Two handed backhand return of serve question

[atomarchio]

Is it possible to hit a two-handed backhand using the dominant hand (I am left handed) as the main power source? Or use both hands?

I am having a really tough time using my non-dominant hand (right hand) in the stroke.

Another issue I am having is that I am getting very close to the ball and I think it contributes to my insistence on hitting two handed backhand with my dominant (left) hand.

I find myself wanting to return serve (deuce court) with an open stance two handed backhand. However, I am struggling getting the ball cross court with enough topspin and control.

Please let me know. Thanks.

 

[ext2hander]

Is it possible to hit a two-handed backhand using the dominant hand (I am left handed) as the main power source? Or use both hands?

I am having a really tough time using my non-dominant hand (right hand) in the stroke.

Another issue I am having is that I am getting very close to the ball and I think it contributes to my insistence on hitting two handed backhand with my dominant (left) hand.

I find myself wanting to return serve (deuce court) with an open stance two handed backhand. However, I am struggling getting the ball cross court with enough topspin and control.

Post a video please. Be brave.

One suspects you are hitting the two-hander with LH at racquet butt and RH choked up the handle. So you are stroking the two-hander essentially with your LH, may as well just work on a one-hand backhand. Normally a lefties two-hander is hit with RH dominant, and LH going for the ride.

With RH in choked position, try hitting easy balls with the RH, and LH not on the racquet. Get used to the motion, and RH coordination, then add the LH solely for racquet face alignment and stabilization. Hold the LH lightly on the grip, and allow to pivot during the 2HBH stroke. Eventually, you will get the hang of it.

Or, if you really cannot release your LH vice grip, try my E2HBH (Show Me Your Two-Hander). With this two-hander, your LH would be mostly off the butt of the racquet, i.e. holding only via RH thumb and forefinger. You will simply not be able to apply any power with the LH, but forced to develop a mirror image of your LH-FH, but with your RH 1/2" from racquet butt. You just might like this stroke with its long hitting zone, and full-length effective swing radius. Or, once comfortable with using your RH to dominate in the 2HBH, incrementally move your hands up the grip to customary position. In my case, I WILL NEVER return to the conventional 2HBH grip, too stiff and restrained for my shorter height, aside from 23 other reasons.

Of course, maintaining a very compact backloop is essential for 2HBH service returns, steering the racquet face immediately to the side the serve is hit.

 

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I've practiced the RH forehand (w/o LH on the racquet) but in a match my LH completely takes over.

I am interested in the idea of only using the thumb/forefinger for the RH but am concerned about wildness of the stroke and/or loss of control.

With this approach, are you choked up all the way with the RH? Are hands touching or spread apart on the handle?

 

[ext2hander]

I've practiced the RH forehand (w/o LH on the racquet) but in a match my LH completely takes over.

I am interested in the idea of only using the thumb/forefinger for the RH but am concerned about wildness of the stroke and/or loss of control.

With this approach, are you choked up all the way with the RH? Are hands touching or spread apart on the handle?

With all the TW interest, I just updated the E2HBH web page with more photos, videos, and both right and left-handed E2HBH grips. See Fig 14A-D for lefties, about 2/3 down the long page.

Naturally, I recommended practicing this stroke on the side, i.e. not ready for match play. Get your RH used to taking full sweeping strokes, using your LH thumb and forefinger to align the racquet face to meet the ball square. Or, start like I did -- incrementally move your hands in 0.5" steps closer to the racquet butt, until the E2HBH grip is achieved. Once I had a reliable shot, I integrated it into doubles play, keeping the one-hand backhand for special situations (or late hits). Try it, see if the relaxed bend in your arms allow a more fluid and smooth two-hand stroke, i.e. arms do not bind. A YouTube 4.0 player picked up the stroke from the 2011 web site, and felt immediately benefits; then honed the stroke to astound his hitting partner.

Note I started with the standard high loopback, then down and up to impact for topspin. But I'm short, light, and on Medicare enabled, and didn't wish long high-bouncing topspin rallies against good players. So I elected to develop a more penetrating shot, lower to net, by reversing the backloop -- reduce the age and rating difference. Drill the ball at a player, down the middle between players, or wide to either short sideline.

My stroke usually starts low, then rises before the forward swing to impact, hitting the ball fairly flat for max impact velocity. Where's my topspin come from? I time a gentle knee bend, then rise about 5-6" at the waist/hips, while upper body rotates and shifts forward, to apply topspin with the usual wrist layback. In this manner, I don't get stuck in long rallies, but get the point over in 3-4 balls, often in my favor once a better opponent elects to drill my backhand.

Yes, my hands are butted up against one another, to maximize the "effective swing radius" with the dominant hand. Be sure to maintain a compact backloop, alongside body (not behind back), then down (or up as I do) to meet the ball. This is particularly important for service returns, or any hard low shot, for that matter.

Its also my control shot; whereas, my FH is my new work-in-progress. I'm right handed, and my LH forehand on the run or approach is quite good and smoother than my RH forehand! So need to mirror that, too, before getting any older.

A few years ago when E2HBH was introduced to TW, one poster said he could hit so hard he'd knock the racquet out of my hand. Surely, there are some gorillas who could, or 5.0's who bounce the ball over my head. But its not generally true, if with my range and reaction time, hard low balls are ideal, simply accelerate the racquet to impact with high velocity, with topspin from thighs lifting. Not difficult at all. And my racquet does not get knocked loose.

 

[Ballinbob]

Your non-dominant hand should be where you get most of the power. I practiced lefty forehands on the wall for a month with no match play in between to get the hang of it. I also like starting the swing with the left hand and putting my right hand on at the last second just to get the feel of how the dominant hand (right for me) guides your shot. Also, before you worry too much about what hand does what, make sure you have a wide base when you hit the ball and are getting a good shoulder turn ect. I feel that should come first

 

[moonballs]

Most people play 2hbh like a forehand by the non dominant hand. You can still have a good 2hbh like a 1hbh assisted with the non dominant hand. Youzhny is one pro who plays like that.

 

[atomarchio]

Does using the dominant LH as much as I am doing now change the swing path? I keep feeling as if the swing is almost too low to high. This combined with racquet face is open and that sends the ball flying out?

I read a book by Oscar Wegner saying to hit a 2H BH you just add your other hand to the racquet without grip change.

How can that be possible?

 

[ext2hander]

Does using the dominant LH as much as I am doing now change the swing path? I keep feeling as if the swing is almost too low to high. This combined with racquet face is open and that sends the ball flying out?

I read a book by Oscar Wegner saying to hit a 2H BH you just add your other hand to the racquet without grip change.

How can that be possible?

Using the dominant LH for your lefty 2HBH will change the swing path. With the dominant LH, your effective swing radius is longer, from the left shoulder to the racquet face.

Whereas, with dominant RH, the effective swing radius is 4" shorter, from your right shoulder (via the choked up RH grip position) to the racquet face. To make up this difference, hitters using this more conventional method require high muscular effort to achieve pace and spin. ... Simple body mechanics, or rigid-body mechanics as a vehicle or satellite mechanical engineer would attest -- which is the reason I totally altered my two-hand grip and stroke pattern (for full-length effective swing radius).

Monica Seles used two-hander on both sides, but she never changed her grip. So on one side she could have had a 4" longer swing radius than the other. But she might have used dominant hand on lower on both sides, or dominant hand on upper on both sides (for all I know). Anyone know?

If you really must hit backhand with dominant LH, just devote your energies to a fluid one-hand backhand and keep the RH from messing up your stroke, and causing the racquet to pull up too soon. With your hybrid grip the contact point is further back than if you hit a one-hand backhand. Your really want the outer shoulder (toward the racquet) to dominant the 2HBH. Surely you can do it your way, but will it look and feel awkward?. I believe keeping your RH on the grip is messing up your two-hander, so just drop it from the handle, and quarter-turn (Vic Braden recommended) the grip for consistent heavy topspin via one-hander.

Show us a video of your stroke, so we can better evaluate, e.g. side view, and offset view at 45 deg angle.

 

[atomarchio]

Using the dominant LH for your lefty 2HBH will change the swing path. With the dominant LH, your effective swing radius is longer, from the left shoulder to the racquet face.

Whereas, with dominant RH, the effective swing radius is 4" shorter, from your right shoulder (via the choked up RH grip position) to the racquet face. To make up this difference, hitters using this more conventional method require high muscular effort to achieve pace and spin. ... Simple body mechanics, or rigid-body mechanics as a vehicle or satellite mechanical engineer would attest -- which is the reason I totally altered my two-hand grip and stroke pattern (for full-length effective swing radius).

Monica Seles used two-hander on both sides, but she never changed her grip. So on one side she could have had a 4" longer swing radius than the other. But she might have used dominant hand on lower on both sides, or dominant hand on upper on both sides (for all I know). Anyone know?

If you really must hit backhand with dominant LH, just devote your energies to a fluid one-hand backhand and keep the RH from messing up your stroke, and causing the racquet to pull up too soon. With your hybrid grip the contact point is further back than if you hit a one-hand backhand. Your really want the outer shoulder (toward the racquet) to dominant the 2HBH. Surely you can do it your way, but will it look and feel awkward?. I believe keeping your RH on the grip is messing up your two-hander, so just drop it from the handle, and quarter-turn (Vic Braden recommended) the grip for consistent heavy topspin via one-hander.

Show us a video of your stroke, so we can better evaluate, e.g. side view, and offset view at 45 deg angle.

I am not at home this week so I don't have access to video camera.

Last question I have is how do you keep hands together if RH is choked up and the LH is on end of racquet? I don't have a racquet this moment but I would think there is considerable space in between hands given what you've described.

Please clarify. Thanks.