One side flat and penetrating, the other a lot more topspin....

[zill]

So my single handed backhand is developing into a very flat and hard shot. I naturally hit it deep and flat to the opponent although sometimes with topspin if I brush hard on it. I think it is effective in a match as its fast.

However, my forehand naturally has a lot more topspin. I've use to have more topspin but now concentrating on driving the ball more. Still there is still plenty topspin on the forehand side. And I think this topspin is good as it can make it difficult for the opponent when the ball is deep.

Question: Is that good? To have one side thats really flat and and the other really topspinny?

Any pros who hit like this? They tend to be similar on both sides?

 

[SinjinCooper]

There's nothing inherently wrong with it. Flat strokes and spinny strokes can both be good.

Practically speaking, however, at the sort of level where you need to ask, excessive spin or flatness tends to be a symptom of a stroke in need of a tuneup.

 

[zill]

There's nothing inherently wrong with it. Flat strokes and spinny strokes can both be good.

Practically speaking, however, at the sort of level where you need to ask, excessive spin or flatness tends to be a symptom of a stroke in need of a tuneup.

My backhand just doesn't feel right adding more topspin. Feels natural to take it early and flatten it. I've tried to flatten the forehand but it still has a lot of topspin!

Actually one pro who has a flat backhand and spinny forehand is Kyrios!

 

[FiReFTW]

You should be able to produce a wide variety of spin and pace off both wings, and a wide variety of different arcs and amounts of spin vs pace, you need to work on your strokes a lot more.

 

[zill]

You should be able to produce a wide variety of spin and pace off both wings, and a wide variety of different arcs and amounts of spin vs pace, you need to work on your strokes a lot more.

Is there something wrong with Kyrios' backhand because he doesn't hit topspin on that side?

Note that I use to hit a lot of topspin on the backhand side but that side just didn't feel right. Then oneday in a match decided to flatten it out and my goodness how natural it felt. Also the ball was fast and my opponent had trouble returning them. He then avoided my backhand for the rest of the match.

 

[jm1980]

Is there something wrong with Kyrios' backhand because he doesn't hit topspin on that side?

Rec players tend to underestimate how much spin the pros hit. Make no mistake, even flatter looking shots have plenty of spin in them

 

[zill]

Rec players tend to underestimate how much spin the pros hit. Make no mistake, even flatter looking shots have plenty of spin in them

Seen him playing from court side view. Really flat!

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

My backhand just doesn't feel right adding more topspin. Feels natural to take it early and flatten it. I've tried to flatten the forehand but it still has a lot of topspin!

Actually one pro who has a flat backhand and spinny forehand is Kyrios!

How is your consistency? Flat shots are great and can give the opponent all kinds of problems but the downside is potentially more errors. And not just at the current level but at future, higher levels.

 

[FiReFTW]

Is there something wrong with Kyrios' backhand because he doesn't hit topspin on that side?

Note that I use to hit a lot of topspin on the backhand side but that side just didn't feel right. Then oneday in a match decided to flatten it out and my goodness how natural it felt. Also the ball was fast and my opponent had trouble returning them. He then avoided my backhand for the rest of the match.

Theres nothing wrong if you want to hit without much topspin, but you are severely limiting your shot arsenal and potential, its up to you tho.
How will you hit good passing shots with alot of topspin or short angles? or many other shots that are very good with alot of topspin for example?

 

[LeeD]

There is no reason to hit the ball exactly the same from both sides.
If you do it, it's fine, if you don't, it's fine.

 

[zill]

There is no reason to hit the ball exactly the same from both sides.
If you do it, it's fine, if you don't, it's fine.

But any advantages in hitting them on two sides of the spectrum on the two sides? Also what are the disadvantages?

 

[zill]

Theres nothing wrong if you want to hit without much topspin, but you are severely limiting your shot arsenal and potential, its up to you tho.
How will you hit good passing shots with alot of topspin or short angles? or many other shots that are very good with alot of topspin for example?

I can hit topspin on that side but it's just not very natural. From time to time I will throw in topspin when needed but in a normal rally ball will flatten it out.

 

[zill]

How is your consistency? Flat shots are great and can give the opponent all kinds of problems but the downside is potentially more errors. And not just at the current level but at future, higher levels.

Pretty good I think. Got a pretty extrme single handed backhand grip - knuckles on top. You'd think it's more suitable for topspin as Almagro and guga used that grip but it actually feels more natural flattening it out. Due to the 'downward racquet face nature' of the grip am able to take the ball early on that side and really swing through resulting usually in a fast, flat ball that lands deep in the court of my opposition. To create topspin I just dip the racquet more but then then all is a lot slower and it doesn't feel as natural. However can create good topspin when needed.

 

[LeeD]

Why do you think player's such as Federer often slice their backhands? Do you think they often slice their forehands?
Even Nadal uses a 1hbh slice, which is not nearly similar to his forehand.
Why is that?

 

[Slicerman]

I would probably consider this a big weakness. I think to be a solid player you need to know how to flat, topspin and slice on both wings. The same stroke won't always work on every ball. I think a flat stroke could possibly break down on low balls if you don't compensate with a bit of spin.

 

[zill]

I would probably consider this a big weakness. I think to be a solid player you need to know how to flat, topspin and slice on both wings. The same stroke won't always work on every ball. I think a flat stroke could possibly break down on low balls if you don't compensate with a bit of spin.

Good point but I naturally would brush up on lower balls thereby creating some topspin. When I say flatten I meant on higher balls.

 

[zill]

Why do you think player's such as Federer often slice their backhands? Do you think they often slice their forehands?
Even Nadal uses a 1hbh slice, which is not nearly similar to his forehand.
Why is that?

To introduce more variety. So I take it's a good thing.

 

[MisterP]

I think it's pretty normal. I have a two hander that has a slower more rolling shape to it compared to my forehand which is harder and flatter. I think it's a nice change up if nothing else.

 

[Slicerman]

Good point but I naturally would brush up on lower balls thereby creating some topspin. When I say flatten I meant on higher balls.

That's good then. You're occasionally hitting some topspin on it. It does make sense to flatten higher balls. Lately when a ball is at head height, I tend to flatten it and maybe even hit down on it. It seems to work well so far. If a ball is very high, I found it to be very difficult to topspin my backhand with a good result. Sometimes I can hit a high loopy backhand that lands deep, but I find it too easy to cause a mishit. Though on a high flat backhand, the main cause I noticed is that the bounce dies a bit on a slower surface. So I think its pretty crucial to get those high flat drives as deep as you can.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

Every single player on the ATP tour hits more spin with their forehand than their backhand. It's physics of the stroke.

 

[zill]

That's good then. You're occasionally hitting some topspin on it. It does make sense to flatten higher balls. Lately when a ball is at head height, I tend to flatten it and maybe even hit down on it. It seems to work well so far. If a ball is very high, I found it to be very difficult to topspin my backhand with a good result. Sometimes I can hit a high loopy backhand that lands deep, but I find it too easy to cause a mishit. Though on a high flat backhand, the main cause I noticed is that the bounce dies a bit on a slower surface. So I think its pretty crucial to get those high flat drives as deep as you can.

Yes, I naturally tend to hit the flat backhand deep because I like to clear safely clear the net. The fact that it has little topspin means it doesn't dip as much. Hence naturally most of my backhands land deep in the opponent's court.