One-Handed Backhand: How to Learn It (and Whether You Should)
Quick answer
To hit a one-handed backhand, use an eastern backhand grip, make a full unit turn with both hands on the racket, and drive the racket and arm as one unit from your upper back. Make contact further in front than feels natural, stay sideways through the shot, and keep your off arm extended behind you. The one-hander gives you reach, feel, and a natural slice, but it is less forgiving of late contact than a two-hander.
Should you hit a one-hander?
Be honest about the tradeoff. The two-handed backhand is more stable, easier to power, and better against fast and high balls, which is why most players use it under pressure. The one-hander wins on reach, slice variety, feel, and style, but it demands better timing, footwork, and shoulder strength. A common setup is a two-handed drive paired with a one-handed slice.
The fundamentals
- Grip: eastern backhand, knuckle on top of the handle for a stable face.
- Unit turn: both hands take the racket back, shoulders turn, chest points away from the target.
- Drive from the upper back, not the arm. Keep the racket and forearm firm through contact.
- Contact well in front of your body, further than feels natural, with a stable face.
- Keep your off arm extended back to stop your shoulders from flying open.
The most common one-hander mistakes
- Opening the shoulders too early, which sprays the ball and causes shanks. Fix: stay sideways longer.
- Late contact. Fix: prepare earlier and meet the ball off your front hip.
- Pulling with the arm. Fix: drive the whole arm as one unit from the upper back.
- Weak on high balls. Fix: take the ball earlier on the rise or slice it instead.
A good check: after contact you should be able to see under your strings. If you cannot, you swung flat or pulled across.
Frequently asked
Is it too late to switch to a one-handed backhand?
No. Many one-handers learned two hands first and switched once they had the timing and strength. Expect a few months of dedicated reps before it holds up in matches.
What grip is best for a one-handed backhand?
The eastern backhand grip, with your index knuckle and heel pad on the first bevel. It gives a stable face for topspin and an easy move to continental for the slice.
Why do I keep shanking my one-hander?
Usually your shoulders open too early and your contact is late. Stay sideways, prepare earlier, and make contact further in front.
Can I use a one-handed backhand against big servers?
It is harder. Many one-handers slice the return to get into the point, then look to drive later in the rally.
Sources and further reading
Written by
Bolor Enkhbayar
Tennis coach and founder of CoachesNote
Bolor coaches serious juniors and adult competitors. She builds every weekly plan, reviews the video and match notes, and decides the next job, in person and remotely through CoachesNote.
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