Things I learned switching from 2HBH to OHBH

[Deleted member 768841]

I recently switched from a two handed backhand to a one hander. I used two ganders my whole life, until my coach pushed it and got me to try it. It took around 2 months, but I got a good rhythm. Now, I have gotten over 10-15 hours in lockdown spamming OHBH against a wall. Some things I noticed compared to before is:

1. Directional control on one handers is superior. I feel like I can completely nail backhand down the lines.
2. Comfort and fluidity is better. In the past year my two hander felt really awkward to hit, and I felt like I was muscling it and I would just lightly tap it, I don’t know what was wrong.
3. I can transition better into forehand grips. My right hand is in the same position on my one hander as it is on my forehand, and if I feel hitting flatter it’s less of a chore.

some problems I noticed were:

1. Returning a heavy ball was more difficult. With a two hander I felt I could redirect the pace with ease, I need to improve there.
2. Slight issues with the half-volley, but it is ok.

What do you guys think?

 

[Chas Tennis]

Do you compare your strokes to high level ATP strokes using high speed video? Otherwise, you don't know where your technique is.

 

[Deleted member 771407]

What about playing someone who uses heavy topspin and targets your backhand ? Don't you find it easier with a 2hbh ?

 

[Tennease]

When I started playing tennis about 13 years ago, I naturally hit my backhand with one hand. I could not hit it properly with two hands. I also found that down the line backhand was, and still is, easier to hit in terms of easier power and easier precision.

Since I added extra weight under the head guard of my K90 racquets, I found that half-volley is so so much easier to do... the extra weight at the top of the racquet gives me easy power... I just literally block any heavy ball and the ball would be launched deep to the baseline with just a little short swing or even with no swing at all. Once a big server was so surprised that I was able to hit a return winner of his big first serve to my BH... I was just blocking his big serve with my single handed backhand and directed the ball down the line.

 

[Deleted member 768841]

Do you campare your strokes to high level ATP strokes using high speed video? Otherwise, you don't know where your technique is.

No, I just go off feeling. It felt much more predictable and easier for me.

 

[Deleted member 768841]

What about playing someone who uses heavy topspin and targets your backhand ? Don't you find it easier with a 2hbh ?

It is easier, but my problem was I don’t really feel confident with the two hander, when I would try and hit a one hander close up, say no mans land, I would try and hit it and it would lightly tap. Annoyed the hell outta me. But the top spin return is a little difficult.

 

[shamaho]

I recently switched from a two handed backhand to a one hander. I used two ganders my whole life, until my coach pushed it and got me to try it. It took around 2 months, but I got a good rhythm. Now, I have gotten over 10-15 hours in lockdown spamming OHBH against a wall. Some things I noticed compared to before is:

1. Directional control on one handers is superior. I feel like I can completely nail backhand down the lines.
2. Comfort and fluidity is better. In the past year my two hander felt really awkward to hit, and I felt like I was muscling it and I would just lightly tap it, I don’t know what was wrong.
3. I can transition better into forehand grips. My right hand is in the same position on my one hander as it is on my forehand, and if I feel hitting flatter it’s less of a chore.

some problems I noticed were:

1. Returning a heavy ball was more difficult. With a two hander I felt I could redirect the pace with ease, I need to improve there.
2. Slight issues with the half-volley, but it is ok.

What do you guys think?

hmmm as a long time OHBH who started out as 2HBH and switched early - my humble opinion is:

on 1. no way you have more directional control with OHBH either your technique was letting you down or someting else was amiss
on 2. This all comes down to muscle memory and subconcious control of technique...
on 3. no way since the grip of the dominant hand in a 2HBH is more continental, the transition to the FW is shorter then going from Eastern to whatever FH grip you have

For me, main advantages are easier transition or variation with Slice BH, easier handling of short and/or low balls... also on the half-volleys

There, opinions stricly my own

 

[Deleted member 768841]

hmmm as a long time OHBH who started out as 2HBH and switched early - my humble opinion is:

on 1. no way you have more directional control with OHBH either your technique was letting you down or someting else was amiss
on 2. This all comes down to muscle memory and subconcious control of technique...
on 3. no way since the grip of the dominant hand in a 2HBH is more continental, the transition to the FW is shorter then going from Eastern to whatever FH grip you have

For me, main advantages are easier transition or variation with Slice BH, easier handling of short and/or low balls... also on the half-volleys

There, opinions stricly my own

Well, I do hit eastern style forehands However I can slightly agree on number 1, however my backhand down the line seriously felt better, no lie.

 

[Deleted member 771407]

Well, I do hit eastern style forehands However I can slightly agree on number 1, however my backhand down the line seriously felt better, no lie.

Eastern forehand and eastern backhand are not the same thing. Continental (2hbh) is closer to your eastern forehand than your backhand grip

 

[pencilcheck]

I recently switched from a two handed backhand to a one hander. I used two ganders my whole life, until my coach pushed it and got me to try it. It took around 2 months, but I got a good rhythm. Now, I have gotten over 10-15 hours in lockdown spamming OHBH against a wall. Some things I noticed compared to before is:

1. Directional control on one handers is superior. I feel like I can completely nail backhand down the lines.
2. Comfort and fluidity is better. In the past year my two hander felt really awkward to hit, and I felt like I was muscling it and I would just lightly tap it, I don’t know what was wrong.
3. I can transition better into forehand grips. My right hand is in the same position on my one hander as it is on my forehand, and if I feel hitting flatter it’s less of a chore.

some problems I noticed were:

1. Returning a heavy ball was more difficult. With a two hander I felt I could redirect the pace with ease, I need to improve there.
2. Slight issues with the half-volley, but it is ok.

What do you guys think?

Would love to see some vid in action.

I am also doing OHBH, I am not sure if I share the same sentiment about Easier to hit DTL. For me it is easier to hit CC and with a lot of spin.

half volley was ok.

 

[tennisbike]

I read somewhere and agreed that to hit two-handed backhand well means both arms need to work together well. If you are very dominant in one arm, then you might find single-handed backhand easier. It is different for everyone. But then one can train into one from the other, just ask Sampras. I thought most advocate two handed these day to counter higher pace and greater spin.

 

[Deleted member 771407]

I read somewhere and agreed that to hit two-handed backhand well means both arms need to work together well. If you are very dominant in one arm, then you might find single-handed backhand easier. It is different for everyone. But then one can train into one from the other, just ask Sampras. I thought most advocate two handed these day to counter higher pace and greater spin.

Actually you can get more pace and spin on a 1handed bh. the 2hbh hits more flat but is more forgiving with timing and you can still hit with plenty of pace with less effort.

 

[pencilcheck]

Agreed with Gael4. That's one of the reasons why in receational if you slice to people 2 hand backhand that spin away, they will almost always not be able to hit back, unless they switch into one hand.