Stan Wawrinka vs Roger Federer Backhand Comparison (Tennis Technique Explained) 

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"Hello, it’s Ryan from Two-Minute-Tennis, and in this video, I am going to help Roger, one of my RU-vid subscribers, to improve his backhand like Stan Wawrinka's."

I never leave a comment but coach Ryan should have 500k at least or 1million subs.. explains basics so simply yet stays true to all mechanics and advanced technique and touches up on them without scaring beginners. True ambassador of the sport. I recommend people to watch all his vids and keep watching the same ones in areas of where you want to level up in your game. Thanks COACH. Old timer now but an ex Stanford guy. And thanks to anyone reading my rambling post ...

One slight difference I noticed from watching this vid is how Federer has more of an upright posture and Stan is more bent. I think this slight difference in posture is why stans racket is more vertical during take back and finishes higher during follow through. Great analysis brother

Best comparison video I have seen on the most highly rated OHB players ever. Much appreciated. Highly impressed by your detailed and insightful analysis.

Best training video I've ever seen on the one handed backhand. Thanks Coach!

Great vid. Thanks for time invested in this 👌👍 we are missing both of them on the tour…hoping to see them back later this year 🤞🤞🤞

tremendous attention to detail & clear explanation. Thank you!

This is a brilliant analysis. Thanks, Ryan! I will integrate portions of it into my teaching.

Excellent tips! Congratulations about all the details you have explained!

Excellent video!!! Keep up the good work Ryan. Just love yr tips & channel.

The reason why Federer has a different racket angle at the start is due to his grip which is quite different from Stan. Their index knuckle are basically located the same but Stan has his other knuckles aligned on the handle while Roger has them in an angle to the handle. This is why Roger has a finish under the yellow line as well. It’s all mechanics.

I watched a lot of videos of Roger and Stan, and I have been comparing them myself. I came up with these points myself, and you have confirmed them. Thanks a lot!

So excited to see you had done this! Thank you. Nobody breaks it down like you do!

Ssuper useful, Ryan. Thanks a lot from a novice 1h BH-nder. You are as always, on fire, but this one really shows just a greater level of using your clear explanations & carefully selected footage and graphs. All thumbs up! Keep hitting it all in!

Great analysis Ryan, have a great year coach.

What’s great about this video is the way he explains WHY we need to get into certain positions. So many videos tell you what the right techniques and positions are BUT they don’t fully explain the reason the pros do it that way. For example , I immediately wanted to know why the racket needed to be closed , but immediately he explained why. It’s really important to understand the mechanics but also the rationale for them too. Great stuff!

Magnificent video!! I'll follow your advice to the letter!! Thanks a bunch!!

It was so nice!! Thank you for video

This is by far the best training video I've ever seen about the one handed backhand... Thank you 😊

Hi from London Great video Ryan, just on this video i have subscribed. Amazing amount of work and detail. I do video myself and just like this video when the ball comes straight to me i feel good with my stance and shot making. My problem is when chasing a ball out wide, i tend to lose control more than my forehand! Do you have any tips how to get the set up right when running the ball down? I look forward to viewing more of your videos. Cheers mate

Thanks coach! Closing the racket face is such a brilliant tip. My single handed backhand improved immediately. That was a flaw in my technique. Everything else I do it naturally including Shapo's method. I would like to add that for rec players struggling with 1hbh, the prep part is not really needed at rec level. By prep I mean, taking the racket to the side and dropping the racket. You can straightaway take it to slot position where the coach talks about closing the racket face. Later on you can add the racket pointing to the sky and the drop. For starters, grip the racket, plant your left foot and take it to the slot position closing the face with both hands on the racket, step in to front foot, let go of the left hand and swing. Keep the body closed until the swing is complete.

Brilliant! Thank you for these tips!

Finally someone explains the importance of the off-hand. It adjusts and carry’s the backswing load until the racquet is passed to the main hand.

Ryan you are maybe missing the fact that Federer like to disguise his shot o he use the same position to hit a top spin or slice backhamd

Man, your videos are so good and useful!!!!

Such a great lesson, thanks for helping me sort out some kinks in my single handed backhand.

Thanks coach... I can now start playing Lawn Tennis... God bless your Ministry sir!

Excellent..gonna implement this tomorrow. My one hand has deteriorated somewhat. Time to go back to basics

Thanks a lot Ryan

Great video. One thing though every baseline shot tutorial seems to be focusing on generating a lot of top spin, except for a sliced backhand . I think it's good to master a whole range of spin, from almost flat to lot of top spin, because in certain situation hitting with less top spin is useful

good analysis. well done

Thank you so much for the informative analysis. I had struggle for this shot for several beginning years, but I found out for myself that gripping at panel no.8 would help me to control the motion and also safer for my wrist. Is there any problem with my gripping or panel no.1 must be the way for this technique?

Great video analysis, I actually learned my one handed backhand in the 90s from a coach named Roger Paige, I'm happy to see every element with the exception of my grip being slightly more on panel 2 than panel 1. My backhand is my most natural and reliable shot. My only question is what panel do you think their thumbs are? Reason is that over years of playing, I developed a calloused thumb with layers of skin due the tremendous pressure in generating topspin on panel 7, when i stop playing for a extended periods, it has to re-callous to be able to generate consistent topspin... I hate having to go through that so maybe there is reason to adjust my grip?

wow, excellent video! so helpful.

First-class instruction. Thanks.

Exelente análisis del revés a una mano. Muchas gracias por compartir tus conocimientos . lo mejor de todo es que el aprender no tiene límites , siempre estamos aprendiendo y da igual la edad o la experiencia que tengamos. Felicidades por Este video. Un saludo.

Excellent comment about keeping that trailing arm on there longer. You are a good teacher and precise with your language

Wow, thank you. Nice find matching the videos pretty well imo. Regarding the grip: I thought that rather than the "pistol" style grip, that the "hammer" style is preferred, where the index knuckle and the other four, including the pinkle knuckle are on the same bevel point (panel 1 more or less)?

Hello Ryan Thank you very much for the very clear demonstration for a good backhand I am very found of your videos step by step to understand the good way I want your advice for the grip What is better ? The grip in the middle of the panel one or on the continental side of this panel when you’re not a pro player Thank you for the answer

Hi Ryan thank you very much!

Love it. I have 1 handed backhand and i lol try your advices tommorow ;)

Thanks, from San Juan, Argentina

Great tipo! Thanks!

thanks for the video

Hi... I'm tennis lover. I've been playing tennis since I was 7 yeras old and I'm brazilian citizien. I've learned english with you. Your accent and pronnunciation is amazing. Thanks!!!!

Im back here just to thank you for the vid. It's game changer when I try to let my non-hitting hand to stay on the raqauet until it reaches the pocket. I was so poor on one handed backhand gorundstroke, but this vid make me to even be able to return a good frist serve.

impressive. Thank you so much.

this is inspiring and super helpful. All one handers should watch this one

@Ryan If I may clarify a point regarding both follow thru... You have to take in consideration their upper body position and angle at contact point and especially when you show the yellow horizontal yellow line. We clearly see that Wawrinka upper body is bent forward as Federer is almost standing straight up. If you would draw a lign from left shoulder to right shoulder of both players and compare the right hand position at the end of the swing path with the shoulder line, you will notice they are exactly the same. Had Federer hit his shot with his upper body bent, his right hand would have ended up higher than his head.... Thanks !

Will give it a go. Makes sense. Thanks.

great tip on the sharpo finish for more control...

Great tutorial! I'm going from two handed to one handed backhand. This vid is perfect tutorial for those who wants to learn the one handed backhand.

Very detailed and insightful analysis! I also noticed Federer’s takeback racquet angle is “too” open. I suspect if he is trying to have the similar form as backhand slice, so he can hide his intention.

Hey Ryan! Should keeping the left hand on the racket until after the front pocket feel like your pushing the racket with the left arm? Or perhaps leading with the right arm and simply resting the left arm on the throat? On the double handed backhand, it feels like a mix of both pushing/guiding with the left arm and pulling with the right arm but I can't get the right feeling on the single hander? Thanks for the amazing analysis as always! Edit: Oh and im a right hander

Good preliminary description. I have three tips to increase your control, power and topspin on the one-handed backhand. 1. Notice where Shap and you finish the carry with the racket. Put a one-inch strip of blue masking tape on the racket's most forward edge. Should be the corner where vertical and horizontal strings end. That piece of tape is how you aim the finish of your carry, but it's okay to let the racket continue past that point, so long as you stay conscious of that strip of tape. No matter how hard you swing, if you aim this way, it will be a stable shot. 2. Going way back to Billie Jean King, you've got to cock your wrist so that the racket snaps outwards to the ball, then carry the racket face forward re tip 1. The longer you delay the snap, the more power you'll get. 3. To double your topspin, just as your left hand lets go of the racket, try flipping the racket head down with your thumb. When it rebounds back up, you'll get an impressive amount of topspin, like Nadal's forehand. I call this a "flip-rip" backhand swing. Caution: it can produce some embarrassing miss-hits, but if you time it right, it's great fun.

I would draw attention to the fact that both players don't move their head until well after contact, and that they both have their left elbow bent to create proper spacing. The key is to get the recreational player to release their shot when it seems like the ball is still too far away. Only then can they replicate the awesome technique these guys have.

Here’s what I have found to be the difference between the two grips: Before, when I used to bring my head up too early, the full eastern position with knuckle directly on bevel one helped to keep the ball in the court, like a crutch, but a more reactive and non driving shot from the baseline, but then when I realized the benefits of having the grip more between bevels 1 and 2, I quickly trained myself to keep my head down through the shot, and now what used to be a more defensive shot is driving through the court, even on the run. The difference is huge.

Amazing 👌👌 thank you

Super helpful

Hello There Thanks for this amazing video. Your advice about sharapolovs back hand i don t get it. Its just for more control? But the top spin you could produve with your handankle you loose. Right?

This is actually excellent

10/10. Take a bow - great video!!

Love your analysis.

Could you do a comparison of the greatest female forehand vs greatest male forehand ie Graf vs Fed? Thanks

Going to try it for sure.

Hi Ryan! In another video you emphasized the “left V” finish on the follow through. I see Roger and Stan both pronating their wrists before ending in the “left V” position.

2 key things i think you missed. 1. To get power both Stan and Roger transition their weight fully onto their right foot just at the moment of contact. If you already have your weight on the right foot, you have lost a lot of power. 2. The follow through must rollover to get proper topspin and power. Just like getting power from an ATP forehand by prestretching the wrist and coming over the ball. This is how you power AND arc, like with Nadal on his forehand. Lift high and left angled, as you put it, loses that power and it much harder to hit hard with arc. Arc is desirable to reduce errors.

I appreciate these great racket mechanics discussions re hand, arm position. They’re important, but they miss so much else that’s important, so that much of the US amateur club player tennis world thinks the sport is 95% about the arm-hand, or the ‘non hitting hand’, etc. The things that makes Feds swing beautiful are his body dynamics, feet, hips, torso. Weight shift from foot to foot. Body position relative the ball. Wawrinka is using more torso tilt to reach that ball; Fed is much more upright. More upright means it’s easier to maintain balance, one less degree of motion to manage, and that torso tilt has to recovered after the shot, again taking more time, more energy, more balance management. Balance means quicker movement from the stop, using less energy, yet more ease of control. It’s also evident to me that Warinka is using more arm and shoulder strength, while Fed uses more hip, torso twist power delivered into his shoulder.

Fed backhand is mind game hitting just same as forhand can go lob alittle bit as rally’s goes whereas wawrinka is hitting direct to the point where opponent can be out balanced. Both players very good

Great stuff, Ryan. Particularly like points about non hitting hand holding on, and left side of the V on follow through. One other slight diff you didn't mention, though. Roger keeps his head down on follow through after ball contact. Stan lifts his head earlier even though he doesn't bring his body as high as Rog.

Superb 😊😊😊

Another great video. I really like the tip "keep the non-hitting hand on the racket until it passes your pocket". I also commented on one of your previous videos where you describe this. You are killing it...keep it up!

This is awesome thank you. I would like to add that Wawrinka is well known for his stronger hip and upper body rotation. I know that’s advanced power technique, but I wonder how an amateur player can at least incorporate a bit of such rotations.

Great tip about keeping the non hitting hand on the racquet till it's in front of the pocket. I struggle to push the left arm back as a counterweight during the stroke. It's probably because I release the left hand too early from the racquet.

great!!!

I applied some of these tips today in my semi finals and won 6-1, 6-1… mostly the remain in V-shape helped to hit the backhand more consistently. Normally they go out or in the net, but today they all went in. Not hard, but good enough. Thanks

Many of the pros have the racquet head almost pointing to the back fence when they finish I assume because of their loose wrists. Look at Dimitrov's finish.

Little tip but very important make sure your thumb & index finger is pointing up when holding the racket with the non dominant hand at the ready position u will be surprised what a difference this makes on the forehand & very effective on the one handed backhand !coaches need to bring this into their coaching for their students 🎾🏆💪👍

Great video, one thing thats not discussed enough is that heel pad is on bevel 8 as it's diagonal to the index pad they aren't both on bevel 1 as this puts wrist in weak position. Having heel pad on 8 and undex on 1 allows for pistol spread knuckles luke Federer. If grip is more hammer then Definitely on bevel 8. This allows the grip to work against the heel pad to allow the head of racket to come up through impact easier and offer more support. Have a look at still picture of players when racket is about to move out of slot see it easier

greatest ryan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What type of racquet is that?

nice work, thank you very much, it felt more like 20 minutes lol, but worth spending!!!

Could you do something on more extreme backhand grips like Gustavo Kuerten, Justine Henin, or Gasquet?

Roger is left eye dominant. that's why he backhand more frontally. Great video! Greetings from Argentina.

It´s the first time I noticed that espicially Wawrinka´s racket is almost parallel to the backfence when he is coiling up/ loading, never thought it was so extreme

The height has a factor here. That's why they look slightly different on the upper half of their body. However, if you look at the foot position and pivoting, Wawrinka's legs and position is what gives him so much power when he hit that perfect backhand of his! Both are perfect of course if can execute half the way they execute.

I saw many videos has stan has low follow through .i think that depend on many aspects like if want to hit flat or top spin, position of body either ball etc

It would be nice to compare wawrinka with guga kuerten and henin to evaluate semi western grip in single handed bachand. I wish those players backhands were very powerful and elegant.

While Stan’s may be a little easier to copy, Federer’s is better because to his opponent, the open face looks as if it could be a slice, and it can be because of the grip and extreme supination Federer has.

Hi, great video, my main problem with the one-hand backhand is that I'm always late on the ball, can you give us some tips on how to be on time? Basically, a lot of time I find myself hitting behind my body instead of in front. That's why during matches I always slice it, I don't trust it! Thanks

When I was taught to hold the grip, I was taught to use the V formed with the thumb and index finger. Therefore, my V is on the edge of panel 7/8 when I hit a backhand. Is this good? I'm kinda shocked when I hear you say Stan and Federer place their base knuckle/heel pad on panel 1 near panel 2.... I don't have a racquet right now but I imagine its all the same....I hope. Surely my childhood coaches ain't steer me so wrong/extreme.

at least i got something today (lefthand at the pocket before let the racquet go), thank you

But Stan does open his torso when he finishes the back? He does not stay sideways. Great video. Thanks.

Stan backhand is technically more perfect than RF. But Stan’s backhand involves a more extended follow through whereas RF does not. RF stance is less side on than Stan’s. The difference is Stan’s backhand has more power and RF is able to react to the next shot quicker. Given the speed of the men’s game, clearly RF technique is what enabled him to be able to win so many tournaments and majors.

Roger's technique makes one falls in love with single backhand...so elegant....Roger peRFected it, awesome !!!

I have to ask. How come when you transition from the camera audio in your basement to the part where you voice over the video, the audio quality of your mic becomes so harsh and overloaded? I don't know anything about microphones or audio editing, I'm just asking because I always wince when you go from your intro to your main presentation. I don't see anyone else complaining about this and I feel I must be in the minority here but I'm just throwing this out here to see if anyone experiences the same thing

Not sure if Federer ever finished a grand slam final with a BH ... but the beauty Stanimal hit against Nole on RG to clinch the win is a shot to behold forever.

I have watched a couple or these with fed and someone else and you seem to always Prefer the other player, which is surprising since most people seem to always view fed as having the most aesthetically appealing game of all time. He’s definitely the GOAT in that respect.

I think there is a slight difference in the ball received by both of them, hence the footwork is different for both. Since Roger is receiving a slightly higher ball much deeper, and he takes the ball on the apex. Whereas Stan has a much lower ball that bounced inside the service line and he hits the ball on its way down, hence his footwork is more textbook than Rogers. But good analysis nonetheless.