Two Handed Backhand: 6 Steps to a Great Backhand, Mistakes to Avoid, & Drills to Practice
In the last 50 years the backhand has evolved from a predominantly one-handed groundstroke to a two-handed shot. The reason for this is that most players find it to be an easier to play aggressively with topspin using two hands.
The goal of this guide is to help you understand and improve this shot so that you take your game to the next level.
We will explore the following concepts:
- Two-handed Backhand Technique & Fundamentals
- Common Mistakes to Avoid on the Two Handed Backhand
- Two Handed Backhand Drills & Exercises
- The Secret to the Two Handed Backhand
TWO-HANDED BACKHAND TECHNIQUE & FUNDAMENTALS
In essence, the two handed backhand is a non-dominant arm forehand. That is, for a right-handed player the left hand will swing as if hitting a forehand. As a matter of fact, being able to hit a forehand using solely the non-dominant hand is an important skill that every two-handed player should develop.
Let’s review the fundamentals of a good two handed backhand.
STEP 1: USING THE CORRECT GRIP
A proper grip is essential to hit an effective two-handed backhand.
Although there are slight differences in the way players hold the racquet, we highly recommend that you use the Continental Grip (like holding a hammer) on your dominant hand and the Eastern Forehand Grip (like shaking hands) on the non-dominant hand.
Also, make sure your hands are together on your two handed backhand. Many beginners make the mistake of separating their hands on the grip, but this severely limits your backhand.
Let’s take a look at a video to clarify this.
