it.

I would not wrist it, Fed wrists it because he uses a grip more towards a continental, it's also why he mishits and has trouble with high backhands. Look at great 1hb like henin, kuerten, becker, stich, pioline and see how far out fronth they make contact.