Similar to the Next Gen Two-Handed Backhand, the Next Gen Forehand is a Stroke that’s difficult to replicate. However, the timing on the Next Gen 2-H is far more difficult compared to the Next Gen FH which has the same timing as the Modern FH. Next Gen FH 👉 th-cam.com/video/Dgb1QzoOka8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=4cIUi7b6TRt-x2Th
Thanks for the analysis but could you whip out another video which also explains how all these backhands -classic,modern,nextgen have pluses and minus for adopting it and which one in your opinion is the preferred one for new players who are getting started.
For me next gen two hander has easier timing, as path to ball is shorter, and racket head speed is faster. What’s kind of hard to do, is using this backhand against pusher balls. The difference in speed between the incoming ball and the racket head speed is so great, that it can lead to error. At least that’s my observation. Not an issue at the pro or college level of course.
Nick nailed it as usual. I kinda saw that Rublev's backhand was sort of abrupt and fast but I didn't see that with Sinner's double-handed BH. Not quite easy to see what is fundamentals and what is style. Thanks coach Nikola
Been waiting for you to do an indepth two hander video for a long time! ❤ For me, the footwork, balance and timing with the two hander is the trickiest thing to master, would be an amazing video if you went into depth on those topics
Key to me is what you mention at the end of the video, requires exceptional timing, exceptional hand eye coordination, which mortals like us can only dream of. To me the simplest and very good is Zverev's. Sinner's btw, in order to do that it feels you have to have extremely loose wrists, which he seem to have in both wings, just incredible.✌🏼
It's not just about wrist mobility... it's also about managing to correctly time the impact while including a wrist lag into the swing, a thing that with two hands is not easy at all nor natural. All these things confirm to me what I always thought: the 2HBH is not so easy to master at very high level as we usually tend to think, and kids who show a clear predisposition to the 1HBH, with greater feel and power, should absolutely not be pushed to ignore it and play the double hander: the 1HBH is difficult to master too, but actually not for all players, not for those kids showing a clear feel with that shot (for sure, for them is much much much less difficult than a Sinner-style backhand), and if well mastered, the 1HBH has its advantages too (easy effortless power, difficulty in being read by the opponent, easier half-volleying, easier, quicker and more natural transition to the slice, which tends to be much better, easier crosscourt shots when on full stretch), certainly not just drawbacks.
Freeze frame at 5:28.... the amount of flexibility to get in that position is also what makes Novak's backhand so awesome. His is head is not just over his shoulder, but past it a bit so he has even more rotational coil.
Was just about to comment about Agassi and also courier doing next gen way before, then came to the end when you said it. Good job. I do think that the fundamental difference between the modern and next gen double handler is swing speed. With that extremely fast swing speed the swing can’t start when the ball just bounced. It’ll be way too early. So the late uncoiling is a function of the swing speed. I have/had that backhand, and it’s very intuitive. It’s also very harsh on the torso and back, especially with age.
Hi Nikola. I would like to add that all the ppl you mention have very fast feet. Regardless of the style, in order to hit a good 2HBH one has to be fast to position himself/herself properly. 2hBH requires much faster feet than a forehand. Otherwise, one does not get to the ball fast enough and hits a slice back hand (I am an example of the slow feet :).
Excellent video, Nico. But as a lifelong Chrissie Evert fan, I must say that if I were teaching a beginner or intermediate player, who doesn't have natural athletic abilities, Chrissie's basic technique is what I'd teach them. Also, I've seen players with two handed backhands, some say that their normally dominant hand (right hand) is the main one in their double handers, as if it were a one hander with the non-dominant hand (the left) reinforcing it. Others say that their non-dominant hand is the dominant one in their two hander, as if it were a "left-handed" forehand, with the right hand reinforcing the stroke. It would be interesting if you could analyze these two types of two handers. I think it would e interesting. Again, love your videos, Nico. Keep up the good work.
Fascinating analysis coach Nik! Even though I no longer hit a 2 hander, I'm always looking to gain new knowledge, and this is the place to do so! I feel that Nole and Sinner are #1 and #2 . Sinner it seems has a little more mph than Nole's, but Nole's pin point accuracy , down the line, and return of serve are second to none! I believe I heard correct during the Alcaraz vs Medvedev final, a commentator noted that Meddy finds Carlitos backhand as the toughest he faces on tour. He must have an underrated backhand, but probably only because his forehand is awesome, and usually makes the highlight reel! Excellent content as always Nik!👍👏
Very interesting and confirms my belief that important is lag position of the racket before hitting, us mortals have to put it actively there, not to force it but put it there without flip, wta strokes ladies do that aswell, unlike men who flip it at last moment obtaining much more power, it creates, however, lot of pressure on tendons and secondly demands extreme coordination, and can be prone to mishits when under time pressure, this may be why Djokovic is more consistent than guys like Rublev, Sock and other with next gen leration strokes ?
Very smooth and efficient groundies. Seems to be able to take the ball early. Watched him live against alcaraz last year (on clay) and he gave alcaraz lots of problems
@@BlueBlossomsBlues it's certainly not always weak. But there're a lot of weak double handers, yeah, even at extremely high level. Most of those players would've probably had better results with a 1HBH: scarce feel for the 2HBH in talented players, is usually accompanied to a pretty evident better feel for the 1HBH. This preference should absolutely not be ignored, like we are seeing almost always today (Berrettini? Barty?). The outcome are those very useless double handers, rigid and weak, and an absurd near-extinction of the 1HBH.
Agassi is the racquet path template I teach, although if he allowed the video to play fully in slow motion you would see it mostly drop instead of “lag” or “flex”… just incredibly clean. Timing, I get it
Good analysis… Rublev vs Machac, and you see the two diff BH. You’re basically trying to get the most power, consistency, verisitility, with a compact swing to easily time. I have to say Machac’s BH is maybe one of my favorites. If you get the racquet to the inside with lag you get the most easy power…he destroyed some BH’s against Rublev..
Love this video! So well done...great point about Andre. Can you comment on whether the the role of the non-dominant hand differs between these 3 styles?
Here are the First Two-Handed Backhands in tennis no one talks about nowadays that no one comments but me. There’s one of the very “first” pioneers to have a Two-Handed Backhand is the Australians who has that “unprecedented” never been done before two handed backhand was Vivian McGrath a Righty, and John Bromwich which happened to be lefty, from where it all started way back in the 1930’s. Vivian was world No.8 ranking for 1935. And also John Bromwich is all the way up to the ranking at world no. 3 for 1938. Speaking of the early Two Handed Backhand long before it became a trend by the 1970’s is from before it became a widely taught shot in tennis at local schools by around at that time. There was Mike Belkin, an obscure player which happens to be Canadian, was the first Two-Handed Backhand in the United States before Chris Evert on the womens side and mens side Jimmy Connors. Those were all the days before it became popular in tennis today. Plus, these were the things that’s existed in the world behind tennis history. Back when everyone has a wooden racket and in the world full of one handed backhands from way back in the day life was cool.
Thank u for the amazing video. You said near the end that you advice “aganist” the next-gen backhand when u spoke about returns and deep balls. Did I hear that right?
Really interesting ! Some players have a mix of the modern and next gen backhand ! I think about Ruud for example... the same preparation as Djokovic (he is facing his opponent and moving his feet until the opponent hit the ball) then initiate the unit turn, after that the take back and lag is like next gen, the raquet head is in angle pointing to the ground and the arms are close to the body like Sinner... and the finish is like the modern on top of the shoulder. But I'm wondering what did he do so differently that cause him to have so much topspin on it?!
Incredibly great detail and factual information you share!! You def are the best online tennis coach in my opinion. Very intuitive for sure!! 👍 Thank you for sharing. I’ve really been struggling and confused in finding my 2 handed backhand. I failed to get the racket wrist lag that is essential to a good shot/swing. The latest find is I feel visualizing Andre Agassis swing will help me develop that lag and improve my backhand (I think) haha we will see. After trying so many styles (zverevs loopy) and kyrigos short bunt style, Chris evert type short style. I think I need to follow and try the Agassi style. 😅😊
jeez you really messed up on the Chris Evert, Bjorn Borg racket head positions! lol CE had a very open face when taking back and BB had a very loose racket head that never got that high on the backswing! started low, went up a bit before back down. On slice yeah, but never on his whippy swing path!
In a lots of his comparisons it seems that in that one person e.g. sinner will be in the closed stance and the person he is comparing with will be in the open stance so obviously they will have less lag, their torso is orientated differently
Amazing video!! What do you think of marcelo rios backhand? Which type is? He doesnt at any moment has the tip ot the racquet up in preparation. I have a similar low preparation, am i wrong?? Thank you!
For Rublev: could it be that one drags the racket primary with the right arm on the initial phase of the stroke? This would too align the butt cap along the court.
Nick, how come in the men's tour, the guys have spinny forehand , but very flat backhand like Kyrios, Norrie, khachanov, Tiafoe, Rublev etc. What's the benefit of this combination? Wouldn't the heavy top spin be beneficial to the BH just like the FH. It seems strange to me to build your groundstroke where one side is heavy top spin and the other side is super flat.
Where would you classify the backhand of Nalbandian, and how high in the order of best two-handed backhands would you rate his "shield"? Somewhere with Murray or lower, or would you give him the power to turn his shield into a sword?
Thanks, great video as usual! BTW I thought you had done one about the best volleys recently, but I can't find it anymore, was it an old one or have you deleted it?@@IntuitiveTennis
Thanks! BTW could you later on do a video where you compare the various ways of hitting the two-handed backhand, based on whether the hand on the bottom is dominant (guessing examples could be Borg, Youhzny or Berrettini saw him do a one-handed pass against Murray in Miami at 4:2, 15:40 in the first set, atctually on a onehanded backhand of Murray), or the hand up on the grip is dominant, as is the case for Sinner (multiple action), and those like Nadal and Alcaraz who have a more unified/neutral distribution on both hands. Including the pros and cons of the three variants, and it would be great if you could use Sinner and Alcaraz, plus Zverev and Djokovic (perhaps also Murray and Nalbandian if that makes some sense) as examples for the analysis. Alcaraz starts with both arms straight and the hands distant from the body, both arms remain rather straight during the swing to contact, while looking at Sinner he has a take-back where his hands get close to the body (I guess this is increasing "decontraction" or muscle relaxation, for greater fluidity and racket-head speed during the stroke), both arms are slightly bent and the racket starts pointing up in the ready position, then goes slightly below the hands during take back and is again slightly above the hands pointing slightly upwards as the take-back ends. During swing to contact both arms of Sinner are slightly bent and he finishes the follow-through with both elbows pointing forward. I'm not sure about the following, but I think at the beginning of the acceleration the right hand of Sinner is mainly responsible for the racket-head pointing down (by bending the right wrist), and then the left hand brings the racket-head upwards to the contact with the ball, and works almost like a lefty forehand, making use of the big lag/acceleration-path, and channeling most of the energy generated by the weight transfer from outside leg to inside leg, and action of legs and hips. The right hand/arm is mainly adding control, and the way Sinner uses it to get the racket under the ball allows him to generate an important amount of top-spin, which is more common in one-handed backhands (two-handers are often more on the "flat" side), example Wawrinka, Gasquet, Tsiptsipas, Cuevas, Kuerten, Kohlschreiber, Volandri (BTW saw a young Austrian born around 2009 with a one-handed backhand that reminds a bit that of Thiem, his name is Maximilian Heidlmair, but who knows if he'll make it on the big stage). @@IntuitiveTennis
@@peterstern1375 Berrettini, Barty, Tsonga, Stosur are all examples of very rigid two handers. Barty made it to the very top by basically stopping to play the double hander into her matches, rallying just with her very good 1 handed slice. All these four players have very good to good (Stosur) slice, but their double handers are very weak and/or very inconsistent if they try to hit it stronger. Barty Tsonga and Berrettini do everything amazingly well... except the 2HBH, which is incredibly under their overall level. This is for me a clear indication that they would've been much much better with a 1HBH. These are just examples of players who got likely damaged by the choose of the double hander, but we can see weak double handers at every level, not just at the top orvery near to the top. This is why I consider very wrong to push young players to play the 2HBH like it's the only existing option, even when they feel it very weird for them (like Federer felt it when he was a little kid... he would've been totally ruined by such a choose).
Awesome video, thank you very much. Is there a tendency in the Next Gen to go towards semi-western grip in the top hand versus Eastern grip in the modern tecnhique? I have never been so sure which type of top hand grip Djokovic versus Alcaraz or Sinner use in their 2HBH. Thanks
Would you say sinner is a new type of backhand, closer to a lefty forehand than any other before? I played for 11 years with a 1 hander and switched to a two hander, with sinner style i struggle to generate spin, specially if the ball comes spinny and high to the back and i try to play a high spinny backhand i find myself limited. I am thinking in constructing the backhand based on something more djokovicesque
So many different styles ! What I have trouble wraping my head around is what is the most optimal way of placing your hands on the grip for the backhand. I have been playing around a bit and while continental is the prescribed position for the bottom hand, it feels like I am losing power and having to bend the wrist a little. What's the consensus on the backhand grip ?
My 2H down the line looks like this. Load, shift forward with dominant hand/wrist loose which creates lags, then offhand swings through. Rare as my footwork is garbage, it's usually a slice or a topspin moonball cross 😂
thanks Nic. great video. i think Rublev backhand should be taught to amateurs. advantages is that you need less time to hit and have less to adjust to wind up. amateurs big swings can be complicated. amateurs will never hit the ball as hard as a pro so they dont need that big massive windup. not for me to ask but great if you showed a forehand equivalent.
The next gen bh is extremely difficult to pull off even for high level players. Next gen fh 👉 th-cam.com/video/Dgb1QzoOka8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ve-_e92uDzjcIQyu
Uhm, I’d say the slap was properly introduced by Agassi 30 more than years ago. He had a really short backswing and more or less slapped the ball using wrist motion. We used to call it the ”Bruce Lee backhand” back then. As you surely know Bruce used a short but extremely quick motion to generate power. Ergo - the ’next gen’ is more of a ’retro gen’…
Rune has modern 2-h. He sets on the outside, but doesn’t have late timing. Racquet is back on the bounce of the ball (kinda like the ones I was hitting at the end)
Sinner's backhand is similar to Rafa's, isn't it ?...same type of sling shot. The difference might be that Rafa prepares the shot earlier and the motion is not continuous but if you take frame by frame they don't look that different
i found the first few minutes in which you talk about the very old players technique(s) very interesting. i just saw them as using incredibly crude technique! i was heavily trained in the 2000s. i kind of agree with about what you see on the tour right now - but i know that i adjust my takeback depending upon the **height of the ball and where i am located on the court. For example, if i am playing behind the baseline, the racquet head will be a lot higher and i use a much more marked loop. Very like CoCo Vandeweghe, if you remember her? When i am hitting shorter balls at or inside the service line, especially low balls, i begin lower on the takeback and i get much lower to the court, so that i can hit aggressively but still keep the ball safely within the court. If the ball is short and high i use a high takeback and hit right through, normally down-the-line or diagonally, crosscourt for the winner. i think that most professional players - all the players that i ever studied from when i was at school - adapt the takeback and (especially) how the racquet face contacts the ball. it just becomes instinctive, when you have hit and trained for thousands of hours. i used to hit for ten hours (- with breaks) just out of university. Performance coaches noted my adaptations and told me that i am a excellent ballstriker (- though sometimes lazy with the feet), yet always tried to reduce the swing length on both sides to make me more ‘efficient’ - and be able to ready for every single ball. I applied myself to every single ball, every single shot and what i wanted to do with each shot. One coach said that my strokes took a lot of energy because of the extension and the rotation through my body on every shot. This never really worked because creating a lot momentum toward the ball and using a lot of torque feels so much more natural to me.
Nick you’re looking better as you get older, in your original videos you were like really skinny and pale looking. Now you look like you gained a little bit more weight and your hair is better also. You should wear a hat, though to get protection from the hot Florida sun.
You know that high heels were invented for men originally? Tights also? And skirts were worn by the highest rank knights of honour? You seem like the kind of guy who gets upset by this kind of information, because it contradicts your so called "argument".
Similar to the Next Gen Two-Handed Backhand, the Next Gen Forehand is a Stroke that’s difficult to replicate.
However, the timing on the Next Gen 2-H is far more difficult compared to the Next Gen FH which has the same timing as the Modern FH.
Next Gen FH 👉 th-cam.com/video/Dgb1QzoOka8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=4cIUi7b6TRt-x2Th
Thanks for the analysis but could you whip out another video which also explains how all these backhands -classic,modern,nextgen have pluses and minus for adopting it and which one in your opinion is the preferred one for new players who are getting started.
For me next gen two hander has easier timing, as path to ball is shorter, and racket head speed is faster.
What’s kind of hard to do, is using this backhand against pusher balls. The difference in speed between the incoming ball and the racket head speed is so great, that it can lead to error. At least that’s my observation. Not an issue at the pro or college level of course.
Where would you rank David Nalbandians backhand all-time
Nick nailed it as usual.
I kinda saw that Rublev's backhand was sort of abrupt and fast but I didn't see that with Sinner's double-handed BH. Not quite easy to see what is fundamentals and what is style.
Thanks coach Nikola
He even nailed Connors, Borg and Evert who I grew up with.
Been waiting for you to do an indepth two hander video for a long time! ❤
For me, the footwork, balance and timing with the two hander is the trickiest thing to master, would be an amazing video if you went into depth on those topics
Will do
Key to me is what you mention at the end of the video, requires exceptional timing, exceptional hand eye coordination, which mortals like us can only dream of. To me the simplest and very good is Zverev's. Sinner's btw, in order to do that it feels you have to have extremely loose wrists, which he seem to have in both wings, just incredible.✌🏼
It's not just about wrist mobility... it's also about managing to correctly time the impact while including a wrist lag into the swing, a thing that with two hands is not easy at all nor natural.
All these things confirm to me what I always thought: the 2HBH is not so easy to master at very high level as we usually tend to think, and kids who show a clear predisposition to the 1HBH, with greater feel and power, should absolutely not be pushed to ignore it and play the double hander: the 1HBH is difficult to master too, but actually not for all players, not for those kids showing a clear feel with that shot (for sure, for them is much much much less difficult than a Sinner-style backhand), and if well mastered, the 1HBH has its advantages too (easy effortless power, difficulty in being read by the opponent, easier half-volleying, easier, quicker and more natural transition to the slice, which tends to be much better, easier crosscourt shots when on full stretch), certainly not just drawbacks.
Sinner's strokes are just incredible!
FH or BH, you never see something like his in the past!
💯
I like Agassi Nalbandian and Fognini backhands these guys could really counterpunch with their backhands
Brilliant video showing the complexity and individualisation of the backhand shot.
Thank you
Great video Nick! I've not seen anyone else consider the two handed backhand like this.
🙏
You put into words what I’ve been trying to analyze for years , thank you !
🙏💯🔥🙌
Freeze frame at 5:28.... the amount of flexibility to get in that position is also what makes Novak's backhand so awesome. His is head is not just over his shoulder, but past it a bit so he has even more rotational coil.
Was just about to comment about Agassi and also courier doing next gen way before, then came to the end when you said it. Good job.
I do think that the fundamental difference between the modern and next gen double handler is swing speed. With that extremely fast swing speed the swing can’t start when the ball just bounced. It’ll be way too early. So the late uncoiling is a function of the swing speed.
I have/had that backhand, and it’s very intuitive. It’s also very harsh on the torso and back, especially with age.
Hi Nikola. I would like to add that all the ppl you mention have very fast feet. Regardless of the style, in order to hit a good 2HBH one has to be fast to position himself/herself properly. 2hBH requires much faster feet than a forehand. Otherwise, one does not get to the ball fast enough and hits a slice back hand (I am an example of the slow feet :).
Excellent video, Nico. But as a lifelong Chrissie Evert fan, I must say that if I were teaching a beginner or intermediate player, who doesn't have natural athletic abilities, Chrissie's basic technique is what I'd teach them.
Also, I've seen players with two handed backhands, some say that their normally dominant hand (right hand) is the main one in their double handers, as if it were a one hander with the non-dominant hand (the left) reinforcing it. Others say that their non-dominant hand is the dominant one in their two hander, as if it were a "left-handed" forehand, with the right hand reinforcing the stroke.
It would be interesting if you could analyze these two types of two handers. I think it would e interesting.
Again, love your videos, Nico. Keep up the good work.
Finish is very important from the get go. I have a video coming soon on arm dominance on the 2-h bh
Fascinating analysis coach Nik! Even though I no longer hit a 2 hander, I'm always looking to gain new knowledge, and this is the place to do so! I feel that Nole and Sinner are #1 and #2 . Sinner it seems has a little more mph than Nole's, but Nole's pin point accuracy , down the line, and return of serve are second to none! I believe I heard correct during the Alcaraz vs Medvedev final, a commentator noted that Meddy finds Carlitos backhand as the toughest he faces on tour. He must have an underrated backhand, but probably only because his forehand is awesome, and usually makes the highlight reel! Excellent content as always Nik!👍👏
Heard Med say that about Alc 2-h 💯
Very interesting and confirms my belief that important is lag position of the racket before hitting, us mortals have to put it actively there, not to force it but put it there without flip, wta strokes ladies do that aswell, unlike men who flip it at last moment obtaining much more power, it creates, however, lot of pressure on tendons and secondly demands extreme coordination, and can be prone to mishits when under time pressure, this may be why Djokovic is more consistent than guys like Rublev, Sock and other with next gen leration strokes ?
You make valid points 💯
Emil Ruusuvuori has the most beautiful next gen two-handed backhand. He hits it incredibly hard too.
Very smooth and efficient groundies. Seems to be able to take the ball early. Watched him live against alcaraz last year (on clay) and he gave alcaraz lots of problems
Beauutifuul🎾
No beauty in two handed backhand. Just weak.
@@BlueBlossomsBlues Marat Safin ruined your argument, and your week.
@@BlueBlossomsBlues it's certainly not always weak. But there're a lot of weak double handers, yeah, even at extremely high level. Most of those players would've probably had better results with a 1HBH: scarce feel for the 2HBH in talented players, is usually accompanied to a pretty evident better feel for the 1HBH. This preference should absolutely not be ignored, like we are seeing almost always today (Berrettini? Barty?). The outcome are those very useless double handers, rigid and weak, and an absurd near-extinction of the 1HBH.
As A huge fan of Agassi, surprised to learn he is the farther of next gen 2h bh..I thought he just has a short take back…
Agassi is the racquet path template I teach, although if he allowed the video to play fully in slow motion you would see it mostly drop instead of “lag” or “flex”… just incredibly clean. Timing, I get it
Good analysis…
Rublev vs Machac, and you see the two diff BH. You’re basically trying to get the most power, consistency, verisitility, with a compact swing to easily time. I have to say Machac’s BH is maybe one of my favorites. If you get the racquet to the inside with lag you get the most easy power…he destroyed some BH’s against Rublev..
Machac has great bh 💯
Great video. In my opinion Zverev has the best backhand atm. Fluid, effortless and with power.
He has a great one no doubt
Love this video! So well done...great point about Andre. Can you comment on whether the the role of the non-dominant hand differs between these 3 styles?
Got a video coming soon on that…
You know your stuff Nick 🎾🎾🎾
The greatest and most natural ( not manufactured ) double hand backhand of all time, is David Nalbandian... 💪
Coach, can you do a video on how to balance lessons/practice and match play for overall development?
I made one, coming very soon to YT it’s on my website
Here are the First Two-Handed Backhands in tennis no one talks about nowadays that no one comments but me.
There’s one of the very “first” pioneers to have a Two-Handed Backhand is the Australians who has that “unprecedented” never been done before two handed backhand was Vivian McGrath a Righty, and John Bromwich which happened to be lefty, from where it all started way back in the 1930’s.
Vivian was world No.8 ranking for 1935.
And also John Bromwich is all the way up to the ranking at world no. 3 for 1938.
Speaking of the early Two Handed Backhand long before it became a trend by the 1970’s is from before it became a widely taught shot in tennis at local schools by around at that time.
There was Mike Belkin, an obscure player which happens to be Canadian, was the first Two-Handed Backhand in the United States before Chris Evert on the womens side and mens side Jimmy Connors.
Those were all the days before it became popular in tennis today.
Plus, these were the things that’s existed in the world behind tennis history.
Back when everyone has a wooden racket and in the world full of one handed backhands from way back in the day life was cool.
Thank u for the amazing video. You said near the end that you advice “aganist” the next-gen backhand when u spoke about returns and deep balls. Did I hear that right?
No in emergency situations the stroke has to be shortened.
Really interesting ! Some players have a mix of the modern and next gen backhand ! I think about Ruud for example... the same preparation as Djokovic (he is facing his opponent and moving his feet until the opponent hit the ball) then initiate the unit turn, after that the take back and lag is like next gen, the raquet head is in angle pointing to the ground and the arms are close to the body like Sinner... and the finish is like the modern on top of the shoulder. But I'm wondering what did he do so differently that cause him to have so much topspin on it?!
Incredibly great detail and factual information you share!! You def are the best online tennis coach in my opinion.
Very intuitive for sure!! 👍
Thank you for sharing.
I’ve really been struggling and confused in finding my 2 handed backhand. I failed to get the racket wrist lag that is essential to a good shot/swing.
The latest find is I feel visualizing Andre Agassis swing will help me develop that lag and improve my backhand (I think) haha we will see.
After trying so many styles (zverevs loopy) and kyrigos short bunt style, Chris evert type short style. I think I need to follow and try the Agassi style.
😅😊
🙏
funny ending
jeez you really messed up on the Chris Evert, Bjorn Borg racket head positions! lol CE had a very open face when taking back and BB had a very loose racket head that never got that high on the backswing! started low, went up a bit before back down. On slice yeah, but never on his whippy swing path!
Mechanically, I feel next gen backhand=mordern forehand(wrist lag); modern backhand=wta forehand(racket face open when hitting)
Great video Nik! Do these changes over time apply to WTA players too? I know fundamentally the FH is different between WTA and ATP.
Very few next gen 2-h bh in WTA top 100
Do you think it’s the case because their core is not as strong as ATP player’s so they need longer range?
In a lots of his comparisons it seems that in that one person e.g. sinner will be in the closed stance and the person he is comparing with will be in the open stance so obviously they will have less lag, their torso is orientated differently
Amazing video!! What do you think of marcelo rios backhand? Which type is? He doesnt at any moment has the tip ot the racquet up in preparation.
I have a similar low preparation, am i wrong?? Thank you!
Nick, i feel better about my game when i see you miss a backhand shot! Thank you! 😁😁
Haha, thank you for watching 🙏
For Rublev: could it be that one drags the racket primary with the right arm on the initial phase of the stroke? This would too align the butt cap along the court.
Alcaraz, sinner.... = early preparation and flip the racquet ( atp backhand)
Nick, how come in the men's tour, the guys have spinny forehand , but very flat backhand like Kyrios, Norrie, khachanov, Tiafoe, Rublev etc. What's the benefit of this combination? Wouldn't the heavy top spin be beneficial to the BH just like the FH. It seems strange to me to build your groundstroke where one side is heavy top spin and the other side is super flat.
2-h bh is naturally more flat
Two hands restrict heavy topspin
Yeah, heavy topspin with the double hander is much more difficult to produce. It's definitely not a thing that every player can decide to do.
Nick kyrgios backhand also very versatile. Very very short swing and easier to counter punch and vary the spin including junk balls
Where would you classify the backhand of Nalbandian, and how high in the order of best two-handed backhands would you rate his "shield"? Somewhere with Murray or lower, or would you give him the power to turn his shield into a sword?
Nalbandian and Murray Modern 2-H BH
Thanks, great video as usual!
BTW I thought you had done one about the best volleys recently, but I can't find it anymore, was it an old one or have you deleted it?@@IntuitiveTennis
@@peterstern1375 it was released accidentally, I’ll put it back up soon
Thanks! BTW could you later on do a video where you compare the various ways of hitting the two-handed backhand, based on whether the hand on the bottom is dominant (guessing examples could be Borg, Youhzny or Berrettini saw him do a one-handed pass against Murray in Miami at 4:2, 15:40 in the first set, atctually on a onehanded backhand of Murray), or the hand up on the grip is dominant, as is the case for Sinner (multiple action), and those like Nadal and Alcaraz who have a more unified/neutral distribution on both hands.
Including the pros and cons of the three variants, and it would be great if you could use Sinner and Alcaraz, plus Zverev and Djokovic (perhaps also Murray and Nalbandian if that makes some sense) as examples for the analysis.
Alcaraz starts with both arms straight and the hands distant from the body, both arms remain rather straight during the swing to contact, while looking at Sinner he has a take-back where his hands get close to the body (I guess this is increasing "decontraction" or muscle relaxation, for greater fluidity and racket-head speed during the stroke), both arms are slightly bent and the racket starts pointing up in the ready position, then goes slightly below the hands during take back and is again slightly above the hands pointing slightly upwards as the take-back ends.
During swing to contact both arms of Sinner are slightly bent and he finishes the follow-through with both elbows pointing forward.
I'm not sure about the following, but I think at the beginning of the acceleration the right hand of Sinner is mainly responsible for the racket-head pointing down (by bending the right wrist), and then the left hand brings the racket-head upwards to the contact with the ball, and works almost like a lefty forehand, making use of the big lag/acceleration-path, and channeling most of the energy generated by the weight transfer from outside leg to inside leg, and action of legs and hips.
The right hand/arm is mainly adding control, and the way Sinner uses it to get the racket under the ball allows him to generate an important amount of top-spin, which is more common in one-handed backhands (two-handers are often more on the "flat" side), example Wawrinka, Gasquet, Tsiptsipas, Cuevas, Kuerten, Kohlschreiber, Volandri (BTW saw a young Austrian born around 2009 with a one-handed backhand that reminds a bit that of Thiem, his name is Maximilian Heidlmair, but who knows if he'll make it on the big stage). @@IntuitiveTennis
@@peterstern1375 Berrettini, Barty, Tsonga, Stosur are all examples of very rigid two handers.
Barty made it to the very top by basically stopping to play the double hander into her matches, rallying just with her very good 1 handed slice. All these four players have very good to good (Stosur) slice, but their double handers are very weak and/or very inconsistent if they try to hit it stronger. Barty Tsonga and Berrettini do everything amazingly well... except the 2HBH, which is incredibly under their overall level. This is for me a clear indication that they would've been much much better with a 1HBH.
These are just examples of players who got likely damaged by the choose of the double hander, but we can see weak double handers at every level, not just at the top orvery near to the top. This is why I consider very wrong to push young players to play the 2HBH like it's the only existing option, even when they feel it very weird for them (like Federer felt it when he was a little kid... he would've been totally ruined by such a choose).
Watching the tournament in Miami on tv & it seems Jordan Thompson, Rybakina, Sabalenka even monfils are hitting the next gen 2 hander.
Thompson yes the others no
Awesome video, thank you very much. Is there a tendency in the Next Gen to go towards semi-western grip in the top hand versus Eastern grip in the modern tecnhique? I have never been so sure which type of top hand grip Djokovic versus Alcaraz or Sinner use in their 2HBH. Thanks
In-between the two is best
Fine video coach. I also think the young American Alex Michelson has an amazing 2 hander.
Have switched to the Wilson Shift?
Would you say sinner is a new type of backhand, closer to a lefty forehand than any other before? I played for 11 years with a 1 hander and switched to a two hander, with sinner style i struggle to generate spin, specially if the ball comes spinny and high to the back and i try to play a high spinny backhand i find myself limited. I am thinking in constructing the backhand based on something more djokovicesque
No 2-h bh is like a lefty fh
th-cam.com/video/xcxo2s0W-_Q/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2y8ukJ4eV5HKjreH
So many different styles ! What I have trouble wraping my head around is what is the most optimal way of placing your hands on the grip for the backhand. I have been playing around a bit and while continental is the prescribed position for the bottom hand, it feels like I am losing power and having to bend the wrist a little. What's the consensus on the backhand grip ?
Ultimate grip guide
th-cam.com/video/WEMbmDurvNk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nn3-QsOAHDNWImjz
This is so on!
My 2H down the line looks like this. Load, shift forward with dominant hand/wrist loose which creates lags, then offhand swings through. Rare as my footwork is garbage, it's usually a slice or a topspin moonball cross 😂
thanks Nic. great video. i think Rublev backhand should be taught to amateurs. advantages is that you need less time to hit and have less to adjust to wind up. amateurs big swings can be complicated. amateurs will never hit the ball as hard as a pro so they dont need that big massive windup. not for me to ask but great if you showed a forehand equivalent.
The next gen bh is extremely difficult to pull off even for high level players.
Next gen fh 👉 th-cam.com/video/Dgb1QzoOka8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ve-_e92uDzjcIQyu
such a cool video nick
Thank u
nice analysis, maybe could have given credit to Jim Courier for pioneering what you call next gen now, too 🤝
For sure
Hey Nik, what racquet are you using in this video? Did you ditch the blue Babolat Pure Drive?
Very curious.
Racquet reveal soon…
@@IntuitiveTennis let's go!
Looks like the Wilson Shift 99. Could be wrong
I think it is his old Pure Drive
Can we have a de Minaur forehand analysis?
Agassi has the greatest two handed backhand ever. Could rally all day, pull the trigger whenever he wanted and barely missed cross court.
I am confused 😅should I use next gen ..keep updating my bh?
If your backhand is as good as Djokovic's, then why on earth would you switch?
@@tepsi87 I feel the burn 🔥 😆 my BH sucks so bad i can tune is to modern or classic..just need to stick to something Lol
Is there a classic, a modern, and a next gen one handed backhand also?
Just classic and modern
th-cam.com/video/5Kqg1miA56A/w-d-xo.htmlsi=r-0Sbrcb4d_bJlxD
Monica Seles had a next gen backhand over 40 years ago on both sides. BTW I am a huge Andre Agassi fan.
Not next gen. Monica has modern 2h bh
What would you call the Nick Kyrgios backhand?
It’s next gen
Uhm, I’d say the slap was properly introduced by Agassi 30 more than years ago. He had a really short backswing and more or less slapped the ball using wrist motion. We used to call it the ”Bruce Lee backhand” back then. As you surely know Bruce used a short but extremely quick motion to generate power. Ergo - the ’next gen’ is more of a ’retro gen’…
Hey man so did Agassi get slapping motion from pulling with right hand and pushing through with left hand
What kind of backhand does Rune have? He's a backhand specialist, I think.
Rune has modern 2-h. He sets on the outside, but doesn’t have late timing. Racquet is back on the bounce of the ball (kinda like the ones I was hitting at the end)
Hey coach can you review those new shoes?
th-cam.com/video/nhM_26Rq7rs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ozDQESz_-_y6iTd6
What about Courier? Didn't he have a next gen backhand already in the early 90's?
He sure did 💯💯
Hey man Agassi pulls with his right hand and pushes with his left hand right
great ending hahahah
Rafa has had a next gen backhand for years ? Have you noticed that coach ?
Not true.
Rafa modern 2-h bh
Sinner's backhand is similar to Rafa's, isn't it ?...same type of sling shot. The difference might be that Rafa prepares the shot earlier and the motion is not continuous but if you take frame by frame they don't look that different
Some similarities but different timing, Rafa does not wait on the outside
Agree ! And Casper Ruud is similar also to Nadal's ! But I"m wondering why Rafa and Casper have a lot more of topspin on it than Sinner! 🤔
Ok that ending made me like you XD
I'd like to know what kind of style is Norrie's BH🤣
It’s next gen but with far less range of motion
th-cam.com/video/iK-EpDaX1lY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=vWG-Zl6hkMDqTTXi
Kkkkk
Great Finish !
Again 😂😂😂
AGASSI has the best two handed backhand ever
2HBH is more difficult for me than a kick serve.
i found the first few minutes in which you talk about the very old players technique(s) very interesting. i just saw them as using incredibly crude technique!
i was heavily trained in the 2000s. i kind of agree with about what you see on the tour right now - but i know that i adjust my takeback depending upon the **height of the ball and where i am located on the court.
For example, if i am playing behind the baseline, the racquet head will be a lot higher and i use a much more marked loop. Very like CoCo Vandeweghe, if you remember her? When i am hitting shorter balls at or inside the service line, especially low balls, i begin lower on the takeback and i get much lower to the court, so that i can hit aggressively but still keep the ball safely within the court. If the ball is short and high i use a high takeback and hit right through, normally down-the-line or diagonally, crosscourt for the winner.
i think that most professional players - all the players that i ever studied from when i was at school - adapt the takeback and (especially) how the racquet face contacts the ball. it just becomes instinctive, when you have hit and trained for thousands of hours. i used to hit for ten hours (- with breaks) just out of university.
Performance coaches noted my adaptations and told me that i am a excellent ballstriker (- though sometimes lazy with the feet), yet always tried to reduce the swing length on both sides to make me more ‘efficient’ - and be able to ready for every single ball. I applied myself to every single ball, every single shot and what i wanted to do with each shot.
One coach said that my strokes took a lot of energy because of the extension and the rotation through my body on every shot.
This never really worked because creating a lot momentum toward the ball and using a lot of torque feels so much more natural to me.
Nick you’re looking better as you get older, in your original videos you were like really skinny and pale looking. Now you look like you gained a little bit more weight and your hair is better also. You should wear a hat, though to get protection from the hot Florida sun.
Sinner, alcaraz, djokovic they do the same thing
Marat Safin old NExt gen backhand))
Safin had modern 2-h bh
For me coach always shout…get racket to back earlier
so roddick had a next-gen backhand?
I thought Chris Evert was a QB for the Rams 🤔
I like to hit my backhand with one hand on my forehand side
Modern seems the best.
Didn’t Michael Chang have this “next-gen backhand” too? I see it’s pretty much the same technique
Chang modern 2-h bh
@@IntuitiveTennis can you please explain how they are different? I keep watching MC and can't see so many differences. Quite similar slingshot type bh
@@aahangar123 it's the timing which I explain in the video
Just different styles. Backhand is backhand. Differences in forehand is a whole different story.
Joker backhand over Agassi?! Blasphemy....
1st
Unwatchable shot...it's like watching Red Sox...
Alot of bs
How sad and boring has tennis become..
And I know God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.
You know that high heels were invented for men originally? Tights also? And skirts were worn by the highest rank knights of honour? You seem like the kind of guy who gets upset by this kind of information, because it contradicts your so called "argument".
@@tepsi87 And I know God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.
@@Dragonlord9 You're so lost. And uneducated. May god have mercy and pour some brain on thy disciple in need. You.