Should I use a loop on my 2handed backhand?

[Golden Retriever]

I have a straight takeback for my 2 hander. Basically it is a straight takeback and a straight swing forward from low to high. It is ugly but it does the job. The timing is easier but seems like there is not enough power. Would it help if I took back a bit higher and employed a loopy swing like most pros do? I tried it before but I just couldn't get the timing right. Does the loopy swing give you more power? or is it just a difference in style and doesn't really matter?

 

[TwistServe]

I thought most pros have a straight takeback, not loopy takeback.. Take a look at Hewitts 2hb, its straight not loopy.

http://www.uspta.com/html/e-lesson-twohand backhand.swf

Anyway, my old 2hander was a loopy takeback and every single tennis pro that worked with me told me to straighten it out so that the preparation was faster.

 

[Rickson]

The takeback will not give you more power, the swing itself will. Keep doing what you're doing if it works for you.

 

[TwistServe]

The takeback will not give you more power, the swing itself will. Keep doing what you're doing if it works for you.

I dont think this is entirely true. A takeback that is farther back will give you more power. Sometimes a loop take back gets you more power if you start from the loop and accelrate through. Good example is andy Roddick's forehand. He loops it high and then back, and then to the ball. This give sme the extra distance he needs to generate more racquet head speed in addition to his legs..

Why do you think Guga's backhand is so powerful. You can nearly see his back at the end of his takeback.

 

[Golden Retriever]

Maybe I should rephrase my question. Should I use a loopy swing for my 2handed backhand? I am refering to the swing not the takeback. Right now I have a really low takeback with the tip of the racket head lower than my knees and swing up from there. Kind of like Serena Williams but even lower.

 

[Rickson]

You should definitely loop on the 2hbh swing for a perfect follow through with topspin. Be careful not to loop too early though because the ball won't have as much pace, but the end motion should definitely be a loop as opposed to a bunt.

 

[Mahboob Khan]

Some Pros like Hewitt have a loopless backswing some like Davenport and even Maria Sharapova employ loopy backswing. The loopless backswing is quite easy to implement whereas the loopy backswing requires more time and space and thus could be problematic for most players.

Whether the loopy backswing gives you more power? Yes, more power and more rhythm! In order to generate power, you need to accelerate the racket head to hit the ball. If the racket has a more distance prior to contact, it will have more time and space to speed up to hit the ball. Just like a car which needs more distance to be at top speed.

In order to incorporate a loop in your double handed BH:

Drill:

-- Hit a basket of balls with lefty forehand (with loopy backswing);
-- Hit a basket of balls with double-handed BH but stop the racket in front (to learn hit through the ball);
-- Hit a basket of balls with loopy backswing with follow-through over the other shoulder.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

The takeback will not give you more power, the swing itself will. Keep doing what you're doing if it works for you.

Actually that is not true Rickson.

The type of takeback can greatly aid in power.

A loop takeback adds power since it is working with gravity and momentum. It requires less muscle power to generate the same power at contact.

A straight back takeback will bring more muscle recruitment in to hit with the same power a loop takeback can provide a player.

The main benefit of the straight back takeback is the brain has an easier time knowing where the racquet head is in relation to the contact point. Players sometimes add a short little loop at the top of the taekback in a straight arm takeback.

However, I agree with you that it is up to the player on which they prefer. The loop takeback at the top level of tennis is more popular (or at least the easiest to see) on the womens side vs. the mens side.

 

[TennsDog]

I have a straight takeback where the racket head comes back flat about even with my hips, then I swing it a little lower, break my wrists and let the racket head drop, and finally snap them back up to really brush against and hit through the ball at the same time all in the foreward swing. I think that motion helps disguise where the ball is going and it also make the stroke more versatile in depth, angle, power, height, spin, etc. It seems to me that a loopy backswing would be harder because every part has to be right and it would be harder to make subtle changes. I could be wrong, just my opinion.

 

[Golden Retriever]

TennsDog, mine comes down to my knees. I think you have a small loop in your swing which is good. Anyway, I have tried to incorporate a loop in my swing without much success. So now I have a 4.0 forehand and a 2.5 backhand. Makes it kind of hard to purchase a racquet. Anyway, thanks everybody for the tips.

 

[Rickson]

The takeback will not give you more power, the swing itself will. Keep doing what you're doing if it works for you.

Actually that is not true Rickson.

The type of takeback can greatly aid in power.

A loop takeback adds power since it is working with gravity and momentum. It requires less muscle power to generate the same power at contact.

Didn't GR already say that he was talking about the swing and not the takeback? I think GR wanted to know whether he should follow through over the shoulder or bunt at the end of the swing.

 

[nyu]

If you want to add power to your backhand, the loopy 2-hander does generate a greater amount of momentum as opposed to the straight back style, but keep in mind that most power comes from having a strong base and creating forward momentum with your body(how do you think the 130 pound sharapova hits such hard backhands? She throws every pound of her frame into the ball).

As a side note, I've realized that it is mluch easier for the straight back style to become rigid and overly mechanical as opposed to the more fluid loopy takeback(as has been pointed out by other posters.)