Double Handed Backhand Grip

It wasn’t until the 1970s when players like Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, and Chris Evert burst onto the scene that the two-handed backhand started to emerge.

Early on, when young children learn how to play tennis, they’re typically taught the two-handed backhand because they don’t have the strength and coordination to hit with one-hand on their backhand side.

However, older players who are learning the game often gravitate toward a two-handed backhand because the extra hand helps increase the player’s control of the racquet on the non-dominant side of their body.

Advantages:

• easier to learn than a one-handed backhand;
• provides both stability and control;
• extra power;
• great for low shots;
• can produce a lot of power and topspin.

• limits a player’s reach on shots that cause them to stretch wide outside their strike zone;
• takes more time to setup.

To form the two-handed backhand, first form the continental grip with your dominant hand by placing the palm side of your index finger’s bottom knuckle against the second bevel if you’re right-handed or the eighth bevel if you’re left-handed.

Then, position the butt of the racquet’s handle at the base of your palm and wrap your fingers around the handle.

Next, take your non-dominant hand and place the palm side of your index finger’s bottom knuckle against the seventh bevel if you’re right-handed and the third bevel if you’re left-handed. In effect, your dominant hand is using the continental grip, while your non-dominant hand is using the eastern grip.