One-Handed Backhand
Also known as: one-hander, single-handed backhand
A one-handed backhand is struck with only the dominant hand on the grip, offering greater reach and disguise than a two-hander at the cost of stability against high-bouncing pace.
The one-handed backhand relies on a full shoulder turn and a long, extended arm through contact, typically paired with an eastern or semi-western backhand grip. Because only one hand controls the racquet, the swing has more reach — useful on wide or low balls — and can disguise slice and topspin variations from a similar preparation, since the free arm and body position give little away until late in the swing. The tradeoff is stability: against high-bouncing, heavy-topspin balls, a single hand has to control the racquet face alone, which is more demanding on timing and strength than a two-handed grip.
The most common technical breakdown on the one-hander is an incomplete shoulder turn, which leaves the arm to swing largely on its own without the torso's rotational support, producing a weak, pushed shot. A well-executed one-hander loads the shoulder fully during the backswing — turning the back nearly toward the net — so the forward swing can uncoil the stored rotation into the shot rather than relying purely on arm speed. Many one-handed backhand players pair the topspin drive with a low, sliced backhand for wide, low, or defensive balls, giving the stroke a versatile two-shot toolkit from a single grip family.
Example
Roger Federer's one-handed backhand is a widely studied example — a full shoulder turn and extended arm produce both a penetrating topspin drive and a disguised slice from a similar setup.
Why it matters
A one-handed backhand that breaks down under pace usually reveals an incomplete shoulder turn rather than a strength problem. SwingVantage measures shoulder-rotation angle at the start of the forward swing to isolate the cause.
How it shows up on video
SwingVantage checks for a complete shoulder turn on the backswing — the back nearly facing the net — and a long arm extension through contact, flagging incomplete rotation as the likely cause of a weak or pushed one-handed backhand.
Common mistakes
- Failing to fully rotate the shoulder on the backswing, leaving the arm to swing without torso support
- Trying to muscle through heavy topspin balls instead of adjusting the contact point and grip pressure
Frequently asked questions
Is a one-handed backhand harder to learn than a two-hander?
It generally requires more precise timing and a fuller shoulder turn because a single hand controls the racquet face, but it offers more reach and disguise once developed.
Related terms
- BackhandThe backhand is a groundstroke hit on the non-dominant side of the body, played either with one hand or two, and can be struck flat, with topspin, or as a slice.
- Two-Handed BackhandA two-handed backhand places both hands on the grip, with the non-dominant hand providing additional stability, power, and disguise through contact.
- Eastern GripThe eastern grip places the base knuckle of the index finger on the flat side bevel of the handle (bevel 3), allowing a flat or moderate-topspin forehand with a comfortable contact height.
- SliceIn tennis, a slice is a shot hit with backspin by swinging high-to-low through the ball, producing a low, skidding bounce. (This differs from a golf slice, which is a curving mishit.)
- Unit TurnA unit turn is rotating the hips and shoulders together as one unit when preparing for a groundstroke, instead of just taking the racquet back with the arm.
Related guides & benchmarks
Put this into your swing
SwingVantage can spot this in your own swing — free to start.
See a sample Tennis report first