Backhand - Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Often players choose their backhand type based on their handedness—if the player is somewhat ambidextrous the two-handed backhand might be best.

• Two-handed backhands have some important advantages over one-handed backhands:

• The backhands are generally more accurate because by having two hands on the racquet, which makes the contact more stable. This also makes it somewhat easier to impart topspin on the ball allowing for more control of the shot, while one-handed backhands generally require finer motor skills to generate topspin and are less consistent in longer rallies.

• Two-handed backhands can more easily hit higher balls.

• Two-handed backhands have a chance to be consistently closer in power and/or accuracy to the forehand, possibly even better, unlike the one-hander. People with a noticeably weaker one-handed backhand tend to get balls returned to them on that wing, giving them a disadvantage, especially with high kick serves and lefty slice serves.

• Two-handed backhands can be hit with an open stance, whereas one-handers usually have to have a closed stance, which adds further steps (which is a problem at higher levels of play).

• Two-handed backhands can change direction more easily than one-handed backhands do, due to having more stability over the shot with two hands allows the player to control the shot better and place the ball with more precision.

• Starting from the 70s, many of the greatest players used the two-handed backhand and it has become more popular on the pro tour, especially on the women's side.

• Two-handed backhands are generally more easy to develop and require less motor skills than a one-handed backhand to perform all the basic shots. Since the 70s, juniors have been taught two-handed backhands more often than the one-handed backhand.

• However, One-handed backhands have some other important advantages over two-handed backhands:

• One-handed backhands allow greater reach, especially while on the run.

• One-handed backhands are able to hit lower balls with more pace and penetration then two handed backhands. They also can generate more power when properly set up, and can be very penetrating when hit correctly.

• One-handed backhand players move to the net with greater ease than two-handed players because the shot permits greater forward momentum and has greater similarities in muscle memory to the preferred type of backhand volley (one-handed, for greater reach). This is why a majority of serve and vollyers employ a one handed backhand.

• One-handed backhands should be hit more in front of the body than the forehand which allows them to be hit with a deeper hit spot.

• One-handed backhands players are much less likely to develop the habit of playing volleys with two hands, which is better for serve and volley play.

• One-handed backhands force players to hit high balls with slice, thus causing them to develop much better slice backhands than two handed players.

• One-handed backhands can be put-away more easily than Two-handed backhands for finishing shots due to their flatter, more penetrating nature.

Generally, both backhands are efficient at what they do. The type of backhand a player uses comes down to mostly personal preference and their game style. Since the 70s however the two-handed backhand has had a spike in popularity and is now more widely taught than the one-handed backhand.

Many tennis greats use the one-handed backhand. Such players include Roger Federer, Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras, Justine Henin, Steffi Graf, Gustavo Kuerten, Amelie Mauresmo, Martina Navratilova, Don Budge, Ken Rosewall and Rod Laver