I started off with a one handed backhand, but I’m curious do you generally advise learning a two-handed? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
JACKIE BOHANNON
Guest Writer
news@lbknews.com
The one handed backhand is a beautiful classic shot, but in today’s modern game with the advancement in power and spin, the one handed backhand is becoming more and more extinct as the primary backhand.
If you look at the current top men’s players most have two handed backhands: Djokovic, Medvedev, Zverev, Rublev, Nadal, Berrettini, Ruud, Monfils, Isner, and Korda. On the women’s side there are: Serena and Venus Williams, Barty, Pliskova, Osaka, Raducanu, Kerber, and Halep. The majority of today’s players are going the two handed backhand route, but with the one handed slice for diversity and emergencies.
I generally advise and coach most of my players to have a two handed backhand with very few exceptions. There are also many players I have transitioned from a one handed to a two handed backhand because they were no longer improving, couldn’t compete at the next level, or were starting to find their opponents picked on their backhand. Another reason people sometimes switch to a two handed is tendonitis. The one handed backhand can be harder on the arm and elbow as it is doing most to all of the work and never getting a break. The two handed backhand (for a right handed player) is left hand dominant so it helps spread the usage between arms.
The main advantages of the two handed backhand are power, consistency, and the ability to disguise the shot. In my opinion the only negative of the two handed backhand is that it requires more footwork. Extremely low or high shots can be more difficulty with a two handed backhand, but hitting high backhands in general is one of the most difficult shots to conquer regardless.
The major benefits of the one handed backhand are diversity (slice and topspin) and reach. A one handed backhand can help you get out of trouble if you can’t reach a ball and it can also help you block or chop the ball defensively if you are being overpowered. Many people find the one handed backhand more aesthetically pleasing than the two handed backhand. I find with perfect technique the one handed backhand looks more artistic while the two handed looks more athletic. There are many beautiful one handed backhands out there: Federer, Tsitsipas, Dmitrov, and of course you always have to mention Steffi Graf. Steffi can be used as a perfect example of how the game has evolved. She had one of the best one handed backhands of all time (slice) and in her later years really tried to add top spin.
My best advice for everyone is to have both backhands. You want to have diversity and lots of tricks up your sleeve. Both shots have advantages and your opponent and the shots they hit can often help you decipher what you need to hit back. If you were my client I would look at your current backhand and evaluate it. If it is fluid and you have the ability to slice and rip the ball then I wouldn’t change it. But if you aren’t as consistent as your forehand, you are getting overpowered, or you cannot put the ball away then you need to think about adding the two handed backhand to your game.
Jackie Bohannon is the Director of Tennis at the Bird Key Yacht Club.
