Is modern Two handed Backhand actually better than a Forehand?

[_maxi]

Is modern Two handed Backhand actually better than a Forehand?

That is the question. Is there any gap in speed between the two shots in guys who have goods 2hbh, like djoko, nalb, delpo, murray? is there any advantage in placement?

Seeing how Nadal fails to respond well on his "(others)backhand-to-(his)forehand" battles, I'm noticing that if a player has a very good 2hbh, or maybe just a good one, he can handle Nadals forehand, or other "lefty" forehands "easily", and plus, the 2hbh can go down the line with more consistency than a forehand. Also it's very versatil and can hit very good shots in low balls aswell as in high balls.

So, in some way, I'm saying that I think than 2hbh is better than 1hbh, but also, I want to take it a bit farer and say that a good 2hbh is actually better than a good forehand.

Sure, we've seen players hit 105 mph forehand winners, and there is no contest there, probably we wont see a 2hbh go faster than 95 or 100 mph in this life (or maybe not...). If we only look at forehands where the player is very confortable and hits 100 mph, or we only look to forehand attacks, then we may conclude that forehand is better, but in more general terms, I think 2hbh is THE shot of this era, better than a forehand.

Discuss.

 

[jdubbs]

No, you can do a lot more with the FH.

If I had to do it over again, I would have learned the 1 handed BH. Would help me get to a lot more balls.

 

[Clay lover]

It may actually be true for some ladies methinks.

 

[kishnabe]

If you're biggest weapon is the 2handedBackhand....since many guys attack it anways....it would keep in you in the points longer and you can be a very defensive player,

If you're biggest weapon is the forehand....you can attack much more and be an aggresive player.

In Nadal case....he is a very defensive player and his backhand is letting him down. His forehand is still great but people know what to expect from that side and continue pounding away at his backhand!

 

[Lsmkenpo]

No, its much harder to generate pace with a 2HBH than a forehand stroke, the forehand stroke has greater racquet head speed.

 

[ryushen21]

The forehand is always going to be the weapon for most players. The mechanics of the shot just allow you to do more and put more on it.

The 2hbh is the wear you down and occasionally provide you a winner shot. If you are really good with it you can get your opponent into a heavy cross-court exchange and then smoke one down the line that they weren't expecting.

 

[dirtballer]

The way the 2HBH is hit now, it's really a left handed forehand.

 

[wilkinru]

You can create much more spin with the forehand, because of the whipping action. This allows you to open up the court or hit the ball harder.

Nadal forehand to Federer's backhand - forces Fed to try to put the ball down the line, a difficult shot and the key to the matchup.

Djok can take the pace and is tall enough to take the spin and direct that power back down the line right now. That is the KEY to who wins these matchups.

Whoever gets more forehands and can create weak / mistakes from the backhand.


Oh, this is also why Fed does his little chip return of serve. The return has little pace and is lower, so the backhand reply will be more focused on returning the ball with some power and in the court - not a winner. This gets Fed into the point easily. Players who beat Fed all can generate more power and spin on the backhand or can move very well to get to that ball quickly.

 

[_maxi]

Wilkinru, I didn't talk about 1hbh, only 2hbh.

I'm sure djokovic has maybe as equal backhand winners as forehand winners lately.

 

[Devilito]

The way the 2HBH is hit now, it's really a left handed forehand.

now, as opposed to when? I really don't see any awesomeness between say Murray's backhand and Agassi or Kafelnikov or Rios

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgScOlDlZWY

you guys make it sound like Tennis was just invented 6 years ago.

 

[wilkinru]

Wilkinru, I didn't talk about 1hbh, only 2hbh.

I'm sure djokovic has maybe as equal backhand winners as forehand winners lately.

Federer is using the chip to backhands - which are almost always 2HBH. Most cannot generate enough spin to control the point, so they spin the ball back into the court (Roddick is a good example of a typcal 2HBH having trouble controlling points off a chip).

Djok pins Nadal into the backhand, and then Nadal eventually comes up with a softer backhand down the line - which Djok takes on the rise and crushes it to Nadal's forehand - your backhand winners.

This is all set up by Djok going to the backhand deep into Nadal.

See, often the forehand would be a winner, but Nadal is fast, so it takes an extra shot to get by him - thats what makes him so tough. You need to hit 2-3 winners to win a point.

Nadal's running forehand is not even close to as good as when he has time to set up. He will almost always hook the ball cross court also. This ball can be taken down the line for a winner, as Nadal barely had time to get to the forehand, it will be even tougher to reach the backhand now.

Watch the second set of Rome again.

 

[Devilito]

There’s nothing “modern” about Djokovic, Murray or anyone’s backhand. Djokovic’s backhand is a weapon. Big deal. Different players have different weapons and that’s to be expected. It’s also a big weapon for him because of the bigger reason, his movement.

 

[bhallic24]

There’s nothing “modern” about Djokovic, Murray or anyone’s backhand. Djokovic’s backhand is a weapon. Big deal. Different players have different weapons and that’s to be expected. It’s also a big weapon for him because of the bigger reason, his movement.

roger that. no pun intended. Djoker just moves very very well and i think that's underrated. But on top of that near flawless movement are very fundamentally sound forehand and backhand techniques off both wings. Put those two together and you're a pretty solid player.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

NO!

That's like asking if it is better to receive than serve. I'd rather serve every game and use FH the whole match if I could.

 

[heftylefty]

now, as opposed to when? I really don't see any awesomeness between say Murray's backhand and Agassi or Kafelnikov or Rios

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgScOlDlZWY

you guys make it sound like Tennis was just invented 6 years ago.

Great point.

Side Note: Agassi and Kafelnikov were killin' it in that clip. Sweet!! They must have been playing on the "No Pushers Allowed" court.

 

[Double_Fault]

Modern 2HBH is a FH.

(see ******)

 

[TMF]

now, as opposed to when? I really don't see any awesomeness between say Murray's backhand and Agassi or Kafelnikov or Rios
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgScOlDlZWY

you guys make it sound like Tennis was just invented 6 years ago.

Sure they don't. B/c they need a Rosewall's 80+mph bh slice to be awsome, right ? :roll:

 

[Migelowsky]

now, as opposed to when? I really don't see any awesomeness between say Murray's backhand and Agassi or Kafelnikov or Rios

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgScOlDlZWY

you guys make it sound like Tennis was just invented 6 years ago.

^ +1 , you can go further back and not only with the backhand,
there have been always semi-western grips and windshield wiper forehands.
In 10 years people are going to say that Nadal and Federer were archaic, slow and old fashion, we have very short span memory.

 

[snvplayer]

Some guys might have more "solid" two handed backhand than a forehand. So they might not make as many errors, or it won't break down under pressure as much. But, they will still run around and hit forehand b/c they can do more with their forehand.

So, i guess it kinda depends on how you define better, but yes, some guys backhand maybe more solid than their forehand.

 

[dominikk1985]

No, most ATP players still have a better FH than BH.

but at the WTA very often the girls have a stronger BH than FH. I think this is because the 2HBH is more dependent on a strong rotation of the body, while you need a very strong hand and forearm to hit a FH.

If it's just about hitting balls on the rise with power I think the BH is about equal, but still you can do more with the FH because you have more flexibility in the wrist with one hand.

that means it's easier to hit extreme spin (usually BH is flatter than the FH) or angles.

You can also hit the FH a little harder because the range of motion is bigger, although I have seen murray hit nearly 100 MPH backhands

Muurya uber BH:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzkP-UMez2A

 

[Manus Domini]

Great point.

Side Note: Agassi and Kafelnikov were killin' it in that clip. Sweet!! They must have been playing on the "No Pushers Allowed" court.

well, Murray's never been to that court, I don't think... lol

@OP, there have been times when it was the 1hbh that was a common weapon over the forehand, but it depends on the player. During Rosewall's time, he, Laver, and [later] Connors had very strong bhs, for example

Djokovic's backhand is what Nadal's fh used to be, and everyone has trouble with it.

 

[piece]

Sure, we've seen players hit 105 mph forehand winners, and there is no contest there, probably we wont see a 2hbh go faster than 95 or 100 mph in this life (or maybe not...). If we only look at forehands where the player is very confortable and hits 100 mph, or we only look to forehand attacks, then we may conclude that forehand is better, but in more general terms, I think 2hbh is THE shot of this era, better than a forehand.

Discuss.

Apparently the man in your avatar has done it. According to Wikipedia Nalbandian has the fastest backhand on record at 110mph http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backhand

 

[_maxi]

now, as opposed to when? I really don't see any awesomeness between say Murray's backhand and Agassi or Kafelnikov or Rios

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgScOlDlZWY

you guys make it sound like Tennis was just invented 6 years ago.

Tennis has changed a lot in 10 years. Speed of strokes has increased a LOT. So did the backhands. An Agassi backhand has nothing to do agaisnt a Nalbandian backhand, or Djokovic backhand.
If you like youtube clips, then search for Nalbandian vs Agassi matches, and you'll see how Nalbandian killed Agassi in the backhand-vs-backhand battle.

 

[Double_Fault]

Nalbandian has the fastest backhand? What, Fat Dave? No. Fake record. Like Karlovic's fake DC record.

 

[MarTennis]

Still worthy of discussion...

Is modern Two handed Backhand actually better than a Forehand?

That is the question. Is there any gap in speed between the two shots in guys who have goods 2hbh, like djoko, nalb, delpo, murray? is there any advantage in placement?

Seeing how Nadal fails to respond well on his "(others)backhand-to-(his)forehand" battles, I'm noticing that if a player has a very good 2hbh, or maybe just a good one, he can handle Nadals forehand, or other "lefty" forehands "easily", and plus, the 2hbh can go down the line with more consistency than a forehand. Also it's very versatil and can hit very good shots in low balls aswell as in high balls.

So, in some way, I'm saying that I think than 2hbh is better than 1hbh, but also, I want to take it a bit farer and say that a good 2hbh is actually better than a good forehand.

Sure, we've seen players hit 105 mph forehand winners, and there is no contest there, probably we wont see a 2hbh go faster than 95 or 100 mph in this life (or maybe not...). If we only look at forehands where the player is very confortable and hits 100 mph, or we only look to forehand attacks, then we may conclude that forehand is better, but in more general terms, I think 2hbh is THE shot of this era, better than a forehand.

Discuss.

I heard Lendl tell another tour pro that tactically it is very unwise to attack the 2hbh as a matter of course, because ATP pros are unlikely to produce errors on their 2HBH these days. I tend to agree. I tell my kid he should never miss a 2 hander.

 

[MarTennis]

Maybe not the fast, but perhaps the best, ever.

Nalbandian has the fastest backhand? What, Fat Dave? No. Fake record. Like Karlovic's fake DC record.

Don't take my opinion. Lansdorp thinks so too. He advices all students to study Nalbandian backhand. Good enough for me.

 

[boramiNYC]

2hbh is not 'left hand forehand with just right hand on', as a lot of coaches like to say these days. When both hands are holding the racquet the biomechanics and balance of the upper body and lower body becomes completely different from just one hand holding the racquet. Everything else equal a forehand inherently will have much greater range of motion and swing arc with potential for greater control and power.

 

[BevelDevil]

The popularity of stepping around the backhand suggests it is not.

2hbh is not 'left hand forehand with just right hand on', as a lot of coaches like to say these days. When both hands are holding the racquet the biomechanics and balance of the upper body and lower body becomes completely different from just one hand holding the racquet. Everything else equal a forehand inherently will have much greater range of motion and swing arc with potential for greater control and power.

Agreed. The real question is, When is the "left-handed forehand" analogy useful, and when is it not?

 

[dannykl]

Tennis has changed a lot in 10 years. Speed of strokes has increased a LOT. So did the backhands. An Agassi backhand has nothing to do agaisnt a Nalbandian backhand, or Djokovic backhand.
If you like youtube clips, then search for Nalbandian vs Agassi matches, and you'll see how Nalbandian killed Agassi in the backhand-vs-backhand battle.

Nalbandian? The guy constantly being killed on court by second-tier players?
His skills are way too inconsistent.
Yevgeny has a much better backhand than Nalbandian.

 

[dannykl]

I heard Lendl tell another tour pro that tactically it is very unwise to attack the 2hbh as a matter of course, because ATP pros are unlikely to produce errors on their 2HBH these days. I tend to agree. I tell my kid he should never miss a 2 hander.

I find many 2hbh players do not respond a decent slice well.
Fed's slice troubles most 2hbh players, even Djok is often bothered by Fed's slice.

Sometimes I think Fed should use his slice more against Djok rather than his topspin backhand.

Murray and Nadal are 2 players who are not bothered by Fed's slice because they have very decent slice themselves at backhand side.