How to Hit a Backhand with More Power Like Novak Djokovic
A heavy two handed backhand comes from racket head speed and full body rotation, not from muscling the ball with your arms. Novak Djokovic owns one of the cleanest backhands in the game because he loads his legs, turns his core, and lets both hands whip the racket through contact. Train that chain, add a little resistance to speed up your hands, and the ball starts jumping off your strings. The video below shows exactly how to generate more power on your two handed backhand.
Where does two handed backhand power come from?
Power on the backhand is built from the ground up through the kinetic chain. It starts with your legs pushing into the court, moves through a full hip and shoulder turn, and finishes with two relaxed arms that pull the racket through the ball. Djokovic makes it look effortless because he coils fully on the turn and stays loose until the last instant, then his non dominant hand drives the racket head through contact. The biggest mistake club players make is swinging with the arms alone from a square stance, which tightens everything and slows the racket down. Coil your body, let the racket head lag behind your hands, and snap it through. That lag and release is where the free pace lives.
Timing and stance matter just as much as raw speed. A good backhand starts with an early shoulder turn so you are loaded and ready before the ball arrives, which buys you the split second you need to swing freely instead of rushing. From there, a stable base, either a neutral or slightly open stance, lets your legs push up into the shot and transfer that energy through your core and out through the racket. When those pieces line up, you can swing at ninety percent effort and still keep the ball deep and heavy, which is exactly how the pros make a huge backhand look so calm.
How do you add pace without losing control?
More speed is useless if the ball sails long. Topspin is what lets you swing fast and still bring the ball down into the court. Here is where power comes from on the two hander and the mistake that leaks it at each stage.
| Element | How to add power | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Legs | Load and push up into the shot | Standing tall and arming the ball |
| Coil | Turn shoulders fully away from the net | Taking the racket straight back with no turn |
| Non dominant hand | Let the top hand drive the racket through | Letting the bottom arm do all the work |
| Contact | Meet the ball out in front of the body | Late contact jammed behind the hip |
| Finish | Brush up and around for topspin | Flat swing with no net clearance |
What gear builds racket head speed?
Racket head speed depends on fast, strong hands and forearms. Training with light finger weights builds that hand and wrist speed, so when you take them off your swing feels quicker and the racket snaps through contact with more pop. It is one of the simplest ways to add real racket speed to your backhand off the court. Slip them on for your shadow swings and warm up rehearsals, then take them off before you rally and your hands will feel noticeably quicker through the hitting zone. Because they are adjustable, you can start light and add weight as your hands and forearms get stronger, which keeps your swing path clean instead of forcing you to muscle the racket.
S.W.A.G. Adjustable Weighted Gloves
Adjustable finger weights build the hand, wrist, and forearm speed behind an explosive, whippy two handed backhand.
What drills build a bigger two handed backhand?
Groove these in practice before you chase pace in a match. Start slow, feel the chain fire in order, then let it rip.
Backhand power questions coaches ask
Should I hit flat or with topspin for power?
Topspin. It lets you swing fast and still bring the ball down into the court, so you get pace without spraying it long.
Which hand should drive the two hander?
Your non dominant hand does most of the driving. Think of the shot like a forehand hit with your top hand, with the bottom hand along for stability.
Do weighted gloves really help?
Yes. Building hand, wrist, and forearm speed carries over to faster racket head speed once you take the weights off.
How do I stop hitting late on the backhand?
Start your turn earlier and meet the ball out in front. Late contact behind your hip kills both power and control.
Build a backhand that jumps off the strings
Train faster hands and let your racket do the work.
Tags: tennis, backhand, two handed backhand, racket head speed, tennis training, weighted gloves
