It is one of the oldest debates in tennis. The one-handed backhand is the more elegant shot; the two-hander is the more reliable one. Or so the story goes.

Our AI coach gets this question from players who are genuinely torn — not many of them, but they dig deep. One player asked for the cons of each, then a direct comparison, then how their own backhand compared with Federer's. Another felt more confident with their one-hander in practice, but not confident enough to use it in a match.

So we looked at our own data. Of the backhands analysed on OnCourtAI where we could identify the type, 1,377 were one-handed and 816 were two-handed. That alone is interesting — among our players, the one-hander is more common than on the pro tour, where two-handers dominate.

What Our Data Shows

The headline: there is almost no difference in quality.

  • Average overall score: 60.7 for one-handers, 60.5 for two-handers.
  • Preparation: 76 vs 75 out of 100.
  • Spin generation: 42 vs 43.
  • Late contact: 57% of one-handed backhands weren't struck clearly in front of the body, against 53% for two-handers.

That last one is the only meaningful gap, and it fits what coaches have long said: a one-hander needs the ball further in front, so it is slightly less forgiving of late preparation.

One honest caveat. These are not randomly assigned groups. Players chose their backhand, often years ago, and the kind of player who sticks with a one-hander may differ from one who uses two hands. So the data does not prove the two shots are equally good for you. What it does show is that neither one is a handicap at club level. Choose on fit, not on fear.

The Case for the Two-Handed Backhand

  • Easier to learn. The second hand adds strength and stability, which is why most juniors start this way.
  • Better on the return. A shorter, more compact swing handles pace well and is easier to time against big serves.
  • Handles high balls. Two hands make it much easier to control a ball bouncing above the shoulder.
  • More forgiving of timing. You can make contact a little closer to your body and still hit a solid shot.

The downsides: less reach, so wide balls are harder, and slicing and volleying need you to let go with one hand — a separate skill to learn.

The Case for the One-Handed Backhand

  • More reach. You can get to wider balls and hit them with control.
  • Natural link to the slice and volley. The grip and movement carry over directly, which makes all-court tennis easier.
  • Disguise and variety. It is easier to switch between topspin, slice and drop shot from the same preparation.
  • Racket head speed. A free, full swing can generate a lot of pace and spin once the timing is right.

The downsides: it needs more shoulder and forearm strength, it is harder against high bouncing balls, and it is less forgiving of late contact.

What About High Balls on a One-Hander?

This was a specific worry from one of our players, and it is the one-hander's best-known weakness. Three options:

  • Take it early, stepping in to hit the ball on the rise before it climbs above your shoulder.
  • Move back and let it drop into your strike zone.
  • Slice it. A high slice backhand is a perfectly respectable shot and buys you time.

How to Choose

If you are just starting, or coming back to tennis after years away, the two-hander is usually the quicker route to a reliable shot. If you already hit a one-hander and you enjoy it, our data gives you no reason to switch — the average quality is the same.

If you are torn, the honest answer is to try both for a few weeks each and film them. Compare your contact point, preparation and consistency on video. The shot that holds up better under pressure is the right one for you, regardless of what anyone else hits.

One thing to avoid: switching back and forth within a match. Commit to one for a block of time.

Grips for Each Backhand

One player asked our coach for the best one-handed backhand grip, which is a good place to start if you are trying the shot.

  • One-handed topspin: an eastern backhand grip is the standard. Rotate your hand so the base knuckle of your index finger sits on the top bevel of the handle. It puts the racket face square to the ball at contact in front of you.
  • One-handed slice: a continental grip — the same one used for serves and volleys. Many players use it for both slice and topspin to start with, but it makes topspin harder.
  • Two-handed: most players use a continental grip with the bottom hand and an eastern forehand grip with the top hand. The top hand does much of the work, which is why two-handers often describe the shot as a left-handed forehand (for a right-hander).

Another common question is which arm is the non-dominant one on a two-hander. For a right-hander, the left arm is the top hand and the main source of power and control; the right hand stabilises the racket.

Getting Either One Right

Whichever you choose, the fundamentals are the same: an early unit turn, contact in front of the body, and a full follow-through. Late contact was the most common backhand fault we saw for both types — our guide on how to stop hitting the ball late applies just as much here. And the hip–shoulder separation that powers a forehand matters on the backhand too.

An OnCourtAI backhand analysis detects automatically whether you are hitting one- or two-handed and scores the stroke accordingly, so you can compare the two styles on your own game.

The Short Version

At club level, one-handed and two-handed backhands score almost identically in our data. The two-hander is easier to learn and better on returns and high balls; the one-hander offers reach, variety and a natural link to the slice. Pick the one that fits your game and your body, then commit to it.