The Great Backhand Divide: Analyzing the Two-Handed Dominance in Modern Professional Tennis

The tennis backhand, a stroke often described as the barometer of a player’s nerve and precision, is the subject of one of the sport’s most enduring and emotionally charged debates: the viability of the elegant one-handed backhand (OHBH) against the efficient, powerful two-handed backhand (THBH). This comprehensive analysis explores the biomechanical, statistical, and strategic factors that have driven the professional game toward the structural solidity of the THBH, marking the OHBH as an increasingly endangered but beloved form.

 

I. The Last Stand: Framing the Strategic and Aesthetic Divide

 

The conversation surrounding the backhand is uniquely intense, often sparking “fiery back-and-forth” discussions and deep emotional commitment among analysts and enthusiasts. This passion stems from a fundamental paradox in tennis: the aesthetic appeal versus competitive efficiency.   

 

A. The Aesthetic vs. The Efficient

For aficionados, the OHBH represents the “aesthetically pleasing poetry” of the sport—a “dying breed” admired for its artistry and grace. These aspects—poetry, dance, and magic—are what draw connoisseurs to the stroke. However, the evolution of modern tennis is relentless, driven by the imperative to maximize “leverage, proficiency and power” by all available means. The question is no longer about beauty, but about competitive sustainability against the ever-increasing pace and spin of the contemporary ball.  

This decline is not a sudden trend; analysis confirms that the erosion of the OHBH’s viability has been progressing for approximately 50 years. The continuing emotional investment in the OHBH, rooted in cultural identity and nostalgia, often overshadows the cold, data-driven assessment of technical viability. The game’s progression requires strokes that are scalable and sustainable under physical duress, placing the OHBH at an inherent disadvantage against the physical evolution of “stronger, bigger” athletes requiring “extra help”.   

 

B. The State of the Art: The Statistical Collapse

 

The statistical representation of the OHBH at the elite level provides unequivocal evidence of its decline. A watershed moment occurred in 2024 when, for the first time since the ATP rankings were created in 1973, there was not a single player within the ATP Top 10 utilizing a one-handed backhand.   

The OHBH now holds endangered status: only 10 men in the ATP Top 100 currently employ the stroke, confirming they are “the last of a dying breed”. Even prominent proponents of the stroke, such as Grigor Dimitrov, concede that those remaining are simply “holding the fort”. The numerical reality underscores that while the OHBH may offer stylistic beauty, it lacks the biomechanical consistency required to sustain success at the absolute highest echelon of the modern, power-oriented game.   

 

II. Biomechanical Mastery

The fundamental difference between the two strokes lies in their engine of power generation and stability, providing a clear explanation for the THBH’s structural superiority.

 

A. The Two-Handed Backhand (THBH)

The THBH is fundamentally a more efficient mechanism for transferring kinetic energy from the body into the ball. The inclusion of the non-dominant hand unifies the body as a single unit, incorporating the torso and other larger muscle groups to generate superior power and leverage. This structural reinforcement stabilizes the racket face throughout the swing, making the stroke “easier to learn” and far more forgiving of slight timing errors compared to the single-hander.   

The THBH facilitates the generation of heavy topspin, a necessity in the contemporary game. Utilizing grips such as the Semi-Western backhand grip , the low-to-high swing path naturally produces greater topspin, ensuring that high-velocity shots dip accurately into the court. This ability to combine power with spin control is central to its strategic value. While the THBH’s primary technical drawback is the “cramped” position that restricts reach and makes handling high balls challenging , this marginal defensive disadvantage is overwhelmingly offset by the power and stability it provides against sustained opponent aggression.   

 

B. The One-Handed Backhand (OHBH)

The OHBH requires technical mastery and flawless timing. If timing is compromised, the player isolates the arm, relying only on the shoulder and arm for pace, resulting in significantly reduced power. A critical error for OHBH players is exactly this isolation—a failure to fully integrate the body into the swing. To generate effective topspin, the stroke demands sophisticated feel and “softness” in the arm and wrist, avoiding stiffness that results in flat, predictable contact.   

While the OHBH offers better reach and greater fluidity into the backhand volley and slice , its complexity presents a severe vulnerability in high-speed rallies. The stroke requires “more time” for setup and execution. Furthermore, unlike the stable THBH, the OHBH necessitates complex grip changes to transition between the slice and the topspin drive. Against the speed of the modern professional game, the millisecond required for this grip adjustment is a critical point of failure. The trade-off is clear: while the OHBH offers superior reach, the stability and leverage of the THBH are superior weapons for baseline survival against the relentless pace and heavy topspin, validating the dominance of the two-handed stroke.   

 

III. Strategic Evolution: Backhands in the Era of Pace and Spin

 

The modern game dictates that the backhand is primarily a defensive and stabilizing weapon, absorbing opponent pressure rather than initiating consistent attack. ATP data confirms this tactical reality.

 

A. Backhand Frequency and Reliability

 

Top-ranked ATP players rely heavily on their backhands, indicating that this wing must possess exceptional reliability to withstand constant targeting. Daniil Medvedev, for instance, hits his backhand on 53.1% of all groundstrokes—more often than his forehand. Other elite players, including Alex de Minaur (49.4%) and Novak Djokovic (48.9%), also approach a near 50% usage rate.   

This high usage frequency confirms that the backhand’s role is predominantly that of pressure absorption and consistent neutralization, rather than pure aggression. This environment inherently favors the THBH due to its reduced reliance on perfect timing and its superior structural stability. Interestingly, data analysis shows that while there are no statistically significant differences in speed between the two strokes, the overall effectiveness of the backhand often requires more practice for both genders. This suggests that the THBH’s competitive edge comes from its ability to maintain consistent placement and spin under match pressure, cementing its reputation for cold, hard solidity.   

 

B. Countering the Modern Baseline Game

 

The two-handed backhand functions as an essential “shield” against the extreme pace and spin. Its stability allows players to counterpunch effectively and maintain defensive capability even when forced to play from the back foot. The structural vulnerability of the OHBH, however, is widely acknowledged. Lorenzo Musetti, a practitioner of the OHBH, has admitted that in terms of sheer solidity, “no one-handed backhand in today’s tennis that can stand up to a two-handed backhand that is half as good”. He concludes that the OHBH “can complicate things for you”.   

The strategic application of the slice further differentiates the strokes. Men are generally more likely to employ the slice or run around their backhand to hit a forehand compared to women. This confirms that for male players, the topspin backhand drive is not always the preferred default aggressive option. For OHBH players, the slice—which alters ball speed and bounce height —becomes a tactical necessity rather than a choice. It is a tool used to survive deep baseline pressure and compensate for the structural difficulties of driving the ball consistently against high pace, reinforcing the view that OHBH users are often “fighting for survival”.   

Conversely, the THBH is not limited in topspin production. 2024 ATP metrics show that players like Casper Ruud achieve backhand spin levels that group them statistically with high-spin OHBH users. This demonstrates that the THBH offers both mechanical stability and the capacity for elite topspin, providing a complete package for the modern game.   

 

IV. Coaching and Development: The Sustainability Question

 

The future decline of the OHBH is being intentionally amplified by coaching and development strategies that prioritize efficiency and long-term viability.

 

A. Scalability and the Beginner: Why Coaches Choose Two Hands

 

Coaches are increasingly opting to teach the THBH to beginners because it is inherently “easier to learn” and achieve stable contact early in development. This approach prioritizes future viability, as the THBH provides a superior platform for generating power without isolating the arm, thereby reducing the risk of developing poor technique or relying solely on smaller muscle groups.   

The goal of modern instruction is to train players to maximize “leverage, proficiency and power” for the high-speed environment of the professional tour. The THBH is perceived as a more scalable and sustainable technique. This educational shift creates a self-perpetuating cycle: as the THBH becomes the default, fewer high-quality OHBH players emerge, further solidifying the two-handed structure as the established professional standard.   

 

B. Common Technical Pitfalls and Remedial Drills

 

While the THBH is structurally superior, it is not immune to technical errors, many of which stem from failing to fully utilize the body integration the stroke provides.

The three most common mistakes observed in the two-handed backhand include:

1. Poor Timing: Players often rush the swing or start preparation late. The recommended corrective action is to initiate the unit turn early and adjust the tempo during the setup rather than rushing the contact.   
2. Lack of Body Use: Isolating the arms and failing to integrate the core and torso leads to reduced power. The remedy involves focusing on a complete shoulder turn to improve power without compromising balance.

      
3. Arm and Wrist Stiffness: A “robot-like” movement leads to flat, unresponsive contact. Players must cultivate fluidity and softness in the arms to allow the racket head to generate proper topspin.   

Furthermore, a critical error is the lack of commitment from the non-dominant arm (the left arm for a right-handed player). This arm is essential for driving the swing and ensuring stability. Remedial drills emphasize left-hand dominance, requiring players to hold the racket choked up and practice hitting the ball solely using the non-dominant arm’s mechanics. This practice confirms that the success of the THBH relies on effectively channeling the body’s power through the secondary arm for consistent, integrated force application.   

 

V. Essential Comparison and Conclusion

 

 

Biomechanical and Strategic Comparison of Backhand Strokes

 

   

 

Conclusion: The Verdict on the Backhand Future

 

The debate between the one-handed and two-handed backhand is settled by the professional data: the THBH reigns supreme not for its flash, but for its fundamental solidity. The structural advantages of the THBH—superior power generation through body integration, racket face stability, and ease of learning—make it the inevitable choice in an era defined by extreme pace, heavy topspin, and high frequency of backhand pressure absorption.   

While the OHBH possesses undeniable aesthetic appeal and offers niche tactical benefits like superior reach and easy transition to the slice, its biomechanical complexity and dependence on perfect timing render it structurally vulnerable against the sustained intensity of top-level competition. Even dedicated OHBH players acknowledge that the stroke is “less effective” and can “complicate things” in the modern game. The coaching world has recognized this reality, prioritizing the scalable and sustainable THBH for junior development. Therefore, while the OHBH may endure as an inspirational curiosity—maintained by the power of social media and the love for its artistry—its functional role at the pinnacle of professional tennis will continue to diminish across future generations.