One-handed backhand western grip

[mikeler]

I insisted my court be swept before my tournament matches last week and that is at a City facility.

 

[sureshs]

Nadal sweeps the clay court with his opponents

 

[Limpinhitter]

I think Federer's FOREHAND breaks down far more often than his backhand does. His backhand is by far his more reliable and consistent shot, IMHO. He's just more aggressive with his forehand most of the time and he likes to use his forehand to move the ball around and hit his favorite inside-out forehands.

BTW, if you want a consistent and accurate 1HBH, you want to stay sideways to the net for as long as possible through the shot and not open (rotate) your body until the very end of your follow through (if at all). This is exactly how Federer hits his backhand. You can hit a very accurate and powerful 1HBH without opening up (rotating) your back shoulder towards the net at all by just keeping your shoulders perpendicular to the net throughout the entire stroke and swinging your arm and front shoulder up and out like a pendulum.

I disagree as to both paragraphs. Fed's forehand was a bit erratic this year. But, historically, it's the best shot in tennis history. JMHO, of course. As for a 1hb, I can' agree with that either. If you're hitting down the line, or inside out, then you might want to shorten your UBR. Otherwise, there's no reason to truncate as much UBR as you can comfortably employ.

 

[Limpinhitter]

No wonder you switched to a 2HBH. I'd bet your 1HBH wasn't very good if you were rotating your upper body that much when you hit the ball, like on a 2HBH. The power on a 1HBH comes from swinging your arm fast and rotating your shoulder upwards (within its socket) and weight transfer and timing, not from rotating your trunk into the shot, like you do on a 2HBH. On a 1HBH, your body should stay sideways to the net and your chest should be facing the side fence from the beginning to end of the stroke.

I switched to a 2hb because of non-tennis injuries. I hyperextended my elbow weightlifting and then tore cartilage in my elbow in an arm wrestling tournament. My 1hb was my best, most reliable shot, and my second biggest weapon only to my serve.

I agree that a 2hb requires more UBR than a 1hb, because there isn't enough freedom to swing with two hands on the racquet. But, Fed's UBR is typically too short, and he compensates with excessive elbow and wrist movement. As a result, he can generate great racquet speed, but, he does so at the expense of control and consistency. Again, JMHO!

 

[Limpinhitter]

He has a very hard time being told he is wrong, and proven wrong. It is quite amusing seeing him so upset and blathering on like a drunken fool.

Hahahaha! It seems I taught Drakulie a new word . . . to lie with.

 

[BreakPoint]

I disagree as to both paragraphs. Fed's forehand was a bit erratic this year. But, historically, it's the best shot in tennis history. JMHO, of course. As for a 1hb, I can' agree with that either. If you're hitting down the line, or inside out, then you might want to shorten your UBR. Otherwise, there's no reason to truncate as much UBR as you can comfortably employ.

Federer's forehand is one of the best shots in tennis because he can do so much with it, hit in any direction, and hits so many winners with it, NOT because of its consistency.

I can rip my 1HBH either down-the-line or crosscourt with the same motion and without opening up (turning) my shoulders on either shot. People who play against me tell me they can never figure out where I'm hitting my backhand because my motion is always the same. There's no "truncating" at all. It's a totally free "whipping" motion that ends with my arm straight out pointing towards the net.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Federer's forehand is one of the best shots in tennis because he can do so much with it, hit in any direction, and hits so many winners with it, NOT because of its consistency.

I can rip my 1HBH either down-the-line or crosscourt with the same motion and without opening up (turning) my shoulders on either shot. People who play against me tell me they can never figure out where I'm hitting my backhand because my motion is always the same. There's no "truncating" at all. It's a totally free "whipping" motion that ends with my arm straight out pointing towards the net.

When I said truncate, I was referring to UBR, not arm swing. In any event, I'm not arguing that there's only one way to do anything. There are exceptions to every rule. People aren't machines. What works for most, doesn't work for all. What I am saying, is that, on the whole, Edberg's backhand was a better shot that Federer's backhand, not because he hit it harder that Fed, but, because he hit almost as hard, and it was more accurate, more consistent and more reliable than Fed's backhand. And the reason for that is because swinging from the shoulder and UBR are more limited (less chance of going astray), and more repeatable movements than elbow bend and wrist flick. Again, JMHO! I would also submit that most of the great 1hb's were swung from the shoulder with plenty of UBR.

 

[Josh_Camp]

Hey guys, want to hear a joke?

Dementieva acing.

 

[bad_call]

Federer's forehand is one of the best shots in tennis because he can do so much with it, hit in any direction, and hits so many winners with it, NOT because of its consistency.

I can rip my 1HBH either down-the-line or crosscourt with the same motion and without opening up (turning) my shoulders on either shot. People who play against me tell me they can never figure out where I'm hitting my backhand because my motion is always the same. There's no "truncating" at all. It's a totally free "whipping" motion that ends with my arm straight out pointing towards the net.

not that i don't believe u but u need to post a vid now.

 

[li0scc0]

And with his backhand, fed has more wins, slams, year end #1, winning percentage, and less losses than edbergs, momo.

That doesn't mean his backhand is better. Does that also mean Federer's volleys are better than Edberg's? Are all parts of Federer's game are better than Edberg's? Certainly not.
By the same logic, Agassi's serve is superior to Roddick's, since Agassi had more wins, slams, etc.

 

[li0scc0]

Federer's forehand is one of the best shots in tennis because he can do so much with it, hit in any direction, and hits so many winners with it, NOT because of its consistency.

Great post - so true. Such a weapon.

 

[Josh_Camp]

Hey guys, wanna hear another joke?

Isner's return of serve.

 

[drakulie]

That doesn't mean his backhand is better. Does that also mean Federer's volleys are better than Edberg's? Are all parts of Federer's game are better than Edberg's? Certainly not.
By the same logic, Agassi's serve is superior to Roddick's, since Agassi had more wins, slams, etc.

Please go back and read the post I responded to. Thanks, and God Bless.

 

[Cpetford95]

only wheelchair players should use it

 

[bad_call]

That doesn't mean his backhand is better. Does that also mean Federer's volleys are better than Edberg's? Are all parts of Federer's game are better than Edberg's? Certainly not.
By the same logic, Agassi's serve is superior to Roddick's, since Agassi had more wins, slams, etc.

ooohhhh...logical argument here counselor.

 

[tank_job]

Here is Kuerten's backhand.

Let's use the following as a reference for bevels;

A true semi-western backhand (probably the most extreme backhand grip possible) is where the palm surface of the index knuckle is on bevel 8. It is like the Hawaiian forehand grip of one-handed backhand grips.

Bevildevil has said that no player uses the true 'semi-western' backhand, instead, according to him, even the most extreme grippers were/are using a hybrid where the palm surface of the index knuckle is on the ridge between bevels 8 and 1.

There is good evidence that the grip Bevildevil refers to is in fact the one that Henin uses. In the above picture of Kuerten, however, the palm surface of Kuerten's index knuckle is clearly all the way on bevel 8. You're looking at surely what is the most extreme backhand grip in tennis history... A true semi-western backhand grip. More extreme a grip than Henin used, it appears.

Since Kuerten is using a somewhat 'pistol' grip here, where index knuckle is further around the grip than the rest of his knuckles, would you say that the rest of his knuckles (middle, ring and pinky) are on bevel 1?

So his grip is essentially like a full eastern backhand (full eastern backhand is ALL knuckles over bevel 1) with the index knuckle one bevel further around?