The Two-Handed Forehand:
Learning Tool and Weapon!

by Dave Smith

About fifteen years ago, I began teaching the two-handed forehand to players who were having trouble developing a consistent and confident forehand stroke. Quite quickly I found the two-handed forehand to be not only a developmental tool, but also a significant weapon-of-choice for many advancing players.

I had already discovered that the two-handed backhand was, in many cases, a more natural stroke for players who wanted to develop consistency, spin, and power on the backhand side. I noticed too, that the two-handed backhand offered many significant developmental advantages for players of all ages.

Many students were not able to develop solid and consistent forehands (using conventional one-hand methods) to compliment their two-handed backhands. Younger players especially had trouble controlling the wrist; some could not brush up the back of the ball for topspin, and some simply could not reproduce a reliable swing pattern. This is where the advantages of using two hands on both sides became so apparent.

The Forehand Relative to a Weak Backhand

Before the advent and widespread acceptance of the two-handed backhand, the one-handed backhand was often the suspect stroke among most players. For beginners and intermediate players especially, the one-handed backhand was perhaps the most anxiety-ridden stroke to attempt.

Most instructors agree that the two-handed backhand creates stability and a more repetitive stroke pattern, and does so in far less time.

With this transformation of the backhand, many players are now discovering their forehands are the suspect stroke. They may not acknowledge this fact but is an obvious fact that players frequently over hit the one-handed forehand or use questionable form in its execution! Because players can “get away with” hitting one-handed forehands with a variety of footwork calamities, they also tend to develop poor footwork patterns.  

In short, the inability of the beginner and intermediate and even some advanced players to create a consistent and dependable stroke pattern now results in more errors on the forehand side compare to their two-handed backhands.  

Take a look at these areas of potential forehand difficulties:

• Inability to hit topspin
• Erratic control
• Difficulty in repeating swing pattern
• Tendency to dink or push the ball
• Inability to generate pace

Notice the grips: The bottom, dominant hand is an Eastern Forehand as is the upper hand.

Any player, regardless of their current ability, who is experiencing any of the forehand difficulties listed above, is a "candidate" for trying the two-handed forehand.

What I have found is that both adults and junior players--even those who have been playing for quite some time--can discover sound forehand mechanics by switching to two-hands.

The two-handed forehand is relatively easy to adopt and to assimilate. It isn't a cure-all, yet it can be a significant eye-opener for those having difficulty with their forehands. I have seen this repeatedly in my own teaching practice.

For example, two years ago I had a couple of advanced players come to me for help on their conventional forehands. Their ineffectual patterns of hitting were deeply ingrained. Use of the two-handed stroke allowed them to make significant and effective changes in their topspin forehands. Both players experienced astounding improvement. Interestingly, one stayed with the stroke, the other didn't.

A surprise benefit of the two-handed forehand. Some players develop more dependable and offensive topspin forehands sticking with two hands. Some players go back to using one hand with improved biomechanics.

The Two-Handed Forehand Topspin
(Using a right-handed model)

In my first article on the two-handed forehand, I introduced three working methods that have been used by pros to successfully hit the two-handed forehand.

Only one method provides a foundation that leads to the result describe above. This is the “Monica Seles’ forehand” and it is the model I will be teaching here. Not only is it the preferred model for the two-hander, it is the only one of the three methods that provides the foundation for developing a solid one-hander in the process of learning with two hands.

Grips

The bottom dominant hand will utilize the same grip as if the player were going to hit a conventional forehand. I recommend the player use an eastern forehand grip for this bottom hand.

The top hand will use an eastern forehand grip as well. Players will often alter these grips subtly as they become comfortable with both hands working in harmony on the stroke.

Initial Turn

As with a conventional forehand, the shoulder turn and the movement of the backswing are immediate. One of the greatest learning attributes of this two-handed forehand is that the position of the hands forces a player to get the upper body turned. This is because the non-dominant hand has to “reach over” the bottom hand during the turn. This upper shoulder turn is critical to any proper forehand preparation.

During the backswing, it is important NOT to let the wrists overlap. In other words, don’t let the left wrist lay over the top of the right wrist (right-handed players). If this occurs, the racquet face opens up and will either prevent a congruent vertical face during the topspin stroke. This can cause the player to slice under the ball and send it far too high.

During the backswing, the racquet head should be pointed down and the racquet face closed slightly. This is similar to the take back of the two-handed backhand, (compare Serena or Venus Williams' backhand preparation), this initial move helps prepare the racquet for significant topspin.

As part of the backswing, the player will want to pull the dominant elbow back as opposed to crossing or overlapping the wrists. This movement of the elbow is similar to what a person would do to “elbow” someone standing behind him.

As Monica Seles has demonstrated, the two-handed forehand can be hit open or closed stance with exceptional control and disguise. I highly recommend taking the time to review her strokes in the ProStrokes Gallery. 

Contact Point and Follow-through

The swing to the ball is initiated by a slight shoulder turn back towards the net, the normal swing pattern for a conventional one-handed forehand, although the two-hander is usually hit with the hands slightly closer to the body.  

At contact, the use of two hands creates an almost automatic topspin pattern. The left hand contributes to this by pulling up on the racquet much like it would on a two-handed backhand.

Because this non-dominant hand is on top and is stretched out across the body, its natural tendency is to pull up through the trajectory line.

The upper body continues its rotation, (angular momentum) generated by the greater turn that started naturally on the backswing. 

Key point: Similar to most high-level backhands, the inside elbow will stay close to the body as the right and left hands drive up and through the trajectory line.

This key point helps prevent the elbow from pulling across the body or raising up too much causing the player to push the racquet through the ball.

The finish of the stroke, should be similar to that of an advanced conventional one-handed forehand. The right elbow will point towards the target, as does the bottom butt-cap of the racquet.

Contact: The racquet is moving up the back of the ball	Early Follow-through: The racquet drives up and through the trajectory line.	Full follow-through: “Wrap” finish, typical of today’s conventional forehand.

Additional Two-handed Methods

As I mentioned in the first part of this two-handed forehand series, there are two additional ways in which a player can hit a two-handed forehand. Because these methods are characterized by a need to change grip positions, I personally don’t recommend them. In addition, the method I have described above can be used to help a player develop a more productive conventional one-handed forehand. Nonetheless, after fifteen years studying the stroke, I believe it is helpful to provide an understanding of these other two methods.

Note: The inside arm’s elbow is near the body just after contact on both the two-handed backhand (left) and the two-handed forehand.

Two Backhand Method

Jan-Michael Gambill’s unique ground game is actually composed of two backhands. His dominant right hand moves up slightly and provides for enough space for his left hand to grasp the bottom portion of the grip on his forehand side. This would be the equivalent to a left-hander’s backhand.

Gambill actually only grips the bottom inch or so of the grip, usually with his first two fingers and thumb. He also tends to release his left hand just after contact.

Regardless of whether or not one deems Gambill’s unique form successful, it does create some logistical problems. Specifically, the dominant hand must be ready to move up or down to the bottom of the grip on a moment’s notice. Following a fast serve, the hands must make this change quickly to be able to execute a groundstroke.

Reverse Two-Handed Forehand

The reverse two-handed forehand places the non-dominant hand at the bottom of the grip and the dominant hand on top. Gene Mayer successfully used this pattern during the late seventies while reaching top-10 status. The problem with this method is the movement of the hands needed after a serve or to hit a volley after a groundstroke. Since these two shots require the dominant hand at the base of the racquet’s grip, a transition from groundstroke to volley—or from serve to groundstroke requires a significant shift in the grip.  

Conclusion

The two-handed forehand can be hit with an open or closed stance. It can increase the amount of topspin a player can regularly produce and it can help players hit crosscourt and inside out with greater angles. More importantly, the two-handed forehand creates considerable stability and helps players create a regular, repeatable swing pattern.

A Stroke for Older Players

The two-handed model described in this article is also an amazing stroke for senior players who have pain associated with hitting typical forehands due to impact stress or have minimal ability to hit a topspin forehand.

The two-handed forehand, like the two-handed backhand, distributes the stress or impact force of hitting a tennis ball between both arms and hands. As a result, many older players can indeed continue to play the game with much less pain.

While teaching a clinic for 30 senior players at the Huntsman World Senior Games here in my home town of St. George Utah, I had a revelation. (As did many of these participants!) From an assortment of forehands, many bordering on bizarre, I trained all 30 players to hit a two-handed topspin forehand with repetition and surprising accuracy--in just 20 minutes! Several of these senior players had NEVER hit a topspin forehand before! (Many only knew how to slice or push the ball!) The next year, several of these players begged me to watch them play, wanting to show off their new, more aggressive topspin two-handers.

It is fun to watch all levels and ages of players develop solid and recognizably advanced swing patterns relatively quickly. Learning the mechanics of the two-hander can even help players who go back to conventional one-handed forehands.

History has shown that what is considered unorthodox today can often become tomorrow’s weapon-of choice! If you or someone you might be working with is experiencing significant difficulties using a conventional one-handed forehand, training with a two-hander can radically improve their progression and success. If you have any questions specifically regarding the two-handed forehand, please feel free to e-mail me with them.

If you have question for Dave or comments about his article, please email us here at TennisONE.

David W. Smith is the Director of Tennis for the St. George Tennis Academy in St. George Utah. He has been a featured writer in USPTA’s magazine Advantage, in addition to having over 50 published articles in various publications.

David has taught over 3000 players including many top national and world ranked players. He can be reached at acrpres1@email.msn.com

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