Deep flat shot to the onehanded backhand

[Bacterio]

I've been noticing a problem with my ability to hit this shot and was wondering what some of you fellow OHBH do in this situation.

I rarely like to give up ground on the baseline, but lately I've been having problems against flat hitters when they get a good deep ball to my backhand side. By deep I mean a few inches within the baseline.

What usually happens is that I'll take it as a half volley almost and try to swing through fully to get the spin to drop it back into the court but I'll end up with one of three results. I either don't get enough spin on it and it just pops up and sails long or if I do get it in the court the trajectory ends up being like that of a moonball and it just sits up for my opponent or I'll catch it late and it veers off to my left no where near landing in play.

I don't know if maybe I should start trying to slice those shots instead of hitting my regular backhand or perhaps I need to learn to anticipate better when it's going to come in deep and step back so I can get a better swing at it. I don't have this problem on the forehand side no matter how deep the shot because I'll usually do the buggywhip/reverse forehand and keep the ball in play with good spin and depth.

 

[skiracer55]

I think you're headed in the right direction...

I've been noticing a problem with my ability to hit this shot and was wondering what some of you fellow OHBH do in this situation.

I rarely like to give up ground on the baseline, but lately I've been having problems against flat hitters when they get a good deep ball to my backhand side. By deep I mean a few inches within the baseline.

What usually happens is that I'll take it as a half volley almost and try to swing through fully to get the spin to drop it back into the court but I'll end up with one of three results. I either don't get enough spin on it and it just pops up and sails long or if I do get it in the court the trajectory ends up being like that of a moonball and it just sits up for my opponent or I'll catch it late and it veers off to my left no where near landing in play.

I don't know if maybe I should start trying to slice those shots instead of hitting my regular backhand or perhaps I need to learn to anticipate better when it's going to come in deep and step back so I can get a better swing at it. I don't have this problem on the forehand side no matter how deep the shot because I'll usually do the buggywhip/reverse forehand and keep the ball in play with good spin and depth.

...I'd probably slice it. You've already figured out your other choice, which is a topspin half-volley...not an easy shot. It's not impossible, but if you go this route, definitely shorten your backswing, which will give you a better shot at a clean contact point so you can give it the spin and direction it needs...

 

[LeeD]

Against this ball, even the top pros just block it back, imparting very little spin, but placement and depth instead.
You're facing a forcing ball, so you cannot add your normal spin. So prep early, bend knees, get down to the ball, and shortswing it clear over the net and deep into the opponent's court, NOT to the same side as the last ball.

 

[Limpinhitter]

I've been noticing a problem with my ability to hit this shot and was wondering what some of you fellow OHBH do in this situation.

I rarely like to give up ground on the baseline, but lately I've been having problems against flat hitters when they get a good deep ball to my backhand side. By deep I mean a few inches within the baseline.

What usually happens is that I'll take it as a half volley almost and try to swing through fully to get the spin to drop it back into the court but I'll end up with one of three results. I either don't get enough spin on it and it just pops up and sails long or if I do get it in the court the trajectory ends up being like that of a moonball and it just sits up for my opponent or I'll catch it late and it veers off to my left no where near landing in play.

I don't know if maybe I should start trying to slice those shots instead of hitting my regular backhand or perhaps I need to learn to anticipate better when it's going to come in deep and step back so I can get a better swing at it. I don't have this problem on the forehand side no matter how deep the shot because I'll usually do the buggywhip/reverse forehand and keep the ball in play with good spin and depth.

You can hit it back flat, underspin or topspin. But, in order to time it well, you should take a short backswing, get down low to the ball (you should always get down to the ball, but, there's more of a penalty for not doing in on deep, hard hit balls), get your weight into the ball, and use your opponents power instead of trying to generate your own. In otherwords, moderate racquet speed.

 

[Bacterio]

Thanks for the help guys. I guess I had a good grasp of what was going on already and was just wondering if there were alternatives to what I was doing. I think the one thing I'm not doing is a short take back, I'm still trying to use my full swing even though the nature of the incoming ball is rushing my stroke.

I'll try the short take back for a while and see if I can give it the spin I want to drop it in the court nice and deep. I don't see the shot often enough to really get a hang of how to deal with it. I think this is something I can probably practice on the wall.

 

[GetBetterer]

I would blame your positioning more than your actual stroke, however in desperate situations, slice.

 

[ubermeyer]

slice?
10ch

 

[pwyman]

If your slice is good, and you can get it deep, by all means do that. If someone is hitting a deep, flat ball, their hope is that it causes you to hit a short ball so they can attack, or they may even follow it in to the net if they notice the weakness. A deep slice is my preference because it's consistent and if someone's coming into the net behind a deep ball to my backhand, I find the slice easier to change direction and pass up the line. Another alternative is to really focus on early preparation for the shot and roll it back deep cross court so you're preventing your opponents next shot from being an all out attack or easy winner.

 

[Blake0]

First off don't slice. Unless you move back and catch it on the rise. Trying to hit a half-volley slice, especially against a hard deep ball is asking for trouble. I'd say try a block half volley or a flick like federer does. I have a easy time with these shots, I just take a short backswing and kind of counterpunch it back with a fast swing speed.

Another thing, when you start playing against better players who hit with a ton of pace or very deep with good pace, you'll have to learn how to transition back away from the baseline. I see a lot of players that are almost glued to the baseline no matter how hard the shot comes at them. You'll have to learn to respect your opponents well hit shot and move back, keep the ball in, work the point and move back up into the court and attack.

 

[In D Zone]

Treat the shot as it you are return a serve to your bh.
- slice is always good, very realiable especially on tight situation
- punch using a short abbreviate bh swing, kinda resemble like a half volley. Be sure you punchthe ball back long and to the open court, if possible. Normally, you opponent knows you are pinned down, you want to force the opponent to chase your return otherwise, you'll get pummelled.
- BH topsin, instead of crossing the front leg forward as you normally do with 1hbh, you move the back foot backwards (allowing you to turn side ways). Bring the racquet down swing from low to high in a linear motion - generating topspin shot.

I know sometimes you get too hang on sticking with hitting 1hbh on every ball that comes into the bh side (not to say you cannot be like Federer). Knowing when not to pull the trigger and just go on a defensive to set up for the next shot is more safer and at times can win you the point. Because the opponent thought you were out gunned but then was shocked you put the ball back at their face.

 

[ManuGinobili]

switch to 2HBH


hah, jk... blocking is actually safer than slicing in my humble opinion. With blocking, you can hardly miss the contact portion of the swing since the racket moves in a limited range very close to the contact zone. It also returns some of the pace which you can use to your advantage.

 

[split-step]

Learn to hit the 1hbh drive off the back foot (for tough situations like this).
If you do so, you will be able to hit a neutral shot, off tough balls like the one you are facing.

Step back and transfer your weight to your backfoot to give you space but push off the backfoot forward and drive through the shot.

Check the first 2 backhands Henin hits in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdDwMj3_WMA
(courtesy FYB)

Notice how deep the balls she is receiving are.

I would not recommend slicing these balls because you will more than likely lose the point in the next 1 or 2 shots due to how defensive the shot will be. Plus your opponent will keep going to that well.

 

[Falloutjr]

Shouldn't be taking a full swing at these, just slice it back. Make your opponent hit up on the ball and take a full swing at this ball, or let them slice it back. Either way, you'll get a neutral ball back at worst most of the time, unless your slice is just horrid.

 

[olliess]

I would not recommend slicing these balls because you will more than likely lose the point in the next 1 or 2 shots due to how defensive the shot will be. Plus your opponent will keep going to that well.

If the opponent can consistently flat and hard to within inches of the baseline on your backhand side, then that must be quite a well. But if they keep going to that well, why not back up a few inches rather than hit a less-advantageous shot over and over again?

 

[Jonny S&V]

I personally hit a one-hander, but I also hug the baseline a lot so I have this problem often, and (depending on the situation) I either shorten up the swing and guide the ball or get under the ball and loop up the middle.