Optimal Two-Handed Backhand Preparation 

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Kyrgios just smashed his phone after watching this video

I've always had an awful, stiff-looking backhand. Tried this in front of a mirror. Literally fixed all of my awkwardness. I'm gonna need some on-court reps to make it work for real, but thanks so much, Nick.

That kyrgios clip repeating 😂 with perfect comedic timing on the cutoff

Agree with you 100% Nik! The young Chilean Cristian Garin has the short backswing, and definitely looks stiff and not free flowing. Unfortunately us amateurs tend to copy certain players technique, even though it may not be beneficial to our game. You have the BEST instruction on RU-vid! 👍👏

It's quite forgotten but how about David Nalbandian backhand.... honestly that was pure art...

Coach Nick, Excellent observation! With the forehand, most people can get adequate power with the mental picture of accelerating thru the ball, but due to the decreased range of motion on the two-handed backhand, I have found that I really need to start accelerating on the downward loop before contact. It's a scooping motion (some call it the NIKE swoop, but it's more 3 dimensional than just 2 dimensional) toward the non-dominant knee timed with torso rotation. Biomechanically, the increased take back also pre-tensions the dominant arm/shoulder and increases torso coiling (more back to the net). I am using a KSports Tennis Rebounder alternating forehand backhand drill for up to 60 minutes continuously for 1,800 strokes per session (ball returns every 2 seconds, faster than court play). I am concentrating on ball tracking and pre-contact acceleration which necessitates an up and back take back as you describe. As evidence I developed a skin callus at the base of the index finger of my non-dominant (left) hand. This is because I am properly bending that wrist on the take back and there is some motion going on there during the swing. I will wear a Bandaid on that finger next time. But I believe it is a good indication that my two-handed take back is adequate. As further evidence, I am using a green 70 training ball which compresses more and thus makes a "Pop" on good hits. This gives good auditory feedback of racket head speed and solid contact. My two-handed backhand is "popping" nearly as well as my forehand now.

Literally binge watching your videos at the moment.

I noticed myself doing this just this last week. It felt odd... but for some reason, had twice in a row one of the most consistent training rallies I ever had. For sure when I did point the racquet to the back I had more power, but lost consistency. Will continue to see how it feels and how it performs.

Great analysis and very good advice 👍 I like your channel and the knowledge about the technical details. Greetings

I call it Andy Roddick backhand

That's gold! What's your opinion on the technique of pointing the racket head up instead of horizontally (always behind, obviously) during the takeback?

The way Zverev hits the backhand is enviable! His kinetic chain from his wide stance to his hips, up to his shoulders back n arms finishing w the wrist… and 💥 pow! Mama Mia what a shot! Cam Norrie n Jenson Brooksby have a shovel backhand that’s fun to watch. I think that could be more of a trend moving forward. The ball stays low and forces their opponents to hit up or respond w a slice. Gr8 video coach! This one struck a chord!

I struggled with my backhand for years when I first began tennis but I had an aha moment when I practiced generating power on my backhand by using a exercise band tied up to a door(stand perpendicular to the door). The starting point was the handle of the band at the full back swing as described per Djoko/Williams and my end was my contact point. Using a band in this way highlights how you have to use your legs, hips, and shoulders to create the power AND MOMENTUM in your swing. The shortened version of the swing aka Kyrgios is much more dependent on arm and chest strength. It can work, but not effectively for most people. (I can make a video if somebody wants to demo the exercise)

Great points. I agree. Those players can get away with biomechanically less optimal backhands because of their size. The arm strength and leverage compensates. Add to that current racquet technology. However, up against their counterparts they reach the limit ofntheor technique. I think lazy footwork also encourages these abbreviated bh preps. Also, fast courts tend to nurture these strokes. Clay courts that absorb a lot of the energy won't give a blocker much pace to return. Also, sliding into a shot on clay is awkward with the racket too much in front as it won't serve as a counterbalance when sliding forward.

Nalbandian also had an excellent two-handed backhand!

The Hurkacz/Paul match at Indian Wells the other day was a great example of this. They were both doing it.

Thank you for helping us Nick!

what is the white racket? is that a Wilson Shift?

Great video Nick! How would you qualify the backhands of other upcoming young players like Sinner, Rune or Korda? Especially Korda has struck me as having of the most beautiful natural stroke technique, with an extreme attention to footwork and body position. What do you think?

Have noticed the 2-handers have also become flatter recentley. Agree that Zverev and obviously Novak have the best 2-handed backhands currently. What do you think of Holger Rune's backhand? Also would be interesting to see a video with your take on One-Handed Backhands now on Tour

Damn no wonder I've always had no power on my backhand. My takeback has been completely wrong. Can't wait to try this on court.

Yes but which hand is in control for the takeback and racquet drop?

Off topic question but I've been curious, what racket are you using now? I can never get a good look at it since you made the switch. At first I thought it was a Head Extreme, but now it looks like a Solinco Whiteout. Can you clarify?

Nick, I have been playing with a single backhand and 3 years later still have bit of a poor backhand, mostly because of late prep, so you can imagine the direction/precision isn't there. I am trying the double backhand but not much success there either. What would you recommend?

I love that the clip he uses of kyrgios happens to include a classic racket throw.

Does the racket drop happen naturally for two handed backhand when you pull forward? Or do you need to be conscious of it?

I don't think that it is worth mentioning that short takebacks work on the tour. The backhands that are worth mentioning are the ones with the cleanest swing.

Great video. This is exactly my problem with the 2 handed backhand. I will start practicing the correct technique

Two things on the two-handed backhand that pros now teach and I would never do (having a 2HBH from way back in the day): number one: mimic an ATP forehand with the off hand which is roughly what this video is about; number two: hit a two-handed backhand out of the open stance. You need to have amazing balance and strength to get anywhere close to the stability and power versus having a neutral or closed stance. The pros can do it, but average joes like me can’t.

Nick @intuitivetennis, I wanted to ask this question for some time now, and it relates to your backhand topic too - why do these top, elite players would hit a backhand like that? Or any other stroke, that hinders their game overall, especially against certain players? When I look at a Paire forehand, a Johnson backhand, a Tsitsipas slice (which is not bad, still..), I dont get it - is it the lack of talent, feel on those strokes, or bad coaching from the past? What role a coach has in these cases, during their junior years? For instance, Norrie's backhand looks weird, has its limitations against the best players, but I guess it makes him consistent, rarely misses that shot. Still, I dont quite see why would someone teach this to him, instead of the Zverev/Novak technique you described. Maybe that's why I'm not a coach! :D

Andre Agassi has quite a short, open take-back and I'd argue he has one of the top-two double handed backhands of all time.

I would add too, that raquette technology has not necessarily been a positive to our sport of tennis, kind of like TV contracts....

I totally agree with you about this ! It's not only ugly as a backhand, but absolutely sub- optimal and these players will have less choices... My backhand is a 2 hander and the take back is high to my shoulders/head - like my forehand, I also have a natural lag on both sides..

Straight arm backhands eh .Hewitt,kyrgios,Murray etc

people who are left eye dominant would have problems with the Djokovic BH. Cover your right eye and try it.

You're absolutely right great video. Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors were excellent on the 2 handed backhand and would be great examples to show also.

Hi Thanks you, back in the day as a skinny kid with a woodin racket we could get more power then any stroke because you use the arms and think of the grib as a handle like you said good back swing.

I have a one-hander but still found this interesting. Keep it up!

What do you think is the cause of the decline of the quality of the 2hbh on the tour?

Everyone talks about the jokers two hander as the greatest of all time but don't count David Nalbandian is just as good as the jokers backhand. Absolutely smooth a true thing of beauty to watch!

This is helpful! It automatically turns the hip and shoulder.

I feel the same. Yet Technique always evolves in a context, meaning that it suits as an antidote to other players while supporting ones game style/strenght: Meaning, Berretini wants to hit forehand, so his (so so) backhand wants to go down the line more, so it adapted to this use, he also wants it not tooop fast, so he has time to run around. Kyrgios on the other hand switches his technique, but generally plays more with timing and variation to control the point and set up his forehand. Lets be honest, these guys have enough talent, to play technically like djokovic, but it doesnt make sense for their game. Nole always had a better backhand them forehand, so he developped more of a weapon to win. So i guess you are right, but also you perspective is maybe a little narrow on that one? :)

Just watching Cam Norris right now and he seems to be a perfect example of this, yet playing well.

Are you talking about bunt-backhand? What can you say about players like Tiafoe or Norrie? Do they have the same technique? What can you say about Fritz's BH? I super frequently see him to have extremely short finish, why? Thanks in andvance!

I've always wondered if Kyrgios can improve his backhand, and this video makes a lot of sense.

Wow, I never knew about this. I think I’ve been doing it wrong all this time I’m going to try taking it back all the way and see how that works.

Didn’t safin have same takeback? But, when he threw his weight forward, and uncoiled his core, the abrupt pull would give him a whippy lag. And he hit heaviest

For his interesting look, medvedev has a phenomenal backhand

Athleticism has gone way up... but skill and technique have gone down.. agree 100% .

Thanks

That´s I guess a general development that harms most players, especially the recreational ones. Swingpaths are getting shorter and shorter on almost every stroke these days - apart from volleys :P. I see kids emulating the next gen "modern" technique while they miss out on crucial fundamentals, which are way more difficult to attain with this style...

The way Borg bent his left arm and kept it so close to his body was, and is, unicorn like. Never seen it again. Weird….

Its kinda a trade off, I play a lets say high recreational level and the trainers I work with from time to time tell me the same thing you are saying here and it does give more power but you lose consistency. I feel like the more motion you make on any shot is more risky but more powerful so I guess it takes more practice for more motion. Therefore for recreational level less is more considering you cant practice as much as the pros. The higher level you reach and the more you practice yes, you are more then right, more motion means more power.

Not only berretini on match point vs Murray but also kyrgios on match point vs djokovic at the Wimbledon final

Murray and novaks backhands are the best to me

also sinner has a very good and strong backhand

Agassi used to do this…

So, to summarize, the C motion is turning into a dash (-) I agree that is detrimental for sure.

Actually you can see Alcaraz backhand has the racquet on the side. Just slightly more up. I think leaving the racquet on the side is the future for technique. Taking the racquet far back has been a huge problem in many of my students

Did Roddick have the same issue on his backhand?

This is the technique for flat backhands like Kyrgios

Lol, that’s what my coach is teaching me………He said that’s how modern ATP men plays 😂

I agree 100%

What about Sinner? He clearly has a lag takeback and one of the best 2HBH on tour

Roddick used to do this too. Reason why he had the worst BH of any elite 2000's player

the last sentence 😁😂

Think this is a workaround, for those who seem to can't master proper technique. This way, with limited range of motion is less errors....

Which is why current ATP is ´Weak Era´. *Marat Safin* had an awesome double-handed backhand: racquet-head moving in and pointed at an 180° backward / 40° upward direction on the takeback and a really clean, powerful contact + follow-through. Even *Rafael Nadal* on his open-stance backhand position has the racquethead pointed in the right direction.

that kyrgios clip lmaoooooo

keep the GOATee 4ever !

It's easier to time a backhand with a shorter back swing.

👍👍👍

Korda backhand >

Agassi had an amazing 2hander. Kyrgios has a 3.5 2-hander now. Sinner and Djokovic are my current gold standard

Correction: BH takeback should not be far unless you are next-gen BH like Sinner

I think tall players can somehow get away with this shortcut technique

berrettinis backhand is a joke, considering that he trained it for 20 years, unforced error upon unforced error, that is why he always lost to big3, great serve, great forehand, but that backhand...

For Kyrgios, his backhand is fine for him and a quality shot. He can take the ball early and bunt it up the line for a winner. When he has more time, he takes a fuller swing. For amateurs like myself, I don’t have the timing of the pros. This sort of backhand works when I’m trying to be Uber aggressive on returns (high risk and high reward), but on routine groundies, it is hard to time the weight transfer to get any decent pace and spin on the ball. A fuller takeback or WTA takeback with the loop would be more beneficial for the majority of players.

Rick Macci disagrees with you. This is what he teaches.

Now that’s a lie NALBANDIAN HAS THE BEST BACKHAND OF ALL TIME. Roger and Rafa have also confirmed this. No one could break down rafas forehand like nalbandian did with his backhand and the ridiculous angles and variety of his backhand NO ONE not even Novak

nalbandian's backhand > novak's

sinner have best bachhend

Agassi, Safin, Nalbandian: 3 great 2HBHs to study and emulate. Look no further.

oney gang \

I will be surprised if any recreational player actually try copying backhand of Kyrgios and Berrettini..

Copy Osakas backhand

Any 2 handed backhand is bad technique. It is an unorthodox stroke. Unless your a woman or a child, you should not be hitting it.

nick could it is for hitting the ball earlier?

What racquet is Nick using now?

I struggled with my backhand for years when I first began tennis but I had an aha moment when I practiced generating power on my backhand by using a exercise band tied up to a door(stand perpendicular to the door). The starting point was the handle of the band at the full back swing as described per Djoko/Williams and my end was my contact point. Using a band in this way highlights how you have to use your legs, hips, and shoulders to create the power AND MOMENTUM in your swing. The shortened version of the swing aka Kyrgios is much more dependent on arm and chest strength. It can work, but not effectively for most people. (I can make a video if somebody wants to demo the exercise)