What is ISR?
Part 4: Two Handed Backhand
John Yandell
In previous articles we explored how arm rotations occur on the serve (Click Here), forehand (Click Here), and one-handed backhand (Click Here). Now let's look at the two hander. It's maybe more complex to understand because we are looking at both arms.
But as we have said it's less about the technical terminology than just understanding the movement and positions. The point of this series is to understand this trendy terminology and integrate it into correct stroke models—and maybe gain some insight into what makes them great.
Regardless
Regardless of the exact ready position, top players take the racket back with both hands, with the racket basically on edge. They may take it back higher or lower and in various shapes in the backswing.
But at some point they almost always drop the arms and racket below the level of the ball. They do this with a double arm rotation.
The bottom arm rotates to the left or externally. The top arm also rotates to the left, but this is internal rotation.
In the more extreme case, these rotations continue until the tip of the racket points down at the court at about a 45 degree angle. This position is associated with hitting more topspin, even though the two hander is relatively flatter than the forehand or the one handed backhand. But I now also believe these rotations have to do with power. Notice it is less about dropping the arms or racket head and more about the rotations.
From this position as players start the forward swing, we see another double rotation. The top hand rotates clockwise to the right and this is external rotation. The top rotates also rotates to the right, also clockwise, to about the same degree, again this is external rotation.
The lower the racket tip points, the more backward rotation. And this means more rotation in the forward swing by both arms.These rotations are both from the upper arm in the shoulder joint and they are both key in generating racket speed.
I used to wonder why players tilted the racket tip down in the backswing. Now I understand. It's to increase those rotations and therefore both topspin and ball speed, although I am also certain they aren't thinking about that. To them it's a matter of feel.
A Few Pro Examples
It happens to some degree even with a player like Danill Medvedev who tends to hit the ball quite flat. He has a fairly large circular backswing, but as he brings the arms down, the double backward rotations set up the double forward rotations.
These rotations seem to be irrespective of grips or hitting arm positions. Let's look at maybe the two greatest two handers in the modern game: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Different hitting arm structures, but the same rotations.
So what does that mean for us? That if we make the key positions, we can have these type of rotation as well. It's not a matter of understanding bio mechanics. Although that is interesting and displaces a lot of bad bullshit on the web.
It's about what top players actually do. And how that applies to us! So take the racket more or less straight back—or if you must do a compact loop.. You will have a good two hander. And if you drop the racket head with good arm positions, you might generate more topspin and ball speed!
I know believe that if you hit the extension position in the forward swing, the arms will work together with the torso to maximize your power and spin potential.
