When someone is attacking your backhand, are you one of those people who

[DeShaun]

can beat back the attack by going right back to their backhand because yours is stronger and he didn't know this, or do you quickly seek a way out of backhand to backhand exchanges?

My forehand on the run if fine but if you hit the ball directly at me where I'm standing then my forehand drastically loses it effectiveness. My backhand is usually tough enough to batter down most people, though, who try to test it against theirs. Most anyone who tries to challenge it usually gets theirs broken down sooner. But my forehand is inept when you hit the ball directly at me.

I am wondering if I should step around my forehand because I actually have a little more ball control with my backhand. Have you ever tried this and what were the results?

[dizzlmcwizzl]

I like my backhand and also find it more consistent than the forehand. However my forehand, while a little less consistent, is a much better weapon.

I have never considered running around the forehand to hit backhands because I almost never run around either shot.

However on the rare occasion I run around the backhand to attack with a forehand I always attack ... I do not run around the BH and then roll the forehand in. Personally if I were to run around the FH to hit backhands I feel like I would be taking a less aggressive, passive approach to a shot.... which is never good for me.

[mikeler]

I like to get into backhand/backhand exchanges. I've got enough variety on that wing to usually win most of those exchanges. I will look for opportunities to run around my backhand and pin my opponent even further in their backhand corner with my forehand.

[escii_35]

My backhand is at the higher end of my overall level.

Since I'm using a very conservative eastern BH and a heavy western FH if it's a one step run around I'll try and take a lower bounce flat ball on the BH. On a high slow ball I'll go the other way.

Also If I'm really tired I'll try and take a few more BH's because all that topspin WW FH garbage takes some effort.

[FloridaAG]

My backhand is a weapon and strength

[split-step]

Originally Posted by DeShaun

can beat back the attack by going right back to their backhand because yours is stronger and he didn't know this, or do you quickly seek a way out of backhand to backhand exchanges?

My forehand on the run if fine but if you hit the ball directly at me where I'm standing then my forehand drastically loses it effectiveness.

This is a footwork issue. It was a tactic that Davenport and Hingis tried to use on the Williams sisters in the early 00's. They (WS) were lethal on the run but didn't have as much pop returning shots hit right up the middle.

You should work on it, rather than run around your forehand.

To answer your question, I am a 1hbh who gladly takes on the challenge of someone purposefully attacking my backhand. It usually doesn't work for my opponent.

[aurelius]

I have a hopeless backhand (working on it) that if someone begins to exclusively target it, I retaliate by annoyingly drop-shotting you followed by deep lobs (the only two reliable things I can do on the bh). If you anticipate the drop shot, I lob you instead. Eventually I can just run around it.

[sphinx780]

Originally Posted by aurelius

I have a hopeless backhand (working on it) that if someone begins to exclusively target it, I retaliate by annoyingly drop-shotting you followed by deep lobs (the only two reliable things I can do on the bh). If you anticipate the drop shot, I lob you instead. Eventually I can just run around it.

I find this hilarious as that's my go to when I am having an off day with my two-hander.
I throw one other item in with this and that's to have them anticipate the drop shot and then direct the ball (safely) down the line. It doesn't have to be great to be effective once you've established the cc dropper.

When I'm timing the ball well, I'll go toe to toe with my 2h until they leave one shorter in the court, then I take offense and drive it down the line.

[SStrikerR]

I used to slice it back, and run around it to hit forehands most of the time, but since I figured out what was wrong with my backhand, it's now a MUCH better shot. Now I'm completely comfortable hitting backhand to backhand rallies, and then taking a ball down the line when the time is right.

[dcdoorknob]

Originally Posted by FloridaAG

My backhand is a weapon and strength

I mean it's all relative, obviously, but against people on my level (3.5), this is true for me too. Even when I played up a level at 4.0 doubs, I didn't mind playing ad court and trading some backhands with most 4.0 guys, I felt like I could win that battle often. It's the forehand/forehand rallies that got me in trouble.

[dennis10is]

Originally Posted by DeShaun

can beat back the attack by going right back to their backhand because yours is stronger and he didn't know this, or do you quickly seek a way out of backhand to backhand exchanges?

My forehand on the run if fine but if you hit the ball directly at me where I'm standing then my forehand drastically loses it effectiveness. My backhand is usually tough enough to batter down most people, though, who try to test it against theirs. Most anyone who tries to challenge it usually gets theirs broken down sooner. But my forehand is inept when you hit the ball directly at me.

I am wondering if I should step around my forehand because I actually have a little more ball control with my backhand. Have you ever tried this and what were the results?

During the changeover, I take my right foot and slam it against the outside of my opponent's knee. Hopefully, this will cripple her for life. I will not stand idly by while somebody attacks me, I will retaliate.

[Caesar]

I'm left-handed so I have a relatively stable backhand, because it gets a hammering from the forehands of all the righties I play. It's also the bigger weapon - it's a one-hander with a lot of variation and pace.

My loopy topspin forehand, however, is my better rally ball in terms of both consistency and placement. As a result (and also because I approach the net a lot) I practice my DTL backhand slice religiously. If an opponent starts hammering my backhand crosscourt I will play DTL slice to get onto a FH-to-BH rally. I then send my loopy FH deep into his backhand corner over and over until he tosses up a loose ball I can punish with a big backhand (usually hard and flat across court).

I don't mind rallying backhand-to-forehand if it's my opponent's less dangerous side. But I am definitely a less potent player in that situation.

[split-step]

Originally Posted by dennis10is

During the changeover, I take my right foot and slam it against the outside of my opponent's knee. Hopefully, this will cripple her for life. I will not stand idly by while somebody attacks me, I will retaliate.

I lol'd so hard!

[downdaline]

I picked up tennis with my friend who is a left-hander, so my backhand is pretty solid.

If I'm being attacked on my BH (usually by an IO FH), my first reply will be a deep slice. If repeatedly pummelled, then depending on the pace of the incoming shot, I will either topspin or slice back, doesnt matter which one.

The goal of which is to get the ball out of his wheelhouse, so it becomes difficult to hit an attacking shot.

My advice is this - Don't *avoid* BH exchanges as they are part and parcel of tennis. Use these opportunities to learn and improve your BH.

[blakesq]

someone else beat me to it, footwork! you are probably doing what I do too often. if the ball his hit right to me, i dont move my feet, and I often end up hitting my FH with the ball too close to my body, thereby losing lots of power because my arm is bent too much while try ing to hit the ball. If i move my feet, i can adjust to the ball, so that my arm is more extended as I hit the FH, and can generate a lot more power.

Originally Posted by DeShaun

snip

My forehand on the run if fine but if you hit the ball directly at me where I'm standing then my forehand drastically loses it effectiveness

snip

[dman72]

My league is loaded with leftys with ok to weak backhands, and I have a weak backhand as a righty.

Every match basically degenerates into a battle to abuse the other guys backhand. In most cases with 3 of the leftys I play, you're better off hitting a weak looper or slice that they can't run around on to their backhand, as opposed to hitting a moderatley paced rally ball to their forehand, with which they can then abuse my backhand with pace, spin, and angle.

I basically have it my mind to never try to hit to their forehand unless I know it's an outright winner, or they are so out of position that they can't send back a decent return. This ends up happening a lot because they will start cheating to that weak side more and more if it's getting worked over. I try hard not to do this defensively on my end..instead, you hit the ball to my backhand..i'm just going to slice it down the line and force you to hit a backhand, or lob it high up in the air. Of course that's easier said than done on a ball that's been crushed and is spinning away from me.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

I think it's funny that as soon as a player whips out his/her 1hbh, the opponent automatically assume it's weak/weaker side. My 1hander is not the weapon that is my forehand. It's more difficult for me to crack a winner out of nowhere. But it is also less error prone than my forehand.

So I just let them do what they do. Because I've already figured out part of their game plan. Attack my backhand. If I know it's coming, then I'll have plenty of time to run around hit my forehand.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by dman72

My league is loaded with leftys with ok to weak backhands, and I have a weak backhand as a righty.

Every match basically degenerates into a battle to abuse the other guys backhand. In most cases with 3 of the leftys I play, you're better off hitting a weak looper or slice that they can't run around on to their backhand, as opposed to hitting a moderatley paced rally ball to their forehand, with which they can then abuse my backhand with pace, spin, and angle.

I basically have it my mind to never try to hit to their forehand unless I know it's an outright winner, or they are so out of position that they can't send back a decent return. This ends up happening a lot because they will start cheating to that weak side more and more if it's getting worked over. I try hard not to do this defensively on my end..instead, you hit the ball to my backhand..i'm just going to slice it down the line and force you to hit a backhand, or lob it high up in the air. Of course that's easier said than done on a ball that's been crushed and is spinning away from me.

If you can get a nice cross court backhand shot to their forehand corner then you can camp out in your backhand corner and be in position to hit a forehand on the next shot. Meanwhile, your opponent has to recover to their backhand side which is now wide open. Of course, if your cross court backhand will be weak, the strategy is not going to work.

[spiderman123]

Originally Posted by DeShaun

can beat back the attack by going right back to their backhand because yours is stronger and he didn't know this, or do you quickly seek a way out of backhand to backhand exchanges?

My forehand on the run if fine but if you hit the ball directly at me where I'm standing then my forehand drastically loses it effectiveness. My backhand is usually tough enough to batter down most people, though, who try to test it against theirs. Most anyone who tries to challenge it usually gets theirs broken down sooner. But my forehand is inept when you hit the ball directly at me.

I am wondering if I should step around my forehand because I actually have a little more ball control with my backhand. Have you ever tried this and what were the results?

Fix your forehand.

Symptoms:

1. Forehand on the run is good.
2. Standing forehand is not that effective.
3. Backhand does not have these issues.

Diagnosis:

NotShoulderTurnitis on Forehand.


Source:

Self.


I turn my shoulders way more when I am hitting backhand as the very motion of backswing makes me do it. Once you get in the habit of turning your shoulders, you will not have this dilemma.

*Edit*: The forehand on the run worked for me as I tend to run a little sideways so have shoulders turned a bit already when I reach the ball.