Evolution of the Two-Handed Backhand: Part 1

Introduction

Tennis enthusiasts have witnessed several apparent changes in the mechanics of the two-handed backhand (BH2) for
decades now. The question is whether these changes represent a systemic evolution or simply individual refinements to
the fundamental mechanical attributes that have existed since the beginning.

The beginning is not entirely clear. There is evidence of players using it in some tactical situations as early as
the 1930s. Tennis historians indicate that the BH2 became a legitimate primary technique option starting in the 1970s
with Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors and Bjorn Borg. Popularity of the technique arguably exploded with the implementation
that some consider the greatest BH2 of all time – Andre Agassi (b.1970)

The BH2 has obviously become the dominant form in modern tennis technique. Presumably this is because players can
have more success with it at early stages of development (especially on higher contact balls and return of serve) and
this drives instructional preference for that demographic. Additionally, with very few notable exceptions on the
current professional tours, players winning significant titles use a BH2.

To assess whether the BH2 implementations we witness today represent some systematic evolution of the technique, or individual innovations to the original templates it is…