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One Hand Or Two Hand Backhand For You?

4K views 26 replies 22 participants last post by  Tommy fan 
#1 ·
Which type type of backhand do you do?

A lot of my friends do one handed and so do I, I have a more feel to the ball and more slice.

I use to do two hand when I started then I developed into one-handed which in my opinion is better, anyway which one do you do?
 
#2 ·
Both :eek:
My two-hander is the more reliable, I will occasionally use slice backhands and the very odd time go all out for a winner off the one-hander (something I've never tried off the two-hander), it all depends on how the match is going and how your opponent deals with the shots. There are some matches when I just can't hit one-handers and have to hit all double-handed and vice-versa.
 
#10 ·
Two handed for me. And I don't know anyone of my age personally, both girls and boys, who'd play one handed. Strange, maybe the era of one handed backhand ends here...
 
#13 ·
I use one handed but I can play 2 handed without problems...

with 2 handed is more easy to catch high and difficult balls. but I really like to do the swing with 1 hand, I feel much better the shot

and btw a double handed slice sounds very strange, from actual players I only see Santoro doing it
 
#14 ·
I use a one-handed backhand. Sometimes it's on fire and my timing is right on, but then again sometimes I hit the topspin backhand too soft and a bit late and it becomes a "slice only" shot and thus a significant weakness. My forehand has more firepower, topspin and reliability, but I'm proud of playing with a nice-looking one-hander :).
 
#16 ·
Two-hander...unless on the run or under pressure...then I'll take that second hand off and just let it fly. The "one" hander got a lot better when I broke a finger on my non-racket hand several years ago. Hurt like hell...but a good thing, long-term, for my game.
 
#18 · (Edited)
one hand... heavy topspin or flat depending on the court either is not a drama if i am in the gym... + heavy slice...

funnily enough, my topspin bh arrived when i was 20 after i came back to tennis from 3 years in rugby... just more strength i guess... i dunno... i remember when it truly 'came on' 1st tho... i was playing a 5 set dubs with some mates from the club... i was on the backhand side, and the other 3 guys were like 10-15 years older than me... i was missiing everything for the 1st two sets, cos i was just trying to roll everything back on my backhand... my partner was getting the sh!ts with me... and i think even my opponents were a little pissed cos i just seemed to be giving them points... we were two sets down and i just wanted to get it... by the 3rd set it just appeared and we lost in 5... and i rarely missed a topspin bh for the rest of the day... was a good feeling...

as a very successful junior but my game was fh oriented w/ slice bh to set up a play.. i did toy with a 2 hander for 3 months... ... ... but left it alone <--- i am proud of that.
 
#19 ·
A question for players with the two-handed backhand:

Don't you ever get bored of this shot? No offence intended here, but 99% of the amateurs I've seen hit the shot with the same pace and with the same amount of spin each time - perfect for feeding your rhythm. It's just completely mechanical and not a great deal of flair or variety to the shot as with the single-hander.

If I had to play someone with a superb backhand I'd pick the two-hander over the one-hander every time simply because the two hander can't hurt me as much.
 
#25 ·
One handed but it is killing me lately. So incosistent, at times when I am in defence I really don't know what to do. If I slice I leave a "cookie" to the opponent, if I play flat it is not very consistent.
I learned from start to play one handed and too lazy to learn two handed .

I am old school, I still find 2handed bh a "girlie" shot .
 
#26 ·
I have a similar problem, though my backhand drive is more effective on defence. I am having trouble putting away short balls on that wing though, just very inconsistent, and if I can't run around to hit the big forehand I usually hit a slice approach but of course this gives my opponent a chance at winning the point when I should have put it away.

As for your trouble on the backhand defence, obviously apart from practicing your passing shot more, in matchplay hit more lobs and also the short slice cross-court leaves them a difficult volley and I find they almost always put it down the line which is perfect for your running forehand or hit a drop shot which you can pounce upon.
 
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