One handed backhand practice - tips needed

[Mojo28]

Hi all,
I am trying to fix my backhand. I often feel I lack power. I always thought I am not turning enough, but by looking at this video, it seems to me like I am turning too much. I don't know anymore. Please share your tips and problems you see here. I know I have too big loop But it seems to me this is not the reason why I lack the power, it should be opposite.
Anyway, I know wall is not ideal for this, but I guess some or most of my issues can be seen.
Be harsh.

Thanks in advance.

UPDATE:

Backhand:

Backhand slice:

 

[racket king]

There's no racket head speed for a start, hence no power. Are you trying to hit the ball or trying to strike a pose?

There's a very unnecessary and inefficient motion at the start of your takeback, where you swing the racket backwards, instead of turning your shoulders and taking the racket straight into the 'ready' position. That superfluous motion needs to go as it doesn't do anything other than inhibiting your preparation and complicating the timing (as well as adding tension to the arm and shoulder).

This may correct itself once you correct the above and have a better preparation, but your dominant arm looks too straight during the preparation which can lead to unnecessary tension in the arm and shoulder, hence another cause of lack of power.

I'd also say that your stance is too closed too much of the time. When you step across yourself to that extent you inhibit your rotation. You also take a very big step which doesn't help. Instead of stepping across yourself towards 9 or 10 o'clock, try and step towards 11 o'clock. Your feet spacing may correct itself once you get the direction right.

 

[Mojo28]

Thanks.
Maybe I have slow hand due to the big loop. I tried with much smaller loop, taking the racquet back straight but I had even less powe.
I also noticed that maybe I am taking the left hand too early from the racquet and therefore, I don't open as much. Is this possible?
I always thought I should stay closed, but maybe I am too closed. What do you think?

 

[racket king]

I always thought I should stay closed, but maybe I am too closed. What do you think?

You're definitely too closed. The only time you'd hit like that is if your positioning is compromised, and even then you'd have to release your back leg because of the positioning of your front leg across your body. There's no reason to be stepping like that in video. Get behind the ball first, then step more forwards towards it, not sideways across to it.

 

[racket king]

Have a look at this video. It's a good one for you because it's so textbook.

Insofar as a it relates to you:

• Look at where the toe of his front foot is pointing. Where is yours pointing?
• Draw a line between his toes.
  • Where does that line point?
  • Compare it to yours
• Look at his take back and compare it to yours. This is the major thing that needs to change with your stroke.
• Look at his arms in the ready position - bent elbows, and then extension through the swing to contact.
• Chin over shoulder, swing to contact.

 

[Lance L]

That is one heck of a long backboard. Man!
It is a cliche, but power comes from the legs. You are bending your knee at the end, but you are not driving the shot with your legs.
Think of it this way. The upper body creates consistency and the type of shot, your legs create the power.
And for you non-engineering types, power is force over an amout of time. Shorter time = more power. Power comes from an exposive leg drive, not just a leg bend.
Is an explosive leg drive tiring? It is exhausting at first, at least it was for me. It takes time to build up.

From a technique standpoint, you have a large stroke, and in match play I'm guessing you often are short on time/out of position.
You don't need a big movement to generate power. Why? Because the power comes from your legs!

 

[racket king]

upper body creates consistency and the type of shot, your legs create the power.....Power comes from an exposive leg drive, not just a leg bend.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your post, but the legs aren't the main source of power on the 1HB. Obviously there's some contribution from the legs, but they're just one of several components and they're as much there to provide stability through the stroke, force through to the ground and provide the foundation for the other cumulative sources of power - weight transfer, hip rotation, upper body rotation, shoulder rotation, lifting and extension of the arm through the stroke, racket speed etc. It's basically a whole body 'coil and release' stroke.

 

[Fintft]

• Look at his take back and compare it to yours. This is the major thing that needs to change with your stroke.

To the OP:

I agree with most everything racket king is telling you and like him I felt that your preparation is what you need to change:

1. Take the racket back first, before starting to move
2. Head of the racket should be pointing up.

3. Slap the ball- the "racket head speed" someone else pointed also?
The ball has to be slapped from the left side to right and from bellow to up

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things that you are doing well, especially the high finish!

Gl!

 

[Lance L]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your post, but the legs aren't the main source of power on the 1HB. Obviously there's some contribution from the legs, but they're just one of several components and they're as much there to provide stability through the stroke, force through to the ground and provide the foundation for the other cumulative sources of power - weight transfer, hip rotation, upper body rotation, shoulder rotation, lifting and extension of the arm through the stroke, racket speed etc. It's basically a whole body 'coil and release' stroke.

No, it sounds like you understand my post pretty well, and you don't agree with it.
Obviously, I don't mean that 100% of the power comes from the legs. That is clearly not right.
I do think the legs are the main source of power, as well as the ability to handle incoming balls.
How about this:
The upper body should be concentrating on technique and consistency of technique.
If you are not using your legs well the upper body has to do technique and power.
The upper body can provide power, just not as well and not with consistancy.
If you have a solid base and good power from the legs, the upper body can deal with its job better, which certainly includes a power component.

 

[racket king]

Power comes from an exposive leg drive, not just a leg bend.

I do think the legs are the main source of power , as well as the ability to handle incoming balls.
How about this:
The upper body should be concentrating on technique and consistency of technique.
If you are not using your legs well the upper body has to do technique and power.
The upper body can provide power, just not as well and not with consistancy.
If you have a solid base and good power from the legs, the upper body can deal with its job better, which certainly includes a power component.

That's the internet I guess - different opinions everywhere. In any event, we only have differing views on the degree to which the legs contribute to power and that's a pointless debate.

I'll leave you with this though. Where's the 'explosive leg drive' (as opposed to length strength and lower body stability) in the videos below, and we're talking elite level players here...

And here's an absolute bullet of a BH winner...

 

[Lance L]

That's the internet I guess - different opinions everywhere. In any event, we only have differing views on the degree to which the legs contribute to power and that's a pointless debate.

I'll leave you with this though. Where's the 'explosive leg drive' (as opposed to length strength and lower body stability) in the videos below, and we're talking elite level players here...

And here's an absolute bullet of a BH winner...

On the Thiem and Gaudio videos you can really see the legs doing a lot of work.
Thing is it is not always going to look impressive, its not as if you are jumping or anything.
Power is not about how far you move but how you move. Stepping into the ball vs. really pushing hard off the back foot into the ball. Both would look similar.
Also on a practical level, when I'm playing and I'm thinking about using my legs in a powerful way, I'm more grounded, more aggressive, can handle more pace, and hit deeper and better. And I move better.

 

[Chas Tennis]

I am not an instructor. I point out what I believe are a few differences between poster's videos and high level strokes.

Kinovea side-by-side comparison. This video is intended for stop action single frame viewing, it has brief timed labels. To single frame on Vimeo, click Vimeo, full screen, hold down the SHIFT KEY and use the ARROW KEYS.

The time scales are: 1) a countdown time scale ("-") to impact and 2) a second time scale after impact ("+"). Impact is at 0 milliseconds for both scales. [1,000 milliseconds = 1 second.]

1) Your racket is not held up like Gasquet's and it is brought down earlier and slower in comparison. With the off arm and racket drop Gasquet is probably rotating his near straight arm to get internal shoulder rotation (ISR)(defined joint motion also called "medial shoulder rotation") for stretching the external shoulder rotation muscles. (The upper arm bone rotates around its long axis in the shoulder joint.) See the videos.

2) At impact your racket face is open. Gasquet's is closed.

3) In the forward swing, I believe that initially the acceleration comes from the upper body turning that causes the chest to press on the upper arm. If the shoulder muscles are used during initial forward acceleration, instead of the muscles that turn the upper body, I believe the acceleration and racket head speed will be considerably less. I believe that Gasquet, Wawrinka and Justine Henin use this chest pressing on upper arm technique when they hit their high paced backhands.

See post #51 and the later posts in the rest of the thread.
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...ht-force-to-start-forward-swing.462997/page-2

Warning - This can increase increase racket head speed and might put more stress on your arm especially at impact.

 

[Todd Hicks]

There's no racket head speed for a start, hence no power. Are you trying to hit the ball or trying to strike a pose?

There's a very unnecessary and inefficient motion at the start of your takeback, where you swing the racket backwards, instead of turning your shoulders and taking the racket straight into the 'ready' position. That superfluous motion needs to go as it doesn't do anything other than inhibiting your preparation and complicating the timing (as well as adding tension to the arm and shoulder).

This may correct itself once you correct the above and have a better preparation, but your dominant arm looks too straight during the preparation which can lead to unnecessary tension in the arm and shoulder, hence another cause of lack of power.

I'd also say that your stance is too closed too much of the time. When you step across yourself to that extent you inhibit your rotation. You also take a very big step which doesn't help. Instead of stepping across yourself towards 9 or 10 o'clock, try and step towards 11 o'clock. Your feet spacing may correct itself once you get the direction right.

With the preparation you have, it takes longer to make contact; therefore, you'll have to swing earlier. Also, I'm concerned your style may lead to injury.

 

[SinjinCooper]

Hit with other people. If you can't find other people, and must hit against the wall, step in and hit seriously.

It's next to impossible to say anything meaningful about your stroke when you hit one idealized feeder ball at a time. It's a glorified shadow stroke. A groundstroke isn't a groundstroke until it's swinging against an incoming ball with some purpose.

Hard to say what might be causing a power shortage, mechanically, when all you can do off such a ball is finesse it back. We need to see you take some real swings to know what's off.

 

[heninfan99]

You're not getting the whip-like motion you should be.
Though this video may look a little funny I recommend you try it to get the whip-like feeling and improve your racquet head speed. And if you hit 50 balls over the wall, no worries, fail better.

You can have a big loop or a small one, both can work well. Down the road you'll have to abbreviate your stroke on certain shots. Congrats on your wall work and going for the one hander.

Hi all,
I am trying to fix my backhand. I often feel I lack power. I always thought I am not turning enough, but by looking at this video, it seems to me like I am turning too much. I don't know anymore. Please share your tips and problems you see here. I know I have too big loop But it seems to me this is not the reason why I lack the power, it should be opposite.
Anyway, I know wall is not ideal for this, but I guess some or most of my issues can be seen.
Be harsh.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mojo28]

Thank you all for comments and tips. I am surpriesed there are so many
I hope this will help me finally to fix the damn stroke. It was pretty weird to see how different it looks on video than I have imagined it. I always felt like I should turn more, and I was pretty shocked when I saw I am turning way too much. Also, first thing I will work on is my preparation. It is really weird. I was looking at all the videos you posted and will try to emulate it, working on taking the racquet straight back, not doing this weird swing. Footwork and stepping more forward would be my next goal. Although, maybe I will step forward automatically witt less body rotation.
Please, share more thoughts if you have some.

 

[mad dog1]

@Mojo28 hate to break this to you but the advice here will not fix your backhand. The backhand is too complicated to teach virtually on a tennis forum. Racket king had the best analysis. Won't be easy for you to apply his advice though.

 

[Mojo28]

I know that. But at least I have something to go with and concentrate on.

 

[mad dog1]

I know that. But at least I have something to go with and concentrate on.

Good luck!

 

[Mojo28]

Thanks

 

[Curious]

Of course you lack power, your tendons are weak

I don't think tendons contribute to power. They are all the same as long as they don't snap.

 

[mad dog1]

I don't think tendons contribute to power. They are all the same as long as they don't snap.

But he knows stuff.

 

[NuBas]

I know that. But at least I have something to go with and concentrate on.

Don't listen to dog, its not complicated. Just keep practicing. If you lack power, just imagine throwing your racquet to the other side of the court. Get your body weight into the shot and HIT through the ball.

 

[mad dog1]

Don't listen to dog, its not complicated. Just keep practicing. If you lack power, just imagine throwing your racquet to the other side of the court. Get your body weight into the shot and HIT through the ball.

Uh, ok. It's easy. That's why rec players who hit 1hbh all hit it just like fed, gasquet, etc. Because it's easy.

 

[NuBas]

Uh, ok. It's easy. That's why rec players who hit 1hbh all hit it just like fed, gasquet, etc. Because it's easy.

There are tons of rec players who hit great one handers and obviously its not to the level of professionals but doesn't mean its hard.

Rec players are not built like pros and had luxury of learning tennis at a young age. Not to mention the pros are top athletes with top coordination, flexibility, etc.

 

[jm1980]

Tell the person recording the video to stand further back so they don't have to keep moving

 

[mad dog1]

There are tons of rec players who hit great one handers and obviously its not to the level of professionals but doesn't mean its hard.

Ok. I've seen great 1 handers at the 4.5 to 5.0 level. None at the 3.5-4.0 level.

 

[mad dog1]

There are tons of rec players who hit great one handers and obviously its not to the level of professionals but doesn't mean its hard.

Rec players are not built like pros and had luxury of learning tennis at a young age. Not to mention the pros are top athletes with top coordination, flexibility, etc.

I see you edited the offensive part of your post.

There was no need to offer anymore advice because racket king already touched on it all. His advice is spot on. There is no need for OP to listen to any other advice after racket king's replies.

 

[NuBas]

Hi all,
I am trying to fix my backhand. I often feel I lack power. I always thought I am not turning enough, but by looking at this video, it seems to me like I am turning too much. I don't know anymore. Please share your tips and problems you see here. I know I have too big loop But it seems to me this is not the reason why I lack the power, it should be opposite.
Anyway, I know wall is not ideal for this, but I guess some or most of my issues can be seen.
Be harsh.

In my own opinion I think you have nice form. Aesthetically you have made your BH look very stylish but maybe not super practical. I think there are simple solutions to fixing your problem with lacking power.
1. Take racquet back with both hands and just end up near your left ear. Right now your racquet is too far away from your face.
2. Hit the ball in front, your racquet and arm will almost create an L shape on impact.
3. Just hit straight through the ball, like you're trying to throw your racquet across the net.

Also use a better tennis ball, that ball looks like its flat. Also some racquets are better suited for OHBH like heavier racquets.

 

[heninfan99]

Uh, ok. It's easy. That's why rec players who hit 1hbh all hit it just like fed, gasquet, etc. Because it's easy.

Not too many great 2 handers in rec/park tennis either. I know, for me, the two hander is more difficult. Here Landsdorp says the one hander is easier to teach, 5:05 in:

I like what he says about using the slice as a guide. I wonder what the OP's slice looks like.

 

[zalive]

Funny how there's not many great onehanders below 4.5.
Probably because if you have a great onehander, you will hardly stay a 4.0, or especially below, if your footwork is any good. Hard to expect you'll have a lousy FH, and with both strong wings, tadaaaa....
Really, onehander is a weapon, not just a stroke. But if you're just a hack you'll probably need to work on your technique some to make it really pay off.

 

[Mojo28]

Of course you lack power, your tendons are weak , not used on hitting the ball.Its like ballet, to walk on fingers kids need to start from early age to get that necessary tendon strength. Adults tendons are different and more rigid and cant adapt that well as kids can.So no matter how strong or fast your arm is you will lack power because tendons cant adapt that good to very specific and complicated movement.
Imagine Federer started playing with his left hand now , he would same or even less power in his backhand then you.
But you can improve this by playing non the less.
How?
Notice how you take a step back before you hit backhand.Its because you try to hit backhand at waist line or even below it.
Reason is that lower balls are way easier to hit for the arm then high balls with one handed backhand, so your body naturally goes for the easiest shot for the arm and you move back to hit lower balls all the time, so
you step back as soon as you see the ball is coming to backhand.Even if the ball is very high you will wait until it falls very low.
Well do the quite opposite that your body is telling you.
Try to hit as many higher balls as you can from waist to shoulder height.
That will put way more strain on your tendons and strengthen them way faster.
So 1:12 never do that.
If you agree i can tell you some more if not, i rather not waste my time.

Well, there are days when I can generate good amount of power on my BH and I think I am beginning to realize what is different there.
When learning the stroke I watched all kinds of videos and most of them would say: "stay sideways". I think that this is the part I got wrong.
Like racket king said, I am too closed and should hit more in front. I always believed if I hit more in front that I am too open. While looking at all the top one handers yesterday, I could see that during contact, they have open chest somewhere around 45 degrees, right shoulder on 1 or 2 o'clock (for right handers). This is the part I totally missed before, don't know why. I thought this is wrong, since this is not "sideways". I guess that this means that they should stay on 45 during and slightly after contact. My interpretation of "sideways" was that my shoulders should be perpendicular to the base line during contact (shoulders on 12 o'clock). This is probably why I feel lack of power and strike the ball too much to the side. Maybe this is also why I was turning that much, trying to get better rotation up until shoulders on 12 o'clock. This makes a huge difference on how I see the stroke now. On some better days, when I feel like I can crush the ball, I always felt like I am opening too much and hitting the ball too much in front and not to the side. I also hope that with this better perception I can easier move to smaller loop since I can see that power can be easier generated with this shoulder opening.
Is it possible that this makes sense or I totally got it wrong?

Tell the person recording the video to stand further back so they don't have to keep moving

Best advice yet

In my own opinion I think you have nice form. Aesthetically you have made your BH look very stylish but maybe not super practical. I think there are simple solutions to fixing your problem with lacking power.
1. Take racquet back with both hands and just end up near your left ear. Right now your racquet is too far away from your face.
2. Hit the ball in front, your racquet and arm will almost create an L shape on impact.
3. Just hit straight through the ball, like you're trying to throw your racquet across the net.

Also use a better tennis ball, that ball looks like its flat. Also some racquets are better suited for OHBH like heavier racquets.

Thanks. Above relates to your comments as well I believe.

Not too many great 2 handers in rec/park tennis either. I know, for me, the two hander is more difficult. Here Landsdorp says the one hander is easier to teach, 5:05 in:

I like what he says about using the slice as a guide. I wonder what the OP's slice looks like.

Not great, but better than top spin BH. I think I have similar issues with slice, being too closed like with TS BH. But maybe this is more ok for slice?

 

[Curious]

Then why are tendons used that much if they dont contribute to power, almost every major injurie is tendon related in tennis.
To hit any shot in tennis you need your hands to be loose, and only thing keeping them in the right place are tendons and ligaments.
That is why very average 14 year old kids with tiny arms can hit crazy heavy balls.

If you dont have this specific tendon strength for tennis your muscles will contract way more around the tendons and will take the job tendon is suppose to do.
But muscles when contract are rigid and not loose.So the more muscle you have in tennis as a beginner, the worst you are of.
Kid on other hand until age 12 have no muscles and very mouldable tendons.
And even even if they pay no attention and are generally very stupid they learn tennis technic very easy.Adults, doctors, lawyers very smart people on other hand cant seem understand basics of tennis technic , very strange.

Tendon and Ligament Adaptation
Muscle contractions stimulate your tendons and ligaments to become stronger and to grow in thickness. But it takes time, as these connective tissues are less metabolically active than muscles. It takes approximately 10 weeks of regular resistance exercise to strengthen your tendons, and it takes longer for them to thicken. You can expect up to 20 percent increase in strength and thickness of your ligaments and tendons with regular training.


Now if you count very low resistance in tennis and complicated movements which are different all the time , and muscles that adults have which contract way more then they should.
its very difficult to get stronger tendons specifically for tennis.

Power comes from muscle contraction. Tendons do not contract, they only act like a rope attached to the bone to move it, that's it. Yes they get stronger with exercise which increases their strength, resistance to tension but that's got nothing to do with the power that is generated by the muscle.

 

[Chas Tennis]

The tendon issue would probably make an interesting separate thread.

 

[SinjinCooper]

If 8 year old kid generates same power as lvl 4 adult in his shots, what muscles are we talking about.Let the kid arm wrestle a grown men if this power is generated with the muscle.

The muscles we're talking about are mostly leg, glute, hip, and core muscles, used in cooperation. A well trained kid can hit with a poorly trained adult because the adult is just using arm/shoulder/chest to hit, which is pretty much useless. A tennis stroke isn't really a feat of muscular strength. It's a feat of muscular coordination.

Tendons can't generate power. They're only connective.

 

[zalive]

If tendons dont work properly you cant even hold your hand up let alone hit the ball.

Same is valid for bones. Does it mean they generate power?

 

[ReopeningWed]

Hi all,
I am trying to fix my backhand. I often feel I lack power. I always thought I am not turning enough, but by looking at this video, it seems to me like I am turning too much. I don't know anymore. Please share your tips and problems you see here. I know I have too big loop But it seems to me this is not the reason why I lack the power, it should be opposite.
Anyway, I know wall is not ideal for this, but I guess some or most of my issues can be seen.
Be harsh.

Thanks in advance.

Big loop is absolutely one of the reasons why you lack power, when you pull your racket back too far, you can't get any of your body behind the shot. Not to mention that your timing is now harder, your backhand is going to be all arm, and your rotation is going to be disconnected from your swing.
Overall it looks like you have a ton of work to do. As some other posters had mentioned, you don't have any racket head speed either, but I think that's also tied to the fact that your swing is separated from your body rotation, on account of your takeback being too big.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Hi all,
I am trying to fix my backhand. I often feel I lack power. I always thought I am not turning enough, but by looking at this video, it seems to me like I am turning too much. I don't know anymore. Please share your tips and problems you see here. I know I have too big loop But it seems to me this is not the reason why I lack the power, it should be opposite.
Anyway, I know wall is not ideal for this, but I guess some or most of my issues can be seen.
Be harsh.

Thanks in advance.

stroke (at that speed) looks good.
now try swinging the racquet as hard as you would, if say, you were trying to win a long distance frisbee throwing contest.
my guess is that you don't, because when you swing faster, you fenced a couple balls when you lost control, and awareness of where your racquet face was and/or can't consistently find the right contact point.... which is fine - just bring more balls

 

[Bender]

Agreed with what the others are saying. Too much posing, not enough hitting. Huge takeback with no acceleration to compensate. Exhibits superficial rotation that adds nothing to the stroke.

 

[Chadillac]

Same is valid for bones. Does it mean they generate power?

They facilitate the power. Even a slight break/crack/fracture in any bone on your playing arm, will reduce your power

 

[Mojo28]

Well, there are days when I can generate good amount of power on my BH and I think I am beginning to realize what is different there.
When learning the stroke I watched all kinds of videos and most of them would say: "stay sideways". I think that this is the part I got wrong.
Like racket king said, I am too closed and should hit more in front. I always believed if I hit more in front that I am too open. While looking at all the top one handers yesterday, I could see that during contact, they have open chest somewhere around 45 degrees, right shoulder on 1 or 2 o'clock (for right handers). This is the part I totally missed before, don't know why. I thought this is wrong, since this is not "sideways". I guess that this means that they should stay on 45 during and slightly after contact. My interpretation of "sideways" was that my shoulders should be perpendicular to the base line during contact (shoulders on 12 o'clock). This is probably why I feel lack of power and strike the ball too much to the side. Maybe this is also why I was turning that much, trying to get better rotation up until shoulders on 12 o'clock. This makes a huge difference on how I see the stroke now. On some better days, when I feel like I can crush the ball, I always felt like I am opening too much and hitting the ball too much in front and not to the side. I also hope that with this better perception I can easier move to smaller loop since I can see that power can be easier generated with this shoulder opening.
Is it possible that this makes sense or I totally got it wrong?

And what do you think about this? Is this valid?

 

[heninfan99]

And what do you think about this? Is this valid?

It might be easier to learn from a neutral stance or what you call sideways but in the first sample vid of Gasquet in this very thread he's hitting the first two from closed stance so ultimately that's not the reason you have no power. You have to get what whipping motion. As NYTA mentioned, can you throw a frisbee fast & for distance?
Here's a video that might also help you, if you can't get it you might be a natural two hander.

 

[Mojo28]

I am not sure if you misunderstood me maybe. I am not talking about stance but about shoulder opening and shoulder position during contact. It seems to me that Gasquet and all others open much more then me (shoulders more on 1 or 2 o'clock and not 12). I agree with faster swing, this is not doubtful.

 

[zalive]

It might be easier to learn from a neutral stance or what you call sideways but in the first sample vid of Gasquet in this very thread he's hitting the first two from closed stance so ultimately that's not the reason you have no power. You have to get what whipping motion. As NYTA mentioned, can you throw a frisbee fast & for distance?
Here's a video that might also help you, if you can't get it you might be a natural two hander.

Closed stance picture is misleading.
Front foot should be like on Neutral stance, for modern game and most effective one hand backhands:

Front foot parallel to the baseline blocks rotation.

 

[heninfan99]

I am not sure if you misunderstood me maybe. I am not talking about stance but about shoulder opening and shoulder position during contact. It seems to me that Gasquet and all others open much more then me (shoulders more on 1 or 2 o'clock and not 12). I agree with faster swing, this is not doubtful.

Oh, I see. Wawrinka certainly open up the chest.

 

[heninfan99]

You are incorrect.

A player utilizes a variety of stances. Closed stance blocks nothing.

Closed stance picture is misleading.
Front foot should be like on Neutral stance, for modern game and most effective one hand backhands:

Front foot parallel to the baseline blocks rotation.

 

[zalive]

I'm not. He's going for DTL, look where his back foot is. Relative to his back foot his front foot is open, even if it's parallel to the baseline.
However if I was completely precise in description, then yes, DTL allows both front foot parallel to the baseline and all the rotation you will ever need.
Yet, if you want to hide your intentions where the ball is going , to make it hard to your opponent to read from your stance, I'd still stick the front foot open and just rotate a bit less, or correct direction with not extending my wrist full.

 

[heninfan99]

I'm not. He's going for DTL, look where his back foot is. Relative to his back foot his front foot is open, even if it's parallel to the baseline.
However if I was completely precise in description, then yes, DTL allows both front foot parallel to the baseline and all the rotation you will ever need.
Yet, if you want to hide your intentions where the ball is going , to make it hard to your opponent to read from your stance, I'd still stick the front foot open and just rotate a bit less, or correct direction with not extending my wrist full.

You're reaching. His feet are just about parallel in the photo. Better you admit you are mistaken and learn that a variety of stances, including closed, are used. I can post many samples, it is used all the time, in both one and two handed actually.

 

[Chas Tennis]

I am not sure if you misunderstood me maybe. I am not talking about stance but about shoulder opening and shoulder position during contact. It seems to me that Gasquet and all others open much more then me (shoulders more on 1 or 2 o'clock and not 12). I agree with faster swing, this is not doubtful.

To compare angles between your backhand and a high level model backhand compare identical camera angles and identical shots as best you you can.

Don't worry about where players end up in their follow throughs as that may vary because of options on how they use their muscles during their follow through. How does the follow through relate to ball impact? That is more complicated and has more variations than the significant motion to impact.

 

[zalive]

You're reaching. His feet are just about parallel in the photo. Better you admit you are mistaken and learn that a variety of stances, including closed are used. I can post many samples, it is used all the time, in both one and two handed actually.

His stance on pic is extremely closed. Line connecting his both feet is almost parallel to the baseline as well. How you wanna look at it? As an extreme closed stance, or as a rotated normal closed stance, adjusted to hit DTL?
And as for admitting, I already did it in previous post. DTL really allows front foot parallel to the baseline without any limitation to rotating your body.