One Hand Backhand Help. How to rip it

[asifallasleep]

I have a great slice backhand in general and a decent topspin on low balls below my knees. My natural inclination on balls above the knee is to slice slice slice. Are balls above the knees on a one handed backhand considered a high ball? I really want to be able to rip my one hand backhand on balls above my knees. Seems like i'd have to run back and let it drop? A few guys i hit with, every ball is with aggressive topspin. I don't want to continually retreat to let the ball drop and on the rise against pace proves difficult as well.

Should i be positioning my body to the side of these ball and rolling it from below? Or, should i be swinging gradually straight up and through the ball while using my legs?

I can't seem to confidently rip my one hander like i'm ripping my forehand. It always seems like a finesse shot where my timing has to be perfect.

I started out 25 years ago with a two handed backhand but have had my one hander for well over a decade. Attempts to go back to the two hander have prove unsuccessful.

How to rip a one hand backhand on balls above the knee is my question? Stroke wise and positioning wise. Thanks.

 

[DeShaun]

My 4.0 buddy runs me around quite a bit. I'm a 3.0 myself. Sometime I get impatient, or opportunistic however you look at it, and try to rip shots off my backhand wing from just inside the baseline. I am flattening out the stroke when my shots are successful.

 

[Rorsach]

I usually step into the ball and take it on the rise. That allows me to take the ball at my optimum height and i can use the speed that the ball has to rip it.

This does cause a few shanks though, it all depends if you score more often than not.

 

[kimba]

I had a big break through with my one handed backhand a few years ago when I changed my back swing. I felt that I lacked pace and the ability to really rip it. I now make sure i take the racquet right back on the back swing so that the strings are parallell to the back fence then I let it rip. I now hit a much heavier backhand with a lot more pace. Since changing the back swing the extra topspin has made this shot a lot more accurate for me.

Hope this helps

 

[Rorsach]

I now make sure i take the racquet right back on the back swing so that the strings are parallell to the back fence then I let it rip.

That's just a given for a 1hbh, isn't it?

 

[aimr75]

Are balls above the knees on a one handed backhand considered a high ball?

anything below the knee really is a low ball. Anything around the torso/mid section would be the ideal strike zone and shoulder to head height would be a high ball

Regardless of the height, youre best bet is to use your legs and step into the shot and use your weight to generate pace..

 

[Maui19]

That's just a given for a 1hbh, isn't it?

Not for me. I take it back to where the strings are perpendicular to the back fence.

 

[aimr75]

Not for me. I take it back to where the strings are perpendicular to the back fence.

alot of pros do this from the top of the backswing, the racquet is on edge or perpendicular to the back fence, but the hitting face becomes parallel in the forward swing

 

[dozu]

OP, if you have a 'great' slice, then you are in the same boat as I was...the strike zone for the topspin should be from below the knees to right about shoulder height..

I think 1 difference maker for me is the involvement of the left hand.... I am now hitting it like a 2hbh with a 1handed follow thru.

both hands are actively involved from the initial unit turn, to the racket drop... and during the initial forward swing it feels to me like the left hand is setting the racket face, and the entire unit (2 arms plus the racket) is tossed by the body into a windshield wiping action.... in reality the left hand lets go when it gets near the left hip.... but it feels to me like a 2 handed shot... seems timing is much easier with this kind of visual... and you can actually 'cheat' a lot with imperfect shoulder turn

no wonder so many 2hbh guys love the steadiness of the shot.... 2 is indeed >> 1

I posted a video at the end of my 1hbh WIP thread... guys here helped a lot... you might wonna post something too.

 

[asifallasleep]

On mid to high balls hit deep into the court, are you running back, setting up and then stepping into the ball, transferring your weight? Creating the proper distance from the ball?

I think my issue is i'm not moving away from the ball enough to get proper spacing to take a really good swing at the ball. Proper spacing is needed to swing.

I have a habit of just turning the should slightly, leaning in and slicing it back. Not retreating at all. And very easy. I'm thinking i'm trying to hit a topspin from a slice position. Ball too close to my body.

Hitting a slice takes so much less work. I remember reading that I should be taking a million quick tiny little steps to get into the closed stance on all backhands.

 

[dozu]

do you have a good wiping motion on your fh side? if so just copy it on the bh.

 

[Tennis Dunce]

Apply more ground reaction forces by actually stepping into the shot like a man would.

 

[LeeD]

Either and/or turn more sideways and switch grip more towards a true SW backhand, but closer to eastern backhand.

 

[GetBetterer]

I struggled with this problem too when I was practicing the topspin one-handed backhand, I just couldn't rip it anymore. It wasn't until 2 summers ago that I got it back through a really friendly coach who knew sports psychology and how to make it fun.

1. Walk the walk. What a lot of people don't do (and sometimes even I forget) is to step into the shot with your front foot.

2. Change grips fast. Sometimes I've had to hit a backhand with a Continental grip due to slow grip changing speed and in turn I got a backhand lob.

3. Closed stance is critical to "ripping" just about any shot (although not always).

4. Hold your racket back with your non-swinging arm. That way, when the ball comes and you try to release early, it won't go but when it does come and you can time it, you release the racket and it immediately accelerates. Acceleration is what's important.

 

[dozu]

now I am a 2hbh convert anonymous.

had 3 sessions today, 1 hour with a soft junk hitter; 1 hour with a big hitter, 1.5 hour with a pretty big hitter indoors....

bh was clicking in all 3 situations... I think this is the cheapest way to hit the shot, just toss the 2 hands together into the WW action, and the left hand lets go as late and as comfortable as you feel.... the right hand just finishes the WW action.

you got the versatility of the 2hbh, no need for perfect footwork and weight transfer and shoulder turn all that blah blah.... just shovel the sucker across the ball and you are done.

and the 1handed follow thru still allows some freedom.

I am loving it.

 

[Rorsach]

now I am a 2hbh convert anonymous.

had 3 sessions today, 1 hour with a soft junk hitter; 1 hour with a big hitter, 1.5 hour with a pretty big hitter indoors....

bh was clicking in all 3 situations... I think this is the cheapest way to hit the shot, just toss the 2 hands together into the WW action, and the left hand lets go as late and as comfortable as you feel.... the right hand just finishes the WW action.

you got the versatility of the 2hbh, no need for perfect footwork and weight transfer and shoulder turn all that blah blah.... just shovel the sucker across the ball and you are done.

and the 1handed follow thru still allows some freedom.

I am loving it.

Tried it, but just couldn´t get the logistics sorted out. It felt completely unnatural and i thought i would end up with my arms tied up in a knot.

 

[dozu]

Tried it, but just couldn´t get the logistics sorted out. It felt completely unnatural and i thought i would end up with my arms tied up in a knot.

yup, felt this way to me in the beginning.... here is my sequence... focus on the left hand, from the initial unit turn to the left, to the racket drop, to the 'power position' where the left hand (holding the neck with index finger on the strings) sets the racket face, then left hand lets go and right hand finishes the WW.

crap, it feels like a left handed FH but it works... you can tweak with where your mental focus is, depending on what feels better.

in case you have no time, like running violently to the left, or facing a deep skidding slice etc... that left hand really comes in handy... and the shot feels like an emergency shove LOL.

but if you have time, like the incoming ball has not much on it, then you step in, and toss the whole mass (2 arms and a racket) into the sucker.

does take a few hitting sessions to get used to though.. no short cuts.

Edit - even though the left hand lets go at the power position... In my mind both hands are on the racket till at least midway thru the WW, which would be after impact.

not sure if it makes sense.

 

[2ndServe]

you need to get stronger and take it on the rise, step in, never bakc up on the backhand. Also keep the off hand on the throat this forces a full rotation, also you should keep your arm straight at contact (this requires more strength than many think. Swing from the shoulders, no wiping motion on the backhand (you'll hit too mishits)

 

[asifallasleep]

now I am a 2hbh convert anonymous.

had 3 sessions today, 1 hour with a soft junk hitter; 1 hour with a big hitter, 1.5 hour with a pretty big hitter indoors....

bh was clicking in all 3 situations... I think this is the cheapest way to hit the shot, just toss the 2 hands together into the WW action, and the left hand lets go as late and as comfortable as you feel.... the right hand just finishes the WW action.

you got the versatility of the 2hbh, no need for perfect footwork and weight transfer and shoulder turn all that blah blah.... just shovel the sucker across the ball and you are done.

and the 1handed follow thru still allows some freedom.

I am loving it.

you just described my old junior tennis two handed backhand. it was my best shot. don't know why i ever changed it. modeled after the borg backhand. watch clips of borg and what you described is exactly how he hit it.

 

[dozu]

you just described my old junior tennis two handed backhand. it was my best shot. don't know why i ever changed it. modeled after the borg backhand. watch clips of borg and what you described is exactly how he hit it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND6BqlTwZbU&feature=fvsr

interesting... I got try what happens if I move the left hand down closer to the right hand, prolly gets more leverage on the drive, but the slice may feel a bit weird.

Borg does have the left hand on the racket at impact though.

 

[dozu]

more swing thoughts from this morning's session - 2 hours with a medium pace hitter, but I had wind in my face, so the balls did come with pace good enough to test the swing.

dealing with higher balls -

the WW action is the same.... but for low balls it feels like at the 'power position, the racket head is pointing at 7 or 8 oclock... but for higher balls it feels like a 9 oclock start or even 9:30..

now this is what I felt.... but I didnt film myself, so not sure what it looks like in reality.

but the 2-handed swing thought really helps... it naturally produced extensive step-in and whipping motion when the ball is sitting up, and on the opposite end of spectrum, a brief 'knocking/slapping' motion on low deep skidding balls...

but never felt jammed or rushed, with that left hand firmly backing it up.

loving it.

 

[asifallasleep]

Yeah, he releases his left hand right after contact. His backhand was more of a one hand backhand with the left hand as a stabilizer. Today's backhands are using powered by the left hand, basically a left hand forehand with the right hand as a stabilizer.
If you're a right hander.

 

[asifallasleep]

more swing thoughts from this morning's session - 2 hours with a medium pace hitter, but I had wind in my face, so the balls did come with pace good enough to test the swing.

dealing with higher balls -

the WW action is the same.... but for low balls it feels like at the 'power position, the racket head is pointing at 7 or 8 oclock... but for higher balls it feels like a 9 oclock start or even 9:30..

now this is what I felt.... but I didnt film myself, so not sure what it looks like in reality.

but the 2-handed swing thought really helps... it naturally produced extensive step-in and whipping motion when the ball is sitting up, and on the opposite end of spectrum, a brief 'knocking/slapping' motion on low deep skidding balls...

but never felt jammed or rushed, with that left hand firmly backing it up.

loving it.

I noticed that borg's backhands all seemed to be hit on the rise. Same with most of the current day 2 hand backhands. They all seem to hit on the rise with the ball out in front.

 

[Xizel]

Doesn't get better than this, I tell you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpLApIuLGV4

 

[marosmith]

First off, it sounds to me like you are probably using a grip that is too continental. I would go to eastern and maybe just a little past that toward SW. This will help with spin, and will raise the strike zone.

As people have said before your ideal strike zone should be from above knee to about shoulder level.

Mechanics:

1. First- time your step so your chest is facing the sideline, step with your right leg across you body with some forward movement toward the ball.
2. Grab the the throat of the racket with your left hand and use the left hand to pull the racket back, either up toward your head (since you slice this is probably what you want) or down near your pocket.
3. As you do this your left hand should set your grip and make sure your racket face is parallel or closed a little to the back fence.
4. As a result of your left hand pulling the racket back your rigt shoulder should feel like it is being pulled under your chin.
5. Then hit the ball out in front, make sure you are stretching out (I think you crowd the ball but stepping over with your right leg and timing as above should set this up) and keep your right arm straight and finish with the racket up high. ( I think you might follow through on a plane and not with a steep swing. Make it high low high)
6. Keep your chest facing the sideline even after contact and keep your eyes down at the contact point after you make contact.

This is what I focus on and when I follow these steps I can swing hard, fast, and the ball almost never goes out. I think you are redirecting the low balls with a conti type grip and not stepping over with your right leg or getting your shoulder under your chin on takeback. I think this type of backhand will work for you because you have a naturally good slice. I started slicing and added the drive and topspin by incorporating these steps and it's the most natural transition- better than the open chest style some people prefer.

 

[dozu]

Doesn't get better than this, I tell you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpLApIuLGV4

nothing against Kyrill... he's got some good stuff....

but honestly I think hitting 1hbh in real battle takes a lot more than what he shows in the video, hitting against soft fed balls.

 

[Jonny S&V]

nothing against Kyrill... he's got some good stuff....

but honestly I think hitting 1hbh in real battle takes a lot more than what he shows in the video, hitting against soft fed balls.

Yes, it takes footwork. He's not teaching footwork in that video, and that's not the point of the video. I see many one-handers who don't turn enough (myself included) at any given point, and pointing it out like he does in his video is something that I feel could help someone.

 

[dozu]

footwork/unit turn is sure important.

but just speaking from my experience... sometimes in battle there is just no time for that... like you give up a short one and the opp drills it deep to your bh corner, or then hits a deep volley there... and I'd consider myself with that deep turn quite turned into my muscle memory after all these years hitting 1h slices.

this morning during the 2 hours, I'd say I hit about 20% of them off my back foot, another 20% with body quite open, about 60% I had enough time to turn enough.... and this was hitting with somebody who doesn't hit hard... this ratio will probably drop below 50% going against someone who does. I think this ratio is fairly close... I do have to hit the slice with an open stance quite often if the opp rushes in a lot.

I probably should shoot another video... as the motion is very different now from the one in my sig.

 

[Jonny S&V]

footwork/unit turn is sure important.

but just speaking from my experience... sometimes in battle there is just no time for that... like you give up a short one and the opp drills it deep to your bh corner, or then hits a deep volley there... and I'd consider myself with that deep turn quite turned into my muscle memory after all these years hitting 1h slices.

this morning during the 2 hours, I'd say I hit about 20% of them off my back foot, another 20% with body quite open, about 60% I had enough time to turn enough.... and this was hitting with somebody who doesn't hit hard... this ratio will probably drop below 50% going against someone who does. I think this ratio is fairly close... I do have to hit the slice with an open stance quite often if the opp rushes in a lot.

I probably should shoot another video... as the motion is very different now from the one in my sig.

Maybe you should work on your footspeed/footwork then. I don't have a problem hitting from a squared or closed stance. On my open-stanced one-handers, I still turn my torso as much as possible. If you think you should arm a one-hander open-stanced, I feel you're missing out on a lot of power/control/spin.

 

[dozu]

maybe I should... just saying my cheap way of hitting it like a 2handed shot has basically solved the problem without better footwork..

no... not arming the 1 hander... i know it feels awful.

 

[Jonny S&V]

maybe I should... just saying my cheap way of hitting it like a 2handed shot has basically solved the problem without better footwork..

That just screams "lazy" to me, and your cheap way out might hinder your progress (unless you're content on how you are, then please ignore this post).

 

[dozu]

^^ disagree with this view..

the 'cheap way' is basically borrowing some advantages from the 2hbh.... requires less precise footwork, can hit open stance... many switched to 2hbh for that reason.

I actually feel I can hit a 2hbh now... except the follow thru with both hands on the racket just feels too uncomfortable.. feels like I am choking myself.

 

[Tennis Dunce]

dozu is a golf mindset not a tennis mindset...they look for lazy, hence they worship golf.

 

[Chenx15]

fast Footwork, ball anticipation, lower knee lunge, better shoulder rotation.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

I'm sorry, but if anything other than knee height feels like a high ball to you, then there is something majorly wrong with your swing. Even with a continental grip you should be comfortable taking the ball waist high. There's no real way of identifying the problem without seeing a video--- otherwise we're just guessing. My guess is that you're "golfing" the ball.

And focusing on "windshield wiping" a backhand is probably the worst thing you could do. You need proper extension through this shot to rip it. If you think about wiping the ball you most likely will get a brushy stroke with no penetration whatsoever.

 

[Chenx15]

i forgot to add, sometimes it's your preparation. to that shot prior that gives you the ability to whack the backhand. when you give a massive shot prior to your backhand and your opponent gives you a weak return. that's when you whack it!

 

[Tennis Dunce]

sorry dozu just had to take a stab at the golfers.

 

[dozu]

sorry dozu just had to take a stab at the golfers.

you know what, I actually have the same attitude towards golfers.

I never treat it seriously as I do with tennis... it's just something I do to take a break from tennis.

I enjoyed Robin Williams comedy piece about golf... and also liked the book 'How to quit golf', so much so I bot copies for golfing buddies as holiday gifts.

Tennis hacks are at least more or less fit... the guys in the foursome on Saturday morning, smoking cigars while looking like guts are gonna pour out of their bellies... and they call themselves sportsmen. LOL.

Now you know what I think of golfers

 

[Tennis Dunce]

it shouldn't be called a sport if you can eat a hotdog and drink a beer while you're doing it.

 

[dozu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnFbCCgTo4

 

[Tennis Dunce]

Dozu its nice to know you're really on our side.

 

[Tennis Dunce]

Thats funny because Robin is a well known tennis fanatic.

 

[dozu]

Dozu its nice to know you're really on our side.

aha

well - golf is still quite enjoyable if not taken seriously.

like Craig Bass wrote in his 'how to quit golf' - "nobody can get better in it"

 

[asifallasleep]

I'm sorry, but if anything other than knee height feels like a high ball to you, then there is something majorly wrong with your swing. Even with a continental grip you should be comfortable taking the ball waist high. There's no real way of identifying the problem without seeing a video--- otherwise we're just guessing. My guess is that you're "golfing" the ball.

And focusing on "windshield wiping" a backhand is probably the worst thing you could do. You need proper extension through this shot to rip it. If you think about wiping the ball you most likely will get a brushy stroke with no penetration whatsoever.

it's a problem with movement and spacing. i have a great slice and so it's made me lazy. a lot more work is required when hitting a topspin drive. i think i'll abandon all slicing for a few weeks and concentrate on hitting topspin on everything, which will force me to move. additionally i may revisit my old two hander.

 

[drudra88]

dont forget to bend your knees, and try to take the ball on the rise..dont forget to watch the ball..enjoy!!!