At this moment I have a one handed backhand but I am really skinny and my wrist sometimes hurt when I use my wrist too much on a shot. I used to have a two handed backhand and I'm trying to learn it again but it seems like I either hit the ball out because it dose not have enough topspin or I hit it straight into the net because of to much topspin. And my one handed backhand feels a lot better than a two handed but I obviously don't want to hurt my wrist. Yesterday I went out to hit and practice the two handed backhand with a college player here from Spain and I was hitting my two handed backhands good but I went out to play this morning and I couldn't hit one in what should I do? sorry for being random its just hard to think of everything.
SinjinCooper
Hall of Fame
This will go well.
lol y
P
PittsburghDad
Guest
Do what you want. It won't matter.
Shroud
Talk Tennis Guru
Why are you using your wrist on the 1 hander??
if i do its on accident
Shroud
Talk Tennis Guru
Thats one heck of an accident. Knock it off!!!
If its just the wrist then work on not having accidents. Even at Leed's age he avoids accidents!
Perhaps some wrist exercises are in order too.
yea i kind of just switched to a one handed back hand 2 months ago
SinjinCooper
Hall of Fame
It's the "liberal or conservative?" of TTW.
If you are very slight of build - use the two hander. Most coach will steer people to two hander who are not already pre-disposed to the one hander.
I hit one hander - lots of guy my age do. But in general the younger players hit two hander and they tend to pick it up much faster then the guys learning one handers. YMMV.
I hit one hander - lots of guy my age do. But in general the younger players hit two hander and they tend to pick it up much faster then the guys learning one handers. YMMV.
Yea im smaller but i like the one handed better
Boogslice
Rookie
I'm very skinny as well and the one hander works fine for me. I mean, it has its usual downsides- you need to prepare early, you need to get your whole body into the shot, etc. It's not a shot you can just muscle with your arm (if you're a weakling like me). But like any other stroke, fluid mechanics and timing outweigh pure muscular strength. I don't know what might be the issue with your wrist, but check out images and slo-mo videos of folks like Henin, Wawrinka, and Gasquet -they all have the wrist mostly cocked (extension) at contact...I guess it's probably somewhere between neutral and extended. Start slow - maybe use a wall or play mini-tennis with a partner - and just focus on the position of your wrist as you move through contact.
S
Sirius Black
Guest
Well there's your answer
S
Stupendous1HBH
Guest
Sounds like you may need to get lessons from a coach who knows what he's talking about. He will make you commit to 1 or the other and he'll work with you to try and point out the flaws and the mechanics you need to work on. If you had some video, that could be helpful here as well. Good luck.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Why? Because it feels more "natural"? That's the common excuse I see on these forums for sticking with a largely ineffective stroke. The 1HBH requires a lot more timing and athleticism to become competent. The 2HBH while a little less "natural" because you need to actually use your non-dominant arm, is a little more idiot proof in that you can get a reasonable outcome from a less than perfect stroke. It also holds up stability on RoS a bit better, meaning you don't have to resort to slicing 90% of your serve returns (Or worse, try to run around your BH to hit a FH return and get jammed).
Anyway, if you have pain with a certain stroke or can't generate the power, either get stronger and get coaching or switch to the less injurious 2HBH.
Shroud
Talk Tennis Guru
Yea! I now have timing and athleticism!!!
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I've seen your videos and your do have fairly natural above average hand eye coordination
NuBas
Legend
You need to build some forearm, shoulder, hip, and back strength to hit a nice OHBH. Keep a firm wrist and make contact well in front. If you do happen to use your wrist you have to time the shot well and let the racquet do the work.
S
Stupendous1HBH
Guest
During the unit turn, it's best to pivot on that outside foot and get it parallel to the baseline. That will naturally close your stance that way your looking right over your hitting shoulder. For the 1 hander, should always remain closed during contact and follow through. THEN you can gradually rotate around and push off the outside leg for a good recovery back to center.
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
So it's safe to say that your one-hander is a work in progress, right? When I rebuilt my strokes several years ago - including a sound one-hander - it took a lot of months of deliberate work to reinforce the different footwork and timing that makes that stroke work. If you're not executing that stroke unconsciously yet, keep at it. It does take a while to learn the proper setup and stroke tempo to reach a contact point that's further ahead of us than a two-hander with a similar ball. Everything has to get going earlier.
If your wrist is hurting, it's probably trying to do some unnecessary work. Maybe your forward stroke isn't initiating early enough, maybe you're not swinging to a contact point that's out ahead of you far enough, maybe you're trying to use your wrist to help with generating topspin. Hard to say. If you were slugging with a strong hitter, the ball may easily have been getting "in" on you too much. Late contact with a one-hander can be rough on the wrist for sure. Be aware - the proper contact point on that wing should feel like it's further out ahead of your than with your forehand.
I'm now 51 and although I've tried several "middle-weight" racquets here and there, my backhand definitely suffers if I don't have enough heft and stability in my racquet to command the ball. In case you need a little extra stability in your own rig, it's simple enough to add only perhaps a few grams total to the hoop with lead tape, etc. It's also easy enough to just peel it off if it make your racquet feel worse.
Now that I've been teaching and coaching for several years, I'm a believer in players' aptitudes. Many can do fine learning a two-hander, but a few have a much stronger natural inclination to hit a one-handed backhand. It sounds like you're in this bunch.
Full disclosure - I also hit a two-hander when I need it. When I need to handle a deep drive off a short hop or fight off a strong serve with a somewhat aggressive backhand return, the two-hander bails me out there. But the one-hander is absolutely the better style when I can execute it. Hang in there and enjoy the journey.
Moveforwardalways
Hall of Fame
Poor guy. Sorry to hear this. Here is the fix...
1. Squat
2. Dead lift
3. Cleans
4. Bench press
5. Anabolic steroids
6. Creatine
7. Deer antler spray
Problem solved
Meh. Hit with this 3.0 girl.. And I remember a local coach yelling at her - you need to switch to two hander.
After like 30 seconds I figured out why.. Holy crap - you can like a one hander but it's still horrible for you. Just bounce any ball up in her strike zone and she couldn't handle it.. Not way up - just a little bit a generic topspin rally ball and its all over.I asked her about it and she was like I always hit with one hand - and I like it better. <bleh>
you got to decide if you want to win or you want to go with what feels
nice..
Tennis is not all about feelings man..
PMChambers
Hall of Fame
The only issue with a one hander is commitment. There are situations where two hander is easier such as top spin return of serve and balls above shoulder height. But it does have greater variance and easier to generate variance. If you naturally feel it, go with it and tidy up the form. If your wrist hurts it maybe due to using wrist turn too early or hitting too late. You don't have to use wrist flare, a high linear finish works well. A flare finish feels awesome so nice to have it for set balls.
There are a lot of people on this board who claim 1hbh is not effective but from Federer down I've seen good 1hbh at at levels. Granted the 2HBH is more prominent at all levels and tends to be more stable regardless At lower levels just hiting a super consistent slice will get you a long way, especially if you can follow to net or switch deep FH short BH just will have to run when it gets harassed which it won't at low level.
Go the mighty One Hander.
There are a lot of people on this board who claim 1hbh is not effective but from Federer down I've seen good 1hbh at at levels. Granted the 2HBH is more prominent at all levels and tends to be more stable regardless At lower levels just hiting a super consistent slice will get you a long way, especially if you can follow to net or switch deep FH short BH just will have to run when it gets harassed which it won't at low level.
Go the mighty One Hander.
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
Meh. Hit with this 3.0 girl.. And I remember a local coach yelling at her - you need to switch to two hander.
I asked her about it and she was like I always hit with one hand - and I like it better. <bleh>
you got to decide if you want to win or you want to go with what feels
nice..
Tennis is not all about feelings man..
Considering the urban legend that claims 50% of all people who play tennis matches lose, I hope it's also not all about winning.
I was working with a 3.0 level young lady some years ago who had been struggling with her two-hander for quite a while. After one or two outings with me, she eventually asked if she could try learning a one-hander and we got to work on some essentials.
This was "that kid" that changed my mind about basic tennis aptitudes because soon enough she started hitting a one-hander like she was born to do it. Maybe she threw a lot of Frisbees before she took up tennis or something - who knows? I haven't run across another case where a relative beginner was so naturally inclined to hit that stroke better than a two-hander - it's definitely a smaller group for sure, but I think it exists.
So did that girl you mentioned ever learn a decent two-hander?
S
Stupendous1HBH
Guest
For some, the 1 hander is just a natural stroke and feels less restrictive so they gravitate towards it and end up sticking with it. Must be the way it flows better and has more momentum and loop in the stroke and the "feeling" behind it.
S
Stupendous1HBH
Guest
I once tried hitting with an extreme eastern grip or as you put it, "SW reverse", and it just did not work out at all. Have to stick with the standard eastern backhand. Best combination of spin and drive IMO.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I think for all people its a more natural motion. Problem is timing and positioning with most people and why despite its "smooth flow" they screw it up every time they try to go for any power. The 2 hander does feel more restrictive and its less "natural" because you invoke your non-dominant hand, but it is less reliant on proper timing and great hand-eye coordination to be reasonably effective.
And in rec league tennis, you generally don't need a great backhand, just a reasonable effective one. Many players would be better than they are today if instead of fooling with a terrible one hander because it feels more natural, would spend a little time developing a decent 2 hander just to allow them to improve from 3.5 to 4.0.
It always amazes me that 80% of 3.0-3.5 men have 1HBHs and 80% of 4.5-5.0 men have 2Handers at our club.
S
Stupendous1HBH
Guest
A lot of old fogies I know hit the 1 hander but it's your classic racquet staight back with 0 loop and straight through the shot across the body with 0 topspin. I cringe anytime I see that. They can't help it though.
Bobs tennis
Semi-Pro
I feel this is so true at least in my experience. My problem is in many other sports (golf.batting,throwing anything) i am a left hander but from the beginning I always played tennis right handed.I am now trying to use the one hander only when driven wide...
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I was playing beside a gentleman drop feeding himself backhands from a bin of old balls. Very smooth stroke but no power, minimal spin. Hit for the whole hour i was playing a match with my wife. I think he has mastered that old guy stroke, but I kept wanting to tell him to try to lean into one and really smack it.
10isMaestro
Semi-Pro
In the long run, we're all dead.
P
PittsburghDad
Guest
True enough. A touch on the darkside for a backhand discussion. But true enough.
So did that girl you mentioned ever learn a decent two-hander?
Nope. She is not 0-4 in league play.. Can they bump you down to 2.5? I dunno.. we will find out I guess. It's crazy because forehand is legit - like a 3.5 guys.. But no serve - no backhand ..
Nope. She is not 0-4 in league play.. Can they bump you down to 2.5? I dunno.. we will find out I guess. It's crazy because forehand is legit - like a 3.5 guys.. But no serve - no backhand ..
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
I hit with a two-handed backhand for about five minutes yesterday. I just drew the racquet back and went through the ball.
Does this keep ticks away?
Does this keep ticks away?
Which ever is most comfortable is the correct answer for you.
Personally I prefer the two hander, because it requires less strength and the two hands mean it is naturally steadier. The double handed action tends to pull you into the correct form. This is born out by the players at my club. I only know one player with a steady single handed backhand. Lots of players who can hit big spectacular shots with on hand, but they break down if forced to hit too many. Whereas there are plenty of steady double handed players.
Personally I prefer the two hander, because it requires less strength and the two hands mean it is naturally steadier. The double handed action tends to pull you into the correct form. This is born out by the players at my club. I only know one player with a steady single handed backhand. Lots of players who can hit big spectacular shots with on hand, but they break down if forced to hit too many. Whereas there are plenty of steady double handed players.
Moveforwardalways
Hall of Fame
If someone is too weak to hit the one hander, they can actually just skip straight to anabolic steroids and deer antler spray. Local club pros hate this product and it's the 1HBH secret your local club pro doesn't want you to know about. They would rather you take their lessons, spending time chasing so-called "technique", than have this catch on. But it's too late.
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
If someone is too weak to hit the one hander, they can actually just skip straight to anabolic steroids and deer antler spray. Local club pros hate this product and it's the 1HBH secret your local club pro doesn't want you to know about. They would rather you take their lessons, spending time chasing so-called "technique", than have this catch on. But it's too late.
Their logo reminds me of the logo on Nadal's shirts.
Moveforwardalways
Hall of Fame
I think you just busted the entire tennis industrial complex.
heninfan99
Talk Tennis Guru
Very good point. hehehe
Shroud
Talk Tennis Guru
Suresian Vortex Spray is just this stuff rebranded. But yeah @sureshs one hander IS the product of spray!If someone is too weak to hit the one hander, they can actually just skip straight to anabolic steroids and deer antler spray. Local club pros hate this product and it's the 1HBH secret your local club pro doesn't want you to know about. They would rather you take their lessons, spending time chasing so-called "technique", than have this catch on. But it's too late.
Marius_Hancu
Talk Tennis Guru
Now, if we stay with 2HBHs, I prefer Iva Jovic's. She 15, and won massively lately in jrs. I call her 2HBH original, with more disguise and potentially power than many variants. This is caused in principal, IMO, by her left elbow being higher and more separated from her torso, which leads to a large turn with both arms pretty extended, in more freedom, and amazing disguise. Watch e.g. Iva Jovic vs Lucciana Perez, 3 hrs, and watch Iva's 2HBH eg at 42:07. The girls start after 10:00.
stapletonj
Hall of Fame
I hit a 1HBH and this is 100% true, ESPECIALLY on service returns from a good server. 1HBH - You have to be significantly earlier than on a 2HBH and being late (especially if you are trying to get topspin) is punished severely.
You can get away with slicing a little late, esp if you have a continental grip on your slice.
Your wrist pain most likely is from A. Not making a radical enough grip change and/or B. late contact point.
Shroud
Talk Tennis Guru
Man. I miss Sinjin. He was one of the best poasters here.
Marius_Hancu
Talk Tennis Guru
Right. I just said elsewhere:
I personally think FAA is making an error by not using a 1HBH. Losing net play, versatility and artistry that would help bring more public on his side. I mean, look at Federer, who was more loved or admired? But we seem to forget and go for the more workmanlike approach and a matraque for many. FAA and Shapo have both (but to different degrees) Nadal-ized their games and I am not sure whether this was to their advantage, including healthwise, or to our advantage, as fans.
As one hander I recommend the two hander. The deficiencies you hear about the topspin one hander are all true and I disagree that it is a more natural motion, the stroke itself is not intuitive at all. It will get attacked and you will suffer for a long time before it gets to where it needs to be. It is also more tennis elbow prone if you are forcing it.
Also two handers are more disciplined in general. One handers are generally either too passive with their slices or pretend they're Dominic Thiem going for winners.
Also two handers are more disciplined in general. One handers are generally either too passive with their slices or pretend they're Dominic Thiem going for winners.
dlam
Semi-Pro
Learn them both
But use the one that you are better with in a match.
I use two handed backhand
I practise the one handed back as it feels timing wise the same as a serve.
When ever my serve is out of synch, I start practicing my 1HBH as it helps my feel
That follow through of my 1HBH racket arm feels exactly like how my takeback of my racket arm on my serve should feel
But use the one that you are better with in a match.
I use two handed backhand
I practise the one handed back as it feels timing wise the same as a serve.
When ever my serve is out of synch, I start practicing my 1HBH as it helps my feel
That follow through of my 1HBH racket arm feels exactly like how my takeback of my racket arm on my serve should feel
