Two handed backhand question

[Homey]

I recently began learning a two handed topspin backhand. I was a slice backhand before. I could hit both forehands and backhands without changing grips.

Now that I have went to a two handed backhand, my problem is how do I hold the racket in between shots. When you are waiting for your opponent to hit his shot, do you hold the racket with both hands or do you just hold it with one hand, say a forehand, so you can run quicker?

When I hold the racket with both hands, I am much slower getting to the ball. It is like running with your hands hancuffed together in front.

I want to know what all you two handers do.

Do you:

A. Hold the racket with one hand(forehand), then get over to where the ball is and then grab the racket with your backhand(left hand) and then swing.

B. Hold the racket at all times with both hands, and run while holding the racket with both hands. (seems slow)

C. Other options?

Thanks for the help!

Homey

 

[Sreeram]

I had a similar question before. I asked forum how to change grip between FH and BH.
I hold the racquet in such a way that forehand is easier to hit. So SW grip on my right hand(righty here) and my left hand holds the throat of the racquet and will help me in racquet take back when I hit a forehand shot. Imagine like your left hand is used to turn your upper half of body and then use the nonhitting hand to balance your shot and distance with the ball before hitting.
Now from the same stance (left hand on throat), if I need to hit a BH I just slide the hand from throat to racquet handle next to my right hand at the same time the left hand also rotates the racquet so that the grip of my right hand becomes continental. Now there is no specific grip for your left hand that will work for a BH, I dont even know what I use. Again people who play textbook tennis may not accept that left hand grip is not specific. But it is just my view.

 

[doctor dennis]

I recently began learning a two handed topspin backhand. I was a slice backhand before. I could hit both forehands and backhands without changing grips.

Now that I have went to a two handed backhand, my problem is how do I hold the racket in between shots. When you are waiting for your opponent to hit his shot, do you hold the racket with both hands or do you just hold it with one hand, say a forehand, so you can run quicker?

When I hold the racket with both hands, I am much slower getting to the ball. It is like running with your hands hancuffed together in front.

I want to know what all you two handers do.

Do you:

A. Hold the racket with one hand(forehand), then get over to where the ball is and then grab the racket with your backhand(left hand) and then swing.

B. Hold the racket at all times with both hands, and run while holding the racket with both hands. (seems slow)

C. Other options?

Thanks for the help!

Homey

Hi

I hold it at the throat with my left and have my right in the continental position. It allows me to slice, volley or smash easily. Also, I just have to slide my left hand down for my 2hbh or turn the racket slightly for a forehand. This works best for but you should use whatever feels natural to you and allows you to play your best tennis.

Regards

 

[i8myshirt]

When I'm returning serve, I hold my right hand in the forehand position and the left hand in its backhand position. That way if the serve goes to my forehand, it's already there and if the serve goes to the backhand, I just have to adjust my forehand grip.

During a rally, I usually have my right hand loosely in the forehand grip and the backhand just above where it would be on the backhand just so if I have to hit a forehand, I can shift it up as a support and if I have to hit a backhand, I can slide it down fore a 2 handed.

 

[DavaiMarat]

You are correct. Running with both hands on the racquet is slower because you lose the pumping motion of the arms to add extra momentum and balance.
I assume you're having problems when a ball is hit wide not when you only have to take a few steps to hit the ball, correct?

Well to explain this correctly, lets go over the proper footwork pattern.

Split - Quick small acceleration steps - Large Distance Covering strides - Small Braking adjustment steps - plant and step and hit.

So let's brake down the arm movements w.r.t. the footwork.

Split - Both Hands on the Frame
Acceleration Steps - Hand Separate and Pump
Distance Strides - Hands Continue to Pump
Small Breaking steps - Hand come together on frame - Pull the racquet back into wrists cocked position behind the body.
Plant - Step - Hands come forward with the hip turn.

So the key is to bring both hands on the frame when you are beginning to slow to the ball. However, in dire situations the 1handed slice should be employed.