One-handed Backhand or Two-handed Backhand?

by John
(Canada)

Hello,

My name is John. I'm a recreational tennis player and have been playing for close to 6 years now. I've helped out many of my friends with this question "Should I use a one-handed or two-handed backhand?".

While I can't choose for you (only you can- pick whichever one you feel better with) I do understand the pros and cons of each which I'd like to share with you all.

One-Handed Pros:
- Can adapt to a backhand volley easily
- Can use slice easily
- More reach
- Easy to handle low balls, and balls that stretch you out
- Easier to counter being jammed, especially returning serve
- Almost always used for drop shots

One-Handed Cons:
- Harder to handle high balls, especially high bouncing topspin
- Harder to control the incoming ball if it is hit with power
- Harder to return serve with it
- When off balance, shot usually has little power (ie when you get wrong-footed, slice is usually your best option since your topspin won't get any power on it)

Two-Handed Pros:
- Handle high balls easier
- Can produce extreme topspin
- Returns serve easier
- Usually hit harder than a one-handed

Two-Handed Cons:
- Less reach
- When jammed, it is much harder to return
- Harder to handle low balls (in most cases I find this true HOWEVER some cases I find that two handed backhands handle low balls great)
- Harder to hit on the run
- Harder to develop slice
- Harder to develop backhand volley skills (the transtition for most people is very awkward)

Hopefully that helps you clarify which backhand is the backhand for you. Personally, I use a two-handed backhand but I started off with a one-handed; this is due to me wanting to imitate Federer (hey we all love to imitate the pros we watch :P), and I find that it was well worth it; now I have an excellent slice and decent backhand volleys along with my solid backhand. Thanks for reading!!!