Wrist Injury, 2h backhand--> 1H?

[kingcheetah]

So, as the title says, my left(non dominant) wrist has been bugging me off and on since February-- some days it's really tough to hit a two handed backhand, others I have no issues. Spoke to a trainer about it during the spring season, basically he thought it was either tendinitis or I possibly tore an obscure ligament. Either way, it was almost certainly a use/tennis caused injury. If it remains as is for a few more weeks, I may get it looked at by a doctor to see if I have to get anything done to it.

In the meantime, there's tennis to be played. I've always had a 1H slice backhand, and it's actually a pretty good option, I manage to keep it low enough and cutting through the court so that opponents can't attack it. I've never learned the topspin 1h backhand, but I figure it would be a good idea in case the left wrist doesn't heal up soon or is problematic.

My "plan" is to go to one of the pros that leads my training group and has a one handed backhand, and getting some fundamentals down in an individual session, practicing it for a while, checking in once or twice and hopefully integrating it into my match play. Thoughts?

 

[AngryGermanGuy]

I suggest finding enough time to rest. If it really hurts, your serve toss can be affected too, not only your backhand. Also, Playing defense with a one hander can be tough, too.

 

[kingcheetah]

I suggest finding enough time to rest. If it really hurts, your serve toss can be affected too, not only your backhand. Also, Playing defense with a one hander can be tough, too.

It's weird because it's only the backhand at contact that ever hurts-- blocking hitters in volleyball it was fine, and tossing the ball or weight lifting it's not an issue.

 

[Dartagnan64]

That must be very rare to injure the left wrist in tennis (unless you are a left hander of course). There's so much less shock to the wrist and arms in general with the 2H swing.
Certainly learning a 1H BH while it heals is feasible, or just keep slicing away.

 

[kingcheetah]

That must be very rare to injure the left wrist in tennis (unless you are a left hander of course). There's so much less shock to the wrist and arms in general with the 2H swing.
Certainly learning a 1H BH while it heals is feasible, or just keep slicing away.

This is why I don't think it's the racquet or the string causing the injury, and rather use...because the right wrist would have gone first if the strings/racquet were damaging.

 

[Fintft]

You'll probably figure it out on your own, but besides rest how about having a look at your equipment, friend?

RF 97 Autograph, Luxilon 4g soft, 56 lbs

1. I've tried your RF97A and to me it vibrates more than my BLX 6.1 95 and even more amazing feels like a smaller sweet spot (the latest 95 BLX having an increased sweet spot due to parallel drilling).
2. While I tried to play with a Luxilon Fluro (soft, right?) in a hybrid, I didn't like it much and prefer full bed natural gut, Babolat VS Team 17.
3. Tension you should lower it for one string job, with full bed natural gut: that's what I did when I had TE- went down to 52/50 LBs from 58/56LBs.
4. Finally nothing wrong with a 1HBH, just prepare early and be careful so that you don't injure your...wrist (the pros keep the wrist in a different extension/flexion than the amateurs during the shot- you may want to use the search on this forum for exact info).

GL!

 

[kingcheetah]

You'll probably figure it out on your own, but besides rest how about having a look at your equipment, friend?

RF 97 Autograph, Luxilon 4g soft, 56 lbs

1. I've tried your RF97A and to me it vibrates more than my BLX 6.1 95 and even more amazing feels like a smaller sweet spot (the latest 95 BLX having an increased sweet spot due to parallel drilling).
2. While I tried to play with a Luxilon Fluro (soft, right?) in a hybrid, I didn't like it much and prefer full bed natural gut, Babolat VS Team 17.
3. Tension you should lower it for one string job, with full bed natural gut: that's what I did when I had TE- went down to 52/50 LBs from 58/56LBs.
4. Finally nothing wrong with a 1HBH, just prepare early and be careful so that you don't injure your...wrist (the pros keep the wrist in a different extension/flexion than the amateurs during the shot- you may want to use the search on this forum for exact info).

GL!

I'm not going to be able to afford/use gut, as I'm snapping poly pretty quickly as it is (I'm going through 2 stringjobs a week as is.) I've used racquets similar to the RF in weight/stiffness for years and never had the issue, and it being my non dominant hand makes it seem unlikely that it's the equipment that caused the injury.

 

[Fintft]

I'm not going to be able to afford/use gut, as I'm snapping poly pretty quickly as it is (I'm going through 2 stringjobs a week as is.) I've used racquets similar to the RF in weight/stiffness for years and never had the issue, and it being my non dominant hand makes it seem unlikely that it's the equipment that caused the injury.

Imho, you should use gut for one string job while you are healing/are injured. Barring that, a full bed multi. And lower the tension temporarily.

 

[10isMaestro]

Learning a suitable one handed backhand will not be easy, in no small part because even once you get the hang of it, the grip changes, anticipation and footwork will all be off when compared to your usual backhand. However, if you are motivated and a good player, you could make it work -- at least long enough to hold until your left hand heals. And, who knows, maybe you're one of those people who can learn to hit sick one handed backhands.

 

[kingcheetah]

Learning a suitable one handed backhand will not be easy, in no small part because even once you get the hang of it, the grip changes, anticipation and footwork will all be off when compared to your usual backhand. However, if you are motivated and a good player, you could make it work -- at least long enough to hold until your left hand heals. And, who knows, maybe you're one of those people who can learn to hit sick one handed backhands.

I think this is the factor-- figuring out how long it might take the left wrist to heal, and whether I could have a serviceable one hander by then... I'm practicing a lot and playing ITAs/Opens, but that also means I have to get a stroke from the foundation to a pretty good level quickly.

 

[10isMaestro]

I think this is the factor-- figuring out how long it might take the left wrist to heal, and whether I could have a serviceable one hander by then... I'm practicing a lot and playing ITAs/Opens, but that also means I have to get a stroke from the foundation to a pretty good level quickly.

Actually, the real bar is your backhand slice. You can't risk injuring your left wrist by keeping up with your two handed backhand, so you're down to hitting only slice backhands for a while.

It might be hard to make your one handed backhand good, but not so hard or long to make it a worthwhile alternative to hitting only slices.

If I was you, I'd immediately seek a professional's opinion on my wrist. If you have a small tear in your ligaments or tendons, you can turn a small pain into a chronical, long term problem. Don't wait, find out what you have asap and ask for solutions -- to ease recovery and to prevent future damages.

As for your backhand, if you have a good coach who plays that shot, as well as plenty of tennis experience, you start with a major edge over most people. Start working on it -- in the worst case, if you have to stop using two hands, at least you'll have a fundation to work with.

 

[Dartagnan64]

You could also adopt the Borg backhand. That might take pressure off your wrist while still using a 2 handed style stroke.

 

[Chas Tennis]

So, as the title says, my left(non dominant) wrist has been bugging me off an on since February-- some days it's really tough to hit a two handed backhand, others I have no issues. Spoke to a trainer about it during the spring season, basically he thought it was either tendinitis or I possibly tore an obscure ligament. Either way, it was almost certainly a use/tennis caused injury. If it remains as is for a few more weeks, I may get it looked at by a doctor to see if I have to get anything done to it.
..................

You have an undiagnosed injury. Stop stressing your wrist and see a well qualified Dr. Stressing injuries can lead to permanent conditions.

See thread Tendon Injury Nuthouse for publications on Tendinitis (with inflammation) and Tendinosis (with completed healed tendon tissue that is defective). A publication says that new injury Tendinitis can become Tendinosis is less than 3 weeks.

There are many long threads on wrist injuries in the Health & Fitness forum. Some posters have said that wrist injuries are particularly difficult to heal.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Doctors will most likely tell you to rest it then get physio. Especially if it's only hurting playing tennis.