Which Pro has the best 1 hand backhand to emulate?

limitup

Professional
Title says it all. Federer's backhand is insane but I don't think it's a good one to try to copy LOL. So who do you think has a technically "correct" 1h backhand that would be good to study?
 

Mick

Legend
it's difficult to hit the topspin backhand like the pros do. I would be very happy if i could hit the slices as well as they do.
 

TennsDog

Hall of Fame
That's the nice thing about the one-hander, it's practically impossible to not hit it right (within reason, obviously). Any one-handed backhand on the pro tour looks good and is sound. Two tips I would say, though, are just to keep your shoulders still through contact as well as keeping your wrist firm. Do these two things and you should be in good shape.
 

ceejay

Semi-Pro
Theres a thread somewhere about who has the best 1hb presently. I'm not sure if the best would necessarily be the easiest to copy though. I voted for Gasquet or Henin.

I've found it:http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=117439

I read somewhere recently that Johnny Mac reckons, technically, Henin has the best shot out of anyone. He usually knows his stuff.
 

ShcMad

Hall of Fame
Gasquet's is definitely not an easy shot to copy.

Haas, Gaudio, Calleri, Volandri's backhands are easier to copy yet effective.
 

TennsDog

Hall of Fame
The OP was about the "best" backhand to copy, not the "easiest." There is a huge difference. Just because something is tough to do doesn't mean it isn't the best. Sampras has a rather difficult serve to copy, yet doing so did wonders for my serve. When you emulate tough shots, it takes much more time and focus to do, but it will likely be worth it. Anyway, I like Haas's backhand.
 

ShcMad

Hall of Fame
TennsDog said:
The OP was about the "best" backhand to copy, not the "easiest." There is a huge difference. Just because something is tough to do doesn't mean it isn't the best. Sampras has a rather difficult serve to copy, yet doing so did wonders for my serve. When you emulate tough shots, it takes much more time and focus to do, but it will likely be worth it. Anyway, I like Haas's backhand.

Are you talking to me? If so, I was trying to agree with the poster before me (ceejay). I didn't read the OP's question carefully, so I apologize for saying something "totally different".

To the OP, I wasn't trying to scare you from copying tough-looking backhands. It's just hard to do it, but it pays off at the end.
 

quest01

Hall of Fame
If you want to emulate a pro's backhand i would have to say Pete Sampras, he has the best backhand in the business. His backhand was a big part of his success in reaching 14 majors.
 

sibosobe

New User
ps 6.0 said:
Henin-Hardenne and for those who don't like the ladies, Guga.

Haha wow! Back when Guga was winning the French Open (before I was forced to switch to 2H), I thought his backhand was so beautiful that I tried to emulate it, extreme grip, crazy backswing and all. I got good speed and angles, too.

After I fully switched to 2H, I tried playing around with the Guga backhand again, and I actually did something painful to my shoulder.

Back to this thread's topic, I vote Henin for best backhand to copy.
 

MasterTS

Professional
Lots of beautiful and big backhands, but the easiest to emulate is Haas. It's as basic as it gets and shows you don't need anything fancy or flashy to be effective!
 

ucd_ace

Semi-Pro
I copied Haas's one-hander and it led me to have the best backhand of anyone I know, and also a lot of people comment on how great it looks.

The ultimate compliment I get is when I hit with someone for awhile who's my level or better that has a two hander and they start asking me to show them how to hit a one-hander.
 

armand

Banned
All you need to be told to do a good BH is

1. turn your back toward the court
2002981056.jpg


2. Keep your hand above the racquet head
_825198_sampras_backhand150.jpg


the rest is all up to your god given talent.
 

Bungalo Bill

G.O.A.T.
TennsDog said:
Two tips I would say, though, are just to keep your shoulders still through contact as well as keeping your wrist firm. Do these two things and you should be in good shape.

Nice tips, wish it were that easy. :)
 

odessa

New User
adely said:
All you need to be told to do a good BH is

1. turn your back toward the court
2002981056.jpg


2. Keep your hand above the racquet head
_825198_sampras_backhand150.jpg


the rest is all up to your god given talent.

Keeping your hand above the racket hand ?

At contact. I dont think so.

Before contact it is happening with the pros but for most players this spells even more disaster. In fact the opposite tip to not let your racket fall below the hand is the better way to go for 95 % of all club players.
 
quest01 said:
If you want to emulate a pro's backhand i would have to say Pete Sampras, he has the best backhand in the business. His backhand was a big part of his success in reaching 14 majors.

Best backhand in the business? I'm not so sure about that. Correction: I definitely disagree with that. I always thought his backhand was rather attackable. He didn't like hitting it high, hence is lack of success at the French.

It was a good backhand but not that great.
 

armand

Banned
odessa said:
Keeping your hand above the racket hand ?

At contact. I dont think so.

Before contact it is happening with the pros but for most players this spells even more disaster. In fact the opposite tip to not let your racket fall below the hand is the better way to go for 95 % of all club players.
No, I said keep your hand above the racquet head, so gravity is not working against you. I always try to do this and I never had a disaster.

Most of the time pros actually have the racquet head level with the hand by the time of ball kontact as they use their wrist more to get topspin. It's more difficult to time, so that's why klub players shouldn't do it often.
 

Tim Set Match

New User
adely said:
No, I said keep your hand above the racquet head, so gravity is not working against you. I always try to do this and I never had a disaster.

Most of the time pros actually have the racquet head level with the hand by the time of ball kontact as they use their wrist more to get topspin. It's more difficult to time, so that's why klub players shouldn't do it often.

Hand above the racquet head at contact? Where did you get this tip from?

I haven't been coaching for very long but I always thought the racquet should be parallel to the ground (i.e. hand exactly in line with the middle of the racquet head) at contact. The same is true for the forehand.

I've seen some beginners make contact with their hand above the racquet head, and that leads to them ending with their hand above the racquet head also (you're supposed to end with the racquet pointing straight up in the air). They can't get much pace on their backhands and it gets a bit of sidespin on it.

I think the only time you would want to have your hand above the racquet head is if you were trying to generate topspin. And even then, it happens before and not during contact.

For example, here is Hennin-Hardenne before contact:
capt.533bde69745c44528bf39dc5a734a4ea.new_haven_tennis_ctrc116.jpg


And here she is during contact:
capt.a87d14dcb5e948d9b33eda5757b07f3a.new_haven_tennis_ctrc111.jpg


Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!
 

armand

Banned
Tim Set Match said:
And here she is during contact:
capt.a87d14dcb5e948d9b33eda5757b07f3a.new_haven_tennis_ctrc111.jpg


Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!
Well, I said the pros usually have the racquet level, but even this unknown pro has her hand above the racquet head.

If you do it like this, you do get less topspin, but the timing is easier because only your elbow and wrist are working and your wrist is still. And you're not fighting gravity so much with the weaker muscles.

Where'd I get the tip from? I guess just from myself, after hitting the shot for years and seeing what works.

Maybe we're getting different ideas because I don't like to hit with the straight elbow either. I use it for reach, but I lose power if the elbow isn't helping out.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Tim Set Match said:
:
capt.533bde69745c44528bf39dc5a734a4ea.new_haven_tennis_ctrc116.jpg


And here she is during contact:
capt.a87d14dcb5e948d9b33eda5757b07f3a.new_haven_tennis_ctrc111.jpg

Hmmm....off topic, but did Henin-Hardenne switch to a nBlade paintjob?

Anyway, keys to hitting a good 1HBH are:

1. Turn sideways and point your hitting shoulder at the ball (so your feet are in line with the path of the ball).
2. Hit the ball well out in front.
3. Bend your front knee to allow you to swing from low to high.
4. Plant your front foot and then swing smoothly with your arm while keeping the rest of your body and head still.
5. Do not raise your body up until you have finished following through.
 

darkavgr

New User
best backhand

Ljubicic's backhand is one of the best on the men's tour...
his backhand slices are sweet too...
 

rfprse

Professional
limitup said:
Title says it all. Federer's backhand is insane but I don't think it's a good one to try to copy LOL. So who do you think has a technically "correct" 1h backhand that would be good to study?
The backhands like Pavel's (or Haas's which has little more 'mordern' flavor) would fit the description.
 

zhan

Banned
ugh... a good clean backhand check out henin hardenne (it doesnt matter if u model it from the best female player does it?)
she uses Semi-Western grip...
 

Mick

Legend
zhan said:
ugh... a good clean backhand check out henin hardenne (it doesnt matter if u model it from the best female player does it?)
she uses Semi-Western grip...

haha. Actually, I prefer copying the techniques from the female pros because i think I would have a better chance of getting them right. The male pros hit the ball too hard, it's impossible for me to copy them. That applies to some female pros too.
 

zhan

Banned
Mick said:
haha. Actually, I prefer copying the techniques from the female pros because i think I would have a better chance of getting them right. The male pros hit the ball too hard, it's impossible for me to copy them. That applies to some female pros too.

i agree...
but normal WTA player's technique isnt really designed for the male player like the 2hbh with arms bent ...
but JHH's backhand is very smooth and finishes clean so it has modeling potential...
i am trying to change 2hbh to JHH-esque 1hbh at the moment...
 
I felt my backhand improved greatly when I stopped trying to copy the nuances of pro backhands and simplified it:

I picked the right grip, took the racquet back, and then just let the racquet fly through the plane. Lately I've been making small adjustments with the wrist to produce spin and angle. With a nice wrist flick I can actually produce nice crosscourt side spin. Up the line is a little tricker.

Oh, and don't forget to shift the weight forward during the shot.
 

zhan

Banned
for the federer, gasquet crowd...
its really hard to hit with spin and pace and style like a federer 1hbh or gasquet 1hbh...
it requires tremendous timing, technique, strength, and everything in one's arsenal...
its just very demanding...
not a good model... imo...
imo... a good model = something simple that works great.
 

jackson vile

G.O.A.T.
Bungalo Bill said:
Nice tips, wish it were that easy. :)


Why make a comment like that, if you got something better than let's hear it.

He is doing his best to help out and did more than you.

Simple advice is the best advice, and that's why you're not coaching lol j/k:mrgreen:
 

jackson vile

G.O.A.T.
Tim Set Match said:
Hand above the racquet head at contact? Where did you get this tip from?

I haven't been coaching for very long but I always thought the racquet should be parallel to the ground (i.e. hand exactly in line with the middle of the racquet head) at contact. The same is true for the forehand.

I've seen some beginners make contact with their hand above the racquet head, and that leads to them ending with their hand above the racquet head also (you're supposed to end with the racquet pointing straight up in the air). They can't get much pace on their backhands and it gets a bit of sidespin on it.

I think the only time you would want to have your hand above the racquet head is if you were trying to generate topspin. And even then, it happens before and not during contact.

For example, here is Hennin-Hardenne before contact:
capt.533bde69745c44528bf39dc5a734a4ea.new_haven_tennis_ctrc116.jpg


And here she is during contact:
capt.a87d14dcb5e948d9b33eda5757b07f3a.new_haven_tennis_ctrc111.jpg


Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!


Great pics, really people make thing way too complicated.

A big problem I see a lot of people have is not having the straight arm before contact.
 
awwwww her back hand is amazing i want to try and do it but it aint that simple but my backhand has improved a lot from watching her and taking in wath she doees!
 

Bungalo Bill

G.O.A.T.
jackson vile said:
Why make a comment like that, if you got something better than let's hear it.

LOL, look who is stabbing who! Mr. Einstein, do a search, I have wrote plenty about this. I can even send you an article if you want to finally learn. LOL

He is doing his best to help out and did more than you.

Saying "wish it were that easy" is wrong? Sounds like I am getting under the skin of someone. lol

Simple advice is the best advice, and that's why you're not coaching lol j/k:mrgreen:

LOL, why in the world would you put j/k at the end of your comments? I am never kidding with you. I actually think and believe you offer the worst advice of anyone here. My opinion...j/k, j/k, j/k
 

MaxT

Rookie
quest01 said:
If you want to emulate a pro's backhand i would have to say Pete Sampras, he has the best backhand in the business. His backhand was a big part of his success in reaching 14 majors.

You should know most people would disagree with you. I disaggree. Pet's bh is almost a liability. That is the place Agassi said that it is safe to hit to if necessary, his bh.

The only person against whom there is no safe place to hit to is Feb, according to Agassi.
 
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