Still trying to learn a topspin backhand.....

[Proud Pusher]

I will be soon be 58 and play at the 3.5 - 4.0 level. I have a natural slice
one hand backhand which is actually very good but many times I would
like to hit with some authority down the line or cross court when passing.

When playing a weaker player, I can hit a topspin backhand on occasion,
but not consistently. Also when using the ball machine after I get warmed
up, I can rip them at will. However in match play against an equal or
better player it seems I don't want to chance losing a point and this makes
me hold back and reverting to my slice most of the time.

Any advice for an old geezer like me to master a topspin backhand?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Ken

[chess9]

1. Play practice matches and tell yourself it's 'ILLEGAL' to hit a slice backhand. :) Try to hit zero slices, even on returns.

2. Hit 100,000 balls with the ball machine on oscillate? :)

3. Re-read "The Inner Game of Tennis"?

4. Double up on Zoloft two hours before the match?

5. Pay your pro to teach you how and when to hit that shot to build your confidence?

Best Regards, YOUNG MAN

-Robert

[Proud Pusher]

Thanks for advice, Robert.

Ken

[ask1ed]

1. First intend to hit one. See Federer, Henin, Mauresmo.
2. Everything starts with the coil. Footwork first: hop step, cross step, plant step, hit and then recovery step. Hop step is the bunny hop you see every pro take right when their opponent hits the ball, no exceptions, every time, a little hop up in the air, landing on equidistant balls of your feet, ready to cross step in any direction at full speed. Cross step: This is the bursting speedy first step across your body towards the ball in either direction, then you are on the dead run towards your plant step. Plant step: This is the step/plant you take with the rear left foot (righty), getting ready to hit. Hit step: This is the step you take with your right foot (righty) at a 45 degree angle towards the ball's flight as you hit the ball. Recovery step: This is the spiked step you take with your left foot, after all weight and momentum has been applied to your right hitting step. Spike your left foot pad down into the ground and back pedal into position, ready for another hop step.
3. Coil: As you run, use your non dominant arm to take and coil the shoulders/racquet back, all the way back behind you in the ready to hit position, done on the dead flat run, and place your left hand at the throat of the racquet lightly, softly. Use your right deltoid, to sight, gun sight the ball, and place your chin on the deltoid as you gun sight the ball. This is the essence of the coil. Use your legs to coil also as you plant step and hit step: Bend your knees deeply and use the ground to coil into for more force, kinetically store the force on the run.
4. Most of the work is done in the coil. The shot: All the best ohb are "arm barred." That is to say, when the coil is released, the arm unfolds smoothly into the form of a 2 x4 piece of straight wood, with the hitting wrist cocked back to a full 90 degrees, so the full momentum is applied into the hitting zone.
5. Hitting zone: The shot must be hit a full shoulder width way out in front of your body, not directly in front of your hit step foot, but 2 feet further out in front of your hitting foot..
6. Rhythm applied to the coil: The hips open out first, dragging the arm, dragging the shoulder, dragging the wrist so the shot develops smooth, ripped acceleration. It's all about racquet speed. Bring the racquet up from low to high, with a closed face at impact, very quickly and smoothly with a fast follow through high above your head and around to the right side of your body. This requires a closed western or semi western grip to do well.
7. Recovery step: After the shot is hit on the dead run, your left foot then rises up in the air, all weight transfers onto your right hitting foot, then the left foot pad is spiked back down into the ground (think figure skating as they spike to go into jumps), and powers your body back into the ready position as a defensive back covering a wide receiver, back pedaling quickly back into the first hop step again.

[Freedom]

Never hit anything but topspin. Thats the way I learned- you hit with topspin. Slice comes next. Hit a billion topspin backhands with the right form, and it becomes very, very natural. I think the reason why you can rip it in practice, but not in a match, isn't just confidence- the ball machine puts the ball into a spot where you've learned to hit it- in a match, you have to realize where that spot is, and move to get into that spot.

[Proud Pusher]

Thank you ASK1ed. Some of the things you mention I will only do in my
dreams,but good advice!

Ken