100 one handed backhands - PLS CRITIQUE 5 min video

[Tennis-melike]

Hello!
Been struggling with my one handed backhand, especially during match play...anyway, took a video of a recent session with the ball machine. If you could let me know which one of these backhands looks good, and/or provide any tips/suggestions that would be great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOVsNFMrDHo

 

[Lukhas]

There isn't obvious technical flaws on your backhand in this video. Maybe try to hit a bit earlier. I'm still curious to know what grip you are using: it looks fairly open, almost continental. A more "Eastern" grip could help with stability. What kind of issue are you facing during your matches?

 

[Tennis-melike]

Just tend to be apprehensive swinging through the ball with the 1 handed backhand, im pretty conservative during a match, no pop at all on it as I tend to half swing it more often than not. I thought using a tennis machine would embed some degree of muscle memory in my stroke. You can see through the video though, some strokes are more sure than others...i dont mind missing shots, i'd just like to be consistent with my technique.

I do use a eastern grip, but perhaps i should shift it slightly more?

There isn't obvious technical flaws on your backhand in this video. Maybe try to hit a bit earlier. I'm still curious to know what grip you are using: it looks fairly open, almost continental. A more "Eastern" grip could help with stability. What kind of issue are you facing during your matches?

 

[widmerpool]

You have a nice setup and you are not flicking through with the wrist like many do.

But you seem to be pulling up at contact. All the energy in the swing just goes up instead of forward. Hit through your target and THEN you can follow through up and over your shoulder.

Don't just lift up from low to high.

Basically the arc of the swing needs to flatten out.

You have the right foundation so this should come together quickly.

 

[2forehands]

Something you might want to try is get an old racket with no strings and wrap duct tape around the head to create a hitting area. Now go hit some backhands with it. The dead hitting zone will make hit through the contact point and extend more. Try this a few times and switch back to your normal racket for a surprise!

 

[GoudX]

Your main issue is timing the shot and striking cleanly. The swing looks great on some shots, but on others you are rushing and you are forced to change your swing.

Prepare early with the correct foot position, then watch the ball and stay stable through contact.

 

[Tennis-melike]

Widmerpool, your right - i do tend to pull up, this is great advice...i'll aim to put more focus on flattening though, then up, rather than just lifting up. There are a few instances where i do this in the video and the differences are pretty evident on the shot...good call, thx!

You have a nice setup and you are not flicking through with the wrist like many do.

But you seem to be pulling up at contact. All the energy in the swing just goes up instead of forward. Hit through your target and THEN you can follow through up and over your shoulder.

Don't just lift up from low to high.

Basically the arc of the swing needs to flatten out.

You have the right foundation so this should come together quickly.

 

[Tennis-melike]

Yeah striking cleanly is an issue, im using a prostaff 85 which isn't the most forgiving of racquets but that's not really a good excuse. Your right, some shots feel outstanding, then there are others which are kinda dinky, I'll try to focus on early take back...i dont always feel stable (especially scrambling back on high backhands) so im sure that doesn't help

Your main issue is timing the shot and striking cleanly. The swing looks great on some shots, but on others you are rushing and you are forced to change your swing.

Prepare early with the correct foot position, then watch the ball and stay stable through contact.

 

[Gyswandir]

Footwork is your main issue leading to an inconsistent contact point. Compounding the problem is you're still straightening the elbow in your forward swing. This adds to the complexity of the timing and maintaining the contact point.
I know some here will talk about Fed doing the same thing, but I subscribe to the school of thought against this. It adds another moving part to the stroke.
Last, your right leg should plant down exactly as you initiate the racket drop in your swing.
For reference, check his videos http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbpzee_YU8Y

 

[McNasty911]

More shoulder rotation when you are bringing the racket back.

 

[chip and charge]

There was a guy who posted here called tricky who always talked about how many people blocked their hips by stepping out with the front foot first. You do it on every backhand. Look at the footwork in slow motion of top players. They will step out with the back foot then step into the ball. It helps to think keep your hips open more until you are ready to step out with the back catch foot.

 

[Tennis-melike]

Interesting, never really thought of that before - i guess that makes sense, even moreso after watching the video posted above. I suppose open hips enables easier planting of the back foot, before one steps forward through contact

There was a guy who posted here called tricky who always talked about how many people blocked their hips by stepping out with the front foot first. You do it on every backhand. Look at the footwork in slow motion of top players. They will step out with the back foot then step into the ball. It helps to think keep your hips open more until you are ready to step out with the back catch foot.

 

[DonDiego]

You could improve your stroke simply by generating more racquet head speed. This is partly achieved by technique -- more shoulder and hip rotation in your preparation, but it's even more a mental thing -- learn to ''let the racquet go'' in a fearless swing. Keep your grip semi-loose and you won't overhit, you will probably impart more natural top spin this way. Since you have a ball machine you can easily learn to do this by repetition.

 

[Tennis-melike]

Good advice, ok i'll try to give this a try as well. I tried the setting the left foot before stepping forward with the right, and wow that made a world of difference - fearless swinging is something I definitely do on my forehand, but backhand...and especially game situations, for whatever reason im tentative, i'll try this with the ball machine though as suggested

You could improve your stroke simply by generating more racquet head speed. This is partly achieved by technique -- more shoulder and hip rotation in your preparation, but it's even more a mental thing -- learn to ''let the racquet go'' in a fearless swing. Keep your grip semi-loose and you won't overhit, you will probably impart more natural top spin this way. Since you have a ball machine you can easily learn to do this by repetition.

 

[ATP100]

Your main issue is timing the shot and striking cleanly. The swing looks great on some shots, but on others you are rushing and you are forced to change your swing.

Prepare early with the correct foot position, then watch the ball and stay stable through contact.

Easy Answer: Footwork, your stroke is fine.

 

[BeGreat]

it looks like you're not playing tennis. it looks like you're posing for a backhand glamour shot for GQ.

you need to swing faster with more intensity... having balls fed to you like that is silly. at least make it go faster.

 

[BeGreat]

Easy Answer: Footwork, your stroke is fine.

exactly. footwork is the annswer to everything. when in doubt, when you have nothing constructive to add, just say "oh well, your footwork sucks."

it's like unemployed people who send out 100 generic resumes a day and then, when asked why they're still unemployed, they always answer with "well, it's the economy."

 

[prostaff_fan]

Some good points here. Especially about moving the back foot first and then stepping the front foot into the stroke. I seem to have similar issues like the OP. Will try this out at practice tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[Tennis-melike]

Yep for sure, focusing on the back foot first makes a huge difference...so effectively, it does all come down to footwork

Some good points here. Especially about moving the back foot first and then stepping the front foot into the stroke. I seem to have similar issues like the OP. Will try this out at practice tomorrow. Thanks!