Techniques: Two Handed Grip

Nearly all of the most elite returners of serve in tennis play with two-handed backhands. Consider Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, Jennifer Capriati, Venus and Serena Williams.

A big advantage that these players enjoy is that they can await serve with a forehand grip at the bottom of the handle with their right (dominant) hand and ALSO a “forehand” grip at the top of the handle with their left (non-dominant) hand. In effect, they already have BOTH correct grips regardless of which side the serve is hit toward. This allows them to be efficient and compact in addressing the ball. “One-handed” players, in contrast, have to switch their grips considerably if they intend to drive the ball.

So if you play with a two-handed backhand, be sure to make full use of your “advantage” by waiting with “both grips.”

If you do play with a one-handed backhanded, I would advise for you to wait with either a full forehand grip OR a full backhand grip. This way, your quick grip change will always be in one direction only. (For example, wait with a forehand grip and if the ball is served to your backhand then you can quickly rotate your hand on the handle so that your knuckles are more on top). Alternatively, some coaches suggest setting your hand halfway between these two grips while waiting to return serve. This means that you need to adjust a little for every return attempt, but this adjustment is only minor. Try both methods to find which is most comfortable.

	This player is set with his regular forehand grip. If he has a one-handed backhand, then he needs to quickly move his knuckles toward the top of the handle in order to drive his backhand on the return-of-serve.
	This demonstrates how a returner would slide his non-dominant hand down the shaft of the racquet to assure that both his right hand (forehand) and left hand (top hand on the backhand) are in proper position.
	He is waiting with his dominant hand already positioned to hit a forehand, while his left hand is fully “behind” the handle in position to hit a two-handed backhand. No matter where the server hits the serve, this returner will have the “correct” grip for the return-of-serve.