While Björn Borg was considered to have had a double - handed backhand, he released his racket with one - hand, and was arguably the catalyst for the evolution and popularity of the double - handed backhand as well as the top - spin single - handed backhand. In the 1980s, when more players were using top - spin, single - handed backhand players found it more difficult to hit flat backhands due to the difficulty of neutralising the spin. Therefore, many players incorporated much more top - spin in their single - handed backhands, which was uncommon at that time. Up til today, many players who are considered to have some of the best single - handed backhands ever, such as Richard Gasquet, use a top - spin backhand. Other current players who use it include Nicolás Almagro and Grigor Dimitrov (Although he is also capable of hitting it flat). This helped single - handed backhand players cope with high spinning balls. The advantages of the top - spin single - handed backhand include consistency, placement, the angles it can produce as well as its ability to cope with high balls. Single - backhand "flicks '' also evolved due to the popularisation of the top - spin single - handed backhand. Unlike the flat single - handed backhand, top - spin single - handed backhands are almost always performed with the Semi-Western or even Western Grip. Richard Gasquet, who is considered to have one of the most elegant and efficient single - handed backhands, is known for his long, winding action on his backhand and his elegant follow - through. The top - spin single - handed backhand is probably the hardest to learn. It involves the player employing a Semi-Western or Western grip, and winding the racket around his body and, most importantly, bring it lower than the ball. Then, he has to hit the ball at the middle to bottom of the ball while winding his hand upwards and front of him, in a "window - wiper '' action. A mistake that is often made in this execution is not bringing the racket low enough or not having a follow - through.
when did the double handed tennis backhand change
1980s