Worth switching to one hander?

dimensionnw

New User
Hi, my 2 handed backhand continúes to suck relative to the rest of my game. I am very one handed, my left is crap at everything and was wondering if this means im more suited to a one hander, hitting against a wall with a one hander felt about as good as my 2 hander yet ive played 20 years with the former and none with the latter
 

Silent

Professional
what level are you and have you tried taking a few lessons for your backhand ? (just want to get an idea of what sucking means) I have a 1hbh that's pretty decent for my level but I did take a couple of lessons for it, then I practiced it a lot by not running around it and also by hand-feeding myself on a court: repetition develops confidence and hand-feeds develops power and control on lifeless balls where the feel is different.

So I suggest finding a good pro and trying to bring our 2hbh up to speed. I think a good pro will watch you hit a few balls then help you correct fundamentals first by mentioning tweaks and moving on to the next one once you've understood.

If after a couple of lessons and a few months of practice, you still see no improvements and you're still not having fun (isn't that the most important thing ?), then sure, make the switch, but then my above suggestions apply there too: learn the fundamentals from a good coach then practice and live with your mistakes: don't run around it, even in matches, at least until you've mastered the basics.
 

dimensionnw

New User
I'd estimate I'm 4.0-4.5 but my backhand is 3.5. In match play I run around it or use slice. I feel like ive tried everything to make it work even had a few lessons but coach wernt great, atm i see no harm in trying OHB as my 2HBH is pretty much not in use in match play
 

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah, go for it but if you can get your 2 hander to be steady and hit winners with your forehand it could work for you. I see this in Verdasco's game. So if you can get your two hander to just be steady you may not have to abandon it.
 

GuyClinch

Legend
No. It's not worth it in your case. If you are young and want to build your game around an all court game - then a one hander is acceptable.

You just need to fix your stroke. You don't dump your topspin forehand if you are having trouble with it. You don't dump your kick serve if its not kicking - you fix it and improve them..
 

dct693

Semi-Pro
Hi, my 2 handed backhand continúes to suck relative to the rest of my game. I am very one handed, my left is crap at everything and was wondering if this means im more suited to a one hander, hitting against a wall with a one hander felt about as good as my 2 hander yet ive played 20 years with the former and none with the latter

I think you should do what works for you. Experiment and see if something clicks. It is a good idea to consult with a pro before giving up on the 2HBH. Maybe you're just doing something basic that's wrong and could be easily corrected. I will say this: some shots against a wall feel different than when played against an opponent. The 1HBH is the best example. First, you'll often need more time to set up for it than the 2H. You can't consistently hit an open-stance 1H and get good power on it. It's also most reliable when struck as a "hit it and forget it" shot. Meaning that you should consciously freeze your head at contact and not "peek" and freeze the shoulders and not open them to face the court until well after the ball is struck (though there is some leeway on the shoulders opening - look at Wawrinka in particular).
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
Take a backhand lesson and try to get some help with identifying your stronger aptitude. Most of us have a better disposition to hit one type of topspin backhand or the other, but without some proper guidance, it can often get frustrating and discouraging trying to make it work.

If your slice is reliable, that's good news. Don't want to be completely helpless on that wing while sorting things out, right? Nurture that stroke so that it's at least consistent and accurate enough for your needs. A neutralizing stroke is much better than a thrash-around that only occasionally lands and seldom produces a winner. Steffi Graf fans will agree (she hit lots of slice backhands...).

Considering the trouble you're having, I'd say it's worth a try. That means investing more than a week or two, by the way. The one-hander is a different stroke that will need some time to learn and trust "under fire" when trying to play a match. Expect to need some extra time on the practice grinder to digest the new habits and build the muscle memory needed to hit that shot well.

You'll probably learn a lot about your overall game as you work on this aspect of it, too. Even if the one-hander doesn't turn out to be good for you, the process of trying it will probably be "worth it" because you'll gain a better grasp of your overall skill set.

One other thought: you just might find a place for both styles of backhands in your game. I use both and a few of our pals here do, too. When I have time to set up my one-hander, my spin, accuracy and power are just as strong as my forehand. If I'm rushed by a hot shot that gets "in" on me and I need to fight it off, the two-hander is great for that. I also love it for taking a ball on the rise and redirecting it with some authority. Aggressive returns of serve? I often prefer my two-hander for its quicker set-and-fire execution there, too.

Keep tweaking, keep learning, and enjoy the process. (Thank you Jim Flick!)
 
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