Play a better one=handed backhand no matter what ball you are getting! In this video, I show you how to prepare and address all types of balls to your backhand. Watch until the very end to see 5 of the drills I did when I played on Tour!

@saitej5061

2 жыл бұрын

Very nice tips,very useful drills and demonstration, thank you so much

You made a living with this stroke. Most KZread one-handed backhand vids are made by folks that never played with a one-hand backhand at the world class, elite level. You have a great way of taking all your experience as a top WTA pro and teaching us mortals in a way we can relate. That's not easy. More please!

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Hi Darell! Thank you for the super nice comment! And yes, more coming up :)

@foodbeforepills8749

Ай бұрын

💯. Don't watch the KZread coaches who never used the one handed backhand at a high level (college level). They don't understand the intricacies of the 1bh.

An instructor who not only teachers but demos all her teachings beautifully. Can't beat that. You can even see from how she presents that she's very dedicated at doing a really good job in helping folks learn the beautiful game. Thanks so much. I always drop a like on her videos before watching them as I trust the material will be good. That's how great she is at teaching.

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much 😊. I really appreciate your support!

At 72 years , I picked a tennis racquet.i have learnt a lot from your YT videos.

@MeikeBabelTennis

Ай бұрын

That's great to hear!

@sudhirmenon3895

Ай бұрын

In my club I am the oldest. I give them a run for their money.i play doubles only.thanks.never stop learning.

As a OHBH player since I learned to play in 1969 this is an excellent tutorial about how to properly hit the stroke.

Beautiful backhand! This may be my first time commenting on a tennis video but this is the best video I Have seen on the onehanded backhand and I have watched too many to count. Simple and so functional. Great instruction and camera angles from the grip to the drills. Thank you!

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Wow, thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so happy you liked my video!

Great video - I like that you provide approaches for different incoming balls , wide, high , low , etc. You don't usually see that in instructional videos about the 1 handed backhand

You are so good. I love hearing your lesson and watching you hit. You still got it! Great lesson.

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

Excellent instruction!! I use a one handed backhand(4.0) and this is the best description of the process. Clear, articulate, and accurate. Your passion for teaching come through!!!

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Awesome! That's what I'm aiming for.

@markli9072

7 ай бұрын

Throughout this video, it looks like you are already holding the racquet with your backhand grip as you are waiting for the next shot. Is that also what you did when playing a competitive match?

This is the best video I’ve seen on one-handed backhands. Thank you. 🙏🏻

This lady is gold. Beautiful strike, very elaborate instructions, and duper helpful. I've been doing most of this with my coach, but there are a few key ingredients here that's super important i realized. Thanks

Great video, jeez you got a nice one-hander. You look so smooth! Nice hitting.

This has to be the most comprehensive video on the one handed backhand.

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

That's what I was going for 🙂

Really good information. I appreciate it.

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Gorgeous backhand. I want it so bad!

First time I ever comment on a video too. Hands down the best ohb video I have ever seen, Thank you ! Two things that I would appreciate to hear more about are 1) different grips and how they affect contact point 2) the stable body position, foot position, waist, body weight, shoulders and head

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Gustavo! Great suggestions and I will put it on my list to film. I love when I get great feedback like yours with more detailed questions!

This single video is like 1000 from all other channels combined! So valuable! Thank you!

@MeikeBabelTennis

5 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! That’s very high praise!

Best ever video on the single-handed backhand. Many thanks for this.

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Increible Couch...el mejor video de One hand backhand que vi!!!!

@MeikeBabelTennis

9 ай бұрын

Muchas gracias!

Thank you very much ... I love your lessins !!

Love the sound of that backhand. Great technique Meike!

So clear! Thenk you so much! You are very good teacher!

Awesome backhand tennis lesson, you are fantastic with your knowledge and explanations - actually that applies to all your video lessons 🎾 thankyou

Best video I’ve seen on one -handed backhand. Thanks

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Love it ! Very detailed with all the different stances, footwork and drill for 1 handed backhand. This is by far the best tutorial video from a true 1 handed player such as yourself. Thank you!

Great work throughout your videos madame! Well appreciated. Thank you.

Great video! Thank you.

Love this video. Great technique help and the drills at the end are awesome.

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Very good video, very pro, no waste of time, just good advices! 👍🏻 👍🏻👍🏻

Awesome instructional video showing different angles and drills. I’m a 4.5 struggle with consistency on one handed backhand especially on low ball. I’ll try to implement your tips on court. Hopefully it gets as good as my forehand. Cheers🎉

One of the best video for the One handed backhand.Congratulation coach!

Really good instructions and drills. Thanks a lot!

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

Just terrific.Thanks, Meike!

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome and thank YOU!

Fantastic! Triple AAA! I just loved your instructions and the way you explain it all with details and dtills to to practice it. One of the best channels to date.

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thank you!

Thank you, I am learning one handed, this was really helpful.

Awesome teaching style! New sub from Spain.

I have seen many videos of one-handed backhands, but this is the most complete in information, excellent video

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Thanks

Love watching well executed one-handed backhand. It’s such a pretty shot. I would love to have a backhand like that. This should help me keep working on it. Thank you!

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Excellent!

Perfect instructions

Still trying to master the one handed backhand .. helpful video.

Claire explication pour réaliser un bon revers à une main. Thanks. ❤

This is by far the best explanation on the contact point for the one hander that I have seen online. My 12 year old son found your channel and loves it. I have to agree with him. Bravo! My son has a one handed backhand (like his old man)and I have been trying to get him to understand spacing a bit better on his backhand and I think this finally will nail it for him. As a former college/tournament level player and certified USPTR Professional, I have to say you have a great way of illustrating difficult concepts and more importantly, you have the chops to show it not just talk about it like some do here on KZread. You have my vote as the best teacher on KZread. I hope your channel grows by leaps and bounds.

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your kind words! And let me know how your son's backhand continues to develop, it's always great to hear that I could help "make something click!". And just recommend my channel to your tennis friends ;-)

thank you for this video. The drill before the last one was superb as it improves fast execution of the one-hander !

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Fantastic backhand. Very nice drill tips and advices how to handle different height balls. Thank you so much. I have to watch more your videos.

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Thank you and I hope you enjoy the rest as well

Another awesome training, thanks Meike. And just to mention that since I started following your channel I have seen massive improvements in my recreational tennis. I won against some of the guys at my level in recent times 6:0, 6:0, and I am like...."Yeah, this is working"! I will obviously be going through all your videos. Thanks, once again.

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

That is so awesome to hear! Thanks for sharing with me!

Great stuff, awesome instructions

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Thanks 👍 The one hander is my favorite shot and i love teaching it

So very thanks for this deeply explanations, I really appreciate it, I wish health and strength to your good hands🌻🧿🥰

Très bonne pédagogie ! 😍Merci!

This is one of the very best one-handed instructional videos I have ever seen. I can't wait to practice this out on the court - Thank you

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Love your vídeos. Thank you very much 🌺🌺🌺🌺❤️❤️✨✨✨

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

Love this video. I have been struggling with high balls an fast ones for years because they get out of my striking zone or because i don't have enough time to get in ready position, that's when footwork comes in...your suggested drills are really cool

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

You are so welcome!

Absolutely, positively clear cut and precise instruction. The beauty of the one handed backhand reminds me of Ken Rosewall and Rod Laver, great style by Meike backhand ….fantastic video

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

It’s a wonderful lesson.

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Thank yoU!

Lots of valuable OHBH 🎾 tips. 👍🙏

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Great Tutorial Meike 👍 i’m recently retired and always wanted to play …. got myself a coach .. and this is a great subscribe channel … Thank you again 🙏 Steve

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome, thank you and welcome on board!

Great coach well explained ..

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

I appreciate that!

Very very very nice! This is the best one-handed backhand video I have ever seen!

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much! Feel free to subscribe and recommend my channel to your tennis friends!

@michaelfederer4878

2 жыл бұрын

@@MeikeBabelTennis Okay, but I have a few questions I would like to ask the coach: Is the backhand grip for the preparation position before each hit? I hold the racket with a half-west backhand, right? Because if I use the Eastern style with one-handed backhand, the ball will always go out of bounds...

That’s really v useful video ; I appreciate the effort . I would like to see more videos on footwork :) .. thx

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

I'll make a note of it. And I agree, I should do more footwork videos!

Nice job with the video. I teach the 1 handed backhand very similarly to how you teach it but use different words to describe certain footwork patterns. For instance, I use the words "square stance" for what you describe as "closed stance," and in place of the "hinge," I use the terms "break step" or "mogul move" (David Bailey term). I loved your Kerber example (of staying low to the ground) when discussing how to handle a hard, flat ball. Keep posting!

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing that. Yes, we all have different terminology to a degree. I will keep yours in mind should one of my clients need a different way of learning the concept.

This is a great tutorial on the 1HBH..very thoroughly explained and demonstrated. Mad respect to your coaching style, it's so engaging and I would think your students would see improvements quickly. The hinge technique was an eye opener...thanks coach M.

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

I appreciate your kind words very much! Most of my clients say I'm way nicer in my videos than I am in real life :-)))

@tincho4996

Жыл бұрын

👍

Great instructions & such a beautiful & efficient backhand you have. However you didn't mention to have your head steady & looking over the right shoulder with chin out until you've made contact.

Amazing technique! great video and drills! I miss the one handed backhand on the WTA. I saw one player doing it (can't remember her name) but it was a bit weird, with the left arm "completely still" against her body and not extending back on contact. As for me, I've only just had the confidence to start hitting through the ball on the backhand in matches, instead of systematically slicing. It's a great feeling. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Isn't it awesome when you hit it well?

The one hander with the topspin, low to high backswing is all that is taught nowadays. Budge had a special continental grip, and Gonzales had a hammer grip continental grip. Both are less demanding, allowing for flat swings and straight arm or bent elbow.

Beautiful simple clean backhand!👍

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Feel free to subscribe and recommend my channel to your tennis friends.

@watcher687

2 жыл бұрын

Yup already subscribed as soon as you started hitting backhands in the video 😀

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

@@watcher687 Haha! Perfect!

Great

Sehr Gut

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Vielen dank

my two hander is very inconsistent and I've been wanting to develop a one handed backhand. great video, thank you!

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Well, if you'd ever come to practice again, sigh...

Thanks Meike for such detailed explanation. Will you be able to make a video on what changes we need to make to drive the ball down the line instead of the natural cross court shot for one handed backend? Would be really helpful.

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

I'll put it on my list to do!

High class backhand very nice, will be trying those drills for sure !! Thank you

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Let me know how they work for you!

I have been playing for a couple years now and my 1h backhand has given me anxiety. The video completely fixed that and my 1h'er. Now i feel my body firing where my 1h'er was all arms before. I gotta say I look forward to hitting the backhand more than my forehand now which is great because that my opponents like to target.

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

That's amazing to hear!

all those lines are throwing me off lol In modern tennis you fall back on the rear foot after contact to allow you to open your stance aafter contact and to add a bit more spin. Loved the video. best on line coach.

good

Found my new coach she’s Great 😊

I remember watching you coming up and competing in the WTA. You had a great one-hander. If I'm not mistaken, you competed in the German junior circuits. All my kids chose to be one handers (their choice).

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I played all the German tournaments growing up in Frankfurt.

Meike - nice channel. You talked about avoiding the high backhand and working to get the ball in the contact zone. In general, how much does this positioning for contact point contribute to whether a player is good or not so good? Like, can one have great stroke technique but be a bad player because of a lack of emphasis on moving for contact point? Is moving for contact point the holy grail? Would make a nice video and would be really helpful for me.

👋🏻 Coach. Is the eastern backhand basically the same grip as the semi western forehand? 🤔 Beautiful backhand 😍 and awesome video, as always. 💯

Could you please make an elaborate video on backhand footwork with more details. Thanks in advance

Let’s hope the one handed backhand makes a comeback.

Thank you for the video and channel. For open stanced backhands, assuming that I'm capable of executing these, could you please give me words of advice on when to do a stroke similar to an open stanced forehand vs a stroke where you load the off leg but then jump into a closed stance vs a stroke with the hinge step?

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

They're all very situational to be honest and it's all about how you get to the ball, how much balance you have, how string/ coordinated you are etc.

When I get pulled out wide on the backhand side, I'm knifing the ball as hard as I can down the line. It hits the sideline quite frequently and skids of the court. But I'd like more options. The offensive slice backhand is my only reliable option on the backhand side. But my mistake is probably already in my backhand grip: It's continental 😂 That could be the reason why my flat backhand is a backspin infused knuckleball that's very unstable and unreliable. I seriously have more success returning serve with a dropshot on the backhand side, than trying a "regular" shot.

Will u able to show how to hold forehand and same time backhand one hand in forehand and one backhand same time plz

Holy cow! Forget Wawrinka - you are destroying those backhands :) You're pretty tall but how about tips for a short player against a high-bouncing ball? Sometimes I just improvise and use two hands in emergencies!

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Haha, not so sure that I would beat Stan in a comparison :-) Either you take the ball on the rise so it doesn't go above shoulder or you drop way back to let it come back down. I don't see anything wrong with using the left hand to help out if it helps you get the ball back. Probably wouldn't work on tour level but that's not what we're talking about so anything goes in my mind to get the ball back in and reset the point!

Thanks so much for this video. I'm very much in need of help on my 1HBH. I've been using a two-hander, but I hate it. It feels so un-natural and weak but it does offer control. I have good power with a one-hander, and it feels natural and effortless to me. However, I lack control and make too many errors. I either hit too flat and ball goes long or too much spin and hit the net. I have trouble finding the right combination of spin and power.

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

My coaches always, always drilled that into us that it's control before power. So work on consistency first and then add power. If you can film yourself from the side and see what your racket face does when you make contact. I have found that players try to manipulate the ball with the wrist a lot when they first change a shot. If you have the right grip and trust your swing you don't need to open/close the racket face with the wrist/ forearm. Often times that happens subconsciously.

@jscott4431

2 жыл бұрын

@@MeikeBabelTennis Thanks Meike!! I will take your suggestions. I believe I do try to use the wrist too much, as you say. Much appreciate your feedback!!

Sehr gut! Danke und Gruss aus Moskau

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Dankeschön und auch Grüße zurück!

@andrejefremov1978

2 жыл бұрын

@@MeikeBabelTennis Sie sprechen sehr gut Englisch. Erlich gesagt habe gar nicht gedacht, dass Sie Deutschin sind

Meike, I’m a senior player. Back in the day, instructors put us into the continental grip for everything… I’ve managed to get into SW forehand; however, I tend to hit a lot of BH slice, and use the same grip for BH flat drives. I place my index knuckle on the continental bevel and the heel pad position is the same as your Eastern. So the only difference is the position of my knuckle. I want to be able to hit hard TP backhands… Do I have to move the Knuckle to the top…. feels a little weird and i hit a number of shots in the net. btw: love your videos..Oh, one more thing, you didn’t mention the adjustment you use hitting a down -the -line vs cross court..

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, you would want both knuckle and heel pad on the Eastern BH grip. The grip demands a bit of a different swingpath and contact point so look to hit that BH a bit further in front so that the racket face is either neutral or only slightly closed. With the grip you have it will be too closed, hence the ball in the net. You might also have to swing up a little steeper. The adjustment bw cc and down the line is that you turn more on the down the line. The motion itself is the same just your body is positioned differently.

A key position on the forehand is having racquet head tip below the level of the hand. This will help impart topspin as you swing up to contact. Assuming this same principle applies on the backhand. At 5:00, with both hands on the racquet, with left hand about to let go, the racquet head tip looks to be still even with the hand. Do we have the choice at this point, with both hands still on the racquet, to drop the tip below the level of the hand, using wrist ulnar deviaition? Or will this racquet head tip below the level of the hand position naturally occur when letting go of the left hand? Watching in slow motion, that is what appears to be happening when you let go.

great videos meike specially th backhand one , help me a lot but sometimes think that double hand backhand is more powerful, is it so? or i should practice more. i m from india not have so much good coaches , i liked your video and start follow u. please help me to bcome good player.

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

The two hander can absolutely be more powerful, especially for recreational players. The second hand also adds more stability. So if you struggle to be consistent with your one-hander and it's not throwing you off too much, then working on a two-hander makes sense.

Great video as always. To generate topspin and hit shots with good clearance over the net..what would be the key? I saw some other videos that talk about the angle of the racquet face at the moment of contact..I tried it but it feels really unnatural. Also, the swing path after contact is always going upward I believe, but the hand in the follow-through ends at head level or above head level? Thanks a lot

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

The racket face at contact depends on the grip and it's really hard to/ next to impossible to control that. Brushing up steeper after letting the racket drop lower will give you more topspin. And it depends on what type of shot you want to hit to determine what your follow through looks like. Can be the Rafa buggy whip but can also be over shoulder or biceps. Don't force the end of your follow through, it will adjust to how you started your swing and then how steeply you swing up and forward to contact.

Not bad? MEIKE? I think you are very good indeed 😮 ,and a great coach ,👍🏻🎾❤️ hello 👋🏻 Faisal 😉

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you as always :-)

Can you do one on returning serves

Tks coach. I hit a very solid and sound 1h bkhnd in hand feed drills , but the moment I try to implement it in real time matchplay, often times I find myself late on the ball and am forced to slice. Could you suggest a practical way by which I could train my brain to turn and bend earlier ? Why doesn't the unit turn come as naturally and intuitive as on the forehand ??

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Could be a ton of things. Perception being one. I personally feel like the field of vision shrinks a bit when you turn and then we get into which of your eyes is the dominant one. I'm right-eye dominant so it doesn't bother me. It's repetition, repetition, repetition. You could go on the ball machine and start with slower pace and really nail it down and then gradually increase the pace.

I know this is an older video but nonetheless I hope Meike will have an answer to my question regarding the contact point: I have heard several coaches (from Vic Braden to current online coaches) talk about swinging away from the body which I would translate to a contact point more to the side. This should result in increased power because of the wider radius of the swing path. According to Meike the best contact point is closer to the body where the hand is in front of the right shoulder. I don't get these 2 concepts together. Which one is the better approach and why?

Hi Meike, I have a one handed backhand, but it tends to be way too flat, or has some sort of strange slight side spin. Do you have any tips on how to go about improving this?

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Stay tuned! I'm about to release a video on that exact thing! Should be this Thursday afternoon!

How does one find the one spacing on the the one handed backhand like using the off hand like on the forehand?

Hi, I have problem to drop the racket under the ball. Any idea or drill to fix it? Best regards from Germany

Thanks, Meike. I’ve always found the forward swing tricky in one handed backhand especially the racket drop. Do you swing ( from the top of take back ) downward and up to the ball? Does the racket head drop because of that? And what’s the role of left hand in that downward motion? My drop is shallow no matter how hard I’ve tried to fix it. I know others with the same issue. What do you think the reason could be?

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Hi there, it's difficult to say that without seeing your backhand. You will definitely need a loop so from the top of the take back you do want to come down to get under the ball and then swing forward and up to contact point. To my mind, the left hand facilitates the take back but then separates and does not stay on the racket. One thing I've seen with players who only have a shallow drop is that a) they initiate the entire motion too late so they just don't have time to get more of a drop and b) they don't use the legs enough to get under the ball. I hope that helps some.

@watcher687

2 жыл бұрын

@@MeikeBabelTennis Thank you. I guess both of them apply to me: late prep and lack of knee bend. Here’s a short video. kzread.info/dash/bejne/X3mGydCems22hMo.html

Eine einhändige Rückhand! Was für eine Rarität heutzutage…vor allem bei den Frauen. Als ich mit Tennis anfing (1978) kannte niemand eine zweihändige Rückhand. Heute lernen alle Jugendlichen nur noch zweihändige Rückhände. Beide Techniken haben ihre Vor- und Nachteile, aber für Kinder ist die zweihändige Vorhand sicherlich besser….Anyway, if you get older you are starting to use the slice back hand more often. But I really like the hinge step advise. I will try next time as I am playing men 55 in Germany 🇩🇪 and have to play as efficient as possible.

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

Ich hab als kleines Kind auch mit 2 Haenden angefangen. Fand dann aber die Einhaendige bei einem von unseren Herren so toll, dass ich meinen Vater genervt habe, mir die Einhaendige beizubringen :-)

I really like your instruction especially since I use a one handed backhand. The one I would recommend is to make your lessons shorter

@MeikeBabelTennis

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

No movement of the wrist to topspin as the forehand?

If there is such a thing as a modern forehand/Gen Z or whatever it is now (version 3.0), is there such a thing for the backhand (Modern backhand/Gen Z)? Why is it in your opinion that the single backhand has not given more light or effort by the coaching community when developing juniors in your opinion?

@MeikeBabelTennis

Жыл бұрын

It's much easier to have kids be successful with a two-hander, meaning hitting more balls in. The one hander takes longer to get good at and especially in junior tennis can be a liability. Your opponent will just hit high balls to your backhand. Much easier to control with the two hander

@rikkkretue4945

Жыл бұрын

@@MeikeBabelTennis Fascinating. My kids made their choices to go single hander and now all their friends want to switch. I’m looking both the ATP/WTA sides and often wonder these pros (like yourself) at some point made that decision and it paid off. So then the question then becomes, for both the kid and coach, when one wants to play one hander backhand, how much did the other encourage or discourage the switch?