Troubled Two-Hander

[lukman41985]

Kerry Mitchell,
I read your excellent article Understanding the Grips: Backhand. Recently I've switched from a one-hander to a two-hander because I had a very hard time consitently finding the correct contact point on the one hander and the one-hander was also starting to hurt my right shoulder a great deal. My switch to a two-hander has gone fairly well. I started off by learning to hit left-handed forehands and that helped. However, when I put my right hand back onto the racquet, I feel like my right arm is taking over in the stroke--something I don't want. I want the left arm dominating the stroke. I feel like my arms are competing against one another. I'm sure the problem isn't my grip considering my right hand is in a continental and my left hand is in an eastern. Should I maybe loosen the right hand grip? Maybe this is something that just takes time because I did recently switch and I know it will take time to ingrain the correct sensations...

[kerrymitchell]

two-handed

Lukman,
First let me say that it will take some time to feel comfortable with the two-hander. The longer that you originally played with the one-hander the longer the process to make the switch. The reason it is difficult is because the contact point for each stroke is different. The contact for the one-hander is out in front of your body about 8-12 inches further than the two-hander (the two-handed contact is in line with your front foot).
Try hittiing some balls (preferable on a ball machine first, but if that is not an option have someone feed you some nice controlled balls) and as you follow through let go of your right hand (this will feel awkward at first). Be sure to not let go of the right hand until after contact (if you do you will not have the stability for solid contact). As you get more comfortable with the timing you will start to feel the weight of the ball on your left hand. You will have to use this technique quite awhile before you can really feel the left side enough to stop using it.
I first learned this technique by watching Capriati play a long time ago. I was watching her play and noticed that on her passing shots she would often walk away from the winner with only her left hand holding the racket. At the time I was having the same problem as you with my two-hander. After a few months my two-hander was a lot stronger. Even after that I used the technique described above in pressure situations, especially when I had a sitter ball that I needed to put away.
Thanks,
Kerry.