WHAT ARE TWO TYPES OF BACKHAND HITS?

When someone asks about the types of Backhand, let us point that backhand can be

hit in more than just two ways.

One of the divisions is if it’s one or two-handed.

Actually, it is not only if a player holds the racket’s handle, during the contact,

with one or two hands, but the biomechanics are different.

During the “one-handed” technique, we use the biomechanical motions that are

something between catapult and frisbee.

For full technique potential, we rely on the “non-dominant” hand (let’s call

it “left hand”) during the backswing.

As it is essential for the preparation, a left-hand function has also crucial

function during and after the contact but it is only one hand holding the racket

during the stroke/ contact.

The biomechanic function for a Two-handed Backhand is something else: it is the lever.

Here, both hands are holding the handle all the time, and during backswing preparation, and during the very contact and follow through.

Talking about the types of Backhand (or Forehand), we have also division about

– what kind of stance a player uses (open or closed),

– what kind of rotation is made(spin, slice or flat).

– where and when a player hits the ball (under the ball, on the rise, same level

to have a flat type of stroke)

– man or woman type, where girls use more bent elbows technique in order

to easier achieve the lever effect. Guys are using the same “elbow” technique but

the backswing they make mostly with straight right arm while girls tend to make

a backswing with bent elbows.

One-handed Backhand is a natural choice for adults and teenagers, let’s say over 13 Y/O while two-handers is for kids.

Adults have developed dominant arm with the age of 12 while it is extremely

difficult for kids to hit One-Handed Backhand, not only because of the racket heaviness

but because the wrists are not strong enough and if a player misses

the “sweet spot” – can be very painful for young tender wrist ligaments.