Two handed backhand question, Please Help!

[noelgally]

Ok so for background I am right handed and hit a regular one handed forehand. On my backhand side I used to have a one handed backhand which was awful and now my two hander is better but it feels like I never hit near the sweet spot. I use a continental grip on my right hand and a semi western on my left hand. I decided to mess around and switch my hands, putting my right hand on top of my left hand. With this I was hitting the sweet spot and just overall connecting better. Is what I'm describing a left handed two handed forehand? Any ideas why I would hit better like this than with a conventional two handed backhand on that side? I'm pretty confused. Thanks guys!

 

[Limpinhitter]

I'll speculate that you are trying to hit a 1hb with your left hand on for the ride. However, it's essential to understand that a right handed 2hb is basically a left handed fh with the right hand on for the ride. Allow your left hand to be dominant and your right hand to be passive and see if that helps.

 

[rkelley]

I'll speculate that you are trying to hit a 1hb with your left hand on for the ride. However, it's essential to understand that a right handed 2hb is basically a left handed fh with the right hand on for the ride. Allow your left hand to be dominant and your right hand to be passive and see if that helps.

I don't totally agree with the philosophy of the "right hand along for the ride." The right hand is important for power and stability, but left hand has an important role too. Since you're coming from a 1hbh recently there's a good possibility that Limpinhitter is correct that you're not using your left hand enough, though it's really impossible to say with out watching you hit. Hitting some left handed forehands for practice might not be a bad idea to force this. Ultimately a good 2hbh uses both hands.

I would advise against going with the left handed two handed forehand. I think you'll find it's difficult to switch grips because you'll need to either trade the bottom hand or choke way up on the racquet when you cross your right hand over the top of your left.

A good pro can help, or if that's not possible then there's lots of stuff on youtube. Watch guys like Nalbandian and Djokovic - they have nice two handers. Fuzzyyellowballs and LockinRolltennis have good videos.

 

[Sim]

I wouldn't advise putting your right hand on top of your left hand. For my BH, I use both hands equally when swinging, so I don't have a dominant hand in my BH.

The above posters are probably right that you are not using your left hand enough though as you yourself said that you were originally a 1HBH.

Post a video though, or we can't help you directly or describe what's wrong. If not, the best way is to watch videos on learning the 2HBH.

 

[Nellie]

Obviously, if you switch you hands in the manner described, you will be slow to react, especially with a return of serve.

I am just guessing, but if you switch hands, you move your left arm closer to your body and move your right arm to a less dominant position. Try this- hit the two-hander with just your thumb and index finger on the right hand (releasing the middle, ring, and pinkie fingers from handle). This grip really forces you to use the left arm for power and the right arm for aiming the stroke.

 

[rkelley]

Obviously, if you switch you hands in the manner described, you will be slow to react, especially with a return of serve.

I am just guessing, but if you switch hands, you move your left arm closer to your body and move your right arm to a less dominant position. Try this- hit the two-hander with just your thumb and index finger on the right hand (releasing the middle, ring, and pinkie fingers from handle). This grip really forces you to use the left arm for power and the right arm for aiming the stroke.

I know there's been a lot of discussion on the topic of the role of each hand on a 2hbh and it's a difficult thing to glean from watching pros hit. For what it's worth, however, I do the exact opposite of the above. The left hand controls the racquet angle and swing path, the right hand provides extra stability and power. This is that left handed forehand feeling that many folks talk about, though my right hand's contribution to the stroke are important.

One thing you can see that most pros do is that the dominant arm is generally in line with the racquet at contact. This would lend credence to the idea that the right arm is just adding power, pulling, and not very involved with controlling the racquet.

 

[Nellie]

I know that many good players hit the two-handed with their forehand side arm dominating the shot.

However, in my experience, when a player switches from a one to two hands on the backhand, the player will struggle with timing the weight shift and the torso rotation. If you hit the two hander like a one hander with another hand attached, it won't work and will feel awkward because you will have the worse of all possible outcomes:

(1) the second hand limits your range of motion that is available with the one-hander (i.e., you won't have the whip-like flow to power the shot) and

(2) you won't be using the torso rotation to power the stroke.

So you end up with a weak, awkward stroke. So, in my experience, it really helps to relearn the stroke by preventing the right arm (for righties) from dominating. Once you are comfortable, swing away with that right arm.