One-handed backhand: index finger on strings?

[DeeeFoo]

I'm still trying to learn the one-handed backhand, and watching videos of pro 1hbh players is something I like doing. I've noticed that some pro players rest the index finger of their non-dominant hand on the strings when preparing to hit a backhand. Whereas others just keep all their fingers on the throat.

Is there a purpose to doing this? I've been told that doing this is recommended because it can help you sense the angle and position of your racquet face better, but how much does that really help?

Pros with index-finger on string: Dominic Thiem, Richard Gasquet, Tommy Haas

Pros with index finger not on strings: Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Justine Henin

There are players in both camps known for having excellent one-handed backhands, so maybe it doesn't matter too much?

For those who hit a 1hbh, where does your index finger rest, and why?

 

[papado]

I think it's more of a matter of whether you put your hand lower or higher on the throat--if you exclusively grip lower you'll never be in a position to put a finger on the strings.

From some searches I think Guga and Sampras also would occasionally have a finger on string but wasn't 100% of the time. It's similar to myself where i grip pretty high on the throat and I certainly do put my finger there sometimes but I can't say for certain I do it 100% of the time.

To my knowledge it's all personal preference and something we really shouldn't bother diving into too much. As long as you can quickly and consistently hit your grip change then it doesn't matter how you do it!

 

[Shroud]

I'm still trying to learn the one-handed backhand, and watching videos of pro 1hbh players is something I like doing. I've noticed that some pro players rest the index finger of their non-dominant hand on the strings when preparing to hit a backhand. Whereas others just keep all their fingers on the throat.

Is there a purpose to doing this? I've been told that doing this is recommended because it can help you sense the angle and position of your racquet face better, but how much does that really help?

Pros with index-finger on string: Dominic Thiem, Richard Gasquet, Tommy Haas

Pros with index finger not on strings: Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Justine Henin

There are players in both camps known for having excellent one-handed backhands, so maybe it doesn't matter too much?

For those who hit a 1hbh, where does your index finger rest, and why?

On the strings. For me it helps my body keep track of where the stringbed is. Its more an awareness thing but I think it helps me.

 

[DeeeFoo]

I think it's more of a matter of whether you put your hand lower or higher on the throat--if you exclusively grip lower you'll never be in a position to put a finger on the strings.

From some searches I think Guga and Sampras also would occasionally have a finger on string but wasn't 100% of the time. It's similar to myself where i grip pretty high on the throat and I certainly do put my finger there sometimes but I can't say for certain I do it 100% of the time.

To my knowledge it's all personal preference and something we really shouldn't bother diving into too much. As long as you can quickly and consistently hit your grip change then it doesn't matter how you do it!

Yeah, it's definitely starting to sound like a personal preference thing. I've tried both ways, and I found that I hit more consistently with my finger on the strings, but I'm not exactly sure why. Could just be all in my head.

 

[onehandbh]

On the stringbed.

I once saw a rec place take back the racquet holding the top of the racquet stringbed area. This way of taking the racquet back is not aesthetically pleasing to my eye.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Either way, it may help you "feel" the orientation and the location of the racquet head. Once the non-dom hand is released, a relaxed grip with the dom hand can help you feel orientation and location of the racquet head as it is moving.

With a tight grip, you tend to lose that sensation. Instead, you feel the muscle tension in your forearm and tension in your finger/hand -- these tensions seem to dull your awareness of the weight of the racquet head.

 

[Shroud]

Yeah, it's definitely starting to sound like a personal preference thing. I've tried both ways, and I found that I hit more consistently with my finger on the strings, but I'm not exactly sure why. Could just be all in my head.

It makes sense. The finger reports the stringbed location and orientation so your body can keep track of it better

 

[MaxTennis]

It’s really just personal preference. I keep my index finger on the string bed.

 

[Curious]

Anyone who holds and takes the racket back only with the nondominant hand with the dominant hand just on the handle but barely holding it?

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Either way, it may help you "feel" the orientation and the location of the racquet head. Once the non-dom hand is released, a relaxed grip with the dom hand can help you feel orientation and location of the racquet head as it is moving.

With a tight grip, you tend to lose that sensation. Instead, you feel the muscle tension in your forearm and tension in your finger/hand -- these tensions seem to dull your awareness of the weight of the racquet head.

Further emphasis. The racquet most be moving for you to "feel" its linear and rotational inertia. The relaxed grip helps with this perception.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Anyone who holds and takes the racket back only with the nondominant hand with the dominant hand just on the handle but barely holding it?

Oftentimes will do this. This helps to further ease tension and minimize fatigue in the dominant arm. Supporting the weight of the racket primarily with the non-dom hand, gives the dominant arm a rest. Sometimes, between points, you will even see players take their dominant hand off the racket completely and carry it with their other hand.

For Bh volleys, I will instruct students to use the non-dominant hand as a racquet holder (kind of like a guitar stand). Barely touching the racket handle with the dom hand. As the incoming ball approaches, the dom hand moderately grips the handle to pull the racket out of its holder. It firms up a bit more just prior to contact -- squeezing into contact. But still, no GD death grip.

This is the kind of guitar stand I was referring to. But, in the case of the racket, the large part is sitting at the top.

 

[golden chicken]

Oftentimes will do this. This helps to further ease tension and minimize fatigue in the dominant arm. Supporting the weight of the racket primarily with the non-dom hand, gives the dominant arm a rest. Sometimes, between points, you will even see players take their dominant hand off the racket completely and carry it with their other hand.

I always noticed as soon as the point was over, Sampras would immediately hold his racket by the throat instead of by the handle. When I leaded up a 6.0 85 something like his, I understood why.

 

[Curious]

Oftentimes will do this. This helps to further ease tension and minimize fatigue in the dominant arm. Supporting the weight of the racket primarily with the non-dom hand, gives the dominant arm a rest. Sometimes, between points, you will even see players take their dominant hand off the racket completely and carry it with their other hand.

For Bh volleys, I will instruct students to use the non-dominant hand as a racquet holder (kind of like a guitar stand). Barely touching the racket handle with the dom hand. As the incoming ball approaches, the dom hand moderately grips the handle to pull the racket out of its holder. It firms up a bit more just prior to contact -- squeezing into contact. But still, no GD death grip.

This is the kind of guitar stand I was referring to. But, in the case of the racket, its body is sitting at the top.

It’s usually the opposite, isn’t it? People use the dominant arm/hand to turn, hold and take the racket back with the nondominant side just dragged passively both on forehand and backhand . Tough habit to get rid of.

 

[golden chicken]

Hmm. On fast volleys I think 99% of my takeback is a shoulder turn with both hands equally holding the racket. Dominant hand squeeze determines power. Let go with off hand if there's time.

When I'm not being lazy on my one handed backhand groundstroke, I try to pull the racket apart between my hands before letting go with my off hand.

I don't think I'm generally aware of one hand or the other working harder on the takeback.

 

[Chas Tennis]

.......... I've noticed that some pro players rest the index finger of their non-dominant hand on the strings when preparing to hit a backhand. Whereas others just keep all their fingers on the throat.

Is there a purpose to doing this? I've been told that doing this is recommended because it can help you sense the angle and position of your racquet face better, but how much does that really help?

Pros with index-finger on string: Dominic Thiem, Richard Gasquet, Tommy Haas

Pros with index finger not on strings: Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Justine Henin
........................................................

That is a very interesting observation. For the forehand top spin drive, I have looked at the closed racket face just before impact and it seems to be set closed maybe around 5-10 degrees. For the backhand drive, the face is usually closed also, but I never estimated angles for high to low balls to get an idea of how closed the racket face is just before impact (during impact the racket face rapidly changes how closed it is due to off-centerline impact forces). But putting the fingers on the string would probably give a reproducible feel that is closely related to the string face just before impact. ? Other early observations, maybe for strokes with less top spin, have indicated how important the closed - open angle of the racket face is for the 'projection angle'. (elevation angle relative to the horizontal.)

Are players using the feel of the strings as you have pointed out?

It is hard to find how closed the racket face is just before impact in clear high speed videos. That's hard to find but sometimes the videos happen to show it clearly. Ball height would be a variable. After impact, the face can do crazy things, open or close rapidly....

Index finger on strings. That is the first time I noticed that! To single frame on Vimeo hold down the SHIFT KEY and use the ARROW KEYS. The index finger shows on the earliest part of the video.

Note - that the arm is straight for your lists of backhand players, except for Federer. A straight elbow makes the elbow angle have less affect on the racket face. ?

When does the index finger come off the strings?

 

[Mountain Ghost]

I teach everyone learning a 1HBH to completely control the racquet with the non-dominant hand on the way back from Ready Position to Racquet-Back Position ... with the thumb on the top side of the throat ... and all four fingers (tips 1 inch apart) on the bottom side of the throat. This provides ultimate control for the very FIRST action that happens from Ready Position ... at the very START of the backswing (even BEFORE the turn) ... the GRIP CHANGE !!!

I even force them to learn to do (and to feel) a "shadow backswing" ... with the dominant hand completely OFF the racquet ... and ... with the non-dominant hand ONLY ... torquing the racquet as if changing the grip ... and to practice going back to the perfect Racquet-Back Position ... ... ... which is the racquet head behind the trailing hip ... racquet shaft level ... racquet face vertical ... and butt of the racquet handle aimed at the left net post (for a righthander).

The non-dominant index finger on the string bed makes this "shadow backswing" that I want them to learn more difficult.

~ MG

 

[Slowtwitcher]

I have index finger on the strings for every stroke except my 2HBH.

I was taught that way and not doing it really messes up my strokes

 

[pencilcheck]

I don't think it makes any difference.

 

[lim]

Nice thread OP. saw this on gram the other day and have been trying this myself LOL
At first I was thinking there was some relationship between grip and contact pt. For sure Thiem and Gasquet have eastern bh grip and stand wayyy back behind the baseline to load up before they hit.
I could see some benefit to adjusting the angle of your stringbed since the ball is traveling much more before you initiate your backswing (especially if a high ball). Contrast that to Roger and Tststi who have agressive court postitioning
and are taking it on the rise and you don't have time time to make any adjustments. They also have weaker bh grips, not full eastern.
But then you have Stan who doesn't do the index finger with eastern bh grip with heavy baseline court positioning... so its hard to make generalizations though bc there seems to be an anomaly.

I will say having tried this idea the last couple of times I went out and having always preferred to grip it lower towards the shaft it really threw me off haha. Also if you don't have a eastern BH grip
the angle that gripping it with your index finger out puts your elbow in is very awkward. I prefer to be be more relaxed ala Stan and rog instead of Thiem and almargo where their elbow is extended before contact.
The stringbed also won't be perpendicular to the doubles alley like it would for Thiem or gasquet. Its like trying to switch to a straight arm forehand if you've always hit bent naturally

 

[Chas Tennis]

Everyone should keep in mind that the off hand remains on the racket throat and appears to rotate the hitting arm down, probably with ISR from the off hand forces and/or ISR from the muscles that perform ISR of the hitting arm. ? Knowing how the racket face is facing is more important after the racket is lowered than when next to the head. (2/22/25 updates in green)

When the off hand separates from the racket, then the last position of the index finger on the strings would be interesting to observe.

 

[BevelDevil]

Finger-on-strings plays a huge functional role, mainly:

1. Spacing -- The fact that the finger cannot bend backwards much will encourage more space between the rackethead and the body. Many youtube videos as of late have been emphasizing the importance of body/racket spacing on the takeback. Finger-on-strings massively facilitates this. It also facilitates the "high-elbow", since if you have a "hammer" Eastern-ish grip and a straight-ish hitting arm, the high elbow + lots of spacing is the most comfortable way to take back.

2. Shortened Backswing -- With the non-dominant (ND) hand being so high on the racket, dropping the ND hand down to the hip means that the rackethead will not be "wrapped around" the body, as is the case with Federer. In other words, the backswing will be naturally shortened.

I tested this out with my kid, whose 1hbh has been pretty wild as of late. Without any other instruction, I had him use this ND grip. His backhand was immediately much more compact, controlled and consistent. It was pretty miraculous, and I didn't have to remind him about spacing, high elbows, or limiting his backswing.

I highly recommend this ND hand position for beginners, since it will facilitate many "checkpoints" that would have to be otherwise taught/learned as separate concepts. There are also other benefits, as well: With greater hand separation, there is less extraneous movement on the takeback (on either side). My kid's bh volley also massively improved since this grip prevented the racketface from opening up to the sky on the takeback. I've told him a ton of times to limit his backswing, but to little avail. But this one trick worked miracles.

For kids and people of small-hands: It may be too uncomfortable to hold the throat conventionally. An alternative that my kid uses is as follows: Index on strings, thumb at the bottom of the hoop (so that it looks like you're making a gun with your fingers). The other three fingers reach around the bottom beam of the throat.

 

[ballmachineguy]

I use a rubber band as a string dampener and I pinch one of the loops of the band on take back and when I swing forward the band stretches. When it is time to hit, I let go and whooo baby! Therefore, no, I do not have my index finger on the strings.

 

[forestmilan]

I noticed this issue today because I found that my non-dominant hand was neither of the ways. My non-dominant hand holds the throat during backhand just like when I do forehand.
And I try both the way you mention, on/not on the string.
For me, it's more comfortable to put my finger on the string when I use eastern backhand grip. But if I choose semi-western grip, the angle of my wrist is uncomfortable.
You can try by youself. When you change the grip from eastern to semi-western, the pressure of the wrist is increasing.
However, you can keep using the way not on the stingbed. But I believe that for most people, they can feel more about the racquet when there fingers on the stringbed.

 

[Chas Tennis]

Videos show that the off hand stays on the racket near the throat area as the racket head is lowered.

It is often hard to tell from videos if the muscles of a joint are moving the joint or some other thing is also applying forces such as the off hand. That is the case for the 1HBH with Eastern Backhand Grip, as most I remember in the ATP.

Everyone should keep in mind that the off hand remains on the racket throat and appears to rotate the hitting arm down, probably with ISR from the off hand forces and/or ISR from the muscles that perform ISR of the hitting arm. ? Knowing how the racket face is facing is more important after the racket is lowered than when next to the head. (2/22/25 updates in green)

When the off hand separates from the racket, then the last position of the index finger on the strings would be interesting to observe.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

The reason for holding the throat of the racket is simply because it makes it easier to to change grips from
forehand to backhand and vice-versa. In both cases (forehand and backhand) the racket face remains pretty much
perpendicular to the court surface- it is the dominant hand that changes grips. So, moving and repositioning
the racket with the non-dominant hand allows you to loosen up your gripping hand and more conveniently slide
it into the desired/required grip.