The One-Handed Backhand: Worth Learning or a Romantic Mistake?

The one-handed backhand is the most argued-about stroke in tennis, and most of the argument is aesthetic rather than technical.

Here is what is actually true.

What the one-hander gives you

• Reach. Noticeably more on the wide ball, and it lets you slide into shots you would otherwise not reach.
• The slice. The transition between drive and slice is seamless, since both use the same grip and a similar preparation. Two-handers slice adequately; one-handers slice naturally.
• Disguise and variety. More options from the same setup.
• Volleys and net play. The transition to the net is more natural, which is why many attacking players favour it.
• Shoulder freedom. Less torso rotation constraint, which some players find more comfortable.

What it costs you

• Contact point tolerance. The one-hander must be struck in front, consistently. Late contact collapses the shot entirely, where a two-hander survives it.
• High balls. This is the real problem. Above shoulder height, the one-hander is at a genuine biomechanical disadvantage. Against heavy topspin on a high-bouncing court, this decides matches.
• Return of serve. Less time means less margin, and the one-hander needs more preparation time.
• Learning curve. It takes noticeably longer to become reliable, which is why most juniors are taught two-handed.
• Strength requirement. A single arm supplying all the stability makes it harder for younger and weaker players.

Who should play it

It suits a player who:

• Prefers attacking and coming forward.
• Plays mostly on faster, lower-bouncing surfaces.
• Has adequate upper-body strength.
• Already slices comfortably.
• Has time and patience to build it properly.

It suits poorly a player who plays mostly on high-bouncing clay against heavy topspin, or who needs a reliable shot quickly.

If you play it, do these things

1. Contact well in front. Further ahead of the body than feels natural, roughly in line with the front foot or ahead of it.
2. Hitting shoulder under the chin at preparation. Full turn. The back should show to the opponent.
3. Straight arm at contact. A bent elbow at contact is the most common fault and it removes both power and stability.
4. Front shoulder stays closed. Opening early pulls the shot across and produces the classic pulled-wide error.
5. Back arm goes back. It is a counterbalance and it keeps the shoulders from rotating too soon.

Dealing with the high ball

Three legitimate answers, all of which need practice.

• Take it early, on the rise, before it climbs. Requires courage and good positioning.
• Slice it, deep and low, and reset the point. Unglamorous, effective.
• Back up and take it as it drops. Concedes court position but keeps the drive available.

The verdict

If you are starting from scratch as an adult and want to be competitive quickly, learn the two-hander. If you already play a one-hander, keep it and build the slice and the early-ball skills that make it viable.

What does not work is a half-committed one-hander with a bent arm and a late contact point, hit because it looks better. That is the version giving the stroke its reputation.