Mastering the Art of the One-Handed Backhand in Tennis

Mastering the art of the onehanded backhand in tennis

An elegant one handed backhand can be truly spectacular, coiling like an serpent before striking with precision and power.

An effective one handed backhand requires proper mechanics and technique; however, this doesn’t need to be difficult or challenging as some players might believe.

Grip

When hitting a tennis backhand it is essential to select an effective grip. An appropriate grip allows for maximum control through the contact zone as well as adding sufficient topspin. Many players switch up their grip for different types of shots but finding one that works for you and staying with it should be your goal.

No matter if you prefer one-handed or two-handed backhand tennis, starting with the appropriate grip is key to having an effective backhand stroke. A smooth relaxed take back will enable a powerful shoulder turn and boost racquet head speed, giving your stroke maximum effectiveness.

Follow through is also key, and beginners often make errors here. In order to create a successful follow through it’s essential that the racket stays vertical without swinging down at any point; to achieve this you will require having strong core muscles and taking steps forward with the dominant foot after making contact.

Keep this in mind when playing short cross court shots using your backhand: for maximum topspin and to remove the net from your shots, strike more in front. Many players rely on forearm and wrist power when hitting these types of shots.

The one handed backhand can be an effective and versatile weapon in your arsenal, but mastering its techniques takes practice and consistency. So use these tips and stick to consistent practice sessions and you will soon master this challenging but effective stroke.

Though it is possible to become an excellent player with only a one-handed backhand, today’s professional game requires two-handed backhand players as standard. A solid two-handed backhand will make handling today’s demands of play much simpler.

Setup

As someone who has watched tennis for some time, you will no doubt have observed the gradual decrease of top 100 female tennis players with single handed backhands over time. This trend is most striking on the women’s side of the game and makes sense: serve speeds are increasing exponentially while the pace of play increases; hence concealing weak backhands with two handed forehands no longer suffices at this level of competition.

But one-handed backhands are far from obsolete – there are still players such as Federer, Nadal, Gasquet and Wawrinka capable of hitting one with incredible grace that leave spectators breathless – such as Gasquet and Wawrinka.

Key to their success lies in the set up. These players possess excellent one-handed backhand setups which allow for effective shoulder turn and increased racquet head speed.

Starting with the appropriate grip is key; but equally as essential is taking a slow and relaxed swing back. This will increase their racquet head speed and accelerate their play through the ball.

An important thing to keep in mind when hitting a one-handed backhand shot is hitting it more in front of where you usually would with down-the-line shots, and in doing so will enable more topspin and greater control on short cross-court shots.

Coaches frequently tell players hitting one-handed backhand shots to use more forearm and wrist action when hitting. This approach, however, leads to players losing control of their shots and creating too much topspin as well as too little power in their shots.

Players should focus on exploiting situations where their one-handed backhand may not be effective to advance their overall game and see marked improvement in it. By following the tips above, soon enough you should see tangible differences in your one-handed backhand!

Forward Swing

No matter if a player uses two-handed backhand or one-handed backhand strokes, many factors influence the mechanical efficiency of both strokes. As coaches it’s essential that they fully comprehend both backhand techniques so as to best prepare their players for success and prevent tennis-elbow injuries.

Although much research has been conducted on two-handed backhand techniques, less has been conducted on their one-handed counterparts despite their potential effectiveness when taught using proper techniques. This oversight should not go unpunished as both can be equally powerful and efficient when executed with skill.

First step to creating an effective one-handed backhand is creating the appropriate forward swing motion. This can be accomplished by blending elements from both closed and open stance models. A strong one-handed backhand begins with an immediate unit turn that involves feet, hips and shoulders whereas with two handed backhands the arm remains straight and independent of body movement.

After taking an open step forward to clear the ball, one-handed backhands typically include a wide forward step to clear it. A common error for one-handed backhands is having their forward foot not move as far forward like forehand front feet do – as forehand has both feet moving at once while one foot drags on the ground during one-handed backhanding; therefore, their back foot must become an anchor trailer to support rotation of shoulders and hips to power their stroke.

Backhand players need a stable contact point when striking the ball, and can achieve this through both forward steps and placing their forearm in front of the elbow rather than behind it. This will keep their racquet head on target at impact point while increasing spin on ball.

Another common misstep amongst players is suggesting they straighten their arm at contact point, thereby diminishing leverage capacity of their stroke and leading to a jerky swing and poor distance control. Instead, arms should remain flexed in an inverted V position which helps accelerate racquet head acceleration through contact points.

Finish

When executed perfectly, a one-handed backhand shot can be an elegant and fluid stroke that generates enormous power on clay courts. Many great players such as Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Amelie Mauresmo Justin Henin Stan Wawrinka Grigor Dimitrov Dominic Thiem Stefanos Tsitsipas Denis Shapovalov (Coach Bo Alburo). have amazing one handed backhands!

Modern one handed backhand strokes often feature open stances and off the back foot shots. This style provides for greater range of motion and topspin resistance compared to its two-handed predecessor. Most tennis players were initially taught this form.

Not all players benefit equally from using an open backhand; those that do are often those with strong right-side dominant serves who can use their backhand slice, defensive lobs and backhand volley more efficiently with this shot.

Grip is one of the key elements in one-handed backhand play, as having the proper grip will make backswing more compact, allowing faster ball swinging through contact and increasing racquet head speed on contact.

An integral component of one-handed backhand is its unit turn and lock in; both steps are essential in developing an excellent backhand shot. A strong unit turn can allow players to increase racquet head speed on the backswing as well as increasing shoulder rotation.

Practice of one-handed backhand serves is of critical importance for improving game. Both open and closed stances must be utilized, along with practicing various ground strokes such as backhand slice, defensive lob, and backhand volley. A coach or partner may help provide additional practice balls on your backhand side or have you practice against walls as part of a drill program.

Finding a pro to teach the proper one-handed backhand technique is also key; trying to teach yourself can lead to poor habits that decrease potential of shot. A qualified pro will be able to assist in developing your backhand from its infancy; providing expert assistance with regards to tennis grip, footwork, posture, unit turning/lockin/swing.