Question on 2HBH grips. Tx.

[geo]

I am presently using both one and two handed BHs. In the 1HBH I use eastern, but in the 2HBH I have been experimenting several grips but never quite past continental, (towards eastern or even a semi-western).

My question is: is there some impediment in keeping the dominant hand grip in the 2HBH exactly the same as in the 1HBH grip?

I am home right now, and as I try to hold the racket and swing it with a dominant eastern BH and a non-dom. semi-western.... it seems OK. The advantage is obvious: one could use the 1HBH and 2HBH without big changes in the dominant grip.

Tx in advance

-geo-

 

[geo]

Ah... sorry. Non dominant semi-western is not practical really - not to say impossible, ...really... :>))

Lets stick to eastern BH grip.

-geo-

 

[predrag]

My question is: is there some impediment in keeping the dominant hand grip in the 2HBH exactly the same as in the 1HBH grip?
-geo-

There is no reason why not.
Some players have continental grip with the dominant hand, some have eastern backhand.
That is all acceptable.
Some (especially beginners) have eastern forehand or even s-w fh grip with the dominant hand, which I am very much against.

However, I think that you should stick with either 2hbh or 1hbh.
I am talking about topspin/drive. Having 2hbh topspin/drive and 1hbh slice is OK.


Regards, Predrag

 

[Datacipher]

There are pros who have used an eastern backhand grip for the bottom hand and a semi western for the top. For example Jim Courier. There is nothing wrong with it.

Different grips mean variations in contact point and swing. The further around you go towards an eastern backhand and a western forehand(top hand) the further out in front your ideal contact tends to be. For example Agassi with his continental bottom hand and eastern forehand/continental top hand met the ball much closer to his body than Courier. (Now Courier had an inferior backhand to Agassi but this was not necessarily because of his grip.)

The important thing is are you comfortable with it? If you are, give it a try! Nothing inherantly wrong with it. Each person is a little different in their physiology and in their athletic background.

There is also something to be said for pedrag's saying you should stick with 1 or the other. Some research tends to indicate that many people are "wired" for 1 type or the other. Those with a great deal of fine motor skill aptitude tend to do well with 1 hand, those with gross motor skills tend to do better with 2. Often you find one swing tends to come more naturally than the other. Still if you're not sure, why not try both and see which one you gravitate to over time...

 

[geo]

"Often you find one swing tends to come more naturally than the other. Still if you're not sure, why not try both and see which one you gravitate to over time..."

That is exactly the idea... Thanks.

-geo-

 

[Bungalo Bill]

There is nothing wrong with the grip experiments you are doing. When you switch the bottom hand more towards an Eastern backhand, the main thing that happens is the change in which arm takes dominance for the swing. If you move towards an Eastern backhand grip, your bottom hand will become more of the dictator or lead the swing while the top hand plays the support role. The opposite is true if you are in a continental bottom hand and a eastern forehand top hand grip combination.

A semi-western grip for the top hand is very popular, and is recommended by many top tennis coaches. An Eastern backhand grip for the bottom hand is also perfectly acceptable.

The contact point does change more towards the "hand" that is dominating the stroke. But that is not to say you must stay within these guidelines. Anything that is a change requires some learning or getting through the awkward stage.

 

[Camilio Pascual]

You might want to use a different combination of grips with the 2H BH depending on whether you are receiving serve or hitting groundstrokes. For example, you may be facing a fast server and want to chip or slice your returns. When groundstroking, you will most likely be hitting topspin. I hold the racquet with a SW with my non-dominant hand. My dominant hand will use an Eastern FH grip if I am slicing/chipping returns. For topspin groundstrokes, my dominant hand uses a Continental grip. The Continental allows me to drop off the other hand and hit drop shots, topspin, and slices 1 handed. I will hit topspin sometimes 1 handed so the other player does not know for certain that I'm hitting a drop shot or slice.

 

[YEMntFtb]

I prefer to use the eastern grip with the 2HB, my backhand is quite good, nearly equal to my forehand when it comes to angles and dominating a point played to my backhand.

The key is positioning, get your right foot out in front, stay low, for you righties.

Also, its not your right hand that should being doing the work, but the left hand, and the right hand simply guiding the racquet. This works quite well for me, use alittle wrist to get short cross-court angles, or punch out and hit alittle later to get the down the line shot.

 

[BigboyDan]

A two-handed backhand, for a right-handed forehand player, should be a left-handed shot. Meaning the 2HBH needs a dominant western-gripped left hand on top of a weak continental-gripped right hand. Weight should be balanced between both legs when making the backswing and when coming forward to strike the ball weight should shift to the back left foot. When at impact all strength should come from the legs up through the torso, through the arms, through the hands, to the ball. I once, in practice, hit a 130mph backhand with this weight-shift swing - blew me away.