My ohbh power potential is like 10x my forehand power potential

[Mxnh]

I'm a 3.5 level player looking to push into 4.0. Like many others, my forehand is more consistent than my backhand, especially because of the ohbh. HOWEVER, for some reason or another, my backhand is just so much more powerful. When I try to rip a forehand winner it goes about as fast as a 70% power backhand, while when i try to hit a backhand winner it's like almost as fast as my serve (75-80mph?).
I might post a video of me trying to rip a forehand vs a backhand sometime soon when i get onto the courts.
In the meantime, any tips or anything I can try? thx

 

[Curious]

Hard to believe. Can you backhand throw a ball much faster than forehand throw?

 

[Mxnh]

Hard to believe. Can you backhand throw a ball much faster than forehand throw?

I’ll be out on the courts tomorrow and will show you guys my backhand vs forehand flat drive from the baseline

 

[StringSnapper]

I think my 1hbh is faster too, but forehand has more spin. A lot of pros have this too, Nishikori, Norrie

Depends how you define power though, speed or heaviness?

 

[ratherlosethanpush]

Good Extension through the ball is very natural for ohbb.

On the fh it's easier to adapt our stroke and get sucked into too much lift and not enough through.

The fh is easier to be more stable and adaptable from different positions especially vs ohbh where u need good footwork.

We should be about 20% better off on the fh, so it's a power leak u have correctly identified.

 

[mental midget]

it's not weird to be able to generate a lot of pace on a 1hbh...keeping it in of course is a separate topic, but the right technique on that shot makes good use of the kinetic chain and can create tons of racket head speed. pretty sure gasquet's clocked a few backhands that are faster than any forehand he's hit in his life.

 

[ballmachineguy]

Power on the fh is almost all from how quickly you can drive the hitting shoulder to contact (rotate shoulders, in TTT talk). So for you OP, do it more quickly. If that doesn’t work, you are doing something else wrong.

 

[socallefty]

I’ve seen some players who are more consistent with their BH than their FH, but maybe 3 or 4 players (in forty years) who had more power on their BH than their FH. Sounds like OP has a lot of room for improvement on his FH.

 

[Chas Tennis]

Forehand separation, properly done, adds significant pace and can be observed on nearly all ATP & WTA top spin drives and flat shot drives. It is most directly observed by watching the line between the 2 shoulders as that line is turned rapidly to impact. (Once you see that big turn, you always see it).You don't need high speed video, but every drive in a TV broadcast shows what is being done regarding the uppermost body turn. Once you see and believe, then get into the details with clear high speed videos. Then you can identify & understand many of the sub-motions being used.

The body turns involve spine twisting that may be too stressful for many players. Take care.

If you wait around for word descriptions, how do you know what to believe? Where's the evidence?

I've posted on forehand separation with videos and other details.

OP might be doing effective 1HBH uppermost body turn already?

 

[Rattler]

Hard to believe. Can you backhand throw a ball much faster than forehand throw?

Why is it hard to believe?

 

[Mxnh]

I have a match in like 2 hours and will post clips of forehand and backhand drives then

 

[HypnoticLasagna]

I have a match in like 2 hours and will post clips of forehand and backhand drives then

Good luck!

 

[edwards]

One handed backhand could hold more power potential as it user the larger muscle groups more effectively than the forehand. See disc golf for comparison, 99% of distance throwers are throwing backhand and the technique is very similar to tennis. There is a Federer & Gurthie comparison that shows it well. Not the strongest argument though as atp forehand/backhand speeds show a different story. Could be related to preferred contact height & ability to flatten out the ball or something like that.

 

[Curious]

Why is it hard to believe?

Because I’m sure it doesn’t happen even in pro tennis. The only probable explanation is that he has a problem with his forehand.

I asked a question earlier and didn’t get an answer: can you backhand throw a ball faster/farther than you do with forehand throw?

 

[matterer]

I used to be able to hit my backhand a lot harder than my forehand because I was arming my forehand and using my body better on the backhand. Once I fixed that they're about equal when hitting with a firm wrist.

 

[Curious]

I used to be able to hit my backhand a lot harder than my forehand because I was arming my forehand and using my body better on the backhand. Once I fixed that they're about equal when hitting with a firm wrist.

I believe arming is a good source of power that’s underrated and looked down upon. It can be nice and smooth, too.

 

[ballmachineguy]

I asked a question earlier and didn’t get an answer: can you backhand throw a ball faster/farther than you do with forehand throw?

Seriously? You use your wrist to throw a ball. You can do that with a sidearm throw but can’t with a backhand throw. You don’t use the wrist to propel the ball on either wing groundstroke.

 

[Curious]

Wrist brace with a metal splint. Prevents any movement of the wrist.
Throw a ball backhand and forehand just like a topspin groundstroke and see which one goes farther.

https://imgur.com/a/gNkpr4B

 

[StringSnapper]

It's also probably likely OP hits his bh closed or neutral and his fh open stance, more closed can drive through the shot more to produce more pace.

 

[ballmachineguy]

Wrist brace with a metal splint. Prevents any movement of the wrist.
Throw a ball backhand and forehand just like a topspin groundstroke and see which one goes farther.

https://imgur.com/a/gNkpr4B

Adjusting for the fact that the palm faces the target on the fh and the back of th hand faces the target on a bh, I don’t think there’d be much difference.

 

[Alcawrath]

Hard to believe. Can you backhand throw a ball much faster than forehand throw?

This doesn't make sense as a comparison. Better comparison would be to compare the force from a backhand punch or slap vs a forehand punch or slap

 

[Curious]

This doesn't make sense as a comparison. Better comparison would be to compare the force from a backhand punch or slap vs a forehand punch or slap

Same thing. At the contact point of the punch/slap you release the ball. It’s simply about how fast you can swing your hand on backhand and forehand. Imagine you have a speed sensor in your hand , sort of.
Hang on, there’s such a thing. Those sensors you put on the buttcap. Just hold one in your hand and swing.

 

[ollinger]

OHBH is technically the easiest shot in tennis, as it's the only one where you follow-through away from your body instead of a cramped and unnatural follow-through INTO your body. I have a pretty good forehand but I think I can hit my OHBH harder.

 

[Curious]

it's the only one where you follow-through away from your body instead of a cramped and unnatural follow-through INTO your body.

Isn’t it because of the wrong forward swing on a forehand where contact is not out front enough? Isn’t forehand swing also supposed to be away from the body and only come back and wrap around in the follow through?

 

[acintya]

this is totally unnatural. i dont know what you are doing but an intermediate should have at least twice more power on the forehand wing.

tennis is not frisbee.

maybe this is the scenario:

you have a heavy racquet which is hindering you to do a proper racquet drop on the forehand wing. maybe you have a relaxed backhand shoot and a unrelaxed crippled forehand.

with a racquet that is at least 310g unstrung and moderate-low tension you really can hit some bombs on the backhand wing and its sometimes easier to execute than a proper forehand.

 

[travlerajm]

I can throw a frisbee farther with my bh than with my fh.

 

[Curious]

It comes down to swing speed which is not that hard to measure.
Or ask @JohnYandell who probably made some measurements.

Sensor Guide

www.tenniswarehouse-europe.com

 

[onehandbh]

I can throw a frisbee farther with my bh than with my fh.

I can throw a frisbee with more force with my forehand-side throw but I have a harder time getting it to spin on a perfect plane without wobble, so I am not sure if I can throw it farther with my forehand throw.

 

[travlerajm]

I can throw a frisbee with more force with my forehand-side throw but I have a harder time getting it to spin on a perfect plane without wobble, so I am not sure if I can throw it farther with my forehand throw.

A forehand throw is perfect for rock skipping, but a backhand is perfect for frisbee flinging.

 

[onehandbh]

A forehand throw is perfect for rock skipping, but a backhand is perfect for frisbee flinging.

I recently added a new shot where a use a rock skipping motion to hit a loopy, extreme slice forehand groundstroke that bounces back towards the net after landing on the court.

 

[Curious]

A forehand throw is perfect for rock skipping, but a backhand is perfect for frisbee flinging.

But you know there’s no wrist flinging in a ohbh unlike a frisbee throw.

 

[WYK]

Because I’m sure it doesn’t happen even in pro tennis. The only probable explanation is that he has a problem with his forehand.

I asked a question earlier and didn’t get an answer: can you backhand throw a ball faster/farther than you do with forehand throw?

It has nothing to do with flinging balls. It has to do with waving sticks. You are waving a stick around, not launching a ball.
Just go grab a stick and hit with your forehand and your backhand. Many people can do it equally as hard.
You are using a lot of muscles on a one handed backhand and you can generate a lot of power.
The hard part isn't the power on a one hander - it's controlling it.
Many pros with one handers can generate a good deal of speed. Gasquet often exceeds 100MPH.

 

[Curious]

It has nothing to do with flinging balls. It has to do with waving sticks. You are waving a stick around, not launching a ball.
Just go grab a stick and hit with your forehand and your backhand. Many people can do it equally as hard.
You are using a lot of muscles on a one handed backhand and you can generate a lot of power.
The hard part isn't the power on a one hander - it's controlling it.
Many pros with one handers can generate a good deal of speed. Gasquet often exceeds 100MPH.

I just need some evidence. What was the fastest backhand of Federer vs his fastest fh or the same for Wawrinka.

 

[travlerajm]

But you know there’s no wrist flinging in a ohbh unlike a frisbee throw.

Or is there?

 

[Curious]

Or is there?

There shouldn’t, that’s for sure.

 

[WYK]

I just need some evidence. What was the fastest backhand of Federer vs his fastest fh or the same for Wawrinka.

I'm not sure what your point is. That it is not possible to hit a fast backhand? That you must hit it as hard or harder than your forehand?
Have you ever watched pro tennis?
None of us are saying one is harder than the other. We simply agree that it is possible to hit them fast.
It's the control that is the hard part.

 

[WYK]

There shouldn’t, that’s for sure.

Nope. From Sampras to Federer to Gasquet, they have all used a whip backhand at one point or another.
Do they use it all the time? Well, with the possible exception of Gasquet, no.
Do you actually play tennis or do you just, like, say things on a message board?

 

[WYK]

I’ve seen some players who are more consistent with their BH than their FH, but maybe 3 or 4 players (in forty years) who had more power on their BH than their FH. Sounds like OP has a lot of room for improvement on his FH.

Power and control are two different things.
I can easily wallop my backhand. Putting that ball in is another thing, though.
So, in play, I hit harder with my forehand unless I can tee off at about the service line on my backhand.

 

[Curious]

I'm not sure what your point is. That it is not possible to hit a fast backhand? That you must hit it as hard or harder than your forehand?
Have you ever watched pro tennis?
None of us are saying one is harder than the other. We simply agree that it is possible to hit them fast.
It's the control that is the hard part.

Are you a bit late to the party?
I simply believe a bh is not likely to be hit faster than a forehand. That’s it. If you show me statistics of any ATP one hander disproving my point, I’ll accept it.

 

[WYK]

Are you a bit late to the party?
I simply believe a bh is not likely to be hit faster than a forehand. That’s it. If you show me statistics of any ATP one hander disproving my point, I’ll accept it.

Let me see if I have this right. You want to argue a belief that is based on no facts and demand I give you facts to dispel your belief?
Son, Google is your friend. Simply look it up and you can stop wasting our time. I'll just place you on ignore now that I know what you are about...

 

[Curious]

Son, Google is your friend. Simply look it up and you can stop wasting our time.

I actually did. I found Federer’s fastest fh ( 108 something mph) but couldn’t find his fastest bh.

 

[tenezlove]

Not that suprising at all....many of us in rec tennis (including self) use more spin than hitting through the ball on the forehand. So more of the power goes into spin. My hardest 1 hb are relatively very flat...so are must faster. Definitely less reliable in my case because of the lack of spin and because of the increased importance of timing. I suspect the original poster has a similar issue.
Solution is to hit towards target more on the FH of course.....but on the other hand, having more spin on the forehand and a flatter backhand may not be a bad thing.

 

[socallefty]

It is a tennis shot only if it lands inside the court. So, talk about the speed of only your FHs and BHs that land inside the court. Anyone can hit hard on either wing if you don’t care whether the ball hits the fence on the fly.

 

[Rattler]

Because I’m sure it doesn’t happen even in pro tennis. The only probable explanation is that he has a problem with his forehand.

I asked a question earlier and didn’t get an answer: can you backhand throw a ball faster/farther than you do with forehand throw?

Hmmm.

When I took my first tennis lesson, some **%}@y years ago, it was gospel that the one handed backhand drive was the most powerful stoke. No not meaning distance, or a throw (neither the forehand, or backhand is comparable to throw regardless of how anyone tries to make that comparison.), but in terms of how hard it can be struck and once mastered (key element) that power can be used to redirect, or add to, the hardest shot from an opponent.

 

[Dragy]

I actually did. I found Federer’s fastest fh ( 108 something mph) but couldn’t find his fastest bh.

All recorded fastest groundstrokes are forehands, I believe. FH just uses much better k-chain and SSC through bigger muscles, lat and pec.

It’s possible though that for a beginner it’s easier to develop faster swing with BH technique, while FH side is a bit more complicated. But whoever has been into physical activities like throwing, swinging and punching from youth will easily supersede the BH power using FH side.

Tendency to swing more low-to-high and usage of extreme FH grip has its effect of course when considering the ball speed, not just RHS.

 

[Alcawrath]

But you know there’s no wrist flinging in a ohbh unlike a frisbee throw.

Don't tell Wawrinka that

 

[Alcawrath]

I think what this thread is missing is any discussion of where power truly comes from on the forehand side when it's crushed. When you're looking at the world's best players that crush a forehand, the speed is coming from them getting low and powering into their shot from their legs, or they are flying through the air into a short ball that bounces up in front of them at the service line. My point is that the power on the fastest forehands comes from the lower body. I think the OP simply doesn't have the technique to load up and power through a softball on the forehand side so they're comparing a standard forehand to a standard backhand and notice much more power on normal rally shots. This doesn't seem like an unrealistic observation. Now, if the OP is genuinely loading up on forehands or flying into them a la Alcaraz style and still thinks the backhand is stronger then I don't know that I buy it.

 

[ballmachineguy]

Both the fh and bh can be hit flat, so stating that someone goes for more spin on fh side has no bearing.

The biggest factor, in MO is, since the arm and upper body are connected up until contact with either stroke, it favors the stroke that has the hitting shoulder traveling the furthest and building the greatest speed. That stroke is the fh. A bit of help has to go to the difference in foot placement between the two strokes. Since a ohbh is more of a closed stance, the follow through speed is a bit slower which has to affect the speed at contact a little. That and the fact you can leave the ground in the fh side to continue rotation.

 

[matterer]

I believe arming is a good source of power that’s underrated and looked down upon. It can be nice and smooth, too.

Ok that's pretty funny but please don't be sarcastic. Someone might not get it and take you seriously.

 

[artdeco]

Because I’m sure it doesn’t happen even in pro tennis. The only probable explanation is that he has a problem with his forehand.

I asked a question earlier and didn’t get an answer: can you backhand throw a ball faster/farther than you do with forehand throw?

One-handed-backhand is not a 'backhand throw'.
When (emphasis on when) I get my one-handed-backhand right, it really moves.