How to Hit a One Handed Backhand

Grip

  • Hold the racket with your non-dominant hand next to your hip so that the racket face is perpendicular to the ground.
  • Place your dominant hand comfortably on top of the handle, and that’s your one-handed backhand grip.

Unit turn

Backswing

Image courtesy of Picaso https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dominic_Thiem_%2814523555506%29.jpg

Uncoiling

Image courtesy of Yann Caradec https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippo_Volandri

Contact point

Creator: Monika Graff/UPI | Credit: UPI

Body rotation

Image courtesy of Carine06 https://www.flickr.com/photos/43555660@N00/7282862034

Follow through

Footwork

Image courtesy of Creator: Carine06 https://www.flickr.com/photos/43555660@N00/35399983821

Timing and preparation

  1. Elegance and Aesthetics: The one-handed backhand is often appreciated for its smooth and graceful appearance on the court. Players with a one-handed backhand are admired for their stylish shot-making.
  2. Reach and Slice: One-handed backhands typically allow for better reach and extension, enabling players to handle balls that are low or wide more effectively. Additionally, the one-handed backhand is well-suited for executing slice shots, which can create variety and disrupt opponents’ rhythm.
  3. Net Play: The one-handed backhand can be an asset at the net, as players can execute volleys and overhead shots with greater ease due to the racket’s manoeuvrability with a single hand.
  1. Roger Federer (Switzerland): Arguably one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Federer’s one-handed backhand is renowned for its precision, variety, and effectiveness.
  2. Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland): Wawrinka has a powerful and aggressive one-handed backhand that has been a key weapon in his game. He has won multiple Grand Slam titles with his impressive shot-making.
  3. Dominic Thiem (Austria): Thiem possesses a strong one-handed backhand, both crosscourt and down the line, allowing him to generate power and control from the baseline.
  4. Richard Gasquet (France): Gasquet is known for his elegant one-handed backhand, often cited as one of the most aesthetically pleasing shots in tennis.
  5. Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece): Tsitsipas has a versatile one-handed backhand that he can use both defensively and offensively, contributing to his success on the ATP Tour.

These players showcase the versatility and effectiveness of the one-handed backhand, and their skill with this stroke has contributed significantly to their success in professional tennis.

[Check out our recent post on Jannik Sinners’ Forehand Technique]

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