Guides · Tennis
How to hit a backhand: one-handed and two-handed
The backhand is the side your opponent will pick on, so it has to hold up under a steady diet of balls. Whichever version you hit, the thing that separates a solid backhand from a weak one is the shoulder turn. Most club backhands break down because the shoulders never turned, not because of anything the arms did.
One-handed or two-handed
The two-handed backhand is easier to learn, steadier on high balls and returns of serve, and more forgiving when you are a fraction late, because the second hand adds strength and control. It costs you reach: on a wide ball you often have to let go with one hand anyway.
The one-handed backhand gives more reach and pairs naturally with the slice, since both use similar grips and the same sideways shape. It needs better timing, a contact point further forward and a strong shoulder, and it struggles against high, heavy topspin.
Beginners and juniors are usually better off with two hands. Adults with a working two-hander rarely gain from switching; adults whose two-hander has never felt right sometimes find the one-hander was their stroke all along. If you are not sure, the two-hander is the lower-risk choice.
The two-handed backhand
Grip
For a right-hander, the right hand goes at the bottom of the handle in a continental grip (base knuckle of the index finger on bevel 2). The left hand sits directly above it, touching, in a left-handed eastern forehand grip. Some players turn the bottom hand towards an eastern backhand for more topspin; start with continental, which also makes the change to a slice or volley simpler.
The non-dominant hand does the work
Think of the stroke as a left-handed forehand (for a right-hander) with the right hand along for stability. The top hand drives the racket through the ball and controls the face; the bottom hand guides. Club players whose two-hander feels weak nearly always have it the other way round, with the dominant arm pushing and the top hand hanging on.
Contact and finish
Contact is in front of the front hip, about 20 to 40 cm ahead, slightly closer to the body than a forehand because two arms shorten your reach. Arms are relaxed and slightly bent. Stance can be neutral (stepping in) or open on wider balls. Rotate the hips and shoulders through, and finish with both hands on the racket over the dominant shoulder, elbows up. Hitting through the ball, not across it, gives the depth.
Cue: the top hand hits a forehand. If you could let go with the bottom hand at contact and still make the shot, the balance is right.
The one-handed backhand
Grip
Use an eastern backhand grip: base knuckle of the index finger on the top bevel (bevel 1), thumb diagonally along the back of the handle for support. Players who want heavier topspin turn a little further, towards a semi-western backhand. Hitting a topspin one-hander with a forehand or continental grip leaves the face open, and the ball floats.
Turn and non-hitting hand
The non-hitting hand holds the throat of the racket and pulls it back, which sets the turn: the back faces the net, the chin sits on the front shoulder. As the swing starts forward, the non-hitting hand lets go and moves back the other way, so at contact the two arms spread apart. That counter-movement keeps the shoulders sideways and stops the body opening too early, which is the classic one-hander fault.
Contact and finish
Contact is well in front, level with or ahead of the front foot, roughly a hand's length further forward than a two-hander would take it. The hitting arm is straight at contact. Stance is neutral or slightly closed, with the weight moving onto the front foot. The racket swings up and out and finishes high, arm extended above the head, while the chest still faces the side fence.
High balls are the one-hander's weak spot. Take them earlier, on the rise, before they get above the shoulder; step back and let them drop; or slice them. See how to hit a slice for that option.
Cue: arms apart at contact, chest sideways at the finish. If you are facing the net when the racket stops, the shoulders opened too soon.
Common backhand mistakes and how to fix them
- No turn. Both types. The arms swing across the body and the ball goes short and cross. Turn with both hands on the racket, chin to shoulder, before the ball bounces.
- Late contact. Both types, worst on the one-hander. The ball comes off the frame or goes wide. Prepare earlier and pick a contact point in front of the front foot.
- Dominant arm doing everything (two-hander). A pushed, weak ball. Practise left-handed forehands (for a right-hander) to wake up the top hand.
- Elbow leading (one-hander). The elbow bends and points at the ball, and the forearm takes the shock. This is a common route to tennis elbow. Straighten the arm at contact and hit with the shoulder.
- Opening up (one-hander). Shoulders swing round to face the net before contact. Let the non-hitting arm go back the other way.
- No low to high. Balls in the net. Drop the racket head below the ball after the turn.
- Wrong one-hander grip. Everything floats. Move the knuckle onto the top bevel.
Backhand drills without a court
More home drills are in tennis practice at home and shadow swing drills.
- Shadow backhands, 3 × 15. Full swing from a split step, one cue per set: chin to shoulder; contact in front; hold the finish.
- Top hand only, 15 (two-hander). The non-dominant hand alone, choked up on the handle, hitting shadow forehands. It feels clumsy for a week, which is the point.
- Freeze at contact, 10 (one-hander). Stop at contact in a mirror: straight arm, arms spread, chest sideways, contact ahead of the front foot.
- Wall rally, backhands only. Four metres from the wall, one side only until you can keep twenty going.
Backhand drills on court
- Backhand cross-court rally. Both players backhand to backhand, only balls past the service line count. This is the rally you will be dragged into in matches.
- Drop feed or basket, 3 × 20. Same ball every time, one cue per set, to groove the contact point.
- High-ball feeding (one-hander). A partner feeds high, loopy balls. Alternate taking them early and slicing them.
- Return practice. A partner serves to your backhand from the service line, then from the baseline. Short turn, same contact point.
Questions
Is a one-handed or two-handed backhand better?
Neither is better outright. The two-hander is easier to learn and handles high balls and returns better; the one-hander has more reach and combines well with the slice. Most beginners should start with two hands.
What grip do you use for a two-handed backhand?
For a right-hander, the right hand at the bottom in a continental grip and the left hand above it in a left-handed eastern forehand grip.
Which hand does the work on a two-handed backhand?
The non-dominant hand, the top one. The stroke works like a forehand with your other hand while the dominant hand guides and stabilises.
Where should you make contact on a one-handed backhand?
Well in front, level with or ahead of the front foot, with a straight arm and the shoulders still sideways. It is further forward than a two-handed or forehand contact point.
Can I switch from a two-handed to a one-handed backhand as an adult?
Yes, but expect months of rebuilding, and only switch if the two-hander has never worked for you. If it holds up in matches, keep it and add a one-handed slice instead.