Justine Henin on the one handed backhand

[bhupaes]

This episode of Tennis Channel Academy was great:

http://www.thetennischannel.com/programs/EpisodeDetail.aspx?id=3749

Henin actually talks about how she hits her backhands, topspin and slice. She even says that she uses her wrist for the one handed topspin backhand ("at the end", in her words), and you can see it in her swing (in the show). I think you need to subscribe to TC in order to see it - I couldn't find it on youtube.

Hey, I'm just the messenger and I have a two handed topspin backhand, so don't shoot me!

 

[split-step]

I watched the segment and she didn't say she uses her wrist.
She described the grip, footwork, preparation, having the racquet head lower than the ball before contact and the hit.

As an afterthought she added that during the followthrough, 'you do your wrist like this'.

 

[bhupaes]

I believe she clearly said "you use the wrist at the end". I'll look for it again when it is replayed.

 

[split-step]

I believe she clearly said "you use the wrist at the end". I'll look for it again when it is replayed.

Keyphrase "at the end'.

 

[bhupaes]

^^^ Ah, I see what you mean... certainly, when she finishes her stroke, her wrist seems to unwind in a big way.

 

[bhupaes]

Confirmed - Justine definitely says "you use the wrist at the end." She says the stroke starts "above the contact point", even for the topspin backhand. However, when she actually illustrates it, the head starts high up but drops a little bit below the contact point, of course. And she does employ a ton of wrist at the contact point... or so it appears to me. It's kind of like the inverse of the forehand motion - the wrist and forearm turn outwards at or near the contact point, like in supination. It may not be something beginners or intermediates want to do...

 

[strcmp]

This episode of Tennis Channel Academy was great:

http://www.thetennischannel.com/programs/EpisodeDetail.aspx?id=3749

Henin actually talks about how she hits her backhands, topspin and slice. She even says that she uses her wrist for the one handed topspin backhand ("at the end", in her words), and you can see it in her swing (in the show). I think you need to subscribe to TC in order to see it - I couldn't find it on youtube.

Hey, I'm just the messenger and I have a two handed topspin backhand, so don't shoot me!

Can you record it and put it on youtube or some other file/video sharing service?

 

[bhupaes]

Can you record it and put it on youtube or some other file/video sharing service?

I believe this is copyrighted material, so it would be illegal for me to put it on youtube... also the only recording device I have is my VCR, and it's broken at the moment, so I can't even get it out of my DVR - sorry!

 

[JCo872]

Thanks for posting this. I am going to definitely check this out!

 

[sureshs]

I watched it on TV, and she clearly said use the wrist at the end. It has stuck in my memory. You will also see Federer explicitly use the wrist on the 1 handed TS BH on the slow motion K Factor ad.

 

[BeHappy]

I watched it on TV, and she clearly said use the wrist at the end. It has stuck in my memory. You will also see Federer explicitly use the wrist on the 1 handed TS BH on the slow motion K Factor ad.