The Backhanders: Recent Episodes
The Backhanders
You cannot be serious! Two self-confessed tennis hacks take a look at the ins and outs of the greatest game on earth.
After a group stage that made The Lord of The Rings trilogy look like a TikTok post, the lads have regrouped to try to make sense of the epic journey. Eight powerhouse cricketing nations, plus the Netherlands and England have provided some truly memorable moments.
One month of pulsating cricket ends in a stalemate! Are we any the wiser? Has that every stopped the guys from drawing farfetched conclusions in the past?
The empire strikes back! It appears the boys' prediction of a 5-0 whitewash has been somewhat derailed by an English victory in what was another pulsating test match.
Just when you thought things couldn't get more fiery between the two nations, both Prime Ministers have stepped in and the gloves are well and truly off. The boys answer questions relating to what exactly is 'in the spirit of the game', is bodyline here to stay and just how many protesters can Jonny snag in the third test?
An instant classic has set the 2023 Ashes alight! And the boys go about the serious task of performing a full postmortem on Bazball.
The boys are back! Having taken on the advice of both their psychologists to avoid the French Open, the boys have temporarily switched their racquets for bats as they preview the upcoming test cricket series between England and Australia. And for those who are part of the 98% of the world's population who don't understand cricket, they have plenty of explaining to do!
As the curtain falls on another Australian Open, Lightning and Catters can't help but marvel at Novak's GREATEST EVER ACHIEVEMENT as well as Sabalenka's conquering of the yips and the return of Americans who can somewhat swing a racquet.
What a first week!! Muzza kept everyone up past their bedtime and the Djoker is badly injured... or is he? The women's draw is wide open and the ball kids are on the verge of going on strike.
Roll up! Roll up! The circus is in town and so are Catters and Lightning as they soak up the energy and excitement surrounding the first grand slam of the year, set to take place in sunny Melbourne.
This year's US OPEN will undoubtedly be remembered as a triumph for the young kids and a massive shock to the system for the largely incompetent 'Next Gen'. The boys relive all of the highlights and lowlights from Week 2 of the final slam of 2022!
Broken hearts and broken bones best sums up the current state of play at Flushing Meadows as players do their very best to avoid the spotlight in week one of the Open.
What's flatter than a US hardcourt? It's the field vying for glory in both the men's and women's draws. Lightning and Catters pay tribute to the great Serena on the eve of her final slam and take a closer look at who's out of form going into this year's Open (spoiler alert - EVERYONE).
After a brief COVID interruption, the boys return to dissect the ascent of Saint Nick and the emergence of a new unlikely podcast mascot, Elena Rebackhander.
No Russians... no ranking points... no worries! The boys rip through their preview of Wimbledont Bother 2022 like two men on a mission to save the sport they love.
The second week at Roland Garros delivered plenty of thrills and spills on the devil's dirt. The boys dissect all of the action as well as pay tribute to the recent retirees.
The boys have survived 50% of their least favourite tournament and are keen to share all of their insights from Week One on the devil's dirt!
Spring is in the air and according to our extensive research, the good people of Paris have well and truly been infected with tennis fever. The boys preview the upcoming blockbuster that is about to take place at Roland Garros on the devil's dirt.
The boys discuss Aussie Ash's drought-breaking title as well as Rafa's superhuman strength and the Medvedevil's PR Pitch-Perfect fortnight. Oh and Saint Nick won a slam!
The boys dissect a dramatic first week of play and top of the agenda is the crowds behaving badly, the players behaving badly and Sascha Zverev playing badly.
With the Australian Open just around corner, the boys dedicate this episode to one of the fundamentals of tennis... the return of Serb.
Looks like the best was saved for last with an incredible final week at a truly historic US Open. New champions, missed chances and lost houses.
Well the boys talked it down - very down.... but this US Open has proven to be nothing short of spectacular! Incredible matches and even more remarkable bathroom breaks.
The crowds are back and so are most of the players... well actually they're pretty much all injured but the boys do a preview episode anyways!
A stunning week of tennis at the Olympics played on the Japanese frying pan surface resulted in heartbreak, triumph and of course... Medvedevil meltdowns.
As the sun sets on another Wimbledon, the boys reflect on who were the true winners and losers during this splendid two weeks on grass.
It's been a huge first week at Wimbledon with most players still struggling to find their feet... and naturally the boys can't help but celebrate the return of Saint Nick!
The lush green grass is a sight for sore eyes as the boys preview Wimbledon Championships and try to find a solution for branding the new crop of WTA talent.
Djokovic gets to 19! Barbora Krejčíková gets to 1! The boys recap the highs and lows of another fortnight of drama (or not) on the devil's dirt.
It appears that no one wants to stick around in Paris any more than we want to have to watch them sticking around in Paris. Time to round up them high horses!
For the second time in seven months, the boys are forced to face their own existential crisis in the form of tennis being played on the devil's dirt.
The boys dissect a massive two weeks of substandard tennis.... fortunately there were plenty of subplots to keep them amused!
This Grand Sham is living up to its name and the boys are well and truly confused. Crowds or no crowds? Injured or not injured? Aussie success or failure? It's been a rocky first week at the AO to say the least...
To say that the Aus Open preparations have been bumpy, is probably the understatement of 2021, but luckily King Novak has come to the rescue.
What a feeling! The end of another fortnight on the devil's dirt has left the lads with mixed emotions, but mainly the overriding sense of joy and relief that it's all over for another.... what only six months til the next French? #$%#!
Well the weather has been slightly better than the tennis, but that's not saying much. The lads are far more interested in the seemingly endless Mixed Troubles on and off the court.
The French have adopted a relaxed, laissez faire approach to creating le bubble at Roland Garros and Lightning & Catters are less than amused.
With the bubble experiment complete and #saschashame now trending globally, the boys assess what this all means for the future of tennis.
Joker the choker does the unthinkable... Catters & Lightning naturally offer their compassionate and nuanced opinion on the matter.
We have finally arrived at the bubble of destiny! The boys preview the most Open Closed Open in recent history.
There may be no Olympic tennis to discuss, but there's still plenty of drama off the court to discuss including the UTS, impending US Open and Milos Raonic's eating habits.
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois
Tennis is in trouble! Who would have thought that helping to contribute to the spread of a global pandemic could have a negative PR effect on the game??
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois
Not much tennis currently being played, but plenty of talking points - including the delay of the French, cancellation of Wimbledon and Eugenie Bouchard's return to tennis form.... on the xbox.
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois
The boys are not happy as the men's big 3 flagrantly disregard the laws of tennis and Kenin the Olsen-twin robot storms to her maiden Grand Slam victory.
Graphics by Jakob Chrois.
Music by Adam Ball.
Lightning and Catters give their thoughts on an eventful first week of play from the 2020 Australian Open.
It's all happening in the lead up to the first slam of 2020. The boys discuss all the drama on and off the court as the smoke descends upon Melbourne Park.
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois
New challengers on both the men's and women's side, relished their chance to take a bite out of the big apple in Week 2 of the US Open.
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois
The US Open has kicked off on the infamous Ash Dump and the players are channeling their inner Saint Nick.
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois
Some players are thriving and others are melting down as we approach the final slam of the year in the Big Apple.
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois
One of the all time great men's finals, Serena tanks and there's plenty of mixed troubles on grass.
Music by Adam Ball (special credits - N.W.A.)
Design by J Chrois
An incredible first week of action at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Music by Adam Ball (special credits - N.W.A.)
Design by J Chrois
It's time to get classy as we prepare for Wimbledon 2019
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois
It was a wild and windy end to the 2019 French dust derby.
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois
Players' fashion takes centre stage at Roland Garros... apparently they are also there to play tennis.
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois
Lightning and Catters preview their least favourite grand slam.
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois
Lightning and Catters in their first episode, slice through the stats and results from the 2019 Australian Open to give their highlights, lowlights and meltdowns of the tournament.
Music by Adam Ball
Design by J Chrois