Two-handed backhand grip and swing for beginner players

In this tennis class, Javi teaches how to properly hold the racket for the two-handed backhand and what the correct grip is for a beginner player. He also teaches the student how to technically execute the basic swing of this stroke.

For a beginning player, the two-handed backhand is usually easier to learn than the one-handed backhand because it allows them to hit higher balls with more control and power. However, in this backhand the leading arm is the player’s non-dominant arm, the left for right-handed players. Therefore, we will do some exercises to learn to gain control in the non-dominant hand.

Javi recommends holding the racket with the eastern grip for the upper hand and the continental grip for the lower hand. In the case of the upper hand, it is possible to vary the grip a bit and put it semi-western to generate more topspin or continental to play flatter.

The two hands must be close to each other and there must be no separation between them so as not to lose control of the shot.

• this is a non-dominant hand so left for right-handed players
• eastern grip allows you to play both with topspin and flat
• you can vary this grip a little towards semi-western or continental

• this is a dominant hand so right for right-handed players
• continental grip allows you to have more strength in this hand
• it is not recommended to modify this grip

We will be explaining each grip in more detail in future tennis lessons for beginner players.

In order to gain greater control and ease of motion in their non-dominant arm, the player should practice hitting the ball using only this arm. The player should keep her elbow close, with the wrist slightly open and transfer bodyweight forwards following through on the dominant shoulder.

The main learning points from this tennis lesson for beginners are:

1. Use the eastern grip for the upper hand and continental grip for the lower hand.
2. Put your hands closely together so as not to lose strength and control of the racket.
3. Keep your elbows close to your body to have better control of the swing.
4. Prepare the racket backwards, at first with little wrist mobility and swing it forward. The non-dominant hand is the one that generates the power in this stroke.
5. Hit the ball in front of your body, facing sideways, and follow through with the swing to the opposite shoulder, and behind your head.

Beginner players should gain control in non-dominant arm motion!

In this video, Javi explains the correct grip for two-handed backhand and shows 2 exercises to learn to swing at the easy balls from the baseline. In one of the exercises the player has been practicing gaining control in their non-dominant arm by hitting the ball using only that arm.