Forehand and backhand

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Backhand in tennis

Backhand and forehand denote a striking technique or side of the racket in various sports. The forehand is the preferred side for most players. It can be used to perform considerably more powerful strokes in terms of spin or speed, as the body is less in the way of the swinging movement and this can be as long as possible without moving the body.

  • In tennis , table tennis , badminton and similar games, the backhand refers to playing the ball with the back of the racket. With this stroke the back of the hand is turned towards the opponent.
  • For the backhand, the racket has to be turned slightly in the hand ("hammer grip") so that the ball hits the racket vertically when swinging. The two-handed backhand is now widespread, as it enables a higher strike speed due to the leverage effect and, thanks to a more stable stick position, is more forgiving of not hitting the ball accurately in the sweet spot . The disadvantages of the two-handed backhand are a slightly shorter racket range and the longer time it takes, since the second hand first has to grab the racket before the swinging movement can begin. A few players also play the forehand with both hands.
  • In table tennis, the backhand side of the racket is often equipped with a different surface in order to do justice to the lower range and impact power.
  • In hockey , backhand does not mean playing with the back of the stick, as this is not allowed in hockey ( round side ). Therefore, for the backhand, the player has to turn the whole club. A special feature is the Argentine backhand , which also allows a very hard shot on the backhand.
  • In ice hockey , the backhand also means playing with the back of the stick. Due to the less favorable sequence of movements and the curvature of the blade of the ice hockey stick, the backhand is only used to shoot in ice hockey when it is necessary for the game.

literature

  • Kristin Retzlaff: Stabilization of the straight lob (forehand - backhand) and the smash ball. 1st edition, Books of Demand GmbH, Norderstadt 2001, ISBN 978-3-640-40176-5 .
  • Textbook tennis . Part 1, forehand and backhand, Toeche-Mittler Verlag 1981.

Web links

Commons : Backhand (tennis)  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Commons : Forehand (Tennis)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files