Switching to the two hander

[Respect for big 5]

Currently playing with the one handed backhand, but since changing to a bigger head size, which has helped my forehand and serve tons, my one hander feels difficult to manouver and play with consistently. I'm inspired by the two hander through watching footage of Fognini and Agassi. Any advice on how to develp the two handed backhand after playing with the one?

 

[FedLIKEnot]

Perhaps the wrong forum but I to switched and early I have a strong hand dominate 2hbh these days. Focus on finding your contact point and preferred strike zone as likely it’ll be different than with your 1hbh. And than just reps lots of reps.

 

[TagUrIt]

There are a lot of instructional/coaching videos on YouTube. Find the ones that speak to you and get out there and practice, practice and practice some more! I'll say this additionally that I don't see in some of the videos, you have to bend your knees at times when hitting.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Make sure you get the racket drop down so you start below the ball. Whenever my 2HBH goes off its usually because I'm starting too high. Loose grip, swing low to high, weight on front foot.

 

[SavvyStringer]

Currently playing with the one handed backhand, but since changing to a bigger head size, which has helped my forehand and serve tons, my one hander feels difficult to manouver and play with consistently. I'm inspired by the two hander through watching footage of Fognini and Agassi. Any advice on how to develp the two handed backhand after playing with the one?

I agree with the second poster, just make the switch and rep it out. Your contact point will be significantly different so your footwork will have to be different. I learned with a two hander using a 107" racket and when I got down to 100" switched to one hander because it was easier to pick up low balls and the racket didn't feel as unruly as the 107" For a while it was difficult because I would just rotate even during points. Occasionally if I'm running to a deep back hand corner I'll still hit two.

 

[Respect for big 5]

Thanks guys. Sorry may have been the wrong forum to post this

 

[Pro Kenneth]

Takes up to two years to switch

 

[ByeByePoly]

Currently playing with the one handed backhand, but since changing to a bigger head size, which has helped my forehand and serve tons, my one hander feels difficult to manouver and play with consistently. I'm inspired by the two hander through watching footage of Fognini and Agassi. Any advice on how to develp the two handed backhand after playing with the one?

It will take a very long time ... think 1000s of reps.

The following article was a great starting point for me ... made me think about grips and arm positions at the start before muscle memory ingrained.

fyi ... Mr Yandell is a ttw member and posts here.

https://www.tennisplayer.net/public/avancedtennis/two_handed_backhand/2hd_bh_simplest_complex/Copy of 2hd_bh_simplest_complex.html

 

[Respect for big 5]

It will take a very long time ... think 1000s of reps.

The following article was a great starting point for me ... made me think about grips and arm positions at the start before muscle memory ingrained.

fyi ... Mr Yandell is a ttw member and posts here.

https://www.tennisplayer.net/public/avancedtennis/two_handed_backhand/2hd_bh_simplest_complex/Copy of 2hd_bh_simplest_complex.html

Cheers mate

 

[Shroud]

Currently playing with the one handed backhand, but since changing to a bigger head size, which has helped my forehand and serve tons, my one hander feels difficult to manouver and play with consistently. I'm inspired by the two hander through watching footage of Fognini and Agassi. Any advice on how to develp the two handed backhand after playing with the one?

Well it seems much easier to figure out the 1hander vs learning a whole new stroke. I get what you are taliking about having gone from an 85” to 110”. But now i would never say you cant hit a 1 hander with a big frame.

 

[IowaGuy]

Currently playing with the one handed backhand, but since changing to a bigger head size, which has helped my forehand and serve tons, my one hander feels difficult to manouver and play with consistently. I'm inspired by the two hander through watching footage of Fognini and Agassi. Any advice on how to develp the two handed backhand after playing with the one?

What frame did you used to play, and what did you switch to?

 

[Respect for big 5]

Went from 98 sq inch to 100 Sq in technifibre 315 tflash. Been hitting with the two hander this weekend and have hit some really nice shots so it's settled. I'm going to stick with and develop the two hander. I think it's an easier shot to set up. When I'm feeling tired the footwork prep for the one hander can be a struggle and I have in the past ended up relying way too much on the slice.

 

[Dan R]

I don't think you are in the wrong forum?

My advice would be to find a pro to model, take some lessons too if you can, and post a video so people can see what you are doing. I wouldn't pick Agassi. While he had a great backhand, it's not standard. He was unusual in that he hit with both arms straight. I'm not sure I've seen anyone else that does that. Typically, for a right hander, the men start with the right arm straight and the left arm bent, then as the swing progresses it switches and the left arm straightens just prior to impact and the right arm bends. Many of the women hit with both arms bent and frankly I have no idea why that is, or how they do that?

Djokovic is a good example, or Murray. Nishikori has a great backhand but I think his technique is more advanced and would be harder to model at first.

 

[Respect for big 5]

I don't think you are in the wrong forum?

My advice would be to find a pro to model, take some lessons too if you can, and post a video so people can see what you are doing. I wouldn't pick Agassi. While he had a great backhand, it's not standard. He was unusual in that he hit with both arms straight. I'm not sure I've seen anyone else that does that. Typically, for a right hander, the men start with the right arm straight and the left arm bent, then as the swing progresses it switches and the left arm straightens just prior to impact and the right arm bends. Many of the women hit with both arms bent and frankly I have no idea why that is, or how they do that?

Djokovic is a good example, or Murray. Nishikori has a great backhand but I think his technique is more advanced and would be harder to model at first.

Actually I do seem to be starting the stroke with the racket face high like Nishikori and it's working well so far so maybe I'll use him as a template. Same height as well so maybe that's a sign

 

[ByeByePoly]

Actually I do seem to be starting the stroke with the racket face high like Nishikori and it's working well so far so maybe I'll use him as a template. Same height as well so maybe that's a sign

What @Dan R said ... and the Yandell article I linked ... think through where you want to end up with arm positions, and what grip. It's not that hard to change hands height and racquet head position after the fact. Not true about starting with a Venus chicken wing bent/bent ... and then deciding you should have gone bent/straight (Djokovic, Nishikori). If you aren't sure, I suggest starting with cont/east grip and bent/straight. If modeling after Nishikori ... don't look at his extreme racquet drop positions until year 3.

 

[SoaD]

With a 2hb you have to step forward, unlike a 1hb where you do a more closed stance.

 

[WildVolley]

Perhaps the wrong forum but I to switched and early I have a strong hand dominate 2hbh these days. Focus on finding your contact point and preferred strike zone as likely it’ll be different than with your 1hbh. And than just reps lots of reps.

Good point. The 2hbh drive is usually hit less in front of the body as compared to a 1hbh drive with a traditional eastern backhand grip. IMO, the contact zone is close to hitting a slice 1hbh with a continental grip.

Also, the 2hbh relies more on torso rotation as compared to the 1hbh drive. The shoulders should continue to rotate toward the target at contact, though you'll find the other hand on the racquet will make the shoulders slightly angled as compared to hitting a forehand.

 

[heninfan99]

Currently playing with the one handed backhand, but since changing to a bigger head size, which has helped my forehand and serve tons, my one hander feels difficult to manouver and play with consistently. I'm inspired by the two hander through watching footage of Fognini and Agassi. Any advice on how to develp the two handed backhand after playing with the one?

Switching from the one makes it even more important to try off hand forehands to get the feel of using the non-dominant arm. From there it may be a long road to getting the famous Macci "flip". It was only after I abandoned the two and went back to the one did I get the flip just by experimenting with being extremely loose out of boredom.

 

[Dan R]

What @Dan R said ... and the Yandell article I linked ... think through where you want to end up with arm positions, and what grip. It's not that hard to change hands height and racquet head position after the fact. Not true about starting with a Venus chicken wing bent/bent ... and then deciding you should have gone bent/straight (Djokovic, Nishikori). If you aren't sure, I suggest starting with cont/east grip and bent/straight. If modeling after Nishikori ... don't look at his extreme racquet drop positions until year 3.

I was just about to give you the same warning about Nishikori's "slot" position, but @ByeByePoly already did so . It's a great move but not one that you want to try and duplicate until you have the basics down. I think that is why Djokovic is a good model, he keeps it simple and sound.

 

[Respect for big 5]

Totally fell apart last night and Turned into a slice monster This is going to take some time lol

 

[Dan R]

Totally fell apart last night and Turned into a slice monster This is going to take some time lol

That happens even as you get better. It's easy to bail out of the shot if you lose confidence. You just have to tell yourself that you're not going to back off the shot, for better or worse. Especially in the beginning as you are gaining experience you just have to accept that there will be some ups and lots of downs for a while. Keep at it.

 

[philosoup]

Totally fell apart last night and Turned into a slice monster This is going to take some time lol

Your reason to change backhand is strange. Maybe you want to think again. Shape of racquet face also matters.

 

[Respect for big 5]

Your reason to change backhand is strange. Maybe you want to think again. Shape of racquet face also matters.

Yeah maybe. I'm on the fence at the moment. Might dabble with some other racket options and see

 

[ptuanminh]

I switched to 2HBH from OHBH. Took me 4 years and now i am somewhat comfortable with it. Its also my best shot. It was a lot of practice. My estimate is i probably hit about 50,000 2HBH over that time span.
So ...yeah...put in some work lol .

 

[skaj]

I switched spontaneously at one point. when I was a kid, they though me the 1hb, and I used it exclusively in the beginning, but later I think by watching great 2hbs I started to imitate them. now I use the two-hander 90% of the time, but every now and then I hit it with one hand, usually when I am set nicely for the ball and want to hit cross-court. I use slice with one hand a lot though.

for me it was always easier to watch someone's strokes and copy them, than when people were explaining me how to do it, that is how I learned how to hit two handed backhand(plus practice against the wall of course). if you can learn that way, I suggest you find some videos of Nalbandian, excellent technique. Venus Williams also I think has a very simple but effective motion on her backhand, it could be useful to study.

 

[ByeByePoly]

I switched to 2HBH from OHBH. Took me 4 years and now i am somewhat comfortable with it. Its also my best shot. It was a lot of practice. My estimate is i probably hit about 50,000 2HBH over that time span.
So ...yeah...put in some work lol .

Not sure if I hit 50,000 yet (probably) ... but I hit my best and worse shots with the 2hbh (particularly ros). I hit bigger ros with 2hbh than I had with 1hbh ... and more UE I never had with 1hbh (particularly block slice). Getting better on ros ... UE going down. Committed ... no way I spent this much time on 2hbh without a rock solid 2hbh ros. Harder to get ros reps ... takes point/match play.