The Two-Handed Backhand On The ATP Sucks

So a while back, maybe a year ago, I started observing a trend on the ATP Tour regarding the two-handed backhand. Back then, there were only maybe a handful of players using a specific technique on the backhand that is sub-optimal. And I can tell you now, this is not a trend anymore; this technique has spread like wildfire.

What you would normally see on the two-handed backhand is a take-back that goes further back, where the tip of the racket is pointing straight towards the back fence or, on the WTA Tour, it actually points a bit more behind the body.

What you'll find now, especially on the ATP Tour, from players like Kyrgios, Berrettini, Kachanov, and the list goes on and on, is a take-back position that goes towards this side. Thus, in today's article, I'm going to explain to you why this is sub-optimal and why it doesn't give you the same range of motion as some of the greatest two-handed backhands in the history of the game.

No Lefty Forehands

For what I'm about to explain to make sense, you have to understand the crucial difference between a forehand and a two-handed backhand. These two things are not alike. If I put my racket on the side of the body on the forehand, I can still have a range of motion.

In other words, the racket will lag behind. Not only here, but on high-level players, the racket will lag behind all the way to here, where the tip of the racket is pointing towards the corner of the side fence.

Now, here's the problem. If we take the backhand as an example and we put the racket here, this racket will not allow lag in the same way. Why not? Because we have two hands on the racket.

There are limitations when it comes to the non-dominant wrist; it will not bend that far. So what happens with players that start their backhands here is they get less range of motion. 

Some of them will remain on this side of the body, and some will go a little bit further back. This ultimately results in a stroke that's shorter, that has less acceleration.

Learning From The Best

Let me explain the techniques of the current best two-handed backhands on tour. I was always a big fan of Alexander Zverev's two-handed backhand, and in my opinion, it is among the top three in the world.

Of course, everybody knows that Novak Djokovic has the best two-handed backhand of all time. I'm also going to include Rafael Nadal, the player with a phenomenal two-handed backhand.

What you will see all these three players do is put the racket further back in their take-back position, and what naturally happens from this position is the racket will drop before it starts to go back to a neutral position.

Stiff Tools

What you will see from players like Kyrgios or Kachanov or Berrettini is that the backhand looks short, stiff, and rushed. Now, I know what you're thinking.

These players are making millions of dollars with their backhands. They have really fast backhands that can hit backhand winners, no doubt about it. They still have extremely good backhands. I'm not saying that these backhands are bad.

In fact, this technique might be adequate in certain situations. Let's say you're playing on a super-fast indoor court, or on grass, or you're returning a ball that's very deep and flat, or you're returning a serve. A reduction in the take-back is going to work out just fine.

However, when you don't have those things, this is where these types of backhands look more forced. If you want to take a look on YouTube at a backhand that was mishandled by Berrettini with this technique, this happened on match point against Andy Murray in the fifth set, five-four.

Berrettini had the entire court open, had a two-handed backhand in the middle of the court, and he did one of these backhands. Of course, he didn't get enough range of motion on it and he dumped it into the net.

Emergency Situations

This backhand technique can work even at the elite level. However, if we compare it to the greatest two-handed backhands in the history of the game or currently the greatest backhands on tour, we see a different technique.

It is one where the range of motion is greater, the racket has more room to accelerate, and if we take a look at these backhands, for example, Zverev or Djokovic, it looks more flowing, and it doesn't look as hectic and as tight.

Another player that you can include in the discussion of having the best backhand on tour is Carlos Alcaraz, and if you take a look at Alcaraz's take-back, he has a Djokovic-style take-back where the tip of the racket goes straight towards the back fence.

Ruining Your Game

You heard me just say that this type of technique can work at the elite level. I'm here to tell you that at the recreational level, two-handed backhands are something that's very difficult to adapt to for a lot of recreational players who started playing tennis later in life.

By adapting this technique, let's say you want to copy Kyrgios or Berrettini, you start your backhand from here, you are bound to have big issues with your two-hander.

Generally, at the elite level, there's a tremendous amount of pace, and players can just absorb that pace and send the ball back pretty fast with this type of technique. However, at the recreational level, you're dealing with less pace coming at you.

For that reason, if you shorten your take-back and you start right here, it's going to be very difficult for you to get any type of power on your two-hander. What you must do is point the tip of the racket towards the back fence, à la Djokovic; you have to start your backhand like this.

Circumstances Change

So yes, you will see even Djokovic take his racket back minimally from time to time if he's returning serve or if a ball is coming at his feet. He won't go all the way back. So, the context is super important.

You're going to have your regular take-back that goes back shortly. There will also be some scenarios where you will have to shorten it depending on the pace of the incoming ball and the depth of the incoming ball. 

However, your regular bread and butter take-back, cannot be so short. It has to go further back for the reasons explained in this article.

Degrading Technique?

You have probably been thinking that it is not possible for the technique to get worse on the ATP Tour. How can the technique be regressing? Isn't it supposed to evolve and get better and better as time goes on?

Well, generally, yes. But in the case of the two-handed backhand, I have to tell you no because it doesn't make sense from a biomechanical standpoint. No matter how much you try to get a range of motion for heat, you just simply won't because you have two hands on the racket, and that non-dominant wrist is blocking the racket from going back.

The discussion is about what is more effective, what gives you more range of motion, what allows you to hit a better shot. If you're at the recreational level and you're considering adapting the technique of Kyrgios, Berrettini, or Kachanov, I strongly advise against it.

The reason is simple. These players are at a different level of athleticism, skill, and experience. They can make that technique work because they're dealing with a level of pace and power that you're unlikely to encounter in recreational play.

Final Thoughts

At the recreational level, you need every bit of leverage, range of motion, and acceleration you can get. That's why it's crucial to adopt the technique used by the likes of Djokovic, Zverev, and Alcaraz, where the racket goes further back, allowing you to generate more power and spin. 

This technique is better suited for players who are still developing their skills and don't have the physical attributes of the pros.While the shorter take back may work for elite players in specific situations, it's not the best approach for recreational players. 

You should focus on maximizing your range of motion and leverage by using a more traditional take-back, similar to what players like Djokovic and Zverev employ. This will help you develop a more effective and powerful two-handed backhand, which is essential for success at the recreational level.