serena's one-hander

[Jack Romeo]

did anyone notice serena hitting one-handed backhands during her warm-ups at the australian open? i only noticed her doing this in the warm ups before both her semi and final match. she seemed to be using an eastern backhand grip and was hitting almost purely flat, not sliced. and to be honest, the whole stroke looked technically correct. she turned sideways, used a compact backswing and followed through with a straight arm right in the direction of her shot. but she was never ripping the ball, just getting it safely back over the net. then, towards the end of the warm-up, she'd go back to using her two-hander.

 

[Alexandros]

I've seen her do it throughout her career. Have no idea why. I've seen Safin do it as well, his one hander looks fine too.

 

[OrangeOne]

I've seen her do it throughout her career. Have no idea why. I've seen Safin do it as well, his one hander looks fine too.

Just a thought - when I saw her doing it, Maria was volleying. I wonder if it's simply so Serena can hold a ball or two in the other hand, and yet still hit backhands?

 

[ShcMad]

Safin is so talented he could even win a match hitting one-handed backhands.

 

[psamp14]

one handers aside, schmad, you've got a nice avatar...

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

A lot of two handers will go one hand from time to time, especially when the occasion is not serious. As many one handers can tell you, it's one of the most satisfying shot in the game of tennis.

 

[ShcMad]

one handers aside, schmad, you've got a nice avatar...

Thank you. I know I like it too.

 

[Banger]

I remember seeing Bags do it as well. He looked pretty comfortable with it.

 

[TechnoJock]

Aussie Open photos showed Serena hitting one-handed and it looked as if it were during the match...

 

[LttlElvis]

I've seen Federer messing around during warm ups and he hit a jumping 2 handed backhand. One of the nicest strokes I have seen. Almost like Safin's.

 

[swisser]

I've seen Federer messing around during warm ups and he hit a jumping 2 handed backhand. One of the nicest strokes I have seen. Almost like Safin's.

have any pics of it i would like 2 see it

 

[NamRanger]

Sometimes the situation just calls for a one hand backhand. Two hand backhands can't generate enough power in certain situations, one of them is on the run wide. Agassi used to use one hand backhands all the time at Wimbledon (see Agassi vs Sampras final).

 

[Sagittar]

but the question remains , why do they do since they won't ever use it in real matches ?

 

[Borat]

I use a 2HBH and feed with a 1HBH. I also hit a lot of 1HBH in practice.

 

[drake]

Any ATP and Division 1 College player with a 2 handed backhand can hit a fundamentally correct 1 hander.

 

[bluetrain4]

One of the pros at my club always says that fooling around with a one-hander won't affect your two-handed backhand, but fooling around with a two-hander if your a one-hander could screw up your backhand.

I have no idea what she means, but I see a lot of players with two-handed backhands occasionally hit one-handers, usually justfor fun, but sometimes when they are stretched out or can't change their grip fast enough.

 

[PrinceThunder]

alot is confidence , i can hit wicked one handed backhands during practice or messing around but in a tough match it flys all over ...just my two cents worth

 

[Deleted member 3771]

I see some wta players hit left handed forehands as part of their pratice sessions. It seems like its just for a bit of co-ordination, balance, and for some variety in training.

 

[jelle v]

I think it's because low balls or balls that aren't near enough, are easier to hit with a one-handed backhand, so I think it's just a practical thing. When warming up you sometimes are too lazy too actively move towards the ball too hit a 2 handed backhand, so instead you do one step en reach for it with a one-hander, that's what I do sometimes anyway.

 

[AlpineCadet]

(If you're normally a 2hb player and you practice with a 1hb.) When you hit a 1hb correctly during a warm-up, it helps keep your 2hb in check, fundamentally??