Two-Handed Backhand (Pickleball)
Also known as: two-hand backhand dink, double-handed backhand
A two-handed backhand is a backhand dink or volley hit with both hands on the paddle, trading some reach for extra stability and paddle-face control.
Borrowed from tennis, the two-handed backhand puts the non-dominant hand on the paddle either alongside or below the dominant hand, adding stability to a shot that many players find shaky one-handed. The tradeoff is reach: a two-handed grip shortens how far a player can extend for a wide ball, so it works best for balls that arrive relatively close to the body rather than at full stretch.
The appeal of the two-handed backhand at the kitchen line is control under pressure. In a fast hands battle or a low, tricky dink, the second hand reduces unwanted paddle-face movement and gives players — especially those transitioning from two-handed racquet sports — a more comfortable, repeatable feel. Some players use it only for backhand dinks and resets, switching to a one-handed grip for volleys and drives where reach matters more.
There is no single correct grip; it is a legitimate stylistic choice rather than a fundamental everyone must adopt. Players considering it should weigh whether the added stability outweighs the reduced reach for their game, and should be honest about whether a two-handed backhand becomes a crutch that avoids fixing an unstable one-handed grip.
Example
A player who came from tennis uses a two-handed grip to block a fast backhand dink at the kitchen line, keeping the paddle face steady through contact.
Why it matters
Choosing a backhand style deliberately — rather than defaulting to whatever felt familiar from another sport — helps a player build a backhand dink and reset that hold up specifically under kitchen-line pressure.
Common mistakes
- Using a two-handed grip on wide balls that require reach beyond what the grip allows
- Relying on the second hand to mask an unstable wrist rather than developing genuine paddle-face control
- Switching grips mid-rally without enough practice, causing hesitation at contact
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab can note grip changes between shots when visible on video, which is useful context for understanding why reach or contact height varies within the same rally.
Frequently asked questions
Does a two-handed backhand limit reach at the kitchen line?
Yes — the second hand on the paddle shortens how far a player can extend, so wide balls are harder to reach than with a one-handed grip.
Is a two-handed backhand better for beginners?
It can help players who already have two-handed instincts from tennis feel more stable, but it is a style choice, not a requirement — many advanced players use a one-handed backhand exclusively.
Related terms
- Backhand DinkA backhand dink is a soft, controlled shot hit on the non-dominant side of the body with a compact, low-to-no backswing, arcing just over the net into the kitchen.
- Wrist FirmnessWrist firmness is the degree to which the wrist is held stable — neither locked rigid nor loose and flipping — through contact, controlling the paddle face during fast exchanges.
- Reset Shot Height ControlReset shot height control is the ability to absorb the pace of a hard incoming ball and drop it just over the net into the kitchen, converting a defensive situation into a neutral one.
- Hands BattleA hands battle is a rapid-fire exchange at the kitchen line where both teams speed up and counter-attack in quick succession — won through reaction speed, paddle readiness, and placement under pressure.
Related guides & benchmarks
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