Wonderful explanation, as always. I learned to play back in the day when, believe it or not, hardly anyone hit a two-hander. It was actually frowned upon. Then came Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert.
Another great video! I have a one handed backhand, love it, and it's become better than many of the two handed backhands I face at my level. The only time I wish for a two-handed is against some serves, particularly in doubles where a chip/slice return can be problematic.
I'm one hander but use two on return of bomb serves and also if I get jammed during play closer to the net. When I started being coached it took me about 6 or 7 months till I could fairly reliably hit the one hander with some pace and spin.
Hello Meike, I've been using a one handed backhand since I started playing tennis (3-4 years). My technique isn't that bad and I can stand my ground in a singles match. However as I play almost doubles only, I feel like I can't use my one handed backhand to its full potential when the pace gets quicker. My slice is pretty decent but in a doubles match it gets easily finished when I have a good net player up against me. I've been having elbow problems (golfers elbow) for a month now and I have switched to a two handed backhand to prevent the pain. My trainer didn't want to teach me proper two handed backhand technique because he likes my one handed backhand (he uses one handed backhand himself) so we agreed to visit a befriended trainer. The other trainer learned me the proper technique and said that he was impressed to see me switching back and forth between one and two handed backhand between shots. I have the ability to hit both pretty good. I feel more comfortable using a two handed backhand in doubles but my technique isn't on par with my one handed backhand. What would you recommend to do? Is it okay to develop the two handed backhand more but to maintain a certain level of my one handed backhand to use when there is a short ball on the run for example?
I think having both available for certain situations can only be an advantage unless you get confused and choose the wrong shot at the wrong time. But it sounds you know exactly when to use each of them. I have a one hander and I sometimes return with two hands when I play men with a huge serve. Also, I think it's a good decision to hit with two hands if it keeps you from getting injured.
Excellent lesson! ❤️😀🙏 I like hitting with both, one handed for slice but have been known for two on that shot as well haha! I have had problems trying to decide which backhand I want to hit as the ball is coming to me! 😬 never said I was smart! Thanks Coach Babel 👍 appreciate
Very sensible advice l, thank you. I hit a 2 hander but my non-dominant arm (left) is kind of useless so the coordination of the two hands is a challenge for me. I've hit a one hander a few times in practice and there's something more simple about it, less hands involved and my dominant/right arm is a piece of cake (I can hit kick and slice serves no problem, that hand/arm understand the mechanics).
@@MeikeBabelTennis actually past few days I did some machine work and figured out the issues with my 2hander. Mostly it was in preparation. Grip, spacing and roundness of the swing path (instead of just straight back and forth). If I get these three right it produces a decent rally ball. I just got off the court and all my BH drives were clean! The confidence is starting to build.
Thank you for this. It's a question I've had in my hear for the longer time. You are a great teacher! It's easy to listen to you because you're relatable, and your teaching is easy to understand, follow and apply on the court. Keep doing what you’re doing. You're really good at it and your helping us to play much better tennis with more confidence. Take care.
More details on both backhands! Fix your 1-Hander: ruclips.net/video/7rV_EkrLy0U/видео.html 2-Handed Backhand Basics: ruclips.net/video/3Y-bv7GpaXE/видео.html
I think that for kids learning tennis two hander is definitely easier. But for people who started learning tennis as an adults, it depends on his prior experience with other sports. For people who played baseball or hockey, it's probably easier to adapt to two hander. But for people like me whos prior sports are all single hand (basketball, badminton etc), it was natural to use one hander. After playing tennis for about six years I decided to switch to two hander. It took me over five years to feel somewhat comfortable with two hander. Even after ten years I still don't feel natural. When pressed for time (such as returning a fast serve), my natural tendency is still going with a one-handed slice return. Switching was not easy, and shouldn't be recommended for an adult. But I'm glad I made the switch despite of many years of frustrations.
One thing I'll throw in. I got really bad tennis elbow and considered switching to a two-hander since it was less strain on my arm (the backhand is the one that punishes the arm more when you have tennis elbow). However, I decided to stay with the one hander once the elbow got better and for the same reason you gave, looks cooler!!!
I had tennis elbow for playing too much so I decided to switch to the two-hander. It turns out to be a really good decision since the injury did not occur again. I'm still play one-hander with my volleys, slices, and drop shots.
With the wooden rackets : One hander ( hitting it with two hands was basically impossible ). With alloy rackets : I'd say even ( Jimbo had a much better backhand than Ashe, for example, but with such a small headsize I'd still favor the OHB ). With grapgite and synthetic gut : Two handed for consistency and anticipation ( especially when going down the line ), one hander for variety and attacking play. With poly : Two hander, period ( I play the one handed backhand - albeit not at high level - and I can see how much easier two-handers have it ). Dear Meike, I'm 29 and I'm seriously considering to switch to a two handed backhand ( I like to hit the ball hard and playing agressive at the baseline - I'm not a net rusher - but it's pretty hard to do it with the one hander in this heavy-spin era ). So it's not a case that I can play a "good" slice. Do you think that it's too late to get appreciable results at my age ?
You can hit harder from baseline with OHBH because the 'fulcrum' from shoulder to contact point is quite a bit longer and Archimedes can tell you why that will give you more power :)
I've had clients switch strokes at age 50 and older. I don't think it's about age. It's more about do you have the time to put in the work and can you deal with the frustration you will get in the beginning. If you're dedicated to. making the switch then I'd say go for it!
@@MeikeBabelTennis It took me about 7 months of coaching to go from my self taught flat OHBH to modern top spin eastern with decent power from anywhere on the court. However due to sometimes reocurring weakness in my wrist from an old RSI I taught myself the 2HBH as a backup in a few hours. I think that was quite quick (?) but I already had a fairly competent all round game so I had a head start.
@@MeikeBabelTennis I nearly went crazy trying to get it right. I nearly cried on court I got so frustrated - 2 months of hell - I started to worry there was something really wrong with me.
On a serious note, there has been a debate and I am curious on your take. What do you think is the best approach to teaching the backhand to juniors? Do you or the coaching community teach the kid the …..because they feel that is what is best for that kid? Or do you allow the kid to pick and choose the…..hander because that is what they are most comfortable with?
We mostly start with the two hander bc kids are more successful in making contact more consistently with the ball. And that's fun for them and keeps them in tennis. However, I let kids do what they feel is easier for them and if it happens to be a one hander then one hander it is. I've had kids who naturally hit a better one hander and vice versa and it would be foolish to force them into the opposite.
When I switched to playing left handed, I had thought a 2h-BH would be easy since I'd hit a righty FH... but it was tight/constrained. Much happier w/ the one handed BH though truthfully first 3-4 months, I only sliced it, and now I still choose to slice it 50% of the time. In most neutral rallies, I notice that my Topspin BH will end up sitting in their strike zone even if hit well. But I can't go Graf b/c I need the topper BH for passes DTL, and if they're pulled to the ad side, it feels great to hit that 1hBH crosscourt for the winner. Those are the two best feeling shots. I'll keep a look out for Perry and Gulovich? BTW, you didn't address this but we argued about the AO final. I thought Tsisipas's 1hBH wasn't the reason he lost and it that it was more mental/nerves. In contrast to Fed vs Nadal where it looked like his 1hBH would break down.
As I’ve gotten older and stiffer, I feel like my racquet head speed has dropped more on the two-handed backhand than the forehand because on the 2HBH the racquet moves more in sync with the whole body. With the 1HBH, like a forehand, it seems easier to have a whippy swing from the shoulder which will have more power when hit cleanly.
Frankly I would never recommend a player hold a forehand grip on the dominant hand of a two hander. It would completely eliminate the possibility of hitting a good one handed slice backhand especially in a emergency defensive situation. Continental is the way to go. Simple is always better. I thought in this day and age that a 2HB player must be able to hit a proper one handed slice backhand, it’s standard operating procedure. Gone are the days of the unorthodox Borg two handed slice backhand. Two handed volleys went out with Conners, at least on the mens side. I think under ideal conditions a one hander may top a two hander in pace generation. But average pace of shot is won by the two hander, especially under less than ideal situations (real world). Redirecting big pace is usually better with a 2HB. I agree that in some situations a one hander has a easier time generating topspin. But a 2HB counters this in the same situation with superior racket face control in terms of how close to the net you can confidently hit the ball. This makes the generation of more topspin unnecessary. Also because the preparation is so crucial on a one handed backhand, the player generally has to commit to a given shot earlier than a 2HB player who has the option to hold the shot longer and muscle the ball in a different direction at the last second.
If it doesn't frustrate you if you miss a few balls and it's fun then go for it! I do think that it helps especially if you then wanted to slice more. You'll also learn how to space differently and that can only help your game overall.
Okay, this tennis backhand tutorial is great and all, but I tried it and ended up hitting the ball into a different zip code! Time to call NASA, I'm serving for space exploration now! 🚀🎾 😄
2 Hands are easier, more consistent and stronger. After 40 years of using one hand two hands are better and less effort against wide sliding serve returns. Federer's kids are learning to use two hands. If Roger does not win against Nadal of Djokovic who use two hands why would anyone think they can?
2hbh is a handicap, it is a liability in every area, as the instructor said in this video, it is easy to learn and adapt to, but imo it is a mistake to teach it, there were a scant few who used it in the 70's, 80's, 90's, Borg, Connors, Courier, that was fine, a few players out of a 100 is fine, and Connors also came to the net a lot as well as early Borg, that is difficult to do, so they get a pass, but the other reason why they teach it and it's used by 95% of players today is because of the one area that has destroyed modern tennis, the horrid giant fake light artificial rackets and the 1,000's of strings that are out now, the game is now predominantly played on the baseline and the 2hbh and baseline play go hand in hand. The rackets caused the baseline and the 2hbh is a result of the baseline. What's missing you ask?? Like almost everything. There is no touch, no drop volleys, no s/v, no placement, no midcourt volleys when using a 2hbh and a baseline stance. Also there is limitations in reach when using a 2hbh. Overall it's terrible to use a 2hbh, but like she said, it's easier to learn, so the game is watered down, it's easier to play, the equipment allowed the change in the game and 75% of all the potential shots have been eliminated since the adoption of these horrid rackets. These rackets also give a false impression to those who have adopted them, they think they are hitting those 100 mph serves with their own ability, NOT SO, the rackets are doing that for you. If you disagree, pick up a 1980 racket and play your best partner who is equal to you, watch how often you lose.
I have used the 1-handed since I started playing 40 years ago. Once in a while I will hit a 2-handed in a pinch. Great video.
Wonderful explanation, as always. I learned to play back in the day when, believe it or not, hardly anyone hit a two-hander. It was actually frowned upon. Then came Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert.
Yes, I remember that all the adults in my club had one handers when I was a kid.
Another great video! I have a one handed backhand, love it, and it's become better than many of the two handed backhands I face at my level. The only time I wish for a two-handed is against some serves, particularly in doubles where a chip/slice return can be problematic.
I agree, my slice return gets picked off a bunch.
I'm one hander but use two on return of bomb serves and also if I get jammed during play closer to the net. When I started being coached it took me about 6 or 7 months till I could fairly reliably hit the one hander with some pace and spin.
I think that's a great option to use the 2 hander for returns. I intuitively do this now as well sometimes.
Hello Meike, I've been using a one handed backhand since I started playing tennis (3-4 years). My technique isn't that bad and I can stand my ground in a singles match. However as I play almost doubles only, I feel like I can't use my one handed backhand to its full potential when the pace gets quicker. My slice is pretty decent but in a doubles match it gets easily finished when I have a good net player up against me. I've been having elbow problems (golfers elbow) for a month now and I have switched to a two handed backhand to prevent the pain. My trainer didn't want to teach me proper two handed backhand technique because he likes my one handed backhand (he uses one handed backhand himself) so we agreed to visit a befriended trainer. The other trainer learned me the proper technique and said that he was impressed to see me switching back and forth between one and two handed backhand between shots. I have the ability to hit both pretty good. I feel more comfortable using a two handed backhand in doubles but my technique isn't on par with my one handed backhand.
What would you recommend to do? Is it okay to develop the two handed backhand more but to maintain a certain level of my one handed backhand to use when there is a short ball on the run for example?
I think having both available for certain situations can only be an advantage unless you get confused and choose the wrong shot at the wrong time. But it sounds you know exactly when to use each of them. I have a one hander and I sometimes return with two hands when I play men with a huge serve. Also, I think it's a good decision to hit with two hands if it keeps you from getting injured.
Meike, ich glaube du machst die besten Tennis Erklärvideos auf RUclips. Danke!
Vielen lieben Dank, es freut mich immer, dass ich auch Spieler aus Deutschland erreiche!
Excellent lesson! ❤️😀🙏 I like hitting with both, one handed for slice but have been known for two on that shot as well haha! I have had problems trying to decide which backhand I want to hit as the ball is coming to me! 😬 never said I was smart! Thanks Coach Babel 👍 appreciate
Very sensible advice l, thank you. I hit a 2 hander but my non-dominant arm (left) is kind of useless so the coordination of the two hands is a challenge for me. I've hit a one hander a few times in practice and there's something more simple about it, less hands involved and my dominant/right arm is a piece of cake (I can hit kick and slice serves no problem, that hand/arm understand the mechanics).
I'd say go with what feels better, brings the best results and is replicable.
@@MeikeBabelTennis actually past few days I did some machine work and figured out the issues with my 2hander. Mostly it was in preparation. Grip, spacing and roundness of the swing path (instead of just straight back and forth). If I get these three right it produces a decent rally ball. I just got off the court and all my BH drives were clean! The confidence is starting to build.
Thank you for this. It's a question I've had in my hear for the longer time. You are a great teacher! It's easy to listen to you because you're relatable, and your teaching is easy to understand, follow and apply on the court. Keep doing what you’re doing. You're really good at it and your helping us to play much better tennis with more confidence. Take care.
Thank you so much!
More details on both backhands!
Fix your 1-Hander: ruclips.net/video/7rV_EkrLy0U/видео.html
2-Handed Backhand Basics: ruclips.net/video/3Y-bv7GpaXE/видео.html
I think that for kids learning tennis two hander is definitely easier. But for people who started learning tennis as an adults, it depends on his prior experience with other sports. For people who played baseball or hockey, it's probably easier to adapt to two hander. But for people like me whos prior sports are all single hand (basketball, badminton etc), it was natural to use one hander. After playing tennis for about six years I decided to switch to two hander. It took me over five years to feel somewhat comfortable with two hander. Even after ten years I still don't feel natural. When pressed for time (such as returning a fast serve), my natural tendency is still going with a one-handed slice return. Switching was not easy, and shouldn't be recommended for an adult. But I'm glad I made the switch despite of many years of frustrations.
1HBH: power, variety, spin, attack
2HBH: consistency, stability, defense
In a nutshell!
Excellent content Meike, as always...
Oh, I have a 1HBH, but want to switch to a 2HBH. This video was very helpful in making the decide.
Are you now planning to switch to 2HBH now?
One thing I'll throw in. I got really bad tennis elbow and considered switching to a two-hander since it was less strain on my arm (the backhand is the one that punishes the arm more when you have tennis elbow). However, I decided to stay with the one hander once the elbow got better and for the same reason you gave, looks cooler!!!
I had tennis elbow for playing too much so I decided to switch to the two-hander. It turns out to be a really good decision since the injury did not occur again. I'm still play one-hander with my volleys, slices, and drop shots.
I think that's absolutely an option. But I'm glad you stuck with the one hander and the elbow feels better
My natural backhand is one hand. But I'd like to use two hands for high or power balls.
I think that's totally fine and actually pretty cool if you can control both shots.
@@MeikeBabelTennis Work in progress ;)
With the wooden rackets : One hander ( hitting it with two hands was basically impossible ).
With alloy rackets : I'd say even ( Jimbo had a much better backhand than Ashe, for example, but with such a small headsize I'd still favor the OHB ).
With grapgite and synthetic gut : Two handed for consistency and anticipation ( especially when going down the line ), one hander for variety and attacking play.
With poly : Two hander, period ( I play the one handed backhand - albeit not at high level - and I can see how much easier two-handers have it ).
Dear Meike,
I'm 29 and I'm seriously considering to switch to a two handed backhand ( I like to hit the ball hard and playing agressive at the baseline - I'm not a net rusher - but it's pretty hard to do it with the one hander in this heavy-spin era ).
So it's not a case that I can play a "good" slice.
Do you think that it's too late to get appreciable results at my age ?
You can hit harder from baseline with OHBH because the 'fulcrum' from shoulder to contact point is quite a bit longer and Archimedes can tell you why that will give you more power :)
@@spooky1304 If you can time it right and make solid contact :-)
I've had clients switch strokes at age 50 and older. I don't think it's about age. It's more about do you have the time to put in the work and can you deal with the frustration you will get in the beginning. If you're dedicated to. making the switch then I'd say go for it!
@@MeikeBabelTennis It took me about 7 months of coaching to go from my self taught flat OHBH to modern top spin eastern with decent power from anywhere on the court. However due to sometimes reocurring weakness in my wrist from an old RSI I taught myself the 2HBH as a backup in a few hours. I think that was quite quick (?) but I already had a fairly competent all round game so I had a head start.
@@MeikeBabelTennis I nearly went crazy trying to get it right. I nearly cried on court I got so frustrated - 2 months of hell - I started to worry there was something really wrong with me.
On a serious note, there has been a debate and I am curious on your take. What do you think is the best approach to teaching the backhand to juniors? Do you or the coaching community teach the kid the …..because they feel that is what is best for that kid? Or do you allow the kid to pick and choose the…..hander because that is what they are most comfortable with?
We mostly start with the two hander bc kids are more successful in making contact more consistently with the ball. And that's fun for them and keeps them in tennis. However, I let kids do what they feel is easier for them and if it happens to be a one hander then one hander it is. I've had kids who naturally hit a better one hander and vice versa and it would be foolish to force them into the opposite.
When I switched to playing left handed, I had thought a 2h-BH would be easy since I'd hit a righty FH... but it was tight/constrained. Much happier w/ the one handed BH though truthfully first 3-4 months, I only sliced it, and now I still choose to slice it 50% of the time. In most neutral rallies, I notice that my Topspin BH will end up sitting in their strike zone even if hit well. But I can't go Graf b/c I need the topper BH for passes DTL, and if they're pulled to the ad side, it feels great to hit that 1hBH crosscourt for the winner. Those are the two best feeling shots. I'll keep a look out for Perry and Gulovich? BTW, you didn't address this but we argued about the AO final. I thought Tsisipas's 1hBH wasn't the reason he lost and it that it was more mental/nerves. In contrast to Fed vs Nadal where it looked like his 1hBH would break down.
Yeah, there's always ups and downs for both. And it's Parry and Golubic, great one handers and very crafty players!
You forgot Stan the man Wawrinka. GREAT lesson anyway. Greetings. 🙂
TRUE!
As I’ve gotten older and stiffer, I feel like my racquet head speed has dropped more on the two-handed backhand than the forehand because on the 2HBH the racquet moves more in sync with the whole body. With the 1HBH, like a forehand, it seems easier to have a whippy swing from the shoulder which will have more power when hit cleanly.
Yes, I can relate to that. I can't hit a two hander for that reason, getting old :-)
As a former 2 hander, i need to switch to a one hander because my beer belly gets in the way.
Well, there is that :-)
Frankly I would never recommend a player hold a forehand grip on the dominant hand of a two hander. It would completely eliminate the possibility of hitting a good one handed slice backhand especially in a emergency defensive situation. Continental is the way to go. Simple is always better.
I thought in this day and age that a 2HB player must be able to hit a proper one handed slice backhand, it’s standard operating procedure. Gone are the days of the unorthodox Borg two handed slice backhand. Two handed volleys went out with Conners, at least on the mens side.
I think under ideal conditions a one hander may top a two hander in pace generation. But average pace of shot is won by the two hander, especially under less than ideal situations (real world). Redirecting big pace is usually better with a 2HB. I agree that in some situations a one hander has a easier time generating topspin. But a 2HB counters this in the same situation with superior racket face control in terms of how close to the net you can confidently hit the ball. This makes the generation of more topspin unnecessary. Also because the preparation is so crucial on a one handed backhand, the player generally has to commit to a given shot earlier than a 2HB player who has the option to hold the shot longer and muscle the ball in a different direction at the last second.
Yup, all true. The wrong top hand grip you see mostly in self taught players.
hi meike, a twohander here🙂, does a twohander benefit from playing once a while and just for fun a onehander? all the best
If it doesn't frustrate you if you miss a few balls and it's fun then go for it! I do think that it helps especially if you then wanted to slice more. You'll also learn how to space differently and that can only help your game overall.
@@MeikeBabelTennis hi meike, thanks for your answer.
What about the advantage of hitting open stance and sliding on the two handed?
You're better able to adjust to faster balls. They will be more defensive shots but you're not having to turn as much.
just like a two hander can use a slice with one hand... can a one hander use two handed backhand on return if Kick serve is coming?
Yes, I find myself doing that a lot. If it makes you get the ball over then it's absolutely an option
1H...aesthetically pleasing
Thanks coach 😃
Okay, this tennis backhand tutorial is great and all, but I tried it and ended up hitting the ball into a different zip code! Time to call NASA, I'm serving for space exploration now! 🚀🎾 😄
i love my 1 hander!!!
why not to play both one handers and two handers and keep the opponet guessing what's comming next?
2 hand bh easier to return modern fast ball
Yes, I agree
I see sbh don't easily find good angles like the dbh
one backhand is more flexible, verstaile and unpredictable shot
Yup, agree
Decision*
Glad it helped
#onehandbackhandclub
I'm a member :-)
2 Hands are easier, more consistent and stronger. After 40 years of using one hand two hands are better and less effort against wide sliding serve returns. Federer's kids are learning to use two hands. If Roger does not win against Nadal of Djokovic who use two hands why would anyone think they can?
2hbh is a handicap, it is a liability in every area, as the instructor said in this video, it is easy to learn and adapt to, but imo it is a mistake to teach it, there were a scant few who used it in the 70's, 80's, 90's, Borg, Connors, Courier, that was fine, a few players out of a 100 is fine, and Connors also came to the net a lot as well as early Borg, that is difficult to do, so they get a pass, but the other reason why they teach it and it's used by 95% of players today is because of the one area that has destroyed modern tennis, the horrid giant fake light artificial rackets and the 1,000's of strings that are out now, the game is now predominantly played on the baseline and the 2hbh and baseline play go hand in hand. The rackets caused the baseline and the 2hbh is a result of the baseline. What's missing you ask?? Like almost everything. There is no touch, no drop volleys, no s/v, no placement, no midcourt volleys when using a 2hbh and a baseline stance. Also there is limitations in reach when using a 2hbh. Overall it's terrible to use a 2hbh, but like she said, it's easier to learn, so the game is watered down, it's easier to play, the equipment allowed the change in the game and 75% of all the potential shots have been eliminated since the adoption of these horrid rackets. These rackets also give a false impression to those who have adopted them, they think they are hitting those 100 mph serves with their own ability, NOT SO, the rackets are doing that for you. If you disagree, pick up a 1980 racket and play your best partner who is equal to you, watch how often you lose.