Hi guys Nick here from Intuitive Tennis. Today I want to talk about the open
stance versus the closed stance backhand. So the main reason why most one-handed
and two-handed backhands are hit the closed stance is because it puts our hand
closer to the body at contact. So go ahead and throw me a ball. So if I catch
this ball without using my closed stance I have to reach further across to grab
the ball it's a very unnatural movement and go ahead and throw me another one
and if I step across like this it's very natural just picture yourself you know
catching the ball or catching a frisbee and naturally you're going to
step across like this and to make it a more comfortable catch.
Let's talk about
the one-handed backhand first. So 99% of the one-handed backhands are going to be
hit closed stance and the main reason for this is that if we attempt to hit it
open stance it puts our hand further across from the body and many players have
a difficulty turning like this in an open stance position and so it's much
easier to get that automatic shoulder turn and when we step across it this way.
Okay I'm going to try to do some one-handed backhands and when I step in it just feels
natural. I have plenty of time. My hand is closer to
the ball and I'm going to try some open stance one-handed backhands now and I
find strain in my upper body right away, because I can't turn the natural way and
it just feels a lot less strong this way. So this is an impossible shot the open
stance one-handed backhand. The only exception would be on the run if we hit
it open and then we close like this. You can see Federer doing that sometimes.
So he hits it open and then closed it's a little bit different because the body is
moving to that side already and it's a little bit more natural, but from a
stationary position you always must hit in a closed stance situation.
When it to the open stance versus closed stance on a two-handed backhand, there's
a little bit different than the one-handed because we have the help of
the left hand. So we can hit it open stance and many players do, but for me
personally I find it more difficult then stepping across like this.
Stepping across puts the the hitting arm closer to the ball and also you get an
automatic shoulder turn. So when I step across like this I get an
automatic shoulder turn and my hand is closer to the ball and it's more
comfortable and that's why you see the majority of the players. They hit a
closed stance backhand and if you want to hit an open stance backhand it does
require a little bit more of a forced shoulder turn and it puts the hand
further away from the ball it requires more strength and more flexibility.
However, if the ball does get behind you on the two-handed backhand it is a great
way to save some time by going open stance. You can see many players do and
when there's a lot of penetration on the ball on the two-handed backhand you
can't hit open stance from defensive situations.
On short balls however the
same as the forehand we always must use our front leg and to attack this ball it
would be absolutely impossible on a two-handed backhand to step with it with
the open leg and you would not be able to turn a lot this way it's a very
unnatural position.
So on the two-hander it is a more natural shot when we step
across, especially when the ball is short. So we always must step up the ball with
our right leg on the on the right handers I'm going to try to do it the
wrong way once and it's just I can't even get the racquet back it's
completely unnatural and it doesn't work.
So now if the ball has a little
more penetration on the backhand I can do open stance especially if I get
pulled if I get pulled backwards like this it's a very natural shot. It gives
me a little bit more time and it feels natural. So go ahead and do open stance
when you get pushed back on the two hander.
Thank you guys for watching this video.
Please like, share and subscribe and I'll see you next time.