Two-Handed Backhand Grips

[TTMR]

Something I have rarely seen at the pro level is a person who has a western forehand grip and uses a two handed back hand with an eastern backhand grip on their dominant hand using the same side of the racquet face.

I know some one handed players hit western forehand with eastern backhand the same side of the racquet, but never seen it with two, unless I am just not paying close enough attention. There are a few one handed players who hit with a semi-western forehand and a western backhand, though at Fuzzy Yellow Balls this is discouraged for some reason.

That would seem easier to me than moving all the way back to a continental on the dominant hand in order to hit the backhand, and given how extreme grips are today, why isn't it recommended?

 

[Solat]

you can gain spin on the 2hbh from the non-dominant hand accelerating the racquet over the ball, it is much harder to do this with the 1bhb without moving the grip around further.

So you can have access to both pace and spin with a conti grip 2hbh rather then being restricted to just the spin option of the more extreme grip

 

[LeeD]

You're wasting your time and overthinking the two handed backhand.
Just hit it and use what works. There are endless combinations, and just because YOU haven't seen it in your short lifetime, doesn't mean nobody uses it.
I've seen 2HBH hit with every combination of grip and technique, and it only proves that a 2HBH has more variety and different techniques than 1HBH's.

 

[TTMR]

You're wasting your time and overthinking the two handed backhand.
Just hit it and use what works. There are endless combinations, and just because YOU haven't seen it in your short lifetime, doesn't mean nobody uses it.
I've seen 2HBH hit with every combination of grip and technique, and it only proves that a 2HBH has more variety and different techniques than 1HBH's.

Maybe, but I figure if people don't seem to do something a certain way, then there must be a reason for it.

 

[LeeD]

Noted....
Lots of short players used double western.
Taller players, over 6'5", with 2HBH tend more towards conti both hands.
Clay courters tend towards double SW or SW for the off hand.
Hardcourt players tend more towards E on the off hand.
Grasscourters maybe towards one conti, one E.
So maybe, it tends to depend on the height of the player and the height of the expected predominant incoming balls.

 

[Bud]

Something I have rarely seen at the pro level is a person who has a western forehand grip and uses a two handed back hand with an eastern backhand grip on their dominant hand using the same side of the racquet face.

I know some one handed players hit western forehand with eastern backhand the same side of the racquet, but never seen it with two, unless I am just not paying close enough attention. There are a few one handed players who hit with a semi-western forehand and a western backhand, though at Fuzzy Yellow Balls this is discouraged for some reason.

That would seem easier to me than moving all the way back to a continental on the dominant hand in order to hit the backhand, and given how extreme grips are today, why isn't it recommended?

Have you tried hitting a 1HBH with a full western BH grip (i.e. SW FH grip)? You really have to rotate you wrist and then come severely up under the ball to get it over the net. It provides entirely too much spin and no pace (assuming it goes over the net). Plus, it's pretty hard on the wrist.

 

[TTMR]

Have you tried hitting a 1HBH with a full western BH grip (i.e. SW FH grip)? You really have to rotate you wrist and then come severely up under the ball to get it over the net. It provides entirely too much spin and no pace (assuming it goes over the net). Plus, it's pretty hard on the wrist.

No, because as mentioned, I hit a two handed backhand. If most of the stress is placed on the right hand, I find it obviates any difficulties with the wrist, at least in my case. However, I normally hit with a standard 2HBH (continental on dominant hand, eastern/southwestern on non-dominant hand), but my new racquet doesn't have the extra long handle my older racquet had and I have not been comfortable with my regular 2HBH since.

 

[Bud]

No, because as mentioned, I hit a two handed backhand. If most of the stress is placed on the right hand, I find it obviates any difficulties with the wrist, at least in my case. However, I normally hit with a standard 2HBH (continental on dominant hand, eastern/southwestern on non-dominant hand), but my new racquet doesn't have the extra long handle my older racquet had and I have not been comfortable with my regular 2HBH since.

I like you also use a continental/SW hand position when I use a 2HBH.

Have you tried wrapping the grip further up the throat?

 

[Frank Silbermann]

Maybe, but I figure if people don't seem to do something a certain way, then there must be a reason for it.

One-handers do it so they don't have to make a big grip change. With two hands, its easier to just put your weak hand on the other side of the racket handle, and rotate your dominant hand into position at leisure as you make your backswing.

 

[LeeD]

One possible solution to help out your switch to a normal length racket is to use only the thumb and forefinger on the handle with your off hand. Then when you switch to a 2HBH, your dominant hand slides down a bit to allow a full offhand grip.

 

[hyogen]

Noted....
Lots of short players used double western.
Taller players, over 6'5", with 2HBH tend more towards conti both hands.
Clay courters tend towards double SW or SW for the off hand.
Hardcourt players tend more towards E on the off hand.
Grasscourters maybe towards one conti, one E.
So maybe, it tends to depend on the height of the player and the height of the expected predominant incoming balls.

what do you mean by double SW...

so if you're looking down on the racquet...it's almost like your hands are punching each other?

i've found that something like that allows for more power.....it helps with the follow through for some reason..... rather than using a continental grip for your off hand. seems to help when i'm not getting enough rotation from my body

i just use continental though

 

[LeeD]

"double SW" as in both and each hand using SW grip.
HaroldSolomon was known to use double SW, but sometimes, on slow carpet and clay, moved a few degrees over to double Western, since all incoming balls except first serves go over his head. He didn't believe in slicing, and was sliced and diced into oblivion by a young Connors and a really old Rosewall.
Sometimes, we need some variety to skin the cat.

 

[mike53]

"double SW" as in both and each hand using SW grip.
HaroldSolomon was known to use double SW, but sometimes, on slow carpet and clay, moved a few degrees over to double Western, since all incoming balls except first serves go over his head. He didn't believe in slicing, and was sliced and diced into oblivion by a young Connors and a really old Rosewall.
Sometimes, we need some variety to skin the cat.

So can double SW be made to work, or is it fatally flawed out of the box?

 

[LeeD]

Any and all grips can work, if you can hit it multiple times without going out, into the net, wide, or hit weak feeders to your opponent.
Now if Karlovic adopted double W's, it would not work. He's always scooping balls from his shins, and double W or SW doesn't like that.
OTOH, a 5'5" player using double conti might not make it work, especially if he insisted on hitting only topspin 2HBH's.
Try it and see.

 

[mike53]

Cool, thanks. I can absolutely pound the ball topspin with the SW-SW grip and my dominant hand doesn't have to change grips. What I can't do with that setup is decide at the last instant that I'd really rather be hitting a one hander and drop the non-dominant hand for some extra reach. And it's not a grip you see recommended very often.

 

[Power Player]

I used to overthink this too. The Eastern/Conti is really the easiest and best choice since you can chaange at the last second and disguise a drop shot. This is a lethal weapon if you have been banging 2 handers at your opponent for a while first.

 

[hyogen]

"double SW" as in both and each hand using SW grip.
HaroldSolomon was known to use double SW, but sometimes, on slow carpet and clay, moved a few degrees over to double Western, since all incoming balls except first serves go over his head. He didn't believe in slicing, and was sliced and diced into oblivion by a young Connors and a really old Rosewall.
Sometimes, we need some variety to skin the cat.

so a mirror image right?

like two fists punching each other under-handedly...

yeah i do think this helps me drive the ball with more power most of the time... i guess it's because it makes me hit it flat more.


do i have this right?

 

[SquashPlayer]

worst mistake I ever made using eastern backhand grip for dominant hand, I'm coming off that about 6 months ago after basically hitting slice on the bh side because the 2 hander was too inconsistent. Also, you're not set in the bh grip position for the ready position with this setup, another negative.

using eastern bh grip on dominant (lower) hand pushes the contact point out, de-emphasizes the non-dominant (left, for a righty) hand. It's a 2hbh with an identity problem. it doesn't know which hand is dominant.

after moving to a standard continental grip for the dominant hand, nearly all of the 2hbh becomes an opposite side fh, no more identity problem. for me, this was dramatic, because my left hand then said "you want me to do what ?" dramatically different stroke. it took pounding a ton of left-handed fh before the stroke set in. Different as night and day, it was like starting over. the contact point needs to come way back, you need to turn to let the contact point come back, shifting emphasis on the non-dominant hand.

As far as the non-dominant hand goes, the vast majority of pros use eastern (Roddick, Tsonga, etc.) but some very prominent pros use SW (Nadal, Djokovich). I am set in a SW for non-dominant hand, allowing more topspin as you mentioned.

 

[session404]

I'm a righty and I use continental (rh) / eastern (lh) grip for my 2hbh. That's what I've been most comfortable with. The tricky part is when I am returning a serve, I usually go with western (rh) / semi-western (lh) but I sometimes try to change my grip if the ball comes toward my bh and it screws up my timing.

 

[soyizgood]

Cool, thanks. I can absolutely pound the ball topspin with the SW-SW grip and my dominant hand doesn't have to change grips. What I can't do with that setup is decide at the last instant that I'd really rather be hitting a one hander and drop the non-dominant hand for some extra reach. And it's not a grip you see recommended very often.

I tried double semi-western for a couple of weeks a few years ago. The topspin you can generate is crazy. BUT, it's very unreliable on low balls and hitting the ball late. Not to mention having to hit quite out in front.

I even toyed with semi-western (d) eastern (n-d) briefly.

 

[hyogen]

double semi western as in you have both palms facing up right?

not as extreme as punching your fists together...but almost

 

[mike53]

double semi western as in you have both palms facing up right?

not as extreme as punching your fists together...but almost

Very similar to the way I hold a golf club, but on the opposite side. Palms more or less facing the opposite elbow.