One handed backhand - non-hitting arm

[Attila_the_gorilla]

So for me it feels very unnatural, even uncomfortable to extend my left arm backwards as I hit my right handed backhand. Even when I shadow swing, it doesn't feel right. It sort of jars my shoulders and doesn't feel natural at all.

I've heard how this is needed to provide balance. I feel quite balanced just keeping my left arm close. Maybe I lift my left shoulder backwards a touch, but that's all that seems to come naturally.

The extravagant left arm action of Federer or Kuerten doesn't seem to suit me. My coach thinks it's neccessary for extra power.

Wawrinka is one player that doesn't extend his left arm much if I recall correctly.

What do you guys think? How do you hit your one hander?

 

[Maui19]

Extending my left arm helps keep me from opening my right shoulder too early. That's a big plus. It also is a more balanced swing for me. YMMV.

 

[dknotty]

I think throwing back the left arm is essential.

The best structure for the shot is when you use the shoulder muscles rather than the wrist to take the shot. Throwing your left arm back means that your body position facilitates this better. Using your wrist is a risk factor for tennis elbow.

Throwing your left arm back helps facilitate a better stroke i.e. around the ball to give topspin.

Lastly, you want to keep firm balance and a firm kinetic chain when hitting the shot, if your torso is shifting then its harder to achieve stability and your alignment relative to the ball changes.

 

[boramiNYC]

I don't throw my left arm backward. most pros don't do it. the elbow is a little separated from torso but that's about it. hand is not farther from torso than elbow. arm is bent at elbow and the hand is supinated.

 

[Gyswandir]

Recently posted this

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?p=7662399#post7662399

I think that there are two types of the 1hbh with Federer and Wawrinka exemplifying each

 

[tennis_balla]

I wouldn't concentrate so much on feel but rather on results for this particular situation. A lot of strokes in tennis will not feel natural in the beginning, thats just part of it. Give a fair shot to what your coach wants from you, you might feel awkward but it might also make your backhand better....or might not. You might find a middle ground that works as well. Can't comment any more than that really without seeing your stroke and without knowing what your coaches training goals are for you.

 

[Lukhas]

You do not actually need to throw the left arm. You need it to keep things in balance, which doesn't always involve throwing it.

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

I wouldn't concentrate so much on feel but rather on results for this particular situation. A lot of strokes in tennis will not feel natural in the beginning, thats just part of it. Give a fair shot to what your coach wants from you, you might feel awkward but it might also make your backhand better....or might not. You might find a middle ground that works as well. Can't comment any more than that really without seeing your stroke and without knowing what your coaches training goals are for you.

I have no video unfortunately.
My experience tells me to be wary of any /technique that is physically uncomfortable/painful. This approach seems to work in other parts of the game. I feel like I can let that backhand rip, and trying to focus on my left arm extension results in nothing but a jarring of my shoulders. My coach feels like I'm using more effort than I should, and she thinks extending my left arm would make the shot more effortless. I just don't feel that at all.

But hey I'm not really asking for advice regarding my own game, just am curious about how everyone else feels about this issue and how they play the shot.

 

[tennis_balla]

I have no video unfortunately.
My experience tells me to be wary of any /technique that is physically uncomfortable/painful. This approach seems to work in other parts of the game. I feel like I can let that backhand rip, and trying to focus on my left arm extension results in nothing but a jarring of my shoulders. My coach feels like I'm using more effort than I should, and she thinks extending my left arm would make the shot more effortless. I just don't feel that at all.

But hey I'm not really asking for advice regarding my own game, just am curious about how everyone else feels about this issue and how they play the shot.

My left arm is used for balance. I don't think about it, sometimes it might come out more, sometimes less. It depends on the situation but it definitely doesn't get thrown back or jolted or anything like that.

Move the left hand back, is a bit more old school. Not that it doesn't work now but having it all the way back, both arms spread out like you're a bird is old school. My advice for the left arm would be, use as necessary.

 

[Nellie]

Extending my left arm helps keep me from opening my right shoulder too early.

Yes, you don't need to extend the backhand arm, but you definitely don't want to open the shoulders (no open stance one-handers).

Rosewall did not extend his arm back with his backhand.

 

[tennis_balla]

You do have to open up your shoulder on the one hander, just not the same way as on the forehand or 2hander, as might might interpret. Also, semi-open stance one handers are fairly common.

 

[fuzz nation]

Sometimes I'll call the runner safe at second base and extend my left arm back as I swing, but I'll sort of drop my left arm downward or even tuck my bent left arm in against my side as I hit the ball. My guess is that my brain is telling that arm where to go so that I'm unconsciously managing my balance.

I feel as though that backward extension of my left arm (I'm a righty) is even more essential for my best slice backhands. It can be good for a topspin stroke for sure, but not if it restricts a smooth release through contact.

 

[WildVolley]

I don't know why people have become so obsessed with the off arm in hitting a 1hbh, but it really isn't that crucial. I know Federer has a distinctive style and a great deal of shoulder flexibility, but I've watched Gasquet absolutely demolish a ball without flinging his left hand back, so it obviously isn't necessary to generate pace, but it may help you maintain balance depending on the location of the ball and the motion of the stroke.

 

[Gyswandir]

Only balance according to this

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=plpp&v=tWTPw1l3qIU
Go to minute 8

 

[Vlad_C]

I found, from experience, that when I do throw back the left arm on a 1HBH, I hit a much more controlled shot, the ball stays low over the net, and goes pretty much where I intended.
There must be a reason why they say this is the correct form for a 1HBH...

 

[PhrygianDominant]

There is a guy at my club who leaves his non hitting arm on his left hip (righthander) like a little teapot. It's hilarious.

 

[ProgressoR]

I dont really think about my left arm (non hitting) but when i find i am opening up too much, more than i like, on the shot, i then use the left arm going back to prevent that, it just helps balance sometimes and premature opening up for me. Most times i have no idea what I am doing with the left arm, if I hit it well and on balance, I dont worry about what its doing.

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

Yeah it seems to me like its main purpose is to prevent your hitting shoulder from over-rotating. May try practicing it with that in mind and see if I can find a comfortable way of doing it.

 

[ShoeShiner]

For non-hitting arm

Defend/Recovery shots - My swing looks like Federer's or Dimitrov's swing. It gives me more accuracy.

Attack shots - My swing looks like Henin's or Wawrinka's swing. It gives me more pace.

But both swings, when the racket impacts the ball, my body is closed/neary closed.

 

[LeeD]

Instead of just "throwing" your non hitting arm back, I keep my non hitting elbow away from my body, and worry less about my forearm, wrist, and hand position.

 

[newpball]

So for me it feels very unnatural, even uncomfortable to extend my left arm backwards as I hit my right handed backhand. Even when I shadow swing, it doesn't feel right. It sort of jars my shoulders and doesn't feel natural at all.

You don't have to if it bothers you.

Laver didn't.

 

[Shroud]

My 2 cents is that that arm is for balance and depending on the shot ill move it back or keep it on the hip palm up, with all points in between

About the coach, my 2 cents is that that is oldschool and well if you are hitting closed stance then the arm back makes alot less sense

Since i hit both modern and oldschool backhands i do both. Slice is always back and topspin drives are a mix

 

[Lukhas]

I feel when hitting without using the non-hitting hand to keep balance, my shoulder starts tingling. Nothing serious, but if you're sensible in that area...

 

[tennis_hack]

Here's Henin's backhand in slow motion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdDwMj3_WMA

No real throwing back of the non-hitting arm - is her technique flawed? I suppose you can get away with more in the women's game.

My coach said that if you don't fling back the non-hitting arm as far as possible, you will suffer against anyone that hits heavy topspin to your backhand because you'll rotate into the shot and your shot will 'go everywhere'. Henin never faced any real heavy topspin int he woman's tour (no female Nadal), so I guess she could get away with it?

But then I guess Kuerten and Wawrinka both do rotate into the backhand and have good backhands against against heavy topspin... Federer, on the other hand is very good at flinging the arm back and not rotating into the backhand, yet his backhand has been known to break down against heavy topspin.

 

[pkshooter]

So for me it feels very unnatural, even uncomfortable to extend my left arm backwards as I hit my right handed backhand. Even when I shadow swing, it doesn't feel right. It sort of jars my shoulders and doesn't feel natural at all.


The extravagant left arm action of Federer or Kuerten doesn't seem to suit me. My coach thinks it's neccessary for extra power.

Wawrinka is one player that doesn't extend his left arm much if I recall correctly.

What do you guys think? How do you hit your one hander?

Lets be homest. The only reason we hit one hander is to get the ladies, and girls... like that arm throw back. they correlate wing span to :twisted:

 

[tennis_balla]

Lets be homest. The only reason we hit one hander is to get the ladies, and girls... like that arm throw back. they correlate wing span to :twisted:

I hit a one hander and I'm drowning in it.

 

[pkshooter]

^^^^
I bet you let your left foot run behind your right when attacking mid court balls on the short hop on your way to the net too.