Single handed backhand players: Do you use your left hand to help bring your racquet back in the takeback?

[zill]

I use my core to bring it back.

Just realised you can just bring the racquet back using the right arm! lol

Yes core is offcourse used at the start.

Just use the left hand as a check point that it is holding on the throat in the power position. That's it with regards to the left hand.

 

[zill]

Think the aim is to stretch the right arm in the takeback and that is achieved best by using the left hand on the throat and pull backward. So when using the left hand to bring the racquet back you are really trying to stretch the right arm backward.

 

[zill]

absolutely, use left hand (I am righthanded) to pull racquet back and racquet head up, load rightshoulder, help the racquet for the drop and then unleash it once you start to make the forward movement. I like to think that the left hand is responsible for extra racquet speed and power because of "loading" the right shoulder! If I don't do it consciously, my backhands are less powerful for sure!

Yes stretch the right arm (by using the left hand to bring the racquet back) so that the right shoulder is loaded.

 

[socallefty]

Think the aim is to stretch the right arm in the takeback and that is achieved best by using the left hand on the throat and pull backward. So when using the left hand to bring the racquet back you are really trying to stretch the right arm backward.

I use the offhand on the racquet throat to pull the racquet back till I’m coiled nicely and also my wrist is cocked back (flexed). It is importantly to hold it at the throat and not lower at the shaft. If you pull it back holding it up at the throat, the racquet head goes up also facilitating a nice vertical take back - then gravity helps to drop into the slot when you let go.

The offhand on the throat at the beginning also helps me rotate the racquet to the proper EBH grip easily.

PS: I should have voted no on the poll as I use my right hand to pull back!

 

[10sbeast888]

in theory yes. although individual mileages may vary.

played ping-pong growing up, never had the muscle memory to coordinate the 2 hands, therefore the left hand doesn't do anything other than just keeping balance.

have retooled the bh lately, not even bother much with coiling... adding a pronation move and hit the ball with the lower part of the face. so easy to pull off.

 

[ballmachineguy]

There needs to be some clarification as to offhand on the racquet vs pulling it back. It is obvious that the offhand isn’t doing the lion’s share of taking the racquet back. Common sense, as well as the pics below, tell you that. The racquet would be horizontal, if the offhand was pulling with decent force or you’d have to really stiffen the wrist of the racquet holding hand to resist the pull, which would not be ideal for having a relaxed arm necessary for rhs.

https://imgur.com/a/LcQfDOs

 

[onehandbh]

I voted 'yes' but my answer is only part of the time in the stroke.

As soon as I see that I will be hitting a backhand and not a forehand I do this:

• turn/coil upper body & shoulders and change grip with left hand (off hand) as I turn
• As the ball gets closer before bouncing, I turn my shoulders a bit more and pull back my racquet a little further back and down. At this point the hitting side of my racquet is more or less facing my back fence. It is at this position that I pull the hardest with my left hand/arm. But it still isn't with a lot of force compared to the force from unwinding my shoulder/torso and stepping into the ball.

I think i pull harder on backhand slices, but in a different direction, as I am about to swing forward.

 

[Curious]

I voted 'yes' but my answer is only part of the time in the stroke.

As soon as I see that I will be hitting a backhand and not a forehand I do this:

• turn/coil upper body & shoulders and change grip with left hand (off hand) as I turn
• As the ball gets closer before bouncing, I turn my shoulders a bit more and pull back my racquet a little further back and down. At this point the hitting side of my racquet is more or less facing my back fence. It is at this position that I pull the hardest with my left hand/arm. But it still isn't with a lot of force compared to the force from unwinding my shoulder/torso and stepping into the ball.

I think i pull harder on backhand slices, but in a different direction, as I am about to swing forward.

It sounds as if it’s a 5 minute process!

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

No, I use my R hand to help.

 

[onehandbh]

It sounds as if it’s a 5 minute process!

That's why I can only play against moonballers. I need 5 minutes to prep

 

[WYK]

Not only do most pros use both hands when prepping for the backhand, but most pros also use both hands starting on a forehand.

 

[Jono123]

The left hand has two jobs, getting the racquet in the cocked position and ensuring an Eastern BH grip.

Both performed in the unit turn.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Coming from a racquetball background I don't need the off arm to do anything and I used to practice a true one-handed backhanded when hitting around at practice. But I find it helps setup the body rotation and load to use the off hand to pull back and increase the stretch.

I will amend my statements for my current development/understanding and say, in most cases I do use my off-hand to set or pull the racquet back, but when out of position and depending on timing I can hit a 1HBH without it. I focus more on the shoulders though and getting better rotation.