Smaller headsizes for 1 handed backhands

[Username_]

Are smaller heads better for 1 handed backhands?
I feel like its more accurate and more easily controlled when I use small headsizes compared to any racquet bigger than 95sq.
Whereas on the forehand the increase in racquet head size doesn't affect me as dramatically as on my one-handed backhand.
Are smaller head sizes better for one-handed backhands, or do I just need to adjust my technique?

 

[Aretium]

Perhaps a one hander requires more stability and weight? Small head sizes are better for heavier sticks because of aerodynamics? just a theory...

 

[RDS001]

It is not a rule, but most people feel better hitting ohb with smaller headsize, still there isn't any scientific reason for that, I for instance feel better with my one hander with 98 sqin headsize, than with 95 or less, but it really depends on a racquet much more than on the headsize, I think it is important to have the right grip size, of course a good technique, and a nice hl balance, but mostly it varies from player to player one thing though, never buy a racquet just because it fits one part of your game for instance ohb, you really need to use a racquet that compliments every aspect of your game, and matches really well with your playing style, that is probbably the reason why so many people switch racquets all the time, they don't really care about the whole picture, but buy racquets that fit their serve, and not their forehand, than change it because it doesn't fit their forehand, and so on..

 

[thatguymattin]

It is not a rule, but most people feel better hitting ohb with smaller headsize, still there isn't any scientific reason for that, I for instance feel better with my one hander with 98 sqin headsize, than with 95 or less, but it really depends on a racquet much more than on the headsize, I think it is important to have the right grip size, of course a good technique, and a nice hl balance, but mostly it varies from player to player one thing though, never buy a racquet just because it fits one part of your game for instance ohb, you really need to use a racquet that compliments every aspect of your game, and matches really well with your playing style, that is probbably the reason why so many people switch racquets all the time, they don't really care about the whole picture, but buy racquets that fit their serve, and not their forehand, than change it because it doesn't fit their forehand, and so on..

I remember my family friend, a 5.5 NTRP tennis coach, told me bigger grips are good for one handers. I don't know if this was true or not, but I use an L3 grip, and my shots generally have more spin on my backhañd side compared to my forehand.

 

[thatguymattin]

I think buying a racquet that meets many fields rather than a lot in one field, would be the best choice.

 

[5263]

I subscribe to the idea of 100 and below for the 1 hander and 100 and above is better for 2 handers.....in general.

Seems to be the overall trend on tour and matches my experience as well. May have more to do with spin, but my thoughts are the 1 hander is a bit tougher to control using power, which the smaller head helps with but the 2 hander can really make use of that power of a larger head with it's more compact swing.

 

[LeeD]

Baseline play might favor larger heads.
Most 2hbh players rather play baseline than all court.
Small head's seem more precise, not necessarily more power nor less power.
In my peculiar case, a 95 headsize often mishit's much less than a 105, unless my game is totally off kilter, and then a 105 might mishit less than a 95.

 

[movdqa]

I made the migration from 90 to 95 several years ago and accuracy suffered somewhat but I've compensated for that with additional power and more spin to control the power. It definitely doesn't feel the same but I don't think that it's a net negative to my game.

The larger racquet provides more benefits on the forehand side. There are tradeoffs everywhere and you want something that gives you better net winning potential. Feel is nice but sometimes you have to decide whether you want the best feel or if you want what gives you the best chances to win matches.

 

[thatguymattin]

I know everything is subjective, but 100 and below is a general rule, huh? I don't think it's necessarily because people try to imitate the pros. Like it's weird to see someone nowadays using a 90 square inch racquet or so, with a two-handed backhand. Maybe it's because people are leaning towards modern spin and wide beamed racquets, and because the one hander is dying.

 

[LeeD]

I've hit my best topspin 1hbh's with a 110 racket, an 03Shark0S.
I've had days I can't hit one 1hbh topspin IN and where I wanted with my Mfil and Aero200's, 95 sq in.

 

[5263]

I know everything is subjective, but 100 and below is a general rule, huh?

Sure, there have been exceptions, but you don't see too many 2handers with less than 98. Hewitt played with a 90-93 I think and so did Goran, but don't see that too much these days from good players. I can't think of any one hander using more than a 100, but I'm sure there are some out there...Just not too common.

Most players likely group around 98-100 where it doesn't matter much which Bh you go with anyway.

 

[jjsang23]

Are smaller heads better for 1 handed backhands?
I feel like its more accurate and more easily controlled when I use small headsizes compared to any racquet bigger than 95sq.
Whereas on the forehand the increase in racquet head size doesn't affect me as dramatically as on my one-handed backhand.
Are smaller head sizes better for one-handed backhands, or do I just need to adjust my technique?

I don't think it matters that much. What "feels" good in the hand in the hitting zone is probably more important than headsize. The problem is that most modern sticks over 100sq" are often too light and aren't stable on off-center hits. Without the extra hand on the handle, those hits usually feel terrible and unstable with one hand. (ie exception... back in H.S. I wielded sticks like POG 110, C10 Pro OS 110, Hammer OS 110, (Austrian) LM Rad OS 107 and all felt pretty solid with one hand for me)

 

[Lance L]

With a 1hbh I would agree that the smaller head size does in general feel better, but it is hard for me to say why. It might be that heavier racquets feel better, and the heavier racquets I've tried are older and have smaller head sizes.
My main racquet is still a '88 Prestige Pro, which is 90sq"(93?), but if it was only about the 1hbh I'd be using a Black Max, which is what 85sq"? The Black Max feels like I can "fling" it, and that is what feels good on my 1hbh. That might not even be weight but a balance/weight combo.
When I hit with more modern racquets I do get the feel that there is just too much racquet on the 1hbh. I don't even like the way the larger racquets feel in my left hand.

 

[Maximagq]

I have noticed that a lot of one handers use smaller frames. #teammaxi

 

[Gyswandir]

Personally think it is due to the correlation between small head size and head light balance. I am sure there are exceptions, but I feel you need a hl balance for a 1hbh to facilitate the wrist release and the swing itself

 

[boramiNYC]

For all thing equal, I think a smaller head feels better for 1hbh. Esp for people like me who use the supination as the major part of the stroke around the contact. But different racquets are not usually 'all things equal' so sometimes bigger head could play better. Pros like Almagro and Gasquet who supinates a lot and still use pretty big heads, so all aspects of the game needs to be considered when choosing the head size. Esp serve and fh performance should be the major factor for the head size.

 

[movdqa]

Sure, there have been exceptions, but you don't see too many 2handers with less than 98. Hewitt played with a 90-93 I think and so did Goran, but don't see that too much these days from good players. I can't think of any one hander using more than a 100, but I'm sure there are some out there...Just not too common.

Most players likely group around 98-100 where it doesn't matter much which Bh you go with anyway.

How about Cilic, Berdych, Djokovic and Murray? All two-handers with 95 sq in racquets.

For one-handers, you have Federer at 97, Wawrinka at 95, and Dimitrov at 93.

 

[Username_]

How about Cilic, Berdych, Djokovic and Murray? All two-handers with 95 sq in racquets.

For one-handers, you have Federer at 97, Wawrinka at 95, and Dimitrov at 93.

Doesn't Wawrinka use a 97?

 

[Shroud]

I have posted about this before and how when I played with the PS85 it was better for the 1hbh. Its like there is less real estate to keep up with so the BH is better.

THough I have pretty much been playing with the 100" frames and the BH is ok.

Or perhaps its just easier to control the racket head because the smaller frames usually are more HL.

 

[FitzRoy]

I've always been skeptical of this; when I first switched to a one-hander in high school, it was much better with a Radical OS than when I switched to a PS85.

If the smaller head was better for a 1h BH, why would it not also be better for a forehand? I know, I know, many people will say a smaller head IS better, but I think the point stands - why specifically better for a 1hBH but not other groundstrokes?

 

[BreakPoint]

I know I hit a better 1HBH with an 85 than a 90, and better with a 90 than a 93, and better with a 93 than a 95, and better with a 95 than a 98, etc., etc.

I think it's because you only have one hand on the racquet and only your thumb behind the racquet with a 1HBH, so you need more stability and control from the racquet, and I find smaller racquets give me more of both. Heavier racquets are also better for the 1HBH than lighter racquets because since you only have one hand on the racquet, you need the racquet to do more of the work for you. I also find smaller racquets to be less obstructive (doesn't get in my way as much) when I take my huge 1HBH swings. And I agree that bigger grips are better for the 1HBH than smaller grips are since you only have your thumb behind the grip to stabilize the impact.

 

[aimr75]

I'm the other way, quite like hitting 1hbh's with a larger head size. A more recent frame I've owned and hit 1hbh's with is the Prince Tour Pro 100, which, as the name suggests has a 100sq.inch head. Recently also tried a Wilson 95S and again felt fine. Bigger thing for me is grip shape and balance/swingweight.

Haas, Gasquet, Robredo, Wawrinka, Thiem and others use 95 and above.

 

[movdqa]

Doesn't Wawrinka use a 97?

I'm pretty sure that he's using a paintjob 95.

 

[movdqa]

If the smaller head was better for a 1h BH, why would it not also be better for a forehand? I know, I know, many people will say a smaller head IS better, but I think the point stands - why specifically better for a 1hBH but not other groundstrokes?

I think that the reason why it's better on the forehand than the backhand is the range of motion possible with the forehand. The older, traditional flattish backhand is hit with a fairly firm wrist with a fair amount of force and you want control over the impact and it seems like you have less of that with larger heads.

I made the transition to hitting more topspin on the backhand with a looser wrist. You see Federer doing a lot more of this with his larger racquet. You don't have as much directional control but you have better depth control along with a good amount of power. This change in hitting has made it more comfortable for me in going to a bigger headsize on the backhand.

 

[Greg G]

Been switching between Yonex VCT 89 and 97 (310). Backhands are flatter/more penetrating with the 89, and have more arc/spin with the 97. No doubt I could hit equally well with both, but when I change racquets, that's what consistently happens. a

Have a better serve with the 89 and a better forehand with the 97.

#itsallmental

 

[Mick]

for me, a smaller headsize racquet works better on the serve. I think because it is more aerodynamic

 

[movdqa]

for me, a smaller headsize racquet works better on the serve. I think because it is more aerodynamic

My best serving racquet is the YT Prestige MPs but I think that's because it's the longest racquet that I have at 27.75 inches. It served better than my KPS88s. Both racquets had the same kind of raw feel which weren't good for my arm in the long run.

 

[LeeD]

Lots of advice, but also lots of contridiction.
Sorry for starting with Mick, but PDR+'s serve pretty decent and are big.
I hit some of my best 1hbh topspin with 03Shark0S at 110.
PS-85 don't serve like PDR's.
We pick a racket based on the overall game it provides, not one specific stroke.

 

[Shroud]

I think that the reason why it's better on the forehand than the backhand is the range of motion possible with the forehand. The older, traditional flattish backhand is hit with a fairly firm wrist with a fair amount of force and you want control over the impact and it seems like you have less of that with larger heads.

I made the transition to hitting more topspin on the backhand with a looser wrist. You see Federer doing a lot more of this with his larger racquet. You don't have as much directional control but you have better depth control along with a good amount of power. This change in hitting has made it more comfortable for me in going to a bigger headsize on the backhand.

+1.

When I was hitting more actively the smaller head size was better.

Now I am hitting with a loose arm and wrist and playing with a light 100". I dont seem to have as much trouble with the larger frame when using a loose arm/ wrist.

 

[movdqa]

One other benefit to hitting the backhand with a loose wrist is that you can hit the very sharply angled topspin shot, sometimes almost with an outside-in spin - of course you're not using a lot of pace but rather a lot of spin and this shot can be very difficult to run down, particularly if you have a fence on that side of the court.

 

[GoudX]

Best 1hbhs in the last ten years:

-Wawrinka 95sqin
-Gasquet 100sqin
-Federer 90sqin

Best 2hbhs in the last ten years:

-Djokovic 95sqin
-Murray 95sqin
-Safin 90sqin

It looks fairly even to me!

In the late 80s/90s:
1 - oversized headsizes were popular for 2hbh, due to the big sweetspots, but with faster swing speeds and modern racquet designs smaller racquets are now better suited.
2 - midsize racquets were popular for 1hbh, as they offered a lot of control on flat approach shots from the mid-court and ALL 1HBH players used to rush the net. Nowadays the 1hbh is becoming more like a forehand - used for trading big topspin shots from the baseline, plus new technology means that bigger racquets are becoming more stable and easier to swing fast - so bigger racquets with more power/spin potential are becoming more popular.

 

[Mick]

Lots of advice, but also lots of contridiction.
Sorry for starting with Mick, but PDR+'s serve pretty decent and are big.
I hit some of my best 1hbh topspin with 03Shark0S at 110.
PS-85 don't serve like PDR's.
We pick a racket based on the overall game it provides, not one specific stroke.

i think it's a personal preference. i can serve equally well with a larger head size racquet but i just like the feeling i get when i make contact with the ball when hitting with a smaller head size racquet more. The rest of the strokes, bigger (to a certain size) is better.

 

[LeeD]

Hit a bit with my old Mfil200's today. It's the 18x20 "tour spec" versions, so 12.4 oz and 340 SW's with PSG17 in it.
Nice 1hbh, nice everything except serves for me.
Rotated a new string job 4DAero300 in every 3 games, and hit basically the same shots with stronger serving at 1 oz lighter and 20 pts SW lighter, with much less physical effort.
But, against really fast incoming balls, or really heavy spin, the lighter racket cannot hit back as efficiently.
Balanced by the easier swing so I can hit a harder ball easier so the opponent doesn't get to hit all that hard back at me.