Backhand
Two-handed Backhand
If someone were to ask me, “which professional player has the best Two-Handed Backhand of all time?” The first player that comes to mind is Andre Agassi. Many professional players with great backhands have emulated their backhand after Agassi. Players like Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic to name a few, have very similar backhands to Agassi’s. Of course each player’s backhand can vary slightly, in terms of how they hold the grip, how much topspin they put on a shot and how long or short they keep their backswing. However the body movements are very similar.
The dominant hand in the Two-Handed Backhand is the hand on top. This is usually the non-dominant hand for the rest of the other strokes. For example, the dominant hand for a right-handed Two-Handed Backhand would be the left hand. The right hand helps keep the shot steady while the spin and power is generated from the left.
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Grip
The non-dominant hand (right hand) is a Continental Grip and the dominant hand (left hand) is an Modified Eastern Grip.
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Picture 1 Initiate shoulder turn while bringing the racquet head up and keeping the hand down; Right arm is straight throughout the swing to keep the shot consistent; The hands are about a foot away from the body.
Picture 2 More shoulder turn into the pelvic “Lock” position; Right arm straight but not locked; Left arm slightly bent; Weight shifted towards the left leg.
Picture 3 “L” shape is created with the arm and racquet position; Weight on the back foot ready to step forward and uncoil.
Picture 4 Right foot about to land on the ground.
Picture 5 Stepping forward; Moving weight forward; Racquet head starts to drop below the ball.
Picture 6 Hip and Shoulder have rotated; Body is square to the net; Contact point is slightly passed the front foot.
Picture 7 Left leg is off the ground and bent to counter the fast arm swing across the body; Weight is fully shifted forward; Left arm is extended straight.
Picture 8 Right arm is bent to an “L” shape; Keeping the right elbow up before finishing the follow-through is very important for a body driven swing as opposed to an arm driven swing.
Picture 9 Racquet finishes above the shoulder and behind the head; Left foot comes back down for balance.
Picture 10 Racquet starts to drop getting ready for the next shot.
Backhand Backview
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The key point to look for in the back view is in picture 2. The left hip is rotating forward while the racquet snaps back creating the “monkey drum” affect. This will help with creating racquet head speed while staying relaxed. This is how the pros create so much power while remaining relaxed.
Backhand Scissor Kick
This Backhand is usually hit with two hands and executed above the shoulders. When hit properly, a player can generate a lot of power even way above the shoulders. High Backhands are known to be one of the most difficult shots in tennis. So why not use some flare to execute it? Although you don’t see many players hit this shot often, professional players like, former #1 Marcelo Rios, Gail Monfils and Andy Murray are seen using this technique.
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Picture 1 Shoulder turn with racquet preparation.
Picture 2 Weight moving forward.
Picture 3 Stepping forward ready to push off.
Picture 4 Back leg is starting to lift off the ground.
Picture 5 Shoulder fully turned, bending the back leg.
Picture 6 Racquet is below the ball to add some topspin.
Picture 7 Totally off the ground; Hitting through the ball: Arms are extended, as well as the legs.
Picture 8 Arms swing across the body and the back leg bends behind the body.
Picture 9 Finish the swing and land on the front foot.
One-handed Backhand Topspin
There are fewer top tennis professionals using the One Handed Backhand, however, players like Roger Federer make the One-Handed Backhand look graceful enough to make anyone with a Two-Handed Backhand want to change.
Being a former player that used the One-Handed Backhand, I found some advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages: Freedom to freely swing at the ball, unlike the Two-Handed Backhand that feels a lot more restricted; Being able to disguise the slice and the topspin; Easier to reach farther tennis balls
Disadvantages: difficult to hit high shots; difficult to hit a return of serve; Prone to wrist injuries
Grip
Eastern Backhand Grip (Refer to the Grips Page)
Click Image for Larger View
Picture 1 Hip and shoulder turn; Racquet and arm create a “L” shape: Wrist is cocked back; Left hand is holding the throat of the racquet
Picture 2 More shoulder turn and pelvic “Lock” position; Racquet continues to move up; Weight on the back foot
Picture 3 Starting to release the “Lock” position to “Roll” (uncoil) the body.
Picture 4 Weight is transferring to the front foot
Picture 5 Racquet head drops below the ball and starts to move forward
Picture 6 Body rotates, but not as much as the Two-Handed Backhand; Arm is straight through the contact and left arm is released before contact towards the opposite direction; Back foot is off the ground.
Picture 7 Both arms are fully extended in opposite directions. The arm movements are very important in order to create balance. A straight line can be drawn from one hand to the other. Head is still.
Nice work on explaining the backhand technique.
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Thank You!
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Thank you very much for the great tutorials and the awesome videos. I’m a new player and I’m now practising to master the One-Handed Backhand Topspin, and your site greatly helps me.
Thank you again.
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Thanks! Really appreciate your compliment. There is nothing like hitting a sweet one-handed backhand! Keep training.
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Great site. Your 2 hand backhand is fluid but the one hander is not as much. I think in photo 5 your hands are too far away from your back hip at the start foward to the ball.
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:41 am
Thanks for the post. IMO, the distance from the hand to the hip is more of a preference. Some players like to keep it closer and some like it further. I like it a little bit further because it allows my arm to swing freely.
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Thanks for the post. IMO, the distance from the hand to the hip is more of a preference. Some players like to keep it closer and some like it further. I like it a little bit further because it allows my arm to swing freely.
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Excellent instruction video I have learned a lot from you and it has been helping me inprove my a great deal thank you very much.
Regards,
To Nguyen
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 11:26 am
My pleasure!
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I’ve watched tons of videos from the fuzzy guys, but I gave those up when I discovered you. Love your instruction style and the monkey drum is genius.
Question: You make a point of showing a cocked wrist as part of your backhand prep, but when in your swing do you straighten it out? What’s it contributing to the swing at impact? A lot or not much?
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Awesome explanation. Good job.
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Thank you for your excellent website. A question on the 2hander. Underneath the backview photographs, you explain that the key is in picture 2, which shows the racket snapping back before it snaps forward. I have trouble with that. Do you initiate that action with your wrist? Does it happen naturally as a result of a very loose grip?
Thank you,
Andy
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Hey
I love your site, its very informative! Great stuff
I was wondering, whats your opinion on the one hand vs two hand backhand debate? People say pick the most natural one but what if both come easily to me?
Thanks!
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Hello from Penang, Malaysia. I stumbled onto your excellent and interesting videos on youtube.
Well done and I look forward to more great videos on this site
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hi tae,
i was wondering, is it possible to hit one of those scissor kick backhands with one hand??
if so, please give a tutorial
thanks
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hey i have a few question for you
1. which would you prefer? 1 handed or 2?
2. which one is harder?
3. i really want a 1 handed back hand and i started yesterday but i keep shanking the ball. i keep my eeyes on it and everything but its just so hard. i know you cant help me much without seeing me doing it first but any tips?
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Thank you so much.
Do you teach private classess?
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I’ve been looking for a video on the one-handed topspin back hand. Thanks for a detailed explanation of the technique
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Tank you for your teaching.
It’s so easy. and it’s very good.
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Hey! Your two – handed backhand video was a life-saver man! I’ve been playing for 2 and a half years and I used to wonder how those pros on TV used to hit those amazing double – handed backhands, while I never was able to, how much ever I tried ( that was until I saw your video ).
Further, your scissor – cut backhand also was very helpful!
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thanks. these videos are pretty helpful with the backhands.
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i forgot to thank you for teaching me to do a proper backhand. i can just imagine me back then, hitting some weird backhand that would go out of the court.
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Great! I’m learning a lot from you. I have successfully switched my backhand to 2hbh thanks to your lesson.
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Tae Byon Reply:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:24 am
Glad I can help!
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When I first learned tennis from my uncle, I was told that the racket face should be perpendicular to the ground and parallel to the net at point of contact.
However, when I watch the pros play, I noticed their racket face sometimes are closed (not perpendicular to the ground). Are my eyes doing tricks on me that they swing too fast and I didn’t see it clearly?
Plz clear up this myth for me cuz it always lures at the beck on my mind whenever I hit.
P.s. Thx for your modern forehand video, I’m learning how to play semi-western topspin.
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Hi tennis coach T . I like all most your drill and you practiced like PR.
easy to understand.hope to receive more offen new drill for modern tennis
thank T so much
bach duong
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