Thanks very much, Coach K!
I always thought that if I played righty, that meant that it’s a sort of dominance of the right hand, and that all the left hand did was provide stability and control on the 2-handed backhand. But that’s before I realized, by watching your video, that the right arm, in the position it’s in, can’t generate much power, and that the 2-handed backhand is just a lefty forehand with added guidance from the right hand! Thank you for that. This really changed my game, because I now pay attention to my left arm on my groundstrokes as well as my right. Your lessons are very simple, easy to understand, and help notice things I never bothered to consider before. Thanks again!
Paul
What Paul said is true, but as Coach Kyril pointed out, if you approach the ball with an open stance, you ball control will suffer as well as any speed on the follow through. Thus, the correct turn of the body in the approach to the ball resulting in the torque of the lower body gives even more power behind the two handed back hand shot.
What I appreciate about Coach Kyril’s teaching is that he breaks down all the components of a shot by showing the cause and effect of good versus poor form and how all parts of a player’s body ( head up or down and keeping it still; eye’s tracking the ball;
breathing; leg and foot position; body turned, etc.) connect to bring about a stroke.
A player can practice a stroke over and over again and never see improvement, but by adjustment and improving even one component of a stroke, one can see a marked change in delivery.
Thanks Coach! Thanks for keeping it simple and honest!
This is pretty much all what is behind Rafael Nadal’s backhand, and why it’s so good. The commentators on television matches are always talking about how he has an advantage on the backhand since he is a natural righty, and has the extra strength, which is probably why he can dig out and retrieve so many balls on clay, or any surface for that matter, since he has the strength in the lagging hand to snap the ball back cross-court and surprise his opponent. That almost makes it as though he is doing what you said, Coach K., he is hitting a forehand on his left side, and a two-handed forehand on his right side, since that is his more normally dextrous flank. I have a one-hander myself, but this is nice to know anyways to further understand the stroke mechanics of the two-hander.
I suggest that you say something about off-arm strength in your video.
After hitting a 2HBH for several years, I have transitioned to a 1 hander. Why? Mainly because of the message in your video: my 2HBH basically was a left-handed FH. I don’t have enough strength on my left arm and my returns landed short.
Also, mention the greatest plus of the 2HBH — topspin comes naturally! [I wish that I could hit my 1HBH with consistent topspin! I have developed a strong 1HBH slice which I use most of the time.]
Count me among those who have switched from the one-handed backhand to the two-handed backhand. The movement, especially from the hips and torso, comes naturally with swinging two hands, and also decreases the potential for injury. I used to think that the one-handed backhanded looked “cooler” and more “pro”, but I have come to the realization that looks are deceiving, and if you want to become a great tennis player, you can’t worry about what anyone thinks about your game. Your video here clearly demonstrates the pros of using the 2-hand BH. Like you say in the title, this video is a no-B.S. guide to hitting the 2-hand backhand.
Thanks the vid Coach!!!!!!!!!!!!
All of your videos and instruction have proved to be invaluable to me. They have improved my game immensely. I particulalrly enjoyed this video as I have traditionally used a one had backhand. While it’s been an effective stroke for me, I have never been able to achieve the pace and depth that I do when using the two-handed method. Your video has broken down and simplified this stroke for me in a very easy to understand approach. It has made the world of difference in executing this stroke effectively in my play. The coolest thing about this video, is that because of your analysis and nad breakdown of this stroke, I have been able to relay your info and teaching to my 15 year old son. He is a junior varsityHS freshmen player and has always had a shyness or aversion to using the two-handed backhand. He has always exclaimed that it felt awkward or uncomfortable to him. That is until now. I sat him down to watch your video several times and he is now using the stroke with the utmost confidence. It has made a huge difference in his game and added a diversity that he did not have before. So much so that opposing coaches have accused his coach, falsely I might add, of “stacking” the ladder by placing him in a strategic position in order to win matches. He now looks that much better against opponents in the same posioning on other teams. So, for me, that alone makes this video, and quite frankly, all of your videos worth their weight in gold. Me and my son immensely appreciate the contribution you make to all tennis players, competive and recreational alike. Thanks coach!
I really appreciate the videos, they’ve been a lot of help. I had 2 questions.
1) You mentioned that the ball doesn’t pass your front leg. I tried to do that today and I definitely got a lot more power on my crosscourt backhands. I mean a lot. Thanks for the tip! I was struggling with getting them down the line like what you did at 2:45 in the video. When I was going down the line and trying to keep the ball in front of my right foot, there was not nearly enough power behind the ball as the cross court shots. It seemed as if I was trying to “guide” the ball. Is there something I’m missing?
2) During the set, when fast serves were coming at me I had no choice but to hit my backhands with an open stance since they were coming in so fast. You were right, there was absolutely no power on those shots whatsoever. Can I do anything to improve that? I would guess that an open stance backhand would require pure upper body strength?
Thanks for you videos Coach K. I’ve been watching your vids since you first came out with them and they have helped me tremendously. I love them, can’t wait for the next one.
Thanks Coach K,
I am verrry greatful for all that I learn from you.
I don’t how I got started with you, but all I know is your short lessons have been beneficial to me and the kids I instruct in the sport. You see I am learning the sport along with trying to teach it to teenagers who believe in the things I tell them. May God bless you for helping to develop the confidence and courage in me to feel good about my tennis and the knowledge I pass on to them. Your series about the serve, and court awareness, the two-handed backhand, and even the story of the young man w/no limbs who found the passion and determination to not give up in life are just a few of your segments that I always conjure up at times of need. Keep up the good work. Your generous sharing will someday be rewarded.
I like the point at the end where you talk about the split step with your back facing your opponent. That should accomplish some nice down-the-line shots with the power coming from the legs rather than trying to pull all the power from my arms, which are not that powerful to begin with. If I can learn to use more power/torque from my legs I can maybe accomplish more power through the follow-through. Good video, Coach! Thanks!
I do wonder about the advantages of the two-handed backhand versus the one-handed backhand.
It seems like the two-handed backhand is becoming dominant. I can’t recall any players who use both, at different times. Why?
I am a lefty. I gather that I should hold the racket in an eastern forehand with my right hand and a continental with my left hand. Why does the two-handed backhand seem more powerful than the single-handed backhand ?
First off I would like to thank you for providing simply put solid instruction. It seems like whenever I try to find good tennis info a price tag always pops up in the way. Thanks for your time and effort.
On to the video, this highlights a key aspect of the two-handed backhand that eludes many. Having your off-hand dominant is the real key towards developing consistency and generating pace. It seems so simple but it ends up being enormously helpful (that pretty much summarizes all of your lessons).
Unfortunately for me I originally fell into the trap of using my right dominantly. I had a flimsy shot with little pace, which was frustrating. Eventually through a lot of practice along with trial and error I figured it out.
The main point is that you do not need to go through all the frustration of having to “figure” strokes out. After realizing this I understand why your helping all of us out. Tennis has so many traps of not doing something right that can be easily explained and therefore avoided. We just need someone to tell us, who isn’t charging us $20+ an hour.
Such a simple thing but what a difference it made in my controle! I always had a dominant hand death grip while hitting my backhand. Loosening up and allowing the left hand to controle the shot greatly improved my accuracy.
To take it a step further I practiced returning my middle schoolers serves left handed to gain confidence. Now when I hit a real back hand in a match, I do so with the knowledge that is going exactly where I intended. I never would have imagined that easing up with my dominant hand could improve my back hand so much. Thanks again.
Gday CK, I haven’t seen the 10 laws you talk about but I assume they include what you show. i.e. meet the ball – don’t wait for it, low – high swing path and vertical face at impact. All good for a top-spin shot, which we all should play, but how does a 2 HBH play a slice shot ? Alot of 2H’s are great at clubbing the ball but often lack some finesse – is it a grip change – swing path or is it a 1H shot ?
Waaaaah! I’m a one-handed player! In addition to Coach Kyril’s message today with the GREAT video, I just got a newsletter from another venue talking about how 9 of the top 10 men are two-handers and 29 of the top women are two-handers and their subject line asked, “Is the one-handed backhand a thing of the past?” I’ve always been proud of being a female one-handed backhand player, but I guess that was a silly thought. So with the great information in Coach Kyril’s video, I’ll work on it with the intention of being a more versatile player with the ability to hit a one-handed and two-handed backhand. Oh yeah! Thanks!
I tried this out today at practice and it really improved my backhand. After watching this video thoroughly, I realized that my contact was poor. I never thought of the left hand as the source of the backhand (I am a righty.) I always neglected that by using my right hand as the dominant source. If I never came across this video, I would have probably kept the poor contact. As you mentioned, the ball should not pass that right leg. Prior to watching this, I let it pass on some occasions and I kept hitting in an awkward way. And to sum up this long comment, it helped me improve to the next level. I must make it to the top, one step (or level) at a time.
An excellent video clip for better two-handed backhand. I like the demonstration with two-finger of non-dominated hand to prove that indeed the dominated hand for two-handed backhand is left hand (for right handed players). This is the reason why a good exercise for two-handed backhand is to practice one left hand groundstroke as shown in the video clip. Some players use right hand as dominated hand for two-handed backhand, which is how one to hit for one-handed backhand. This video clip will definitely help them to make correction. This raises an interesting question, what roles right hand play? One role is to stabilize racquet swing as mentioned in the video clip. I would think there are two other important roles, one is to facilitate whip like motion of racquet swing, the other is to act as a pivot for racquet to have more angular momentum.
Thanks for the backhand lesson Coach K. You look great! Your new fitness/diet regime is working mos def. I particularly needed the reminder to make contact with the ball IN FRONT of my body. Many 2-handed backhands lately have been shanking off left. Hitting balls too late, hitting them too defensively, not generating pace. By hitting out in front, and using left hand for power, I’ll be able to turn defence to offence.
Coach K…
I coach a girls tennis team and I need all the help I can get. Most of them use a two-hander and your explanation of how the left hand actually is the key to success for this stroke is a huge help. I plan to encourage them to watch your video. You make it look so simple. I think the idea of hitting with the left hand for a while and then gradually adding the right hand is a great tip. Also, shoulder turn shoulder turn shoulder turn, drilling this into the head is critical. I like how you provide the no BS approach to illustrating the importance of the shoulder turn.
After reading this, I couldn’t believe that I had never thought of this before. A ‘forehand on the back side’, I use a double handed backhand and it’s never been the same after watching this video. I was mis-hitting a lot of backhands because of my open stance and had a weird swing path. You managed to help me in both of those in one video. First of all after thinking about the two handed backhand as a forehand I went to the courts and had a hit but since my forehand was a weapon i took my left hand off the handle. (I am a lefty by the way). Then I hit a couple of shots with my right hand forehand and i was trying to use the same swing path as my forehand. Then I did a close stance then kept my head down and hit a two handed backhand,. :) That first hit it was sensational, now I am as confident as ever I can actually stay in a rally and as I put it, I can attack with both wings now. All day I can hit my backhand it felt great. My forehand and backhand. Thank you so much Coach wish you would coach me.;)
Thank you very much for these videos. This video has reallly improved my backhand. I know this may seem odd but a little detail you mentionged was almost just as important as the left hand for me. When you said the right hand was for guidance I could suddenly aim my shots a whole lot better. It is truly helpful to think of this as a forehand. My pace has really improved thanks to these simple ideas. I hope to see more videos.
P.S. May be you could do one about how to attack on a second serve
Hi Coach K I am a current tournament player and coach and that is the best description of how to hit a two handed backhand I have seen on video or books. You have a simple yet extremely effective method of coaching as you get straight to the point so well done !Thankyou and Regards John Gill
Coach Kyrill,
Great!..just Great!..you´ve saved me hundreds of crowns..which they’re going to be use in booking a indoor court.I´m 40+ and thanks to your video is funny to play and to see that my game improves all the time.
The simplicity of your explanations fit my understanding of tennis.Just that.
Hi Coach Kyril
I am in my 40’s took up tennis only three years ago and have no time for any BS! I am a keen student of the game and playing four times a week but even my wonderful coach cannot explain with your clarity what I am trying to achieve.
Since I am Down Under I should have realized that the BH is juts a reverse FH!..but why doesn’t Rafa play with two FHs as he is a natural righty?
cheers Coach
Coach, I have been having trouble with my backhand, but having watched your video, I notice that the right leg (for righty’s) stays pinned to the ground and does not move with the shot. I think that is what I was doing wrong.
I also think it would be great if we could see some of this in slow motion. Sometimes the stroke goes so quickly from front to back that we miss a pronation or some other part of the movement.
The two handed backhand has become pervasive. Of today’s top ten men, nine use two-handed backhands. No women in the top-10 uses a one-handed backhand. Here are a few other comments:
0 You will see more two handed forehands and backhands than one handed strokes on both sides in the future.
0 Players will switch from two handed backhands to one handed backhands depending on the situation (slice and volleys with one hand)
0 One major advantage of the two handed backhand is that it automatically turns your shoulder.
0 I think you should have a bigger follow thru than shown on the video. However remember the follow thru is a result of the swing, not a conscious action. The acceleration at contact should result in the racket finishing over your shoulder.
I have spent the last year visiting major tennis academies and doing extensive research for a book I am writing on how tennis is taught in America. I just happened to see this great site by accident in doing my research.
Hi Coach. Just want to say THANK YOU for all the e-mails and great videos. I play tennis every morning with a group of retires, we play all year and usually have five or six courts going for three hours. I am 70 years old and probably the only one in the group that is still trying to improve his game. On the way to the courts I select two or three “KEYS” I plan to focus on that day. These “KEYS” are usually fundamentals:
1. Tail bone down.
2. Split step.
3. Hit through the window.
4. “Mississippi 1″
Your information provides me with some great “KEYS” and as a result my concentration and game is improving every day. I look forward to receiving your “Tips.”
Thanks so much for another excellent tennis video! The great aspect of this video (and all your other instruction) is the emphasis on simplicity and applying the correct fundamentals. After watching this video, I immediately knew exactly what to do to improve my two handed backhand stroke. Many other instructional materials provide good ideas, but they are not as easy to implement into my game. And what good is knowing the correct thing to do but being unable to apply it?
Your videos give me the confidence that I can become a great player with consistent practice and application of the ideas in the videos, which has skyrocketed my motivation to hit the courts. I am enjoying tennis like never before, thanks to your excellent instruction.
Hitting off the backboard this afternoon, I knew exactly what to work on for my two handed backhand, which is normally solid but has felt a little off the past couple of weeks. Using your suggestion of hitting with just the left hand for a little while, I found that when I switched back to two hands, my stroke felt so smooth, solid, fluid, and controlled. The idea of using the right hand as a guide and hitting the ball out front was also spot on. It felt amazing to unload on the ball again with control. I am so excited that I not only have gotten my feel back, but that I am hitting the shot better than ever before.
With great tennis instruction that I can use, I have the confidence that I possess a real shot of achieving my long term goal of becoming an All-Conference Division 1 tennis player. Thank you SO much!!!
The video is really interesting but there is just one more thing I would like to know: what if I could hit forehands with each hand (which I actually can )? Would it be interesting to reinforce my right forehand (I’m lefthanded for tennis but right handed for golf)? I’m afraid the loss of time to change the racquet from one hand to another anihilate the benefit?
And also, even though the 2 hand-backhand requires perfect positioning, it is also very powerful and safe, even better than my forehand if I can reach the perfect position. So would I get any benefit from switching to a right forehand? What do u think?
Anything’s possible – that’s what is so cool about this game.
All of the ‘modern’ strokes we see on the tour today – ‘flicks’,
‘windshield wiper’ forehands, etc – are merely adaptations
to normal tennis strokes made out of sheer necessity.
The game is so fast these days that those who adapt survive,
and those who don’t perish.
I can’t say what YOUR benefit would be by using two forehands,
because I’ve never seen you play; generally speaking though, you
simply don’t have to move as far laterally to hit a forehand as you do
to hit a two-handed backhand, so therein lies one benefit.
Most people like Nadal start out as young juniors with two-handed backhands,
and as such any disruption in their style can have drastic consequences as they
start climbing their way through the junior ranks. Sampras was an exception to
the rule, as he went from two-hander to one-hander as a junior, but again – an
exception to the general rule. I can’t tell you why Nadal does what he does that
would be trying to speak in his stead – but what I can tell you is that Nadal is doing
what needs to be done to win matches on the tennis court; and that’s what matters.
Thanks for doing your part and coaching – kids need mentors today more than ever – bravo!
The turn really IS that big a deal, and I think your girls will do well to heed your advice on it.
Also, yes – having them keep just a couple of fingers on the racket for the two-hander will
definitely save you headaches in teaching that stroke – the kids ‘get it’ pretty quick using that
method.
The slice backhand CAN be hit with two hands, but I don’t recommend it. For most intents
and purposes, it is a one-handed shot – and here’s why: There are a variety of places and
times we use the slice, i.e. to approach, to slow down the pace of play, changes things up, etc.
Much of the time, though, a slice is used when we are pulled wide to the backhand side, and
our body is stretched out us trying to ‘reach’ for the ball. In these cases (which occur often),
it is not feasible to use a two-handed backhand to slice the ball, as you will never be able to
get the non-dominant hand on the racket in time to hit the ball. Hope that helps to clarify
things a bit. – CK
It seems that way because it IS that way – most of the time, anyway. Remember,
tennis is a game of angles. That’s why players like Federer and Wawrinka can
get away with using a one-hander in today’s game. They have the timing,
technique, focus and athletic ability to pull off the shot most of the time when they
need to. It’s all about positioning and momentum- being in the right place at the
right time and hitting the right shot for the situation in which you find yourself. – CK
1) Get your shoulders turned earlier; this will allow you to ‘uncork’ and
use your hips and legs to power the shot.
2) Make sure you do a ’split-step’, and move forward when you do it.
This will force you to ‘commit’ to the shot, and have you ready to turn
your shoulders. Again, you need to power the shot from your left side;
use the speed of the ball to power the shot on a fast serve, as all you’ll
have to do is block the ball back. – CK
There is some block of the hip in the forward swing of the two handed backhand and when does this happen?It seems that without any blockage of the hip there is no adequate speed coming from the motion .Thank you coach Kirill
Paul S. said
am March 16 2009 @ 4:25 pm
Thanks very much, Coach K!
I always thought that if I played righty, that meant that it’s a sort of dominance of the right hand, and that all the left hand did was provide stability and control on the 2-handed backhand. But that’s before I realized, by watching your video, that the right arm, in the position it’s in, can’t generate much power, and that the 2-handed backhand is just a lefty forehand with added guidance from the right hand! Thank you for that. This really changed my game, because I now pay attention to my left arm on my groundstrokes as well as my right. Your lessons are very simple, easy to understand, and help notice things I never bothered to consider before. Thanks again!
Paul
Kathleen said
am March 16 2009 @ 4:53 pm
What Paul said is true, but as Coach Kyril pointed out, if you approach the ball with an open stance, you ball control will suffer as well as any speed on the follow through. Thus, the correct turn of the body in the approach to the ball resulting in the torque of the lower body gives even more power behind the two handed back hand shot.
What I appreciate about Coach Kyril’s teaching is that he breaks down all the components of a shot by showing the cause and effect of good versus poor form and how all parts of a player’s body ( head up or down and keeping it still; eye’s tracking the ball;
breathing; leg and foot position; body turned, etc.) connect to bring about a stroke.
A player can practice a stroke over and over again and never see improvement, but by adjustment and improving even one component of a stroke, one can see a marked change in delivery.
Thanks Coach! Thanks for keeping it simple and honest!
Alexander Keefe said
am March 16 2009 @ 5:01 pm
This is pretty much all what is behind Rafael Nadal’s backhand, and why it’s so good. The commentators on television matches are always talking about how he has an advantage on the backhand since he is a natural righty, and has the extra strength, which is probably why he can dig out and retrieve so many balls on clay, or any surface for that matter, since he has the strength in the lagging hand to snap the ball back cross-court and surprise his opponent. That almost makes it as though he is doing what you said, Coach K., he is hitting a forehand on his left side, and a two-handed forehand on his right side, since that is his more normally dextrous flank. I have a one-hander myself, but this is nice to know anyways to further understand the stroke mechanics of the two-hander.
Jim Anderson said
am March 16 2009 @ 5:08 pm
I suggest that you say something about off-arm strength in your video.
After hitting a 2HBH for several years, I have transitioned to a 1 hander. Why? Mainly because of the message in your video: my 2HBH basically was a left-handed FH. I don’t have enough strength on my left arm and my returns landed short.
Also, mention the greatest plus of the 2HBH — topspin comes naturally! [I wish that I could hit my 1HBH with consistent topspin! I have developed a strong 1HBH slice which I use most of the time.]
Eliezer Dusowitz said
am March 16 2009 @ 5:47 pm
Thank Coach,
Count me among those who have switched from the one-handed backhand to the two-handed backhand. The movement, especially from the hips and torso, comes naturally with swinging two hands, and also decreases the potential for injury. I used to think that the one-handed backhanded looked “cooler” and more “pro”, but I have come to the realization that looks are deceiving, and if you want to become a great tennis player, you can’t worry about what anyone thinks about your game. Your video here clearly demonstrates the pros of using the 2-hand BH. Like you say in the title, this video is a no-B.S. guide to hitting the 2-hand backhand.
Thanks the vid Coach!!!!!!!!!!!!
Walt Berchin said
am March 16 2009 @ 5:53 pm
Coach K,
All of your videos and instruction have proved to be invaluable to me. They have improved my game immensely. I particulalrly enjoyed this video as I have traditionally used a one had backhand. While it’s been an effective stroke for me, I have never been able to achieve the pace and depth that I do when using the two-handed method. Your video has broken down and simplified this stroke for me in a very easy to understand approach. It has made the world of difference in executing this stroke effectively in my play. The coolest thing about this video, is that because of your analysis and nad breakdown of this stroke, I have been able to relay your info and teaching to my 15 year old son. He is a junior varsityHS freshmen player and has always had a shyness or aversion to using the two-handed backhand. He has always exclaimed that it felt awkward or uncomfortable to him. That is until now. I sat him down to watch your video several times and he is now using the stroke with the utmost confidence. It has made a huge difference in his game and added a diversity that he did not have before. So much so that opposing coaches have accused his coach, falsely I might add, of “stacking” the ladder by placing him in a strategic position in order to win matches. He now looks that much better against opponents in the same posioning on other teams. So, for me, that alone makes this video, and quite frankly, all of your videos worth their weight in gold. Me and my son immensely appreciate the contribution you make to all tennis players, competive and recreational alike. Thanks coach!
playtenniswithme said
am March 16 2009 @ 6:26 pm
Coach K,
I really appreciate the videos, they’ve been a lot of help. I had 2 questions.
1) You mentioned that the ball doesn’t pass your front leg. I tried to do that today and I definitely got a lot more power on my crosscourt backhands. I mean a lot. Thanks for the tip! I was struggling with getting them down the line like what you did at 2:45 in the video. When I was going down the line and trying to keep the ball in front of my right foot, there was not nearly enough power behind the ball as the cross court shots. It seemed as if I was trying to “guide” the ball. Is there something I’m missing?
2) During the set, when fast serves were coming at me I had no choice but to hit my backhands with an open stance since they were coming in so fast. You were right, there was absolutely no power on those shots whatsoever. Can I do anything to improve that? I would guess that an open stance backhand would require pure upper body strength?
Thanks for you videos Coach K. I’ve been watching your vids since you first came out with them and they have helped me tremendously. I love them, can’t wait for the next one.
Billy said
am March 16 2009 @ 6:32 pm
Thanks Coach K,
I am verrry greatful for all that I learn from you.
I don’t how I got started with you, but all I know is your short lessons have been beneficial to me and the kids I instruct in the sport. You see I am learning the sport along with trying to teach it to teenagers who believe in the things I tell them. May God bless you for helping to develop the confidence and courage in me to feel good about my tennis and the knowledge I pass on to them. Your series about the serve, and court awareness, the two-handed backhand, and even the story of the young man w/no limbs who found the passion and determination to not give up in life are just a few of your segments that I always conjure up at times of need. Keep up the good work. Your generous sharing will someday be rewarded.
M. Morgan said
am March 16 2009 @ 6:53 pm
I like the point at the end where you talk about the split step with your back facing your opponent. That should accomplish some nice down-the-line shots with the power coming from the legs rather than trying to pull all the power from my arms, which are not that powerful to begin with. If I can learn to use more power/torque from my legs I can maybe accomplish more power through the follow-through. Good video, Coach! Thanks!
David Goldstein said
am March 16 2009 @ 6:56 pm
I will try it. Thanks.
I do wonder about the advantages of the two-handed backhand versus the one-handed backhand.
It seems like the two-handed backhand is becoming dominant. I can’t recall any players who use both, at different times. Why?
I am a lefty. I gather that I should hold the racket in an eastern forehand with my right hand and a continental with my left hand. Why does the two-handed backhand seem more powerful than the single-handed backhand ?
David Goldstein
Nick said
am March 16 2009 @ 7:06 pm
First off I would like to thank you for providing simply put solid instruction. It seems like whenever I try to find good tennis info a price tag always pops up in the way. Thanks for your time and effort.
On to the video, this highlights a key aspect of the two-handed backhand that eludes many. Having your off-hand dominant is the real key towards developing consistency and generating pace. It seems so simple but it ends up being enormously helpful (that pretty much summarizes all of your lessons).
Unfortunately for me I originally fell into the trap of using my right dominantly. I had a flimsy shot with little pace, which was frustrating. Eventually through a lot of practice along with trial and error I figured it out.
The main point is that you do not need to go through all the frustration of having to “figure” strokes out. After realizing this I understand why your helping all of us out. Tennis has so many traps of not doing something right that can be easily explained and therefore avoided. We just need someone to tell us, who isn’t charging us $20+ an hour.
-Your advice is greatly appreciated, Nick
Gary Schepers said
am March 16 2009 @ 7:12 pm
Such a simple thing but what a difference it made in my controle! I always had a dominant hand death grip while hitting my backhand. Loosening up and allowing the left hand to controle the shot greatly improved my accuracy.
To take it a step further I practiced returning my middle schoolers serves left handed to gain confidence. Now when I hit a real back hand in a match, I do so with the knowledge that is going exactly where I intended. I never would have imagined that easing up with my dominant hand could improve my back hand so much. Thanks again.
Gary
rhees blewett said
am March 16 2009 @ 7:28 pm
Gday CK, I haven’t seen the 10 laws you talk about but I assume they include what you show. i.e. meet the ball – don’t wait for it, low – high swing path and vertical face at impact. All good for a top-spin shot, which we all should play, but how does a 2 HBH play a slice shot ? Alot of 2H’s are great at clubbing the ball but often lack some finesse – is it a grip change – swing path or is it a 1H shot ?
Thanks for the tips.
Carol S said
am March 16 2009 @ 7:40 pm
Waaaaah! I’m a one-handed player! In addition to Coach Kyril’s message today with the GREAT video, I just got a newsletter from another venue talking about how 9 of the top 10 men are two-handers and 29 of the top women are two-handers and their subject line asked, “Is the one-handed backhand a thing of the past?” I’ve always been proud of being a female one-handed backhand player, but I guess that was a silly thought. So with the great information in Coach Kyril’s video, I’ll work on it with the intention of being a more versatile player with the ability to hit a one-handed and two-handed backhand. Oh yeah! Thanks!
Stanley Cheng said
am March 16 2009 @ 8:02 pm
I tried this out today at practice and it really improved my backhand. After watching this video thoroughly, I realized that my contact was poor. I never thought of the left hand as the source of the backhand (I am a righty.) I always neglected that by using my right hand as the dominant source. If I never came across this video, I would have probably kept the poor contact. As you mentioned, the ball should not pass that right leg. Prior to watching this, I let it pass on some occasions and I kept hitting in an awkward way. And to sum up this long comment, it helped me improve to the next level. I must make it to the top, one step (or level) at a time.
Alexander Zhu said
am March 16 2009 @ 8:13 pm
shoot all these comments are essays, must be really hard to sort through all of them…………anyways thanks for the great vid coach I really enjoyed it
Jeff said
am March 16 2009 @ 9:23 pm
An excellent video clip for better two-handed backhand. I like the demonstration with two-finger of non-dominated hand to prove that indeed the dominated hand for two-handed backhand is left hand (for right handed players). This is the reason why a good exercise for two-handed backhand is to practice one left hand groundstroke as shown in the video clip. Some players use right hand as dominated hand for two-handed backhand, which is how one to hit for one-handed backhand. This video clip will definitely help them to make correction. This raises an interesting question, what roles right hand play? One role is to stabilize racquet swing as mentioned in the video clip. I would think there are two other important roles, one is to facilitate whip like motion of racquet swing, the other is to act as a pivot for racquet to have more angular momentum.
elizabeth halliday said
am March 16 2009 @ 10:23 pm
Thanks for the backhand lesson Coach K. You look great! Your new fitness/diet regime is working mos def. I particularly needed the reminder to make contact with the ball IN FRONT of my body. Many 2-handed backhands lately have been shanking off left. Hitting balls too late, hitting them too defensively, not generating pace. By hitting out in front, and using left hand for power, I’ll be able to turn defence to offence.
John K said
am March 16 2009 @ 11:15 pm
Coach K…
I coach a girls tennis team and I need all the help I can get. Most of them use a two-hander and your explanation of how the left hand actually is the key to success for this stroke is a huge help. I plan to encourage them to watch your video. You make it look so simple. I think the idea of hitting with the left hand for a while and then gradually adding the right hand is a great tip. Also, shoulder turn shoulder turn shoulder turn, drilling this into the head is critical. I like how you provide the no BS approach to illustrating the importance of the shoulder turn.
Thanks!
Jason Sun said
am March 16 2009 @ 11:38 pm
After reading this, I couldn’t believe that I had never thought of this before. A ‘forehand on the back side’, I use a double handed backhand and it’s never been the same after watching this video. I was mis-hitting a lot of backhands because of my open stance and had a weird swing path. You managed to help me in both of those in one video. First of all after thinking about the two handed backhand as a forehand I went to the courts and had a hit but since my forehand was a weapon i took my left hand off the handle. (I am a lefty by the way). Then I hit a couple of shots with my right hand forehand and i was trying to use the same swing path as my forehand. Then I did a close stance then kept my head down and hit a two handed backhand,. :) That first hit it was sensational, now I am as confident as ever I can actually stay in a rally and as I put it, I can attack with both wings now. All day I can hit my backhand it felt great. My forehand and backhand. Thank you so much Coach wish you would coach me.;)
Jason
Alex said
am March 17 2009 @ 12:39 am
Thank you very much for these videos. This video has reallly improved my backhand. I know this may seem odd but a little detail you mentionged was almost just as important as the left hand for me. When you said the right hand was for guidance I could suddenly aim my shots a whole lot better. It is truly helpful to think of this as a forehand. My pace has really improved thanks to these simple ideas. I hope to see more videos.
P.S. May be you could do one about how to attack on a second serve
John Gill said
am March 17 2009 @ 2:28 am
Hi Coach K I am a current tournament player and coach and that is the best description of how to hit a two handed backhand I have seen on video or books. You have a simple yet extremely effective method of coaching as you get straight to the point so well done !Thankyou and Regards John Gill
Hanne said
am March 17 2009 @ 4:57 am
Coach Kyrill,
Great!..just Great!..you´ve saved me hundreds of crowns..which they’re going to be use in booking a indoor court.I´m 40+ and thanks to your video is funny to play and to see that my game improves all the time.
The simplicity of your explanations fit my understanding of tennis.Just that.
gerry said
am March 17 2009 @ 5:48 am
Hi Coach Kyril
I am in my 40’s took up tennis only three years ago and have no time for any BS! I am a keen student of the game and playing four times a week but even my wonderful coach cannot explain with your clarity what I am trying to achieve.
Since I am Down Under I should have realized that the BH is juts a reverse FH!..but why doesn’t Rafa play with two FHs as he is a natural righty?
cheers Coach
Nick S said
am March 17 2009 @ 8:41 am
Coach, I have been having trouble with my backhand, but having watched your video, I notice that the right leg (for righty’s) stays pinned to the ground and does not move with the shot. I think that is what I was doing wrong.
I also think it would be great if we could see some of this in slow motion. Sometimes the stroke goes so quickly from front to back that we miss a pronation or some other part of the movement.
Thanks for your help!
Nick
Tom M. said
am March 17 2009 @ 9:34 am
The two handed backhand has become pervasive. Of today’s top ten men, nine use two-handed backhands. No women in the top-10 uses a one-handed backhand. Here are a few other comments:
0 You will see more two handed forehands and backhands than one handed strokes on both sides in the future.
0 Players will switch from two handed backhands to one handed backhands depending on the situation (slice and volleys with one hand)
0 One major advantage of the two handed backhand is that it automatically turns your shoulder.
0 I think you should have a bigger follow thru than shown on the video. However remember the follow thru is a result of the swing, not a conscious action. The acceleration at contact should result in the racket finishing over your shoulder.
I have spent the last year visiting major tennis academies and doing extensive research for a book I am writing on how tennis is taught in America. I just happened to see this great site by accident in doing my research.
Ed Matheson said
am March 17 2009 @ 11:35 am
Hi Coach. Just want to say THANK YOU for all the e-mails and great videos. I play tennis every morning with a group of retires, we play all year and usually have five or six courts going for three hours. I am 70 years old and probably the only one in the group that is still trying to improve his game. On the way to the courts I select two or three “KEYS” I plan to focus on that day. These “KEYS” are usually fundamentals:
1. Tail bone down.
2. Split step.
3. Hit through the window.
4. “Mississippi 1″
Your information provides me with some great “KEYS” and as a result my concentration and game is improving every day. I look forward to receiving your “Tips.”
Thanks again for all that you do.
PS – Remember tennis is played with the feet.
Kate said
am March 18 2009 @ 2:28 pm
Thanks so much for another excellent tennis video! The great aspect of this video (and all your other instruction) is the emphasis on simplicity and applying the correct fundamentals. After watching this video, I immediately knew exactly what to do to improve my two handed backhand stroke. Many other instructional materials provide good ideas, but they are not as easy to implement into my game. And what good is knowing the correct thing to do but being unable to apply it?
Your videos give me the confidence that I can become a great player with consistent practice and application of the ideas in the videos, which has skyrocketed my motivation to hit the courts. I am enjoying tennis like never before, thanks to your excellent instruction.
Hitting off the backboard this afternoon, I knew exactly what to work on for my two handed backhand, which is normally solid but has felt a little off the past couple of weeks. Using your suggestion of hitting with just the left hand for a little while, I found that when I switched back to two hands, my stroke felt so smooth, solid, fluid, and controlled. The idea of using the right hand as a guide and hitting the ball out front was also spot on. It felt amazing to unload on the ball again with control. I am so excited that I not only have gotten my feel back, but that I am hitting the shot better than ever before.
With great tennis instruction that I can use, I have the confidence that I possess a real shot of achieving my long term goal of becoming an All-Conference Division 1 tennis player. Thank you SO much!!!
krine said
am March 19 2009 @ 2:47 am
Hi coach,
The video is really interesting but there is just one more thing I would like to know: what if I could hit forehands with each hand (which I actually can )? Would it be interesting to reinforce my right forehand (I’m lefthanded for tennis but right handed for golf)? I’m afraid the loss of time to change the racquet from one hand to another anihilate the benefit?
And also, even though the 2 hand-backhand requires perfect positioning, it is also very powerful and safe, even better than my forehand if I can reach the perfect position. So would I get any benefit from switching to a right forehand? What do u think?
admin said
am March 24 2009 @ 9:43 am
Hi Krine,
Anything’s possible – that’s what is so cool about this game.
All of the ‘modern’ strokes we see on the tour today – ‘flicks’,
‘windshield wiper’ forehands, etc – are merely adaptations
to normal tennis strokes made out of sheer necessity.
The game is so fast these days that those who adapt survive,
and those who don’t perish.
I can’t say what YOUR benefit would be by using two forehands,
because I’ve never seen you play; generally speaking though, you
simply don’t have to move as far laterally to hit a forehand as you do
to hit a two-handed backhand, so therein lies one benefit.
– CK
admin said
am March 24 2009 @ 9:51 am
Hey Gerry,
Most people like Nadal start out as young juniors with two-handed backhands,
and as such any disruption in their style can have drastic consequences as they
start climbing their way through the junior ranks. Sampras was an exception to
the rule, as he went from two-hander to one-hander as a junior, but again – an
exception to the general rule. I can’t tell you why Nadal does what he does that
would be trying to speak in his stead – but what I can tell you is that Nadal is doing
what needs to be done to win matches on the tennis court; and that’s what matters.
-CK
admin said
am March 24 2009 @ 9:52 am
Hey Alex,
More video coming soon – editing as we speak. – CK
admin said
am March 24 2009 @ 9:57 am
Hi John,
Thanks for doing your part and coaching – kids need mentors today more than ever – bravo!
The turn really IS that big a deal, and I think your girls will do well to heed your advice on it.
Also, yes – having them keep just a couple of fingers on the racket for the two-hander will
definitely save you headaches in teaching that stroke – the kids ‘get it’ pretty quick using that
method.
Regards – CK
admin said
am March 24 2009 @ 10:00 am
Hey Jeff,
You are correct on both counts on the role of the right hand…bravo!
admin said
am March 24 2009 @ 10:05 am
Hi Rhees,
The slice backhand CAN be hit with two hands, but I don’t recommend it. For most intents
and purposes, it is a one-handed shot – and here’s why: There are a variety of places and
times we use the slice, i.e. to approach, to slow down the pace of play, changes things up, etc.
Much of the time, though, a slice is used when we are pulled wide to the backhand side, and
our body is stretched out us trying to ‘reach’ for the ball. In these cases (which occur often),
it is not feasible to use a two-handed backhand to slice the ball, as you will never be able to
get the non-dominant hand on the racket in time to hit the ball. Hope that helps to clarify
things a bit. – CK
admin said
am March 24 2009 @ 10:10 am
Hi David,
It seems that way because it IS that way – most of the time, anyway. Remember,
tennis is a game of angles. That’s why players like Federer and Wawrinka can
get away with using a one-hander in today’s game. They have the timing,
technique, focus and athletic ability to pull off the shot most of the time when they
need to. It’s all about positioning and momentum- being in the right place at the
right time and hitting the right shot for the situation in which you find yourself. – CK
admin said
am March 24 2009 @ 10:14 am
1) Get your shoulders turned earlier; this will allow you to ‘uncork’ and
use your hips and legs to power the shot.
2) Make sure you do a ’split-step’, and move forward when you do it.
This will force you to ‘commit’ to the shot, and have you ready to turn
your shoulders. Again, you need to power the shot from your left side;
use the speed of the ball to power the shot on a fast serve, as all you’ll
have to do is block the ball back. – CK
stan zabizhin said
am April 24 2009 @ 5:52 pm
why doesnt the volume work? on other websites it seems to be fine, just when i play the video’s there is no volume?
Marco said
am June 13 2009 @ 6:18 am
From Italy
This video is the confirm to my theory !!!
thank’s a lot
Marco
Stan Zabizhin said
am December 21 2009 @ 6:02 pm
This video was very helpful. My two-handed backhand has improved greatly.
Raffaele said
am March 28 2010 @ 5:57 am
There is some block of the hip in the forward swing of the two handed backhand and when does this happen?It seems that without any blockage of the hip there is no adequate speed coming from the motion .Thank you coach Kirill