For years, hitting the backhand with two hands instead of one has been the preferred style at both the pro and recreational levels. In a perfect world I would teach a player to use a two-handed backhand for service returns and topspin drives, but still be adept at the one-handed slice for variety, defense, and volleying. But most players rely on one style over the other and accept the limitations. In the case of the two-hander these occur when a player has to reach to hit a ball on the run. And since two-handers tend to be deadly when stationary, it becomes that much more important to force them to move. Here’s how you can make things uncomfortable for opponents with two-handed backhands.

BEGINNER

OBJECTIVE 1: Take advantage of an abbreviated swing.
When players first learn the two-hander, they can be consistent with the shot, but they tend to have a somewhat restricted swing. Instead of a free-flowing, accelerated stroke, it’s more of a bunt or block. With that being the case, it becomes much more difficult for them to control the ball when they’re on the move. And at this level, you don’t have to move your opponent far.

A simple way to do this is to hit several balls in an offensive manner to the forehand side of the court. This will get your opponent to move to that area and open up room on the backhand side. Don’t aim at the lines, as just making a player hit on the run with both hands on the racquet (or, even better, forcing him to take one hand off of it) can cause huge balance problems.

OBJECTIVE 2: Keep the ball deep in the court.
Another limitation of an abbreviated backhand stroke is that it makes it difficult to hit balls that land close to the baseline. Since you may have a two-handed backhand as well, you’d be wise to try to back up your opponent. That way, he’s hitting from deep in the court and you can move up close to or in front of the baseline. This gives him a small target to hit to, while you have more options.

To hit deep shots, concentrate on the height of the ball over the net rather than the pace. If necessary, take something off the ball and give yourself plenty of net clearance so you have a large margin for error as well as a deep shot. This will put pressure on your opponents, which can cause errors on the two-handed side.

INTERMEDIATE

OBJECTIVE 1: Force your opponent to hit a variety of two-handed backhands.
Even if the two-handers you’re playing have a measure of versatility, they still won’t be completely comfortable hitting when they’re off-balance. So along with backing up your opponent with a series of deep balls to the backhand, you should also mix in some short and low shots as well. That way they’re struggling to reach the ball, and generating racquet-head speed while moving forward can be difficult. Ideally you’ll force them to remove the nondominant hand from the racquet, which will likely result in a poor shot.

Another way that you can make your opponent uncomfortable is to jam a serve into the body. Having both hands on the racquet can make for an awkward reply on a hard serve right at the chest or hip.

OBJECTIVE 2: Pick on the backhand volley.
By testing your opponent’s two-handed backhand with a short ball, you’re also bringing him closer to the net. While it’s not always the case, many players who have two-handed backhands don’t volley as well as players with a solid one-handed slice. Given that, if your opponent chooses to follow a midcourt ball to net, test him on the backhand side. You don’t have to hit a perfect shot; if you can hit it low and make your opponent volley up or stretch, you’ll be in great shape on the next shot.

ADVANCED

OBJECTIVE 1: Try to disrupt your opponent’s rhythm.
For a highly skilled player, the two-handed backhand will often be a dominant shot. It’s usually not as overpowering as his or her forehand, but it’s steadier.

Most two-handed players enjoy getting into a rhythm in which they’re hitting the ball somewhere between thigh and chest height. That’s generally the strike zone, and they don’t miss too many balls in that area.

If that’s the case, what you want to do is mix up your shots so your opponents are forced to make contact with their backhands out of their comfort zones. On one ball, hit a slice that makes them reach below their knees, and back it up with a high roller that moves the point of impact to the shoulder. At this level, the more you show your opponents different heights and spins, the better off you’ll be.

OBJECTIVE 2: Use your serve to stretch the court.
Two-handers are good fastball hitters—having the extra hand on the racquet makes it difficult to overwhelm them with a serve. But because their reach is limited, a spin serve that jumps away from them will cause them problems. For instance, if you and your opponent are right-handed, use a kick serve in the ad court that jumps up and away from his backhand. Or if your opponent is a left-hander, a slice serve out wide on the deuce side will stay low and skid, potentially forcing him to return the ball with one hand on the racquet.

Article by Paul Annacone, Illustrations by Craig Zuckerman – Tennis.com

1.

Then, last summer, he got into great shape and adopted a more sensible strategy. He stayed in points longer and used his quickness and retrieving skills as the foundation of a game that got him to the semifinals of the U.S. Open. If you want to be successful, it’s crucial to know what kind of player you are. Someone who doesn’t move well should figure out ways to end points quickly rather than get into long exchanges. But players who can motor around the court shouldn’t be afraid to use defense as their primary weapon.

2. Serve Like a Pitcher Ginepri is fit, but he’s not a huge guy. Yet for some reason he used to try to serve bullets the way Andy Roddick does. His first-serve percentage was usually pretty low, which got him into trouble. Now, Ginepri’s serve reminds me more of Andre Agassi’s. He moves it around the box and isn’t afraid to hit a big kicker to start off a point. At times he’ll still go for the ace and uncork a laser, but he’s more selective about it. Like Agassi, he uses the serve to set up points rather than trying to finish them. Unless you’ve got a huge delivery, trying to pound the serve every time is not the best idea. You won’t be able to win enough points to warrant hitting that many second serves. You’re better off keeping your opponents off-balance by changing speeds, spins, and placement.

3. Don’t Hit a Predictable Ball Besides being overly aggressive, I thought that Ginepri’s strokes were also rather one-dimensional. He would try to drive his groundies hard and flat, right above net level. Not a bad idea on passing shots, but it’s tough to maintain in a rally, not to mention it becomes rather predictable to his opponents. Now Ginepri is incorporating some backhand slices, low balls, and loopy topspins to go along with his powerful drives. It keeps his opponents on their heels, causing them to commit errors and hit short balls that Ginepri can take advantage of. If you always show your opponents the same look, they’re going to catch on. Something as simple as putting a little more or less air underneath your shots or adding extra spin can disrupt their rhythm. In a way, you’re being aggressive without trying to do too much with the ball.

Article by Brad Gilbert, Photos By Clive Brunskill/Getty Images – Tennis.com

Choose Carefully: Like any player, Nalbandian is capable of making physical errors, but he rarely commits tactical mistakes. He takes what his opponent gives him and doesn’t force a situation that isn’t there. This is an important lesson for the recreational player. I know I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: Whether you hit a screaming winner or your opponent flubs a backhand, it’s still worth one point. If Nalbandian is pushed deep or wide, he plays the ball back safely and solidly and stays in the point until he gets an opening. What I really like about his style, though, is that while he’s willing to wait until the 15th stroke of a rally, he’s not afraid to pull the trigger on the second ball if there’s an opening. Sometimes your best opportunity comes early in a point, like on a shaky serve, and you’ve got to be ready to pounce on it.

Use The Down-The-Line Backhand: When he does get a short ball in the middle of the court, Nalbandian likes to open things up with a shot down the line.
He’s solid off either wing,but his two-handed backhand is fantastic. In fact, he has one of the best down-the-line two-handers in men’s tennis. It starts with good preparation, in which he almost always gets his body down nice and low. He also uses his left (non-dominant) hand to shape and control the shot. And Nalbandian rarely overswings, instead using a fluid stroke that massages the ball close to the sideline. Remember, you don’t have to hit an outright winner when you open up the court; you only need an effective setup shot for finishing the point on the next ball.

Article by Brad Gilbert, Photo by Tommy Hindley/Professional Sport – Tennis.com

1. Build Your Consistency.

2. Adapt Your Serve to Your Opponent. Many players have a set way of serving regardless of who they happen to be up against. Not Agassi. He tailors his style according to his opponent. For instance, if he’s playing someone with a weak return of serve, you might see Agassi get 85 percent of his first serves in. He doesn’t want to let a poor returner off the hook by giving him a lot of second serves. On the other hand, if he’s playing someone with a formidable return, Agassi may go for bigger first serves to try to neutralize that weapon. And if his opponent has a weaker wing on the return, you’d better believe that Agassi is going to pick on it. Much of serving effectively revolves around serving smart. Analyze the situation and the opponent and develop a strategy accordingly. Don’t put undue pressure on yourself by missing first serves, particularly if your opponent is crushing your second serve. And if your opponent has a faulty forehand return, make sure to aim a majority of your serves to that side.

3. Don’t Give Away Any Points at the Start of a Match. It’s natural for players to be nervous at the beginning of a match. And for that reason many don’t feel too bad if they play sloppily in the first few games. But if you watch Agassi, he’s focused and ready to go right from the opening bell. His approach is to make his opponents earn every point. This sets the tone for the rest of the match. Not only does it get Agassi dialed in, it lets his opponents know that they’re going to have to work for everything. Some players have the ability to ease their way into a match, but I think it’s a better tactic to be warmed up and methodical from the opening game. Don’t give away points because you think there’s time to recover. Playing the score can be dangerous. Maintaining a high level of concentration and intensity, no matter what the score, will give you more consistent results.

Article by Brad Gilbert, Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images – Tennis.com

1. KICK IT OLD SCHOOL
I like to say that Roger Federer has brought the old-school game of tennis to the modern world. He plays with tremendous variety of shot and strategy, and it was all on display in his 6-0, 7-6 (3), 6-0 rout of Lleyton Hewitt, a player whose tenacity usually gives his opponents fits. What Federer shows is that there is no substitute for being a well-rounded player and having options when you step on the court.

2. BE PATIENT
Because Hewitt plays a conservative, defensive style, it was up to Federer to decide when to go on the offensive. Hewitt couldn’t hurt him from the baseline, so Federer waited for a ball that would allow him to take control of the point. When you face a determined counter-puncher, try not to get overeager. The surest way to defeat such an opponent is to be patient and work each point until you have a clear opening.

3. HANG TOUGH
Even though Hewitt lost the first eight games, he still fought hard. If he had gotten a few lucky breaks he would have been back in the match. When you’re playing an opponent who is on fire, keep making him hit shots. If he continues to hit winners, then he’s too good that day. But many times you’ll weather the storm. Federer cooled off considerably in the second set, and Hewitt kept plugging away and nearly stole it.

4. PLAY BIG IN THE BREAKER
Federer realized the importance of the second set tiebreaker. Winning it would give him a two-set lead and destroy the momentum Hewitt had gained by clawing his way back into the match. Federer elevated his game and reeled off the first four points of the breaker. Instead of trying to take the initiative, Hewitt played the points hoping Federer would make errors. You have to put a premium on every point in a tiebreaker. Play each one as if it’s a break point.

5. TAKE THE BALL EARLY
Federer’s ability to move from well behind the baseline to the middle of the court, from defense to offense, is unbelievable. Once he recognizes that a ball is going to be short, he moves up to take it early. That’s how he hit most of his winners against Hewitt. If you take the ball even a half-second earlier, that’s better than adding 10 m.p.h. to your shot because you’re being aggressive while still playing within your comfort zone.

Article by Patrick McEnroe, Photo by Ron Angle – Tennis.com

1. GO DEEP
Serena Williams is known for putting her opponents on their heels, but in this match she was the one hitting off her back foot. Maria Sharapova’s ground strokes had tremendous pace, but equally important was how deep they were. Her shots landed just inside the baseline, and she created a large margin for error by only occasionally going for the sidelines. That’s the epitome of “controlled aggression.”

2. USE LITTLE STEPS
Hitting with depth also knocks your opponent off-balance. Time and again Serena would lift her front leg or even fall over trying to return Sharapova’s shots. To deal with such power, you have to hunker down and get control over your center of gravity. That requires using little adjustment steps to get in ideal hitting position. Serena has always been great at using long strides to retrieve seemingly unreachable balls, but she can struggle with smaller positioning steps. You saw the results in this match.

3. SHARPEN YOUR SECOND SERVE
I spent some time with Sharapova last summer and saw how hard she works on her serve. But I was still surprised by how much more effective her second serve was than Serena’s, which is the best in women’s tennis. Sharapova outpaced Serena on the second serve (she averaged 97 m.p.h., compared with Serena’s 86 m.p.h.), and she won a higher percentage of points with it (60 percent to 43 percent). It’s a huge advantage when you have confidence in your second serve, and it gives you more freedom on your first serve.

4. VARY YOUR PASSES
Sharapova didn’t just pound the ball; she also used guile. Serena isn’t especially comfortable in the forecourt, and the last thing you want to do against an insecure volleyer is hit her the same kind of passing shot each time. So Sharapova hit a rocket right at Serena (almost hitting her nose) and then dipped a slow-paced angle that caused a backhand volley error. And when Sharapova really needed a point late in the second set, she threw up a beautiful backhand topspin lob that froze Serena, who was smothering the net.

5. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
If Sharapova is down in a game, set, or match, you’d never know it by looking at her. Between points, she focuses on her strings to stay composed. So many players burn energy getting emotional about the score. Sharapova saves everything she has for her shots and her strategy.

Article by Tracy Austin, Photo By Action Images/Wire Image – Tennis.com

1. Don’t Go to the Well Too Often
Mauresmo has one of the best backhands in women’s tennis. She can do anything with it—crush a drive, roll a loop, or carve a slice. Still, there have been times when she’s leaned too heavily on that shot. It’s so much better than her forehand that she would unload on every backhand that came her way. She would litter the stat sheet with lots of winners and errors off that side. Shoring up her forehand has allowed Mauresmo to be more selective about when she goes for her backhand. In turn, she has become more consistent. She hasn’t done anything different as far as technique on her forehand, but through practice it’s become a more reliable shot. If you’ve got a weapon such as a big forehand or first serve and you become too reliant on it, when it misfires so does your entire game. Taking the time to strengthen a weakness will put less pressure on you to constantly make an impact with your go-to shots.

2. Move Forward in the Court
Growing up on clay and possessing long, flashy strokes, Mauresmo has always preferred to play 8 to 10 feet behind the baseline. Although it’s an effective style, it’s made it more difficult for her to hit winners, and being far back in the court has limited her opportunities to get to net. That’s unfortunate, because she has solid volleys. But lately, Mauresmo is doing a nice job of playing closer to the baseline. This makes her shots more penetrating and cuts down on the amount of court she has to cover. It also gives her opportunities to get to net and play an all-court game. If you’re constantly hitting your ground strokes from way behind the baseline, you’re going to play a passive, reactive game. And when you have success with a certain style, it’s difficult to make changes. But having the ability to take the ball a little earlier once in a while will open up different hitting options for you and put added pressure on your opponents.

3. Believe in Yourself
For several years Mauresmo was labeled the best player never to win a Slam. Many people even called her a choker. But Mauresmo kept working on her game and continued to challenge for the biggest titles. That perseverance paid off when she won her first major at the 2006 Australian Open. Very few of us have so-called experts writing about our tennis and judging our mistakes every week, but the most important critic is the voice inside our heads. If you keep telling yourself that you’re not capable of beating a certain opponent or learning that new shot, you just might start to believe it. Instead, realize that the slightest improvement can make a big difference in your game. Being positive and tenacious will serve you well.

Article by Brad Gilbert, Photos by Adam Pretty/Getty Images, Michael Steele/Getty Images – Tennis.com

1. USE YOUR HEAD
There’s so much to like about Martina Hingis’ style of play, but my favorite thing about her game is the way her brain is always churning. She’s constantly looking for holes in her opponent’s game and trying to figure out what she can do to pull out a win. For instance, against some players Hingis will repeatedly hit into the open court, while other times she’ll simply keep her shots deep and consistent. Unless you’ve got overpowering stuff, you’ve got to put thought into whom you’re playing and how your shots are working that day. So many players have a particular style and, even if they’re losing, will never adapt. (Hint: You can’t stand in the same spot to receive serve if you keep missing your returns.) With Hingis, she’ll never stick to a game plan if it’s not a winner. The best players figure out what’s working and what’s not and adjust accordingly.

2. EMBRACE DOUBLES
Much like John McEnroe, when Hingis was young she didn’t like to practice and to compensate for that she played a lot of doubles. Not only did it serve as a workout, but it helped her immeasurably with her transition game, return of serve, touch, and volleys. In fact, I’d like to see Hingis come forward more in singles because I think that she’s money at the net. If you’re a developing player, young or old, you would be wise to include doubles in your practice regimen. Besides all the benefits to your basic strokes, you also learn how to use specialty shots like lobs and short angles to create openings in the court. For those players who use tennis as a fitness outlet, it’s true that doubles doesn’t give you the same cardio push you get in a singles match. But if your goal is to become a well-rounded player, you can’t overlook doubles.

3. CHANGE SPEEDS ON YOUR SHOTS
The biggest knock on Hingis’ game is that she can’t compete in the power department with many of her competitors. While that’s true, Hingis does a remarkable job of making her shots seem bigger by varying the pace and spin on her strokes. She’ll stay in the point with loops and angles and then all of a sudden move inside the baseline to take the ball early and hit a solid drive into the open court. By disguising when she’s going to amp up the power, Hingis surprises her opponents and usually catches them on their heels. It’s a great tactic for players who don’t pack a lot of heat on their strokes. Mix in junkballs and other changes of speed, because when you do try for a more aggressive shot it will feel that much more imposing to your opponents.

Article by Brad Gilbert, Photos by Andrew Wong/Getty Images, Greg Wood/Getty Images – Tennis.com

1. HIT THROUGH YOUR NERVES
When the score is close, you’ve basically got two ways to play. The first is the style that I preferred—limit your mistakes and try to draw errors from your opponent. The other method— Gonzalez’s bread and butter—is to let it rip. The closer the score, the more it seems Gonzalez goes for his shots. If he’s got a second serve at 4-4, 30- 40, he won’t take anything off the ball. In fact, he hits it bigger and closer to the lines than he does when he has a comfortable lead. That’s how Gonzalez handles pressure, and it works for him. He wins or loses on his own terms. If nerves cause you to struggle at the end of close sets, swinging freely to hit the tension out of your system is an option.

2. PLAY OFFENSE TO AVOID DEFENSE
Gonzalez is by no means slow, but by professional standards his court coverage is not top-shelf. This, along with his massively long strokes, make his retrieval skills somewhat of a liability. But Gonzalez, like many others with this problem, has discovered that the best defense is good offense. If he’s the one dictating action and forcing his opponents to play on their heels, he takes his lack of quickness out of the equation. Although you can work on speed and quickness, they’re difficult to develop. You should always strive to get in the best possible shape and to gain that extra step, but you also have to realize the type of player you are. Some people are just not natural movers. But you don’t need to be particularly fast if you’re forcing your opponents to scramble.

3. PUT PRESSURE ON YOUR OPPONENT’S SERVE
Some players treat the return of serve simply as a means of getting a point going: Put the ball back in play, and work from there. It’s conservative but not a bad strategy. Still, it can be beneficial to take some risks and be more assertive with your returns. Gonzalez, for one, looks at the second-serve return as an opportunity to hurt his opponents. There are times when he’ll even take big cuts when sending back first serves. Sometimes it backfires on him, but when it’s clicking Gonzalez’s return game can wreak havoc. By pummeling the second serve he can draw double faults because opponents are afraid to give him anything soft. So, in an effort to avoid second serves altogether, the server might ease up on the first serve just to get it in. It’s a combination that results in lots of breaks. And at the club level, where players may not have a great deal of confidence in their serves to begin with, boosting your aggressiveness on your returns will do damage.

Article by Brad Gilbert, Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images, Michael Steele/Getty Images – Tennis.com

1. CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS
The biggest difference I’ve noticed in Nadia Petrova’s game recently is her ability to manage her anger. It used to be only a matter of time before she mentally imploded if she wasn’t playing well. Petrova was constantly screaming at herself, which would destroy her confidence and, as a result, her performance. Basically she was losing to herself. But toward the end of 2005 I finally saw Petrova start to relax and display some composure. She was letting her shots, not her emotions, determine the outcome of her matches. The upshot has been a flurry of tournament titles and a jump in the rankings. It’s good to be passionate, but not negative, when you play. Getting upset with yourself usually drags your whole game down. Even when things aren’t going your way, try to stay positive and let your game work for you.

2. CREATE A GO-TO SHOT
Having a better temperament has allowed Petrova to work on other areas of her game, such as her ground strokes. She’s always had a pretty good serve, but I never felt there was anything special about her ground strokes. Consequently, Petrova couldn’t hurt her opponents on a consistent basis. Lately, though, I’ve noticed a marked improvement in her forehand. She hits it with more pace, spin, and consistency. Now Petrova’s opponents have something to fear when they get into rallies with her. Having a shot that you can rely on to hurt your opponents is an important part of any player’s arsenal. It’s nice to feel comfortable with every shot, but you need one that you can use to open up the court and finish off points.

3. WORK THE POINT
Not to keep harping on the same thing, but since Petrova is more relaxed on court, she’s more likely to stay in rallies. When she would blow a fuse, she could string together several bad points in which she would go for low-percentage winners and end up committing many errors. When your head is in the match, you’re going to be more willing to fight. This means playing a little defense, which Petrova does better now because she’s also improved her movement. No, she’s not a speed merchant, but every extra inch you gain gives you more options. This is why Petrova has become so successful on clay, and it’s a great lesson for the everyday player. Get a little fitter, don’t always be so offensive-minded, and commit to staying in rallies for a few extra strokes. You’ll be a much better competitor.

Article by Brad Gilbert – Tennis.com