different types. We're going to talk about the two-hander, not the one-hander. The two-handed

backhand means just that. You're going to have both hands on the grip, and you're going

to swing with both arms, not just with one. Kirk is going to demonstrate the type of swing,

and I'm going to tell you then what the reason for using a two-handed backhand would be.

Kirk, he has both hands on the grip, notice. And when he turns, he's going to switch the

grip from a forehand grip or an Eastern or semi-western to a backhand grip, which means

he's going to slide it to his left on top of the racquet a little bit, the right hand.

The left hand just grips the racquet in a normal, Eastern grip style. He's going to

turn his hips and shoulders. He's going to take a step into the court. Both hands are

going to come through the swing, and the dominant hand for a two-handed backhand is the left

arm, Kirk's less dominant arm when he's naturally playing tennis. He's a right-handed player,

but a two-handed backhand uses the left arm.

He's going to drive through the shot, through the ball, with a slightly closed face, with

his left arm and right arm but the left arm being dominant. And he's going to finish over

his right shoulder, showing the butt cap. I like to say that. Show the butt cap like

a flashlight. So again, Kirk's going to have both hands on the grip. He's going to switch

the grip slightly, racquet raised so he can do a little loop, comes underneath the ball,

brushes up, drives through with the left hand, and finishes over his right shoulder. That's

a two-handed backhand.

Now, why a two-handed backhand? A lot of players grow up playing tennis when they're very young.

They start sometimes five or six, and the only way to hit a backhand when you're five

or six effectively is to use two hands. So they grow up playing that way, and they continue

to. It can be a very effective shot, because you can get a lot of power when you're young.

You can get a lot more power when you're old. Not that a one-hander doesn't have power,

but a two-hander can get a lot of power when they're younger. Also two hands are known

to have the ability to disguise their shots well, because they can use a little bit more

wrist because they've got this other hand helping. Two hands has disadvantages. One

of the disadvantages is you can't reach out for a ball that's wide. You have to let go.

So a two-hander has to have good feet to get to balls so they can hit the ball in position.

Kirk Moritz: Sounds good to me, Joe. With those two hands, make sure that both hands

are relaxed. You could be twice as tight on the two-handed backhand and lose some of the

fluidity. So you want your hands relaxed. Feel your fingertips on the racquet so you

can accelerate that swing and brush up just like you do on the forehand. Soft hands. Hold

the racquet looser than you think you're supposed to.

Joe: And that's a two-handed backhand in tennis.