One handed backhand help

[Blake0]

Today...i was playing against a guy..clearly way better than me, rather fun watching myself get creamed. :) But back to the point, when i was hitting with him, he hit this really..high bouncing topspin shot that lands usually around midway inbetween the service line and the baseline and bounced up high at about head level, and whenever i tryed to return it..hitting flat or with topspin or even slice for that matter..it landed behind the service line or at it at the most (basically short)..with not a lot of pace on it either. (on the backhand side)

Im wondering if anyone has any tips on hitting high balls with a one hander..
I know that i should try to step in and take the ball early on the rise..but i just couldnt do it every time. So i need help hitting high balls with a one hander..and how you guys (one-handers) deal with it, besides stepping in and taking it early.

[coonio]

Tough situation there.
Don't know how much pace was on them, but the best technique is really to try to get them on the rise before they get that high, that way you can maintain court position and use the pace of the ball against the guy. You'll be better off if you hit with topspin, but if the ball gets too high you're going to have to slice it unless you're my hero.

Sounds to me like you were kind of up against it playing with someone who overmatched you a bit.

Maybe try to get to the net as fast as possible?
D

[cl76]

You can step back and take it late on the fall. But this gives him time to sneak into the net.

If you take it at head high level make sure you hit through the ball to get more distance. Otherwise, you'd typically would hit down on the ball causing it to land around the service line. Then you're in trouble if he decides to hit an approach shot...

[tata]

if it doesnt have that much pace on it then i think its a ball you can practice by yourself.Might sound silly to bend your knees for a ball thats high but give that a try.If some knee bend then some good weight transfer with a good push off and hit into the ball with plenty of wrist action to bring it down nice and hard.Taking a high ball with a 1 hander kinda needs to be more 'swatty'.Once you've got your arm full extend up high you should have your wrist do the work and just swat the dam ball down.Hard to describe,but it works for me.But yea just try some knee bend and weight transfer and have that wrist all juiced up.

[Raiha]

what kind of backhand grip do you use? i get a lot of practice hitting high backhands with my more inexperienced friends and i tend to use a SW to continental grip that basically allows me to push the ball back deep and flat. you're definitely better off running around high backhands, but like the earlier posters said, a slice or a rise shot is all you can really do if using a OHBH.

[Slicendicer]

what kind of backhand grip do you use? i get a lot of practice hitting high backhands with my more inexperienced friends and i tend to use a SW to continental grip that basically allows me to push the ball back deep and flat. you're definitely better off running around high backhands, but like the earlier posters said, a slice or a rise shot is all you can really do if using a OHBH.

+1

Slice the BH low and away 3-4x... he'll get sick of having to dig a groundstroke from the shoe laces and change the pattern.

[Djokovicfan4life]

A slice is helpful on high balls, but it's not impossible to drive them. Ask Ivan Ljubicic.

If you want to drive a high ball then your preparation should be higher as well. This video should clear things up for you.

http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/videos/index.php/view/953/284/Tennis_Backhand_Handling_a_High_Ball

Best of luck,

Matt

[LeeD]

Shoulder high backhands.
For me, two replys. First, volley grip, high backhand volley stroke, slice it low, hard, with lots of backspin with body moving forwards and leaning forwards.
Second, EBH grip, shorter stroke, body vertical, slice it deep, meaning about 3' over the net cord should take your underspin ball to opponents baseline.

[Blake0]

well um i use a eastern backhand grip.

I'll try the higher preparation thing...when i get the chance..and i'll also try the EBH grip slice..thanks for the advice.

[Slicendicer]

A slice is helpful on high balls, but it's not impossible to drive them. Ask Ivan Ljubicic.

If you want to drive a high ball then your preparation should be higher as well. This video should clear things up for you.

http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/videos/index.php/view/953/284/Tennis_Backhand_Handling_a_High_Ball

Best of luck,

Matt


Yeah, well... Luby is like 6'4"-6'5"... in the real world "driving" a 1H-BH above the shoulder is not the high percentage shot.

[Bagumbawalla]

This question has been asked, and answered, a thousand times, here, and the answers do not change or get any easier to execute.

Just knowing "how" to deal with a high ball will do you no good in a match situation- unless you practice until you can hit the shot with confidence and ease. Practice is your answer.

Basically, you have only so many possibile choices in dealing with the high ball.

a) Step in and take it on the rise.
b) Step back, let the ball fall into your comfort zone, and hit your normal stroke.
c) Slice through the ball (it is high enough to give you a margine of error over the net) and drive it deep and low.
d) Hit up and through the ball with topspin to control the ball and curve it back down into the court.

A and d are probably the more difficult of the choices, but, if you want to progress in the game, you should try to learn and practice them all.

[Djokovicfan4life]

Yeah, well... Luby is like 6'4"-6'5"... in the real world "driving" a 1H-BH above the shoulder is not the high percentage shot.

You can absolutely drive a one hander on higher balls, although I agree that it is not ideal for one or two handed backhands. The key is to prepare higher, just like you would on a forehand. It's much easier this way because the racquet doesn't have to travel as far.

Of course, I'm sure you know this already.

[Slicendicer]

You can absolutely drive a one hander on higher balls, although I agree that it is not ideal for one or two handed backhands. The key is to prepare higher, just like you would on a forehand. It's much easier this way because the racquet doesn't have to travel as far.

Of course, I'm sure you know this already.

Yeah... I would advise look to step-in and hit the ball OTR at a "comfortable" level. If the ball is above shoulder high... top-spin, baby...

[Djokovicfan4life]

Of course, if they're predominantly baseliners, you can always mess with them by dropping a slice nice and short on them.

[In D Zone]

Option 1:
Slice is the easy shot to counter those high bouncing balls to your bh. The most effective slice is called the Spanish Slice - bring racquet high above shoulder on BH side, move forward to the ball and slice it down (racquet goes from high to low). Apply medium speed and relax motion for better control.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHPdlGW4vEE

Option 2: 1bh topspin. Normal bh prep, drop racquet with head pointing to the ground. Swing up and across as to make contact with the ball (objective is to brush the ball back). to achieve depth - follow thru has to go across all the way. Think of it as you are drawing a sword out from the hip.

Option 3: Lob the ball back deep (to opponent bh)

[Djokovicfan4life]

On the topspin backhand the head should NOT be pointing to the ground IDZ. The other stuff you posted was good though.

[tennisfu]

When taking the ball early make sure your body stays still while your hit the shot and keep your knees bent the whole time, dont pop up during the shot. Shorter back swings will make timing the ball easier. If you don't feel comfortable taking it on the rise, back up hit a high ball back and wait for a better ball to attack. You could also force him to hit to your forehand more often by covering your backhand side more. This will also allow you to run around the backhand more often.