Willie Aubone, former ATP Tour player, has contributed articles covering a variety of topics from warm-ups to point patterns.  Follow his tips and you're sure to do well.

waubone08@yahoo.com

In over 30 years of coaching I’ve heard this question from all kinds of players, parents, and other coaches: "what is better: a one-hand or a two-handed backhand?"  I had the fortune of having worked with great players with both.  Many times it was up to me to decide which one a player should have, others I got them already set with one where it was better to improve whatever they had.  But in general my thought always was that if I had the chance of developing a player from a young age, like anything from 6 to 10, I would rather choose the one handed backhand.  I see the trend in general in most coaches around the world is to favor the two- hands.  We have seen over the last 50 years great champions using both, each with different styles.  So, which one is better, and why?

There is no clear winner.  It’s a matter of each individual case.  Let’s examine the differences between both backhands.

1. With the one hand to me there is a better chance of developing an “all around” player this way.  The most difficult thing to do.  We have the examples of Sampras and Federer, who have won the most Grand Slams. They both played aggressive games often ending their points at the net showing great variety of shots while using the slice backhand.  And this is where the one hand beats the two-hander big time... kids who grow up using a one handed backhand have a better slice and volleys as well as defend better when pull out wide or facing short balls.  The weakness of the one handed backhand is on returns and/or handling high balls.  It also takes longer to develop especially because you must learn both, top and slice, together, which means more grips, and it requires a better footwork.
    
2. The two-handed has the obvious advantage of the 2nd hand on the racquet which adds support and strength when making contact.  This is a big help specially when having to return hard shots and high balls.  Whether you are in good position or not that extra hand pulls some balls back from behind the contact point to produce great shots when your opponent less expects them. This is clear on returns and passing shots.  Another advantage is that players with two-handed backhands, as their slices and volleys are a bit weaker at first, develop more of a “simple game”.  They are not so flashy and are happy rallying for long points at the baseline.  They become aggressive baseliners (like Agassi or Nadal) and then, as they progress with this style they add the slice and volleys to complement their games.  Not everyone turns out this way.  There are different coaches and players, but in general this is the case.  I would say we have a great majority of two-handed backhands in the world today in part because it’s a lot more complicated to learn the one hander.  You need more technique, which means more lessons; more strategy, which means more losses at first too.  And not too many like this, and decide to change for the easier method.

To conclude, it’s easier to make an average player with two hands, but to make a “great one” I’ll take the one only for the “all around” game.

So, now tell me, which one is your son or daughter going to have?