Backhand Tips

[Javizzle]

Hey friends,

Trying to improve my backhand - can you give me some tips? In the past my my arms were more bent on contact, so i've tried having more straight arms on contact. I think i've improved but its still not quite where it needs to be. Any tips, advice would be great. Thanks. (Also apologies for the video framing, shot on iPhone)

 

[LeeD]

Nice 2 hander. Notice the width of your prep stance, about 30" wide. Then as you close to hit your 2hbh, you narrow your stance down a lot, which can cause balance problems if you're hitting against a real opponent who mixes up his speeds, spins, and placements.

 

[Javizzle]

Thanks. I'l look out for that - also i'm not sure the camera angle does justice to me foot placement

 

[Bender]

It's a nice backhand!

Could be the video angle, but your racquet face seems to be rather open at contact and on the follow through.

Also, next time take horizontal videos...

 

[Javizzle]

Thanks. I just put my phone on the court against a can of tennis balls. It wouldn't capture the necessary height when recording horizontally. Il just ask somebody to film next time!!

 

[1HBH-DownTheLine]

Good form, Peter. Good Form.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Hey friends,

Trying to improve my backhand - can you give me some tips? In the past my my arms were more bent on contact, so i've tried having more straight arms on contact. I think i've improved but its still not quite where it needs to be. Any tips, advice would be great. Thanks. (Also apologies for the video framing, shot on iPhone)

That's a good looking 2hb. It looks like you're emulating Novak on the take back.

But, your stance looks a bit narrow (from that perspective), and it seems to be inhibiting leg/hip drive which initiates the kinetic chain. Try a wider base so you can drive that left hip forward to initiate your forward swing. In the finish your left foot should step forward to maintain balance. With your stance, your entire lower body appears to be inhibited.

 

[watungga]

OP, there's is no fixed elbow position in replicating Djoker's backhand. I've seen your actual swing is perfectly timed to the arrival of the ball. That's good enough to consider as your "core pointer" in every swing.

If you want straight elbow execution, your eyes must (in the first place) should have perfectly timed the incoming ball, and knowing where it would land on your hitting spot, and you have your feet in the right position as well... Having all that really matters (which must happened in milliseconds) before you could perfectly decide to use straight elbow 2HBH.

 

[AsianArnold1]

here's a great vid from Top Tennis Traning. you're pretty much doing their suggested steps 1 and 2, but you're missing step 3. your body weight needs to transfer from the back leg to the front, and make sure you rotate that back leg to open up the hips.