The Modern 2HBH

[Medved]

In the past decade I think the semi western and western FH has been illustrated in contrast to the older classic eastern and continental FH. But how does the modern 2HBH compare between players like Andre Agassi or Todd Martin vs. more recent players like David Nalbandian or Novak Djokovic?

I still cling to an eastern grip with my nondominant hand on my 2HBH and pretty much have to visualize my racket in a vertical position brushing up the ball from low to high to get sufficient topspin. Without the freedom of a one handed stroke, the western grip didn't work as well for me on the 2HBH as the FH. But Andre Agassi had a pretty good 2HBH and he seemed to still use very conservative grips and motion. What do you think is the best route for one to take?

 

[Power Player]

Well if you look at Nadal, he doesn't use very extreme grips, but he drops the tip of his racquet head to point all the way down to the ground before he swings up. That is really how you generate the topspin. Every time I launch a ball off the court, I know it is because I did not properly execute the racquet drop. That is probably more key than the grip.

The difference is more in the feet, as Agassi hit from a more closed stance because he usually had more time. Now everyone hits hard and accurate to the corners, so the open stance when kicked wide is the key to hitting the modern 2hander. It allows you to get your weight behind the shot even when you are out of position.

 

[Medved]

Is there anything else current players have to do different when hitting an open stance shot. Pointing the tip of the racket down would definitely seem to provide more margin for error by creating a more loopy trajectory in addition to the spin.

A pro once told me that my 2HBH was hitting the fence because I opened my shoulders to early, which is easy to do if your stance is open and your weight is still on your back left foot at contact. Players like Del Potro seem to make big effort to transfer their weight onto their front right foot when possible. Is there anything else one must adjust besides where to point the racket tip, when being forced to hit your 2HBH from an open stance?

 

[only4theweak187]

String technology def has come into play in this comparison especially in the 2000's

 

[TheBoom]

I agree that the amount of topspin sets the modern backhand apart from the past backhands. String helps this immensly

 

[WildVolley]

Nadal seems to be one of the few modern 2hbh players who closes the racket face at the end of the backswing, much in the same way that many modern fh players do.

This motion may allow him to hit more topspin on the ball.

 

[Power Player]

Op, what helps me is starting with my chin on right shoulder and finishing with my chin on my left. That should help your power generation, and then use the low to high racquet drop to keep the ball in the court.

 

[only4theweak187]

Djokovic's and Nalbandian's are 2 amazing backhands to learn from..no doubt

 

[Medved]

Op, what helps me is starting with my chin on right shoulder and finishing with my chin on my left. That should help your power generation, and then use the low to high racquet drop to keep the ball in the court.

That's a good reference point. One question, when you point the racket head down during the takeback, in your minds eye are you making contact when the racket head is pointed down to the court or when the racket head has been elevated by the wrist to point parallel to the court? When I want to get a loopy trajectory on my western FH, I have to tell myself to make contact with the racket head pointing down, perpendicular to the court. If I make contact with the racket pointing to the side, parallel to the court, I still get good topspin, but the trajectory of the shot remains flat and increases my risk of missing the shot.

I do fine with service returns and baseline rally, provided I don't get moved too much. My 2HBH trouble comes with short off speed underspin shots. I'd like to generate a more loopy safe shot with more topspin. I'm not sure if it's that I'm moving and not quite getting stopped at contact but it seemed like I was spraying these balls all over the place, long or into the net or too flat and long, etc. I need to learn how to handle these balls because this is how most old underspin 4.0 men play since most can't handle my pace from the back of the court.

 

[Bertie B]

Maybe a semi-western grip on the non-dominant hand may help.

I've never had issues scooping up short balls with my bh using the eastern grip on the non-dominant hand. Then again I have a decent one hander.

Switching from a 98 to 93 sq in headsize, sent my backhand downhill. I remedied this changing the grip on the non-dominant hand from eastern to semi-western. This and I also use more left hand in the shot.

Once upon a time I injured the index finger on my non-dominant hand. This forced me to hit with four fingers, as a result I got so much angle and spin on the ball it was amazing. I believe this had the effect of changing the grip a little

 

[Power Player]

I am making contact when the racquet is back to parallel. The racquet drop is what gives you the topspin. It is like a forehand, you can loop it or flatten it out, but you still need some sort of low to high motion.