When you’re first learning to play tennis, you’re often faced with the question of whether to perform your backhand stroke one-handed or two-handed. Both the one-handed and two-handed backhand have their own advantages and disadvantages, and it’s important to choose the one that suits your physical condition and style of play.
Most people learning tennis for the first time are faced with the following question after they’ve mastered the forehand stroke. Whether to hit the backhand one-handed or two-handed is a very important decision because it’s not just a technical choice, but one that affects your style of play and match strategy.
Roger Federer, who is considered the best player in the world, plays a one-handed backhand, while his famous rival, Rafael Nadal Parera, plays a two-handed backhand. Because Federer has a higher winning percentage, many beginners are tempted to learn the one-handed backhand, but it’s not advisable to make a decision based solely on superficial winning percentages. There are two ways to backhand, each with their own unique advantages and disadvantages, and neither is simply superior. Therefore, it’s important for those new to the tennis backhand to understand the differences between each backhand stroke and choose the one that best suits their physical characteristics and style of play.
First, let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of the two-handed backhand. The biggest advantage of the two-handed backhand is its power and stability. By keeping the racket close to your body, you’re swinging with the rotational power of your hips and legs rather than arm strength. This is crucial in tennis, as a stable swing centered on the lower body allows for powerful shots with body weight. Having the left hand assisting the swing, especially for right-handers, adds stability to the swing and reduces arm strain during long rallies, allowing for sustained attack. In addition, a two-handed backhand can control the direction of the ball with relative ease because the point of impact (the moment the racket and ball meet) is closer to the body, which is advantageous for less predictable shots. This is attractive to players who prefer to play aggressively.
However, the two-handed backhand also has its drawbacks. First, you have to position the ball close to your body, which puts pressure on you to chase the ball right down to the ground. This can be a limitation, especially when dealing with fast-flying balls or balls that land far away. It’s also important to note that holding the racquet with two hands limits the angle of the ball that you can hit, and the swing can be back-breaking if you play for long periods of time. The difficulty of applying spin can also be pointed out as a disadvantage.
The one-handed backhand has its own appeal. The one-handed backhand is particularly notable for its ability to generate spin and its wide defensive range. Because the point of impact is farther away from your body, you can handle the ball over a much wider range than with a two-handed backhand. This is a huge advantage in situations where you need to react quickly to your opponent’s ball. Additionally, one-handed backhands are easier to put spin on the ball with the snap of the wrist and elbow, allowing you to create a variety of spinning shots. Because of these characteristics, the one-handed backhand is an advantage for those who prefer to play defensively. In offensive situations, it’s also advantageous for sending the ball at angles that are difficult to hit in front of the net.
However, the one-handed backhand is not without its drawbacks, most notably the fact that it has a lot of spin, making it difficult to catch bouncing balls. It’s also difficult to handle balls that are high in the air, and the lack of stability when executing rising shots makes it more likely to make mistakes in these situations. The significant strain on your wrists and elbows is also a major disadvantage of the one-handed backhand. This can increase the risk of injury during sustained rallies.
In modern tennis, the backhand is a very important element. But there’s no need to be overly conscious of it. Unless you plan to become a professional tennis player, the choice between a one-handed and two-handed backhand is really a matter of personal preference and physical condition. In fact, recreational tennis players often alternate between one-handed and two-handed backhands depending on the situation. However, it’s very difficult to change the form you learn later on, so it’s important to choose a backhand that suits your physical condition and play style from the start and practice it intensively. This process will take time and effort, but will ultimately contribute greatly to improving your tennis game.
Finally, the most important thing in the process of learning to play tennis is to understand yourself and find a method that works for you. Regardless of what others use, choosing the method that is most comfortable and effective for you will be more beneficial in the long run. Tennis is not just a sport that requires physical ability, but also a strategic approach based on psychological stability and confidence, so you should take this into account when choosing your backhand method.
