I have discovered the secret to 1H BH. I always had trouble with the ball that came a little to my left (I am a RH) and deep. It always jammed me and I had no space or time for a backswing. Last nite by chance I discovered the solution - move your left (outside) foot BACK diagonally while turning sideways to the left.
That is all, boys. Sorry if you expected some profound insight.
This foot movement is a lot I do on the forehand side, I realized. Moving outside foot back is not in the modern instruction any more. Most places I have read (including tennisplayer.net) talk about the outside foot planting behind the ball, and then hitting open stance with body rotation or stepping forward with inside foot for a closed stance. That is the ideal way, but often doesn't work for poor players like myself.
Then I recalled reading on the net (was it Oscar Wegner or some other geometric guy) who had contrasted his technique with old footwork recommended in USTA manuals from the early 20th century. They have diagrams with footprint marks, and they showed the outside foot moving diagonally backward! Apparently that is obsolete technique. But I have discovered that it is really useful on the backhand. It gives you more time and space for a good swing because you are taking the ball later and getting your outside foot out of the way of your swing.
It also works with balls further out in the backhand (but not too much). You need to move a little bit more of course, and then instead of planting your foot parallel to the baseline as the articles suggest, make the final planting step with your foot diagonally backwards from the baseline. I could get good topspin and power from this position due to fuller swing and I felt I was not rushed at all.
That is all, boys. Sorry if you expected some profound insight.
This foot movement is a lot I do on the forehand side, I realized. Moving outside foot back is not in the modern instruction any more. Most places I have read (including tennisplayer.net) talk about the outside foot planting behind the ball, and then hitting open stance with body rotation or stepping forward with inside foot for a closed stance. That is the ideal way, but often doesn't work for poor players like myself.
Then I recalled reading on the net (was it Oscar Wegner or some other geometric guy) who had contrasted his technique with old footwork recommended in USTA manuals from the early 20th century. They have diagrams with footprint marks, and they showed the outside foot moving diagonally backward! Apparently that is obsolete technique. But I have discovered that it is really useful on the backhand. It gives you more time and space for a good swing because you are taking the ball later and getting your outside foot out of the way of your swing.
It also works with balls further out in the backhand (but not too much). You need to move a little bit more of course, and then instead of planting your foot parallel to the baseline as the articles suggest, make the final planting step with your foot diagonally backwards from the baseline. I could get good topspin and power from this position due to fuller swing and I felt I was not rushed at all.
