Over the past several years, the two-handed backhand has rapidly become more and more prevalent among players of all levels. This shot, borrowed from tennis, has seen an increase in use by pros and amateurs alike. So, what is it that makes it such a weapon on the pickleball court?

As more and more players hit the ball with increased power, it's advantageous to have additional stability to defuse pace. By adding your second hand behind the paddle, you give yourself extra reinforcement that you lack with a one-handed backhand, which allows you to absorb pace and spin more easily.

The speed and power of the game is steadily increasing, making it essential to be able to generate power off both wings. By supporting the paddle behind your grip with your top hand, you can pull the paddle through the hitting zone much like hitting an opposite-hand forehand, with your dominant hand guiding at the bottom. Another advantage of placing your non-dominant hand on the paddle is that it connects it to your bottom hand, forcing you to engage your back hip into the swing.

Disguising the intent of your shots from your opponents is something that turns a good player into a great player. Deception is enhanced by the top hand maneuvering the paddle through the hitting zone more quickly than with a one-handed backhand and holds the threat of a sudden topspin attack by quickly rolling over with the top hand. By being able to hold your shot longer and execute it more abruptly, you give your opponents fewer clues as to where you will be directing the ball, which keeps them off-balance.

Your defense is improved by the stability of two hands, allowing you to absorb and counter powerful shots more comfortably. You are also able to quickly and accurately place the paddle behind the ball, boosting your defense significantly from what can be achieved with a one-handed backhand. A third advantage is being able to turn your paddle into a classic shortstop fielding position; your defense against low balls is improved when you're able to comfortably rest both hands and paddle face between your feet, out in front of you.

Being able to generate topspin is enormously important for many reasons, and the second hand makes hitting topspin much more natural. Using the top hand to drag up on the ball gives you access to topspin with relative ease. Whether you utilize topspin from the baseline, the kitchen, or in between, it opens up more attacking opportunities from every area of the court.

The second hand helps you to move the paddle into position for any given shot more quickly and accurately. The maneuverability also supplies versatility, allowing you to partially let go with either hand in order to twist the paddle face to a more flexible angle than could be achieved with just one hand.

There are clearly many benefits to the two-handed backhand, so next time you’re out on court, consider adding that second hand on the paddle—it is a shot that is on the rise at all levels, and you may want to add it as a new weapon in your arsenal.

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Originally published in Pickleball Magazine.