Dr. Brian Gordon | Evolution of the Two-Handed Backhand: Part 1

[giancarlo]

Let’s get the discussion going on Dr. Brian Gordon’s new article.
I see this as a fundamental piece for understanding the ever-changing progression of top-level tennis. Specifically, grasping the three two-handed backhand types will be essential before Brian breaks down the Alcaraz and Agassi backhands in Part Two next month.

As for the one-handed backhand, in the past 25 years only five players have won a Grand Slam men’s singles title with it: Pete Sampras, Gast?n Gaudio, Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka, and Dominic Thiem. All but one—Wawrinka—are now retired.

[seano]

What I love about Dr. Gordon's article/video is how applicable his 2 handed backhand thinking transfers seamlessly to his ATP Type 3 forehand. Backhand first, the full hook-loop backswing does strike me as rather large and time consuming. Zverev does have a beautiful backhand but my concerns are centered around timing and rhythm under extreme pressure. I love that Brian speaks so positive about the half-hook loop backswing where the upper arm is at a 45 degree angle and not parallel to the ground. Seems more like a wonderful option to me. Elbows in the backswing are slightly bent which will allow for fluidity as the hands pull/push forward.

Brian - 2 more questions -
1) Can the same be said about the ATP Type 3 forehand? Is the half-hook loop acceptable to the full hook loop? Forearm at a 45 degree angle to the ground, slight bend in the elbow in the backswing to allow for rhythm as the elbow straightens in the forward swing AFTER the flip.
2) How does the fluid, continuous hands of the Type 3 backswing, differ from the hand speed required in the backswing of the ATP classic groundstrokes, with a bent elbow at contact? Revised Type 3 = slight bend of elbows that allows for rhythm into the forward swing vs. hand speed required in the backswing to compensate for bent elbow at contact. Hope that question makes sense.

Sean O

[BrianGordon]

Hi Sean... it could be said but I wouldn't. The one arm structure of the forehand presents a lot more options than the more restrictive two arm configuration on the backhand (the second arm is both a curse and virtue). Some of these options are only accessible from the 90 degree unit turn position so that remains the set up of choice in my system.

Afraid I don't really understand what you are asking in the second question. My answer to the first part is that the hook loop is still positional - while a bit of residual motion entering the forward swing is helpful for reasons I discussed, the intent is NOT to contribute directly to the hand speed at contact.

That is not the case for the functional (shoulder driven) backswing in the classic forehand (now type 2) which directly relies on hand speed developed in the backswing for a significant portion of hand speed at contact. There is no viable corollary to the classic forehand on the two handed backhand by my definitions - constraints imposed by the second arm limit shoulder range of motion (and add complexity) making mimicking the classical forehand functional backswing awkward and not recommended (though still possible I suppose).

[seano]

Thank you, Brian for the clarification