Two-handed backhand in Open Stance creates rotational knee problem?

1

1171

Rookie
Which ones of the pro players use open stance two-handed backhand? I remember Monica Seles, Venus & Serena Williams, and now Maria Sharapova using the the open stance two-handed backhand.

I tried it for two weeks. The open stance on both forehand and backhand certainly has improved my return of serve TREMENDOUSLY. I am facing ball all the time, do not seem to be rushed into shots. Great, great for return of serve.

But also noticed that my left knee is a little more tight. I am just wondering if anyone has used open stance two-handed backhand for a long time. Do you have left knee problem? Venus and Serena Williams seem to have problem with their left knee from the torque created when hitting open stance two-handed backhand.

Comments.
 
K

kevhen

Hall of Fame
No knee problems, but I went back to using a more square or semi-open stance to generate more power. The open stance seemed harder on my back with more twisting to generate the power. With closed stance you get more power from the hips. I return serve with open (or semi-open) stance but use square stance when I have time to setup for the ball during rallies.
 
T

TigerTennis

New User
although I dont hit with the open stance 100% of the time, if do hit with that stance more than half the time. I really like it, it gives me more time to get to the ball and get back to the middle of the court. I dont know whether it is easier to hit down the line or cross court, bc I do both. But to answer the question, NO...I dont have any knee problems at all.
 
T

Tomek_Pl

Rookie
kevhen, how can you generate more power with hips on closed stance? You can generate more power with opened stance

1171, probably your right leg is so much more used to shifting body weight, managing stability and rotating, that you feel such difference. I'm just learning to play in opened and semi-opened stance BH and understand you very well. And check your technique, how you step with your left foot and how you rotate it...
 
K

kevhen

Hall of Fame
No way, your hips are already turned and open, so your power then must come from upper body trunk twist and swing speed. In a square stance (right foot closer to your opponent), you can add the hips to the entire coil and get things started more quickly and with more power.
 
1

1171

Rookie
I think the power from open and close stance are quite similar. Just do this experiment, hold the racket in front of your body, don't use arm to swing, just swing from the hip. I found I can swing pretty much the same from open and close stance. But if I step forward in close stance, then I do get more power from weight transfer.
 
1

1171

Rookie
Power aside, I think I can hit a running backhand with forward step much easier in the open stance than the close stance.

So, if I am stationary, close stance probably gives me more power. But running backhand, there is NO question that open stance is the king.
 
K

kevhen

Hall of Fame
Yes, of course the open stance is more for when you are on the move and a little late getting to the ball. I like square stance for when I am set and can step in and really drive the ball. I use one-hander when desperate and really late getting to the ball. Find whatever works for you. I started when I was younger with square stance then went to hitting everything open and am now back to square, but will still hit return of hard serves and balls on the run with an open stance.
 
K

kevhen

Hall of Fame
I thought we were talking about the 2 hand backhand here and not the one hand forehand. Find me a link where it says open stance generates more power for 2 hand backhand. Alot of power is generated from how far your knees bend so that you can become coiled energy. With an open stance you probably need more knee bend to generate the power and maybe that is what causes the knee problems for open stance hard hitters like the Williams. I would like to see others opinions on this and some more articles.
 
T

Tomek_Pl

Rookie
I just thought about general idea of playing from opened or closed stance. I think that 2H-BH should be learned just as FH, so that's why I posted link to this pic. And look at my 2nd post- there I wrote that you were wrong about hips being opened all the time at open stance (no matter what stroke FH or BH) and used more at closed stance which is wrong.
Closed stance gives you more linear power. Opened stance gives you more rotational power that can be transferred into linear power...
 
1

1171

Rookie
I read the revolutionary tennis article on footwork. So basically it is walking forward toward the ball, 1-2, 1-2. Angular turn in open stance, but hit linearly by stepping forward. So simple. I am going to walk/hit for an hour today in my community before I play today. Open stance walk/ step forward hit feels very natural. Not pivot sideway in open stance but walk forward in open stance. Hitting with step forward as walking forward.

Very natural. Thanks for the revolutionary tennis 1-2, 1-2 footstep article.
 
K

kevhen

Hall of Fame
Are there any photos for this on the 2 handed backhand side for an open stance with step into the ball? I take it the right foot swings forward so that you end up in a semi-open stance and that you step forward as you start to bring the racquet forward.
 
1

1171

Rookie
Just walk and hit. Don't point toes sideway. Point them forward. Just like walking.

Just like walking. 1-2. 1-hit/2. Backfoot forward c/ trunk turn, toes point naturally forward, hit/step forward. Just like walk.

Just like walking, you don't think about those open stance, close stance linear transfer. It is all natural muscle memory in walking. Just add arm swing.
 
K

kevhen

Hall of Fame
http://www.mfwweb.com/tennis/IW04/#Animations

http://www.mfwweb.com/tennis/IW04/Dokic_02.mov
http://www.mfwweb.com/tennis/IW04/Hantuchova_04.mov
http://www.mfwweb.com/tennis/IW04/Zvonareva_02.mov
http://www.mfwweb.com/tennis/IW04/Roesch_01.mov

These are nice square backhands.

Sharapova's is a nice open stance backhand.

Why do baseball players hit with a square stance if open gives you more power? Some power hitters will open their stance maybe 10 degrees but not 90 degrees like a true open stance. Some baseball hitters have closed stances with the left foot to the right of the right foot. You can coil alot more energy in a square stance.
 
K

kevhen

Hall of Fame
The batter's box is 4 feet wide so it gives some room for an open or semi-open stance. I have seen players start semi-open but once the pitch is throw they will step in and square up the stance. Most players start square and end square, unless it's an inside pitch that they are trying to pull, then they will step slightly open but are starting in a square stance. Baseball being more of a power sport than tennis, you would think that if an open or semi-open stance added more power then at least a few players would use it.
 
K

kevhen

Hall of Fame
Now a totally closed stance with the right foot left of the left foot is usually good for a one hander but for a two hander, an extremely closed stance will limit the hips in helping start the trunk rotation and limit the amount of power involved. I only use a fully closed stance when on the run and usually hit the one-hander but sometimes will hit with two but it's usually a more defensive weaker shot. Of course you are running sideways to the ball and not stepping into it.
 
K

kevhen

Hall of Fame
I can see where the open stance might be harder on the knees with more rotational turning of them vs stepping forward and into the ball with the square stance drive swing.
 
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