Stan W has "SINGLE HANDEDLY" changed public opinion regarding backhands

danbrenner

Legend
Yes. Im glad to say Stan the Animal Wawrinka, with his stunning array of blistering backhands, has changed the way that most of us view the one hander. i will be the first to admit that i was not a fan of the old OHBH, but not anymore. Yes Gasquet has a brilliant one, but eh i let it not phase me. But to see Stan chop the giants of the game down, with his o so devastating BH, was a sight to behold. Federers inability to cope with high bouncing balls on the BH, had really soured the whole tennis world regarding this stroke. But Stan has shown us the way. Thank you Stan. You have changed the game. Literally. TT faithful, please feel free to enlighten us with your thoughts! Thanks in advance, Dan.
 

AtomicForehand

Hall of Fame
Well, yes and no. Stan does have a beautiful backhand, and it's better than Federer's. But he admits himself that he is vulnerable to Nadal off this wing. It's great that he won the AO, but before that match against a compromised Rafa, he had never won a single set in twelve matches. Let's see if anything changes for the better for Stan in future matches against a healthy Rafa.

And I write this having a one-hander myself, and being glad for Stan's win.
 
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Vensai

Professional
I don't think he single handedly changed opinion. That said, I do believe one-handed backhands have merit even in today's game.
 

danbrenner

Legend
Well, yes and no. Stan does have a beautiful backhand, and it's better than Federer's. But he admits himself that he is vulnerable to Nadal off this wing. It's great that he won the AO, but before that match against a compromised Rafa, he had never one a single set in twelve matches. Let's see if anything changes for the better for Stan in future matches against a healthy Rafa.

And I write this having a one-hander myself, and being glad for Stan's win.

thats fine. i saw the match. i know Rafa was not well. Im a Rafa head myself. But you are discounting one very important factor here. The takedown of the Joker. The Stanimal has set a new standard for the OHBH IMHO.
 

danbrenner

Legend
I don't think he single handedly changed opinion. That said, I do believe one-handed backhands have merit even in today's game.

They do. And i hope Stanimal continues on his run. He single handedly (no pun intended) has so many people here on TT, waiting impatiently to get their hands on the new Yonex stick. Me included. lol. But im glad that hes paved an argument to say the least for going with a OHBH. Its such a classic stroke, and i hate to see it unused at the highest levels.
 

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
The future of tennis (way in the future) will be to use both.
I already use the two hands on returns and the one-hander for everything else. Obviously, many two-handers have a one-handed slice.
 

AtomicForehand

Hall of Fame
Isn't there an unusually high percentage of one-handers in the ATP top 20 compared to the overall percentage of men's touring pros who use one?

That in itself is the best argument, to me, that a one-hander is A Thing To Have.
 

AtomicForehand

Hall of Fame
The future of tennis (way in the future) will be to use both.
I already use the two hands on returns and the one-hander for everything else. Obviously, many two-handers have a one-handed slice already so it will happen.

I sometimes use a two-hander as well (generally for high balls to the backhand). But then again, if I'm stretched out wide, I sometimes use a lefty forehand as well.

Otherwise it's all 1HBH, baby!
 

danbrenner

Legend
Isn't there an unusually high percentage of one-handers in the ATP top 20 compared to the overall percentage of men's touring pros who use one?

That in itself is the best argument, to me, that a one-hander is A Thing To Have.

Thats probably true. Im not sure. can you break it down for us? interesting.
 

danbrenner

Legend
Gasquet has a pretty good backhand himself. Youtube it to see for yourself.

the prettiest of all backhands is Gasquets. But if he cant win a major, it wont make waves around the world. Not to a groundbreaking extent. sorry to say.
 

danbrenner

Legend
The future of tennis (way in the future) will be to use both.
I already use the two hands on returns and the one-hander for everything else. Obviously, many two-handers have a one-handed slice.

I dont know about that. Especially for tall guys. They can handle a OHBH alot better than shorter guys. Its a valid argument though
 
M

monfed

Guest
Yes I enjoyed Stan dispatch those midcourt loopers DTL from Rafael with consummate ease. :lol:
 

danbrenner

Legend
Yes I enjoyed Stan dispatch those midcourt loopers DTL from Rafael with consummate ease. :lol:

that hurts a little. u know im a Nadal fanatic. lol. but all the credit to the Stanimal. He deserved it. What a backhand. holy smokes. makes me wanna change my game.
 

Vensai

Professional
that hurts a little. u know im a Nadal fanatic. lol. but all the credit to the Stanimal. He deserved it. What a backhand. holy smokes. makes me wanna change my game.
It was certainly a Gaudio-Coria level of strange in that match. The 1st set where Stan was just in the zone against Nadal was incredible to watch though.
 

danbrenner

Legend
It was certainly a Gaudio-Coria level of strange in that match. The 1st set where Stan was just in the zone against Nadal was incredible to watch though.

he was just a beast in the first set. he set the tone for the breaking of Rafa. All the muscles in Rafas body turned to jello, when he realized what he was up against that night. credit to Stan.
 
M

monfed

Guest
that hurts a little. u know im a Nadal fanatic. lol. but all the credit to the Stanimal. He deserved it. What a backhand. holy smokes. makes me wanna change my game.

Takes a man to appreciate his opponent. ;)
 

Sid_Vicious

G.O.A.T.
Stan's backhand is amazing. I think one user here attended the US Open SF last year and said that Wawrinka's backhand stood out more than Djokovic's, Gasquet's, or Nadal's. It is a special stroke for sure. If you can hit a backhand like Stan, the one hander need not be a disadvantage.


I don't buy into the whole healthy Nadal overwhelming Wawrinka's backhand..yeah, on clay, where Nadal even overwhelms Djokovic's backhand. On hardcourts, I have cringed during Nadal-Wawrinka matches since 2010. Wawrinka has always had the ability to rally with the Nadal, but he was a grade A choker. No matter how many opportunities he got to win a set on Nadal and start a new chapter in their h2h, he always found a way to steal defeat from the jaws of victory. He has lost some 1st set tiebreaks to Nadal with scores of 12-10 and 14-12. Of course, after losing the competitive 1st set, he always rolled over and died in the next set. This time was different and his celebration after erasing all those break points and taking the first set showed it.
 
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BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
the prettiest of all backhands is Gasquets. But if he cant win a major, it wont make waves around the world. Not to a groundbreaking extent. sorry to say.
But that has nothing to do with Gasquet's backhand. What percentage of all the pros with two-handed backhands have ever won a Major? It is because they have two-handed backhands that they can't win a Major?
 

Vensai

Professional
Personally, whatever backhand one chooses should best fit the playing style used. I do feel that 1HB allow for more variety when used properly.
 

danbrenner

Legend
Stan's backhand is amazing. I think one user here attended the US Open SF last year and said that Wawrinka's backhand stood out more than Djokovic's, Gasquet's, or Nadal's. It is a special stroke for sure. If you can hit a backhand like Stan, the one hander need not be a disadvantage.


I don't buy into the whole healthy Nadal overwhelming Wawrinka's backhand..yeah, on clay, where Nadal even overwhelms Djokovic's backhand. On hardcourts, I have cringed during Nadal-Wawrinka matches since 2010. Wawrinka has always had the ability to rally with the Nadal, but he was a grade A choker. No matter how many opportunities he got to win a set on Nadal and start a new chapter in their h2h, he always found a way to steal defeat from the jaws of victory. He has lost some 1st set tiebreaks to Nadal with scores of 12-10 and 14-12. Of course, after losing the competitive 1st set, he always rolled over and died in the next set. This time was different and his celebration after erasing all those break points and taking the first set showed it.

Hi Sid. Do u know how Sid got that nick name? From Johnny Rottens pet hamster Sid. John Ritchie Aka Sid Vicious was playing with Sid the Hamster, and got bit by it. He then named the hamster Sid Viscious, and adopted the name for himself.

So regarding this time around with Nadal. Yes, this was mentally a different story, especially after the dispatching of Nole. A star has been born.
 

danbrenner

Legend
But that has nothing to do with Gasquet's backhand. What percentage of all the pros with two-handed backhands have ever won a Major? It is because they have two-handed backhands that they can't win a Major?

No the only point that I was trying to make is that without him winning a major his backhand may not convert a two hander to go and become a 1 hander. But stans win will
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
No the only point that I was trying to make is that without him winning a major his backhand may not convert a two hander to go and become a 1 hander. But stans win will
But how many one-handed backhand players converted to two-handed backhands just because Murray won a Major?
 

danbrenner

Legend
But how many one-handed backhand players converted to two-handed backhands just because Murray won a Major?

Haha. Probably a bunch. They may have started threads here on TT. But I think in general consensus as of the past three or four years has been with the two hander so that being the case, it's a lot more of a head turner, and a cool story, when a one hander can do some damage to the top 2 players.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Haha. Probably a bunch. They may have started threads here on TT. But I think in general consensus as of the past three or four years has been with the two hander so that being the case, it's a lot more of a head turner, and a cool story, when a one hander can do some damage to the top 2 players.
Well, personally I don't know of anyone with a 1HBH who switched to a 2HBH just because Murray won a Slam. Do you personally know of any long-time 1HBH players who immediately switched to a 2HBH right after Murray won the US Open in 2012? Somehow I doubt it.
 

Egoista

Professional
the one hander was always a stroke I wished I could master

no ones opinions have changed as to the effectiveness of the stroke

im sure people always knew the shot was a killer stroke

It just is he most difficult shot in tennis
 

danbrenner

Legend
Well, personally I don't know of anyone with a 1HBH who switched to a 2HBH just because Murray won a Slam. Do you personally know of any long-time 1HBH players who immediately switched to a 2HBH right after Murray won the US Open in 2012? Somehow I doubt it.

Didn't I just get through writing a whole message about how it's more likely the other way around. Lol. You are exhausting. We will never agree. Lets agree to disagree. Peace out.
 

danbrenner

Legend
the one hander was always a stroke I wished I could master

no ones opinions have changed as to the effectiveness of the stroke

im sure people always knew the shot was a killer stroke

It just is he most difficult shot in tennis

The stroke lost some popularity over the last 3 years. Because barely any slams were one with it.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Didn't I just get through writing a whole message about how it's more likely the other way around. Lol. You are exhausting. We will never agree. Lets agree to disagree. Peace out.
But why? Isn't it easier to switch from a 1HBH to a 2HBH than switch from a 2HBH to a 1HBH? Most people think the 1HBH is the more difficult shot to master.
 

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
I switched from a 1hbh to a 2hbh to a 1hbh.

2hbh is by far the easier shot, but it's boring just driving flat cross court backhands waiting to hit a forehand, which is what my 2-hander was.
 

Vensai

Professional
My coach once encouraged me to switch to a 2HBH but it felt much too inflexible for my game.
 

tennis_hack

Banned
I was messing around with a two handed but my coach asked me to go back to a one hander because he said it had as much top spin on it as a forehand and that made it a safer and more consistent shot that my flat two hander
 

PhrygianDominant

Hall of Fame
True, he's been playing Djoker close for a while. Was happy to see him finally win!

this but....

Well, yes and no. Stan does have a beautiful backhand, and it's better than Federer's. But he admits himself that he is vulnerable to Nadal off this wing. It's great that he won the AO, but before that match against a compromised Rafa, he had never won a single set in twelve matches. Let's see if anything changes for the better for Stan in future matches against a healthy Rafa.

And I write this having a one-hander myself, and being glad for Stan's win.

disagree because....

I don't buy into the whole healthy Nadal overwhelming Wawrinka's backhand..yeah, on clay, where Nadal even overwhelms Djokovic's backhand. .... He has lost some 1st set tiebreaks to Nadal with scores of 12-10 and 14-12. Of course, after losing the competitive 1st set, he always rolled over and died in the next set. This time was different and his celebration after erasing all those break points and taking the first set showed it.

In London and in Shanghai he lost close sets in tie breaks. In Shanghai he held multiple set points but lost the mental battle. I cite this evidence as proof that stan's problem with Nadal had been mental, and has little to nothing to do with his exemplary backhand. Nadal can exploit Fed's backhand, but he can't exploit Stan's any better than any number of 2hbhs.
 

PhrygianDominant

Hall of Fame
I switched from a 1hbh to a 2hbh to a 1hbh.

2hbh is by far the easier shot, but it's boring just driving flat cross court backhands waiting to hit a forehand, which is what my 2-hander was.

right on

I was messing around with a two handed but my coach asked me to go back to a one hander because he said it had as much top spin on it as a forehand and that made it a safer and more consistent shot that my flat two hander

I have been working with a new coach and he has been redoing my technique. For a guy who was more or less self taught my technique was not bad. I had a mix of group lessons and one of private lessons but now for the first time I have regular private sessions with a coach.

He thinks I should stick with the 1hbh because it's relaxed, fluid, and I can really crack it. He has me rotating into the shot like Stan does, but I didn't ask for that, just a happy coincidence.

I don't see any reason somebody can't hit their 1hbh almost as hard as their forehand, given time to set up.
 

syc23

Professional
he was just a beast in the first set. he set the tone for the breaking of Rafa. All the muscles in Rafas body turned to jello, when he realized what he was up against that night. credit to Stan.

Rafa didn't turn to Jello because of Stan zoning in the first set and a half. It's because of his injured back no?

Let's see how Wawa fares against a healthy Nadal on clay. Knowing Rafa after beatdowns by Soderling, Delpo etc, he always comes back strong.

I do agree Stan having a beautiful BH and as a 2 hander myself who do occasionally employ a 1HBH when I do have time, I revert back to a double hander because I'm more comfortable defending off it especially high balls.
 

bjk

Hall of Fame
The future of tennis (way in the future) will be to use both.
I already use the two hands on returns and the one-hander for everything else. Obviously, many two-handers have a one-handed slice.

This is probably true. I wonder why Sampras, who learned the 1h backhand late, couldn't have stayed with his 2h for some shots and developed a 1h for others, like shots on the run. Tsonga will occasionally hit a 1h on the run. Courier does the same (in expos). But no reason not to learn both, the muscle memory will not be worse (children can learn two languages, tennis players can learn two backhands).
 

Praetorian

Professional
Who cares? I don't know why every so often there is a 1HB vs 2HB argument (let's be honest, it goes way beyond than just being a thread). Choosing one over the other because simply of what's en vogue, or aesthetics, or because a certain pro uses it, or whatever reason, is just plain silly, and frankly you are doing yourself a disservice by doing so. The ONLY reason, yes ONLY, reason you should choose one over the other, is what works for you; what you feel comfortable with, and give you the most confidence in playing the type of game you want to play. The "perceived" weakness of one over the other, is just that.. "perceived" as it ultimately comes down to the skill of the person executing that shot.
 

danbrenner

Legend
Who cares? I don't know why every so often there is a 1HB vs 2HB argument (let's be honest, it goes way beyond than just being a thread). Choosing one over the other because simply of what's en vogue, or aesthetics, or because a certain pro uses it, or whatever reason, is just plain silly, and frankly you are doing yourself a disservice by doing so. The ONLY reason, yes ONLY, reason you should choose one over the other, is what works for you; what you feel comfortable with, and give you the most confidence in playing the type of game you want to play. The "perceived" weakness of one over the other, is just that.. "perceived" as it ultimately comes down to the skill of the person executing that shot.

yeah. we all know this. duh. but we like to have fun talking about it. so if that bothers you..... and some of us have switched. from one to the other. so it is a topic. and as i pointed out. so many of the last 3 years worth of slams have been won with a 2. this was another eye opener. long live the one hander.
 

Manus Domini

Hall of Fame
So, let's get this straight: After losing twenty-four consecutive sets to Rafa, the simple act of defeating (an injured) Rafa at the Australian Open--WHILE LOSING A SET TO A RAFA SERVING AT 80MPH--changes public opinion about the stroke

While I love my 1HBH, if that's all it took for someone to switch from a two-hander, why, there'd have been no two-handers left between 2004-2007.
 

PhrygianDominant

Hall of Fame
This is probably true. I wonder why Sampras, who learned the 1h backhand late, couldn't have stayed with his 2h for some shots and developed a 1h for others, like shots on the run. Tsonga will occasionally hit a 1h on the run. Courier does the same (in expos). But no reason not to learn both, the muscle memory will not be worse (children can learn two languages, tennis players can learn two backhands).

My tennis pro thinks the same. I have to say that I am also starting to get convinced.
 

danbrenner

Legend
So, let's get this straight: After losing twenty-four consecutive sets to Rafa, the simple act of defeating (an injured) Rafa at the Australian Open--WHILE LOSING A SET TO A RAFA SERVING AT 80MPH--changes public opinion about the stroke

While I love my 1HBH, if that's all it took for someone to switch from a two-hander, why, there'd have been no two-handers left between 2004-2007.

First of all lets get it straight. As I said earlier. I am a rafa Holic. That's my number one. So I'm not here to to talk about him. But first of all. Were you not watching him dismantle Novac? That's why I'm giving him do much credit. This was no fluke. And if you've been paying attention to the general consensus. You'd understand that with Federers slow down, the OHBH has lost a lot of credit. And credit Stan for putting it back on the map. It that simple enough for u to understand now?
 

Manus Domini

Hall of Fame
First of all lets get it straight. As I said earlier. I am a rafa Holic. That's my number one. So I'm not here to to talk about him. But first of all. Were you not watching him dismantle Novac? That's why I'm giving him do much credit. This was no fluke. And if you've been paying attention to the general consensus. You'd understand that with Federers slow down, the OHBH has lost a lot of credit. And credit Stan for putting it back on the map. It that simple enough for u to understand now?

What do you mean by credit? That it's a viable shot? That it's a shot we should learn instead of the two-hander? What exactly do you mean?
 

AtomicForehand

Hall of Fame
this but....



disagree because....



In London and in Shanghai he lost close sets in tie breaks. In Shanghai he held multiple set points but lost the mental battle. I cite this evidence as proof that stan's problem with Nadal had been mental, and has little to nothing to do with his exemplary backhand. Nadal can exploit Fed's backhand, but he can't exploit Stan's any better than any number of 2hbhs.

That's not what Stan himself has said.
 
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