Justine Henin's Backhand

[Mutt1961]

Nice to see that even the greats hit stinkers once and a while, like at 1:30 where she's going too vertical with the racket and gets the mishit. Awesome correction tho at 2:37 - same shot, flawless execution coming across more. I loved watching Justine play.

[MrGoldenfalcon]

it looks like federer's backhand

[mikie6453mikie]

Have you ever watched them in the workout room working on shoulder strength? I've seen Sam and she can do what I can, a strong 175# male. That's why they have great shoulders.

[1307sammiemc]

Justine Henin is the best all-court female player of the modern game, in my view, of course. However, I question given her build in this clip that she has such muscular shoulders. One would hope there is no chemical enhancement.

[cabomba]

@1307sammiemc Well, you should've seen many other female players even much more muscular than her. Take for e.g. Serena Williams, Sam Stosur. If you would want to question that, then first question SW. In any case, I don't mean any disrespect.

[bobomber]

the greatest backhand I've ever seen...

[golfmaniac007]

one handed backhand from a women is just too darn masculine.

[bobomber]

@golfmaniac007 on the contrary...this shows great balance, grace and fluidity which are characteristics not limited by male/female stereotypes

[beavertown2006]

Best backhand in humans history.

[reviseyourdemise]

@beavertown2006 federer's is but for women's yeah...

[xandernorthstaar]

Just noticed, she starts with a forehand grip before regripping. It just made her backhand more pretty to me.

[theriokid]

It's alright, I don't like the way she turns her wrist over at the end of the follow through. I would like to see her grip become a little more continental, and follow through further out in front.

[Maniac742]

@theriokid Sorry, one-handers don't get any better than Justine Henin's. I'd even go as far as to say her backhand is better than Federer's. She unloads with an accuracy and power unparalleled in women's tennis and she's one tiny woman. Her backhand is like thunder.

[theriokid]

@Maniac742 Well everybody has their opinions, but just look at the way her weight is moving back after she hits the shot. That's just not something you wanna copy. In tennis, you want to always be moving forward. Particularly on the backhand being that the power comes from the legs, buttocks and the forward movement. Check her out. On some of her shots it looks like it's 50% arm. That's just not right.

[Maniac742]

@theriokid Nah, that's crap. Henin's backhand is as powerful as they come and even the top commentators and other tennis players acknowledge that shot as the greatest backhand in women's tennis, bar none, even the two-handers. Tradition and classic technique be damned. You can't argue with the result.

[theriokid]

@Maniac742 Hey, you can call my comment crap, but provide some sort of analysis. When you complete your follow through you should be on the tips of your toes which will mean you've followed through as far as out as you can. She, on the otherhand is ending up on her heels. Now, you can say everybody think it's a great shot, etc, etc, but that means nothing. What do YOU see that makes it a great shot. What i see is a fit girl, with above average mechanics who has room for improvement.

[AkMachx]

Best backhand ever.... I'm trying to learn it from HER.

Cause I prefere this technique to anyone else.

And I'm a man...

[Raindogs111]

@AkMachx There's a great slo-mo video of Wawrinka that I found really helpful when learning to switch from two hands. Very simple, clean, effortless technique. Although you've chosen a great one to model already in Henin's.

[AceGuitarR7]

@Raindogs111 i think henins and wawrinka's are quite simillar

[househeadericmd]

@AceGuitarR7 i'd add gasquet's and mauresmo's too but henin's the best!

[wordlyfe]

damn she got buff

[jeffasc2]

she manly as hell

[uw10isplaya]

@worldted

It's actually extreme eastern, not extreme western. And yes, she has the most extreme when talking about high profile professional players. Wawrinka has a great backhand and an extreme grip as well, though not quite as extreme as Henin. Federer and Gasquet do not have extreme grips at all, they are quite neutral/basic eastern. Which is amazing considering the topspin and length of time the ball stays on the strings for gasquet, what a talent.

[cabomba]

We can never see this backhand in the women tennis anymore... =(

[robertslistening]

Never could get used to that extreme backhand grip. Still like the eastern backhand better.

[adek2kn]

happy birthday justine :)

[nottys92]

One of the best female backhands in history!

[AceGuitarR7]

if she were 6"1' and a male shed be the greatest ever

[conradramirez]

@AceGuitarR7 she'd be Federer.... Imagine Serena as a man though... She'd be 6'4" and as fast Usain Bolt.

[AceGuitarR7]

@conradramirez hahaha, yeh. i actually think she may be better than fed. i think her backhand is slightly stronger

[muslimgiga]

i've never seen a female one hander.

[captainbryce1]

@muslimgiga Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Amelie Mauresmo, Alicia Molik, and Franchesca Schiavone all used one handed backhands as well. But Justine's was the most powerful, precise and prettiest looking one hander as far as women go.

[NYLifeInNJ]

@captainbryce1 Nah, Schiavone has the best followthrough with the full shoulder rotation!

[cabomba]

@NYLifeInNJ But doesn't produce the same power as lethal as Justine's =P I like Schiavone's backhand too but love Justine's more, maybe I'm biased XD

[NYLifeInNJ]

@cabomba Then again, Henin is an all-court player.

[diegochangos]

Gasquet female version.

[zuiop07]

@diegochangos

I would compare it more with Roger's shot

[travisdt]

she lowered and foward herself while i have to jump up and backward to hit backhand, what is wrong with mine? 

[SibelCatana]

@travisdt you might not encounter/ hit the ball at the right time.

[travisdt]

she lowered herself while i have to jump up to hit backhand, what is wrong with mine?

[badkimkim]

can't believe we can no longer see this. Undoubtedly the best one-handed backhand in tennis history.

[Gabb2188]

Darn it... I so miss her backhand already :((

[maugtx2]

Por lejos el mejor reves a una mano de todos los tiempos de la WTA.

[AkeakamaiTheFirst]

Yes, another slow-motion. Wonderful, too! Justine's got one of the best backhands in tennis, so, yeah, I love this slow-mo. I have to admit that I am biased toward women tennis players with one-handed backhands - I'm a woman, btw. I have a one-handed backhand, and I'm a lefty :) :)

[Kiasko]

She has a gillette fusion tennis racket

[xXxWontonxXx]

@Kiasko

lmfao ^_^

[sultanabran1]

@Kiasko the balls get faster as the match goes on.

[capilinha691]

espetaculo................

[alishalmorgan]

I love her!

[GR00MY]

Simply the greatest shot in men's or women's tennis! After playing for years, the first time I saw her hit this it was like religious experience.

[SuperMusiclife1]

@GR00MY Totally agree!!!! You just don't see tennis shots like this in women's tour. This is like watching those amazing films from the Discovery channel showing the birds in flight or wild animals running. Henin is pretty darn special.

[EndureTemptation]

I'm starting to love woman's body in a totally new sense.

Such grace! ahh

[FeDXeGX]

i admit that she has one of the best one-handed backhand in women's tennis but i don't like it for two main reasons

1) if u watch her footwork, rather than stepping to the ball, she steps back

2) when she strikes the ball, she is leaning backwards

[therooman88]

@FeDXeGX and thats why she is on the court and you are at a computer

[darthtau]

@FeDXeGX 1) i only see her stepping back to prepare for the shot- she moves her weight from her back foot to her front gradually, smoothly. it's very, very nice.

2) she isn't leaning back, her back is straight. perhaps it's the angle of the camera?

or maybe her follow-through, where her arm takes her shoulder back with the momentum. either way, it's very close (or maybe even a) picture-perfect backhand.

[sansaephanh1]

@FeDXeGX She only does it twice and its to prepare for the deep ball. Can you hit the ball exactly at waist height against other pro players every time? When she moves her feet back to get it ball its called good footwork... I THINK.

[frilloz4]

she muscles it too much, she needs to just let the racquet head flow

[mogofou]

@frilloz4 You won't teach Justine how to hit a single handed backhand. She's already a master !

[orbitalwarrior]

@frilloz4 so you're going to tell a former number 1 and 7 times Grand Slam winner, who was always complimented about her technique, how she has to play her signature shot? give me a break...

[frilloz4]

@orbitalwarrior just coz im not a tennis pro doesnt mean that i cannot be critical and have my opinion. Take a look at Federers, Warinka or Gasquet all of there back hands flow. I'm just sayin'

[orbitalwarrior]

@frilloz4 of course you can be critical. for instance you can say that Ivanovic' toss goes all over the place, or that Sharapova has a bad forehand follow-through, but saying Henin muscles her backhand is just ridiculous because it's like her best shot.

[frilloz4]

@orbitalwarrior mmmmmmmm, maybe your right

[supertrex2]

thanks for this Video, been swearching for Henins slow mo backhand and now found it! thanks!!!! best female player ive seen.

[frilloz4]

do 2 copies one with slo mo one without

[savivamed]

great looking backhand!

[lilrdjackofa]

holy shit shes ripped

[167peto]

incredible shot ;)

[benmoro]

Will, i was impressed by this slow motion vid only to find out it is an FYB vid again. You guys Are doing an Amazing Job. Thanks Will,

[appppppppple]

O SHIT SHE's BUFF!!!

[Licoaldo]

I'm just starting to learn how to play tennis and this video is very helpful, being in slow motion. Everytime I hit the ball with my backhand, I kind of always hit an awkward slice. I'm going to practice the whole movement slowly. Great job you're doing on your site!

[TheOneFromMW2]

@Licoaldo Ill give u a helpful tip with the backhand, while hitting the ball, push the ball with ur racket a bit downwards. im still trying to do the single hand backhand and everytime, i just fail and the racket flies away lolz

[IvanDrago187]

It looks like she's using what would be considered a western or semi western one handed backhand. It's quite an extreme grip compared to what Federer uses. But it allows her to attack off it more on high balls, and since she's so short a lot of balls are going to get up high to her backhand.

[jgkim111]

beautiful backhand..

I switched to two-handed backhand but I still want to go back to one-handed backhand if I can. but I got used to two-handed BH too much.. sad.

[stojanovicvlada2009]

What to say , except to drop a tear !

Maybe the best tennis shot on tour nowdays ...if I may say so ...

Thanks for the video in slow ...

[d0s25]

For the complaints about the slow motion: Download the video and play in faster mode such as VLC player. No need to blame FYB.

[Blloue]

excellent video, I have been waiting for good coverage of Henin's backhand and you guys were the first ones to do it, much appreciated and valued.

[FairwayJack]

very good...but Serena's 2hbh is the better shot IMHO. Why ??...more power, better disguise on direction and superior timing on return of serve.

[clunied]

best shot in tennis!

[deapseafish]

i want to be justine's racquet stringer

[Arnatuile11]

mine's better

[KRodfadesaway427]

I wanna see her forehand too its awesome

[bobomber]

my favorite shot in all of tennis!

[d0min0danc1ng]

1:43 I can tell that was long...

[breek1]

@d0min0danc1ng you mean 1:33 ?

[FelipeTuro]

wohooo man! finally Justine Henin, the best backhand on WTA!

if you had uploaded this video before, you had not had to make a lot of one handed explanatory videos!! XD

It's the book of One Handed Backhand

[DEBASUHR]

insane o_o

[VaughanF1]

This video by itself contains all the clues to achieve an awesome one hander backhand. Thanks a lot guys.

By the way, all those losers who just complain about the slow motion, maybe they don't want to improve.

[AtlantisArch]

@VaughanF1 not really, roger one is better. to many shoulder use instead of forward body motion, this will lead to injury in future.

[tommyenglish1]

@AtlantisArch why will it lead to injury?

[demondayzzz]

do a slow motion/normal speed mix!

[wardm8]

c'mon! another slow-motion?? oh man!!!

[FYB2007]

@wardm8 !!!!!!!!!!

[Groburuf]

@FYB2007

[tyrannor]

@FYB2007

You have done an analysis including grip style of Federer's forehand. Can you please do one for his backhand?