How to Master the Two-Handed Backhand in Pickleball
An Instructional Guide to Drives, Drops, Dinks and Speed Ups
The two-handed backhand is an essential shot to have in your pickleball repertoire. Mastering this versatile stroke will give you additional power, control and disguise on your backhand side.
In this instructional guide, Tanner Tomassi teaches you proper grip, footwork, swing mechanics and strategy for hitting effective two-handed backhand drives, drops, dinks and speed ups. With practice, you’ll be able to confidently attack and defend from the backhand side using two hands on the paddle.
Whether playing singles or doubles, these tips will help you take your pickleball game to the next level. Read on to learn how to unlock the full potential of the two-handed backhand.
1. Proper Grip (Continental) 0:12
When hitting two-handed backhands, you want to grip the paddle using the Continental grip. Place your dominant hand in the hammer position, as if driving a nail. Then lightly grip the paddle with your other hand so that it sits comfortably without overlapping too much. If you have a shorter paddle handle, avoid grasping hands completely on top of each other as this inhibits swing mechanics. The Continental grip optimizes wrist motion and weight transfer through the stroke. The key is keeping the hands connected but with some space in between. This allows you to torque the paddle head through impact, creating spin and control. Holding the grip too tightly or overlapping hands excessively reduces head speed and power potential.
2. Form of a Backhand Drive 0:43
Proper footwork, weight transfer and compact swing mechanics are vital for hitting authoritative two-handed backhand drives. As the ball approaches, step back with your front foot and then forward into the shot, pointing your front toe in the intended direction. This transfers momentum and engages your core to drive through impact powerfully. Keep a short, abbreviated swing with paddle always within peripheral vision. Do not take an excessive back swing or overextend on the follow through. Instead, concentrate on pushing all the way through the ball past contact point before letting the wrists slowly roll over. Avoid decelerating the paddle head or flipping wrists aggressively at the moment of impact. Keep legs active and balanced under the shot, rather than swinging arms separately. Driving through with core body rotation unleashes maximum pace and penetration on backhand drives.
3. 2-Handed Backhand Drop 2:41
The two-handed backhand drop is an aggressive option, especially effective on balls hit wide to the backhand sideline. Use compact footwork by doing a small hop or bunny step into the stroke, keeping feet stationary at contact. Torque wrists aggressively downward with the bottom hand and lift up with the top hand simultaneously to brush under the backside of the ball. This imparts heavy underspin for a sharp downward trajectory after the bounce. Aim crosses court on drops rather than down the line so opponents cannot intercept with a backhand volley. The key is using wrist snap to create spin while keeping paddle face closed through the stroke. When mastered, the two-hander drop allows you to attack short balls confidently on the backhand wing.
4. 2-Handed Dinks 3:51
Having a solid two-handed backhand dink is invaluable for keeping opponents pinned deep and setting up offensive opportunities. You can either push dinks back consistently and with safety or use the flick for more penetration and aggression. When dinking straight ahead or on lower trajectory balls, stick to the push for control and reduced error, keeping opponent honest. On wider balls breaking outward with more height over the net, flick aggressively crosscourt by torquing wrists over in unison. This shoots the ball deeper with more pace but demands precision. So utilize the dinking push up the middle or when recovering while reserving the flick for ideal situations or caught unaware. Mastering both dinking styles expands options for moving opponent and transitioning to attack.
5. 2-Handed Speed Up Off the Bounce 6:39
The two-handed speed up utilizes compact footwork and explosive wrist snap to change pace abruptly off the bounce. After dinking back and forth for position, speed up suddenly with torque and lift to drive ball down into the kitchen for a winner or weak reply. Disguise the speed up by keeping paddle face closed and using consistent sideways footwork. Then accelerate paddle head speed dramatically through the stroke by engaging legs and core for added power. Only hit speed ups on wider balls around the kitchen line rather than down the middle so angles stay obtuse. This maintains deception since down the line and crosscourt appear identical from opponent's viewpoint. Time the speed up properly when weight is centered and neither player has momentum forwarding. Mastering disguise and timing on two-handed speed ups enables keeping opponents guessing while seizing backhand attack opportunities.
Conclusion
With practice, the versatile two-handed backhand can transform from a defensive liability to an offensive weapon. Mastery requires ingraining proper footwork patterns, compact mechanics, wrist snap and disguise through repetition. But once grooved, the two-hander provides stability digging out wide balls along with allowing you to attack aggressively when chances arise. So follow these tips and put in the work to take your backhand to the next level with power, control and unpredictability. The two-handed backhand offers spin, speed and deception to make opponents uncomfortable. Add this shot to your pickleball toolkit and watch your game rise accordingly!
Mastering the Two-Handed Backhand Quiz
1. What grip should you use when hitting a two-handed backhand?
a) Eastern backhand grip
b) Overlapped grip
c) Hammer grip
d) Continental grip
2. When should you step back with your front foot during a backhand drive?
a) After you hit the ball
b) As the ball bounces
c) As the ball approaches
d) Before the ball is hit
3. Where should your paddle be during the backswing of a drive?
a) Behind your back
b) Across your chest
c) Above your front shoulder
d) In your peripheral vision
4. How should you finish your swing on a backhand drive?
a) Straight above your head
b) Across your body
c) Past your front shoulder
d) Answering a phone
5. What footwork should you use on a backhand drop shot?
a) Running step
b) Crossover step
c) Stationary hop
d) Open stance
6. When hitting a backhand drop, which way should you aim the ball?
a) Down the line
b) Crosscourt
c) At the kitchen line
d) At your opponent's feet
7. What paddle face angle should you use on backhand drop shots?
a) Squarely facing forward
b) Slightly open
c) Mostly closed
d) Fully shut
8. How can you hit more aggressive two-handed backhand dinks?
a) Pushing with less spin
b) Rolling wrists over
c) Flicking crosscourt
d) Hitting down the line
9. When should you use the dinking push instead of the flick?
a) On low balls
b) When moving forward
c) On straight balls
d) Against weak opponents
10. What footwork should you use on two-handed speed ups?
a) Running forward
b) Crossover step
c) Stationary and balanced
d) Open stance
11. Where should you aim two-handed speed ups?
a) Down the middle
b) At opponent's feet
c) Behind opponent
d) Around the kitchen line
12. How can you best disguise a two-handed speed up?
a) Hiding paddle behind back
b) Looking opposite direction
c) Consistent sideways stance
d) Changing paddle face
13. When should you NOT hit a two-handed speed up?
a) On high balls
b) When opponent is back
c) On neutral weight
d) When you're off balance
14. What are the main benefits of the two-handed backhand?
a) Deception and power
b) Easier to learn
c) More topspin potential
d) Better touch shots
15. Which grip helps optimize wrist snap on two-handed shots?
a) Shakehands grip
b) Hammer grip
c) Overlapped grip
d) Continental grip
Answer Key:
- d
- c
- d
- d
- c
- b
- c
- c
- a
- c
- d
- c
- d
- a
- d
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