Inside-out 1Handed topsin/side spin backhand ??

[fastdunn]

I'm not sure if you call the shot as "inside out" but....
I'd like to hit a 1 handed backhand that hits a cross-court shot
that kinda skews away from court. It's mainly for returning
a serve from deuce court in double match. (I'm right handed).

Right now, I just turn my shoulder a lot (for back swing)
and lift my arm toward the cross court shoulder, which does
return cross court but I really have to use my shoulder muscle.
But some good players seem to be able to hit this inside-out
shot (with open stance) that has side spin and top spin.

Actually there might not be much top spin. It's hard for me to
hit cross court with side spin and lots of top spin (from deuce court).
Is there a such shot? If yes, what's the keys to do it ?

Thanks,
DF

[fastdunn]

I guess I managed to make my question un-necessarily
hard. How about this ?

"How to make a good cross court retrun of serves from
deuce court with 1 handed backhand (top spin or flat) ?"

[chad shaver]

I would love to be able to hit it consistently, too. I've hit it several times, but never intentionally. Looks and feels really good when you hit it, though.

[JohnThomas1]

I posted pretty much the exact question a while back for no reply. I come up against some great ones on the weekend. One of their keys seemed to be getting the shoulder well turned with a compact backswing and then swinging thru the line of the ball without letting their shoulder come back around or open up.

[perfmode]

You gotta have a really extreme grip. Just turn normally and hit the ball late. If the grip is correct, your racquet face will be the correct angle. Just experiment. It's like an inside-out forehand. You gotta adjust the grip a bit.

[fastdunn]

JohenThomas1,
That's pretty much the way I hit it now. It puts lots of strains
on my shoulder muscle and I can not put side spin that makes
it skew away toward deep into the corner.

Some pros like Sampras and Federer, seems to be able to
hit it effortlessly. They usually hit it on the rise and appear to
swing diagonal or away from the swing path but it still goes
cross court and skews away a little bit.

Permode,
I'll try that. I assume something like far eastern backhand grip,
right ? Don't you actually swing sideway than forward ?
Some pros look like swinging that way but balls go cross-court.

[Bungalo Bill]

I dont know if going to an extreme grip is the answer. It could be. But it will definetly take some practice.

I think where Permode is coming from is if you use an extreme grip for your backhand, the problem you run into is getting the racquet head around in time for a clean hit.

In this case, with an extreme grip the racquet head wont come around quickly which will be pointing crosscourt - so that solves your direction problem. Then you woould sort of pull the racquet across the ball to impart sidespin that will cause the ball to spin towards the corner.

I think you have to problems with that:

1. With an extreme grip timing becomes an issue

2. With an extreme grip you will have to make some big adjustments on how it feels on a service return.

So unless you are planning on using the extreme grip for most of yoru shots including groundstrokes. I would keep the same grip and learn to angle the ball crosscourt while adding sidespin with your normal grip.

The best way to learn how to do it is by practicing with slow balls. Hit slow balls, then work up to faster and faster shots.

[jun]

I agree with B.Bill. Going to extreme grip will not be an answer. It's likely to work because the racket face angel will be pointing that way. But i don't think it's what you should do.

You would really have to turn your shoulder quick and complete. Don't open up soon, and followthrough well. And little backswing.
Another thing you can try is change the angle of your stance a little bit. Instead of standing facing the net man, face towards the doubles alley of the side the serve is coming from. That way if you just hit as you would hit straight, it would go crosscourt.

Or you can try slice..Sort of like volley or half volley, short swing and block