backhander

sports

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "backhander" in sports, particularly in hockey, refers to a shot taken with the back of the dominant hand facing the goal. This is in contrast to most shots, where the palm of the dominant hand faces the goal. Hockey sticks are typically curved to facilitate forward shots, making backhanders more challenging to control as the puck must be moved to the back of the stick blade.1

In other sports like tennis, a backhand is a stroke made with the back of the hand moving in the direction of the stroke.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

ice hockey
Rules and principles of play
…the wrist shot, and the backhander. The slap shot has been timed at more than 100 miles an hour (160 km an hour). The slap shot differs from the wrist shot in that the player brings the stick back until it is nearly perpendicular with the ice and then brings…
Read More
…the wrist shot, and the backhander. The slap shot has been timed at more than 100 miles an hour (160 km an hour). The slap shot differs from the wrist shot in that the player brings the stick back until it is nearly perpendicular with the ice and then brings…
Read More