Tag: tennis backhand

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Tennis Strokes

Through the years I’ve given lots of tips regarding specific strokes and tactics. I think it’s good, once in a while, to step back, get general, and look at the basics. Below are some basics to the main strokes in tennis. You’ll see a theme in all of them, consistency.

Serve – Starting the point. That is the main purpose of this stroke. It is also the most important thing to remember. Start the point. Players at all levels get caught up trying to do too much with their serve and forget that to win your serve, you’ve got to get it in (preferably on the first serve). So how do you get it in? 1. Take a little off of it. The pros can blast aces, you can blast faults. 2. Reach up and hit the ball at the highest point you can. If you climb a ladder to the point where you contact the ball, you can see more of the service box over the net. The higher you hit the ball, the better your chance of hitting the box. 3. Add topspin to your serve. Use a continental grip (like holding a hammer), swing up with a motion from about 7 to 1 on the clock face.

Forehand – Once again the name of the game is consistency. And once again, one of the best ways to be more consistent is with topspin. With topspin you can hit the ball harder and deeper in the court, and give your opponent a difficult ball to hit. Use a western or semi-western grip (like holding a frying pan) and swing from low to high. Your follow through should go over your opposite shoulder.

Backhand – You guessed it, get it in. This one’s a little trickier. One hand, two hand, slice, drive. Your skill level and type of backhand determine the exact technique, but consistency is still the number one priority. 

Volley – Most people make the volley more difficult than it needs to be. Use a continental grip (like holding a hammer). Keep the racket out in front of you, step forward, and punch or block the ball. There should be little to no back swing.

 Overhead – There are a few important things to remember here… 1. Get the racket up into the ready position (back scratch position)  2. Turn your body sideways to the ball (similar to the serve stance).  3. Point your other hand at the incoming ball. This will force you to turn your shoulders and get the racket arm in the loaded position. Remember to keep your feet moving and use small shuffle steps to adjust to the flight of the ball.

Remember, consistency only comes through practice, focused practice. So get out there and practice the basics!

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Dueling Backhands

The last few weeks we discussed the backhand slice and the backhand drive. Now assuming you have practiced them both until they are reliable strokes, we can look at when to use each one.

When to use a Slice Backhand

In general, use the slice backhand if the ball is out of the “strike zone”, that is, if the ball is higher than your chest or lower than your knee. Examples:

  • high balls..ie kick serves to your backhand
  • when approaching the net (remember the Slice Approach?)
  • when returning a ball that is short and/or low (this helps you get the ball up over the net)

When to use a Drive/Topspin Backhand

It is best to hit the backhand drive when the ball is in the strike zone (between your knee and your chest). Examples of situations to use the drive:

  • as a rally shot to keep your opponent deep
  • as a passing shot (topspin helps make the ball dip after crossing the net, making your opponent volley up)
  • to keep the ball deep in the court during a ground stroke rally (once again, the topspin helps bring the ball down making offense difficult for your opponent)
  • to hit an offensive topspin lob (this one takes lots of practice)

Remember the key is to practice so that these shots are reliable. A shot is only a weapon if you can hit it consistently.

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Backhand Drive

The last few weeks we talked about the slice backhand, this week we drive it. Here are some mental cues to help you master the stroke.

  • prepare with a closed stance (feet roughly perpendicular to the net)
  • point your shoulder at the contact point (8″-12″ out in front of your racket leg)
  • take the racket back to your opposite hip (like you are about to draw a sword)
  • swing/drive through the ball with a low to high swing pattern
  • the racket face should be roughly perpendicular to the ground at contact
  • keep that shoulder pointed at the contact point until the ball is gone

As you master the stroke, you can add topspin by exaggerating the low to high swing path.

Video analysis is one of the best ways to learn a new stroke. Watch Roger Federer’s one handed backhand below and then practice, practice.

You can also video yourself and analyze your stroke in slow motion side by side with the pros, using the HudlTechnique app. Check it out below.

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Slice Approach shot

Since we have been talking about the slice backhand the last 2 weeks, let’s explore one of the ways you can use it. One, often overlooked, offensive weapon in tennis is the slice approach shot. A slice approach stays low, giving your opponent a hard passing shot to hit. Plus, after hitting rallies of topspin balls, an opponent will, many times, overrun an approaching slice, causing an error. Lets examine the execution.

An approach shot is one used as you come forward towards the net. Normally you would chose this shot when you are moving forward to get a “short ball”(one roughly in the middle of the court), but you could hit an approach shot when returning a serve or in the middle of a ground stroke rally. One mistake or misconception that some people have is the need to come to a stop when you hit an approach shot. By definition, you are approaching the net….moving forward. You don’t want to take away that court position advantage by stopping the forward momentum to hit the approach shot. So how do you hit an effective approach without stopping and without running through it? The answer depends on whether it is a backhand or a forehand approach.

  1. Backhand slice approach-“dance to the net”..use a karaoke step to hit the approach while continuing your forward momentum. This step allows you to continue forward momentum while putting your body in the correct, closed position (body perpendicular to the net) for hitting a slice backhand. See the video below for a great demonstration of the karaoke step versus the “inside step” on a backhand.
  2.  Forehand slice approach-“power volley” the approach…the stroke is basically a forehand volley with extra punch. The key is to studder step as you come forward so that as you hit it, you are stepping into the shot with your opposite leg (left leg for right-handers, etc)

 

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Slice It Up! Part 2

Last week we introduced some aspects of the slice backhand. I think it deserves a little more explanation since it may not be a natural stroke for many people, and it is an excellent stroke for defense and offense. Let’s examine the technique a little closer.

  • First the grip. Hold the racket with a continental grip…like holding a hammer.
  • Bring the racket back about shoulder level.
  • Point your shoulder at the point where you should make contact with the ball (about a foot in front of your “racket leg”).
  • Imagine that you are about to sweep everything off a table top with your racket.
  • The swing pattern should be as level as possible, but a slight U shape is normal.
  • The bottom edge of your racket should be slightly in front of the top edge.
  • Make sure you are in a “closed” stance.
  • Try to raise or lower your body with your legs to adjust to various ball heights.

Remember practice, practice, practice any new stroke to master it….and have fun!

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Slice it Up!

The last few weeks we’ve discussed topspin, specifically, forehand topspin and how grip size can affect spin. This week we explore the backhand stroke, specifically the slice backhand.

The slice backhand can be useful in various ways. It’s flight path, height, and bounce give your opponent a different look. It also creates an easier way to play defense: You can be stretched wide and float the ball back with the slice, giving yourself time to get back in the point. Many players have a blocking stroke or chop down on the ball creating a shot that may have backspin but lacks penetration. This weak shot usually sits up for the opponent, offering them multiple offensive opportunities. In other words…they crush your wimpy backhand for a winner.

   The key to a successful slice is to drive through the line of the ball without opening your front shoulder. When you open your shoulder, that is, turn from your hips to face the net, your swing can only go down, not out and through the ball.

  • your stance should be closed…perpendicular to the net, and only after you have hit the ball should your front shoulder move.

  • lead the swing with your elbow, dropping it to square the face of the racket as you make contact.

 Check out the YouTube video below to see the technique in action. While Federer’s swing appears to be chopping down, he is still driving through the ball. And notice how his front shoulder doesn’t open up until well after the ball is gone.