Which is better; one handed BH or two handed BH

AlexM

Rookie
In my opinion one-handed looks much cooler but maybe that is just me. However, when it comes to which is better, I have not been a fan long enough and am simply to stupid to make a statement. Based on my understanding I'd say one-handed has its advantages because it allows for more angles and reaches. Although, I do think two-handed is more consistent. What do you all think?
 

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
It depends on the rest of a players game, but I think in a majority of cases a player is better off with a 2 handed backhand. The biggest reason for this is the advantage in returning serve, especially on the 2nd serve I believe it can make a difference of 4% or more.

It will also change matchups a lot. Vs the best 2 hander it's probably better to have the 10th best single hander than have the 5th best 2 hander for example. Djokovic has an ungodly record on clay vs right handed players with 2 handed backhands.
 

6august

Hall of Fame
Before somebody say 2hander is for girls, just remember that Pete Sampras was not talented enough to learn the double-handed backhand. His coach realized that he used lefthand just to hold the racquet, not to drive the ball and generate power.

))
 

AlexM

Rookie
It depends on the rest of a players game, but I think in a majority of cases a player is better off with a 2 handed backhand. The biggest reason for this is the advantage in returning serve, especially on the 2nd serve I believe it can make a difference of 4% or more.

It will also change matchups a lot. Vs the best 2 hander it's probably better to have the 10th best single hander than have the 5th best 2 hander for example. Djokovic has an ungodly record on clay vs right handed players with 2 handed backhands.
This is a good point. But how come several ATG have one handers. Also what percent of pros would you say have one-handed backhands.
 
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PETEhammer

Guest
which works better for you. And don't say they are equal because that would be a lie.
I switched to a one hander when I was 14 and had a remarkably good 2 hander. Worst decision of my tennis life. Timing is different, confidence dips but above that the mentality of having the confidence to hit any shot whenever you want to basically having to constantly "manage" your backhand side is a real downer and causes lots of losses in the short run. Also, something I haven't seen people talk about is how it actually impacts the forehand- believe it or not, the change turned my forehand from a super solid, heavy shot into a wispy looper shot.

Years later I have a pretty good one hander that's done some damage in its day but I wish on the whole I'd stuck with my two hander. Don't make a switch if you have any important competitive tennis ahead of you.
 

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
This is a good point. But how come several ATG have one handers. Also what percent of pros would you say have one-handed backhands.
OHBHs used to be much, much more common than than they are now. And the biggest advantages of the 2hander can happen in the meta of the modern tennis game.

I don't know what% of pros have a OHBH.
 
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PETEhammer

Guest
Before somebody say 2hander is for girls, just remember that Pete Sampras was not talented enough to learn the double-handed backhand. His coach realized that he used lefthand just to hold the racquet, not to drive the ball and generate power.

))
Petros actually had a great two hander, like a remarkably great one that Andre considered really good before he switched to a oney.
 

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
I switched to a one hander when I was 14 and had a remarkably good 2 hander. Worst decision of my tennis life. Timing is different, confidence dips but above that the mentality of having the confidence to hit any shot whenever you want to basically having to constantly "manage" your backhand side is a real downer and causes lots of losses in the short run. Also, something I haven't seen people talk about is how it actually impacts the forehand- believe it or not, the change turned my forehand from a super solid, heavy shot into a wispy looper shot.

Years later I have a pretty good one hander that's done some damage in its day but I wish on the whole I'd stuck with my two hander. Don't make a switch if you have any important competitive tennis ahead of you.
I switched around 16, but my 2 handed backhand was awful. It's just so much less stable that it was still a nuisance despite it being technically much better. I could probably hit 50% harder with a one hander.

In hindsight, I think one handers would've been decent technical training for a 2 hander. My off hand is basically super slow.
 

AlexM

Rookie
I switched to a one hander when I was 14 and had a remarkably good 2 hander. Worst decision of my tennis life. Timing is different, confidence dips but above that the mentality of having the confidence to hit any shot whenever you want to basically having to constantly "manage" your backhand side is a real downer and causes lots of losses in the short run. Also, something I haven't seen people talk about is how it actually impacts the forehand- believe it or not, the change turned my forehand from a super solid, heavy shot into a wispy looper shot.

Years later I have a pretty good one hander that's done some damage in its day but I wish on the whole I'd stuck with my two hander. Don't make a switch if you have any important competitive tennis ahead of you.
If it was such a mistake, why do it in the first place? And if you saw what it was doing to your game why wouldn't you just switch back? This is very unfortunate for you but I feel like a bit of a silly problem that can easily be reveresed. I don't know anything though.
 
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PETEhammer

Guest
If it was such a mistake, why do it in the first place? And if you saw what it was doing to your game why wouldn't you just switch back? This is very unfortunate for you but I feel like a bit of a silly problem that can easily be reveresed. I don't know anything though.
Yeah it was a bone headed decision for sure (I was 14 after all) but you can't exactly go back right away either. You have to give the switch time to see if you can hit the shot, and if you can (which I could) its really hard to go back because the timing is so different imo
 
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PETEhammer

Guest
I switched around 16, but my 2 handed backhand was awful. It's just so much less stable that it was still a nuisance despite it being technically much better. I could probably hit 50% harder with a one hander.

In hindsight, I think one handers would've been decent technical training for a 2 hander. My off hand is basically super slow.
hmm, did you get lessons for the two hander? Not sure what resources were like in your area but whatever gains you'd get on the left hand you'd lose in contact and timing since they're so different between one and two handers.
 

6august

Hall of Fame
One thing I'm sure that it's much more difficult to hit an open-stance OHBH than DHBH if you dont have a good body and skill.

Tim is paying the price for hitting too many open-stance OHBH.
 

Arak

Legend
I believe we all have some natural predisposition to one or the other. Players who are somewhat ambidextrous can do better with the two hander. Players who have a very dominant hand play better with a one hander. I happen to be in the latter category. My left hand is almost useless.
 
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Red Rick

Bionic Poster
hmm, did you get lessons for the two hander? Not sure what resources were like in your area but whatever gains you'd get on the left hand you'd lose in contact and timing since they're so different between one and two handers.
I got taught a two hander. Then it was my idea to switch to a one hander. It's much more natural to me.
 

vex

Legend
One handlers clearly are flashier. Check out Shapovalov’s 360 aerial no scope backhand. The mechanics of a one hander - the very efficient kinetic chain behind it - makes for much more natural power when you have time to set up. See for instance, Stan’s tactical nuke DTL backhand.

But the most important shots in tennis are those where you’re stretched wide and racing to cover. 2HBH are much more stable and accurate in situations where you don’t have a lot of time to set up. That’s why it’s far more prevalent at the pro level.
 

_GOATbis

Semi-Pro
For 1hbh you need a lot more to be involved and it mas be perfect, body rotation, footwork, point of contact, follow-through

2hbh is much more lenient to the mistakes, much more forgivable

For me, 2hbh is more injury risky, especially in the elbows, but I use it in 95% of games

If I'm fresh, balls are new and it's not a competitive match I use 1hbh, just for aesthetical reasons
 
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AlexM

Rookie
For 1hbh you need a lot more to be involved and it mas be perfect, body rotation, footwork, point of contact, follow-through

2hbh is much more lenient to the mistakes, much more forgivable

For me, 2hbh is more injury risky, especially in the elbows, but I use it in 95% of games

If I'm fresh, balls are new and it's not a competitive match I use 1hbh, just for aesthetical reasons
I feel ya idk why but I just feel 'cool' i guess when i hit a one hander...whereas two handers feel all mechanical and fundamental
 

canta_Brian

Hall of Fame
Very few people get coached as a single hander these days so a tiny sample, and yet we have Fed, Tsitsipas, Dimitrov, Shapovalov, Warwrinka, Evans (win last week) all playing one handed. Is there an argument that say if you can manage a one hander you are more likely to successful?
 

Arak

Legend
Very few people get coached as a single hander these days so a tiny sample, and yet we have Fed, Tsitsipas, Dimitrov, Shapovalov, Warwrinka, Evans (win last week) all playing one handed. Is there an argument that say if you can manage a one hander you are more likely to successful?
I guess that players with 2hbh play less often against one handers so are less familiar with the style, while one handers have to play all the time against two handers, so they have to figure out how to get the best out of it. The opposite is true on the recreational level, where the one hander is more prevalent.
 

ravenousRublev

New User
Both have their advantages both have their draw backs

Two hander is better for
Consistency/margin
Accuracy
Defense
Returning
1 hander better for
Power
Offense
Spin

However 1 hander weaknesses compared to the two hander are
Defense( more likely to break down especially against topspin Forehands)
Accuracy ( considerably harder to hit it down the line less margin for error needs better timing)
Less control( easier to completely shank or mishit)

Two hander weaknesses are:
Generating effortless power with less motion
Same with topspin
Touch around the net





Overall would say a two hander is generally better than 1 hander as it has more benefits
 

PrinceMoron

Legend
Never seen anyone go up to someone with a 2HBH and say nice backhand

You get respect on and off court if you can hit a classy one handed backhand
You might think 2H means you don’t have a decent slice, but if your 1HBH is really good you just never hit a slice either
 

kailash

Hall of Fame
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AlexM

Rookie
If you know that would a lie, why are you asking then.
I'm not sure what you're saying there. I was trying to ask which of your backhands is better, OH or TH, and said if you say 'they are equal' then that would be a lie. Just forget it.
 

UnderratedSlam

G.O.A.T.
1HB

Pros ------------- more power, probably less injury, may lead to better BH volleying (unless you're Stan the Can)

2HB

Pros ------------- better control hence consistency, easier returning, more precision, annoys the purists and fans of ballet

I personally beleebe both should be represented, and every male generation of slam champs had both. Since the 70s at least...
 

AlexM

Rookie
I am not an old fan but could some OG list ATG and other good players who have represented each style of back hand. I'd assume there are more OHers on the ATG list but IDK
 

golden chicken

Hall of Fame
I had a solid 2 hander as a teen. Switched because I was S&V-ing. I find I have more flexibility to be a little 'off' with a one hander than with a 2 hander. I can be early or late with my swing, be too far away, and/or switch to slice. When I used a 2 hander I had to be in perfect position, stepping in, or it'd be weak.

If you look deep enough into the talk tennis archives you will find a thread where I asked about the viability of hitting 2HBH and forehand slice only.
 

_GOATbis

Semi-Pro
I think at a mastery level one-handed is better --> its just harder to master

nope, quite the opposite, the developed two-hander is always a more reliable shot on the long run (returns, consistency, efforts)

harder not means better
 

AlexM

Rookie
nope, quite the opposite, the developed two-hander is always a more reliable shot on the long run (returns, consistency, efforts)

harder not means better
Well, obviously the two-hander is more reliable. At the moment this is the information I have gathered.

One handers are better for spin, angles, reach, and power. two handers are better for consistency, return, and precision. Furthermore, I assumed due to the fact there are so many one handers at the ATP level compared to one handers at the recreational level is because it is more difficult to master but can reep better rewards in the instance it is mastered.
 

skaj

Legend
I'm not sure what you're saying there. I was trying to ask which of your backhands is better, OH or TH, and said if you say 'they are equal' then that would be a lie. Just forget it.

You are asking someone who you don't know anything about a question about their practice you don't know anything about, and calling one of the potential answers "a lie". Go figure it out.
 

skaj

Legend
Both have their advantages both have their draw backs

Two hander is better for
Consistency/margin
Accuracy
Defense
Returning
1 hander better for
Power
Offense
Spin

However 1 hander weaknesses compared to the two hander are
Defense( more likely to break down especially against topspin Forehands)
Accuracy ( considerably harder to hit it down the line less margin for error needs better timing)
Less control( easier to completely shank or mishit)

Two hander weaknesses are:
Generating effortless power with less motion
Same with topspin
Touch around the net





Overall would say a two hander is generally better than 1 hander as it has more benefits

Also one-handers generally work better against low bouncing balls, two-handers handle higher bounce better.
 

cortado

Professional
I do one-hand backhand, but I find half-volley on backhand side I often naturally put two hands on the racquet. (But there the extra hand is just providing stability, it's not driving the ball).
 

Jaitock1991

Hall of Fame
At the end of the day it depends on how developed the shot is technically, and how well it compliments the rest of a player's game.

But in general you could say that a one-handed backhand has more potential for racquet head speed in the form of pace and spin(which if perfected also allows for more variety). And usually the slice will also be a better shot.

The two-hander has more consistency and deals with high-bouncing balls better. In general the most two-handed backhands have lower levels of spin.
 
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Deleted member 22147

Guest
No such thing as one being better

Kohlschreiber has a better single hander than Norrie's double hander, but X player has a better double hander than Kohlschreiber's single hander.... and on and on.
 

skaj

Legend
At the end of the day it depends on how developed the shot is technically, and how well it compliments the rest of a player's game.

But in general you could say that a one-handed backhand has more potential for racquet head speed in the form of pace and spin(which if perfected also allows for more variety). And usually the slice will also be a better shot.

The two-hander has more consistency and deals with high-bouncing balls better. In general the most two-handed backhands have lower levels of spin.

This.
 

Cashman

Hall of Fame
At the end of the day it depends on how developed the shot is technically, and how well it compliments the rest of a player's game.

But in general you could say that a one-handed backhand has more potential for racquet head speed in the form of pace and spin(which if perfected also allows for more variety). And usually the slice will also be a better shot.

The two-hander has more consistency and deals with high-bouncing balls better. In general the most two-handed backhands have lower levels of spin.
All else being equal I find it hard to make an argument for a one-hander over a two-hander these days

There will always be players who succeed with one handers, but modern tennis provides greater reward to the advantages of the two hander
 
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