Two variations on the two-handed backhand are in common use. They differ in their early stages in how the left hand is used to drive the ball. For convenience, we name them after players that exemplify them. In the Hingis Model, the left hand is bent at the elbow and is used to drive the racquet forward. In the Hewitt Model, the elbow is nearly straight in both arms and requires both shoulders to play a role in driving the ball.

A third variation is emerging. In the Dementieva Model, the elbow is bent and is positioned from the takeback so that it can be contracted to the front of the body plane.