Before getting into the specific components of Andy's great two handed backhand, let's start off by looking what an overall "stroke" looks like at the pro level. Popular belief says that the speed of the racket on contact is what the only thing that determines the power of a shot. Although racket head speed is crucial, it's the overall rhythm, and the combinatin of speed and power, that matters.

A more complete view says that there is a body behind the moving racket, and it is the way the body moves into and through the ball that leads to the quality of shot. And this leads me to what it means to "stroke" the ball. In a proper tennis stroke, the contact point is somewhere in the middle of the takeback and the follow through. It is not the end point of the stroke, but the middle point.

From kicking a soccer ball to throwing a ball, to stroking a billiards cue, to bowling a bowling ball, contact is always mid way through a longer stroke. This lets you drive your body through the object leading to optimal power.

When I teach someone a stroke, I always use my "A-B-C" concept to demonstrate this. Contact is the middle, or "B" part of the stroke. You are only halfway through the stroke at this point. Getting to "C" is what allows you to powerfully drive through the ball.

Study the Andy Murray footage on the right, and notice how his contact point is mid way through the stroke. It is your ability to "catch" the ball at this middle point of your stroke that will allow you to stroke it properly.

Now that we have established what a "stroke" is, practice the "A-B-C" concept in your two hander, and see what it feels like to "stroke" the ball. You will hit the ball much harder this way, and with less effort.

Next we will look at the components of Andy's stroke to see how he uses his torso, shoulder, arm, and rapid wrist rotation to create his great two handed backhand.