Footwork and backhand

[frenzy]

Hi all,

in general my backhand is more consistent then my forehand. I am using the doublehanded backhand stroke. But, when I play matches and the opponent really focusses on attacking my backhand, it seems that my footwork is not as it should be. I seem to be coming one step to short.

I don't encounter the issue on my forehand side. It's pretty akward, as I am quite fast on the court (but not fast enough ).

Does anyone had this issue before? What did you do to improve with fast results?

Thanks!

 

[sunof tennis]

Make sure you are split-stepping and watching the ball leave your opponent's racquet. Also can anticipate patterns. Is your opponent one who generally goes cross-court, then shade that way.

 

[Ballinbob]

Some tips:
1.take large steps to get to the ball and take really small quick steps to get into your ideal hitting position
2. Make sure you are in shape. Proper footwork can be draining, and I've seen people who move like Federer for the first 30 mins of playing and then just revert to lazy footwork

 

[RockChalkOhio]

Practice more backhand and, in particular, learn the backhand down the line stroke. It is devastating when you can take away that strategy from your opponent.

 

[fuzz nation]

Some tips:
1.take large steps to get to the ball and take really small quick steps to get into your ideal hitting position
2. Make sure you are in shape. Proper footwork can be draining, and I've seen people who move like Federer for the first 30 mins of playing and then just revert to lazy footwork

That might be the key to better positioning for you right there. Fixate on taking at least two or three of those little shuffle steps before every shot, even on your forehand side. If you drill this on a regular basis, it ought to become more of an unconscious habit that puts your right on the spot more often.

 

[newpball]

First step is the most important step.

Make sure the first action is not a cross step!

Take a wide legged and bending the knees position and practice exploding to the left and right with the opposite leg and then follow up with a few steps. You could have a friend help you increase your reflexes by waiting and shouting 'NOW' before every attempt.

 

[ATP100]

First step is the most important step.

Make sure the first action is not a cross step!

Take a wide legged and bending the knees position and practice exploding to the left and right with the opposite leg and then follow up with a few steps. You could have a friend help you increase your reflexes by waiting and shouting 'NOW' before every attempt.

First step after you hit the ball is the most important.

 

[newpball]

First step after you hit the ball is the most important.

Yes, I agree is a very important to reposition yourself immediately after you strike the ball. But once that is done you have to make another important first step, the one you take immediately after you estimated the return path of the ball coming from your opponent.

 

[10isfreak]

If you're really good, you can read the shot of your opponent very early. If you're well synchronized you can use a selective split step, landing on only foot instead of two. If you have to move rightward, you land on your left foot and you push off right away; the opposite for leftward movement. That gives you an extra fraction of a second -- even more so than a simple split step since you start running right off the bat --, as well as dynamic head start.

In tennis, your posture and your position relative to the ball are the two most important things to bother about. If you prepare early and work hard with your feet and legs to get into that ideal hitting position, everything will feel so easy. Watch how professional tennis players move, position themselves and play their shots... they hit amazing shots, but it looks so easy for them. One of the main reason why it looks so easy (and likely feel so easy for them) is that they get into that ideal position ball, after ball.

When your posture is solid, athletic and you've got a ball in your wheel house because you bother moving that butt of yours, anyone looking at you will see the ease you have to hit that big winner. It's discouraging for an opponent to see someone move all too well, to see him enjoy every single short ball as an opportunity to step into the court and be aggressive. Imagine the pressure everyone would feel if you made an in-court contact every time the ball was short... if you move better, always work on earning an ever more aggressive court position to hit, your opponents will feel like you're almost playing on their side of the court and that's what you want to see -- if you do that, they're forced to go for bigger, better balls just to prevent you from moving forward and, usually, this means UE starts to pile up for them.

You'd be doing absolutely NOTHING more complex or harder... nothing riskier. You'd just move that butt and pressure your opponent with your good use of court positioning.

 

[newpball]

In tennis, your posture and your position relative to the ball are the two most important things to bother about. If you prepare early and work hard with your feet and legs to get into that ideal hitting position, everything will feel so easy. Watch how professional tennis players move, position themselves and play their shots... they hit amazing shots, but it looks so easy for them. One of the main reason why it looks so easy (and likely feel so easy for them) is that they get into that ideal position ball, after ball.

When your posture is solid, athletic and you've got a ball in your wheel house because you bother moving that butt of yours, anyone looking at you will see the ease you have to hit that big winner. It's discouraging for an opponent to see someone move all too well, to see him enjoy every single short ball as an opportunity to step into the court and be aggressive. Imagine the pressure everyone would feel if you made an in-court contact every time the ball was short... if you move better, always work on earning an ever more aggressive court position to hit, your opponents will feel like you're almost playing on their side of the court and that's what you want to see -- if you do that, they're forced to go for bigger, better balls just to prevent you from moving forward and, usually, this means UE starts to pile up for them.

You'd be doing absolutely NOTHING more complex or harder... nothing riskier. You'd just move that butt and pressure your opponent with your good use of court positioning.

^This.

Nick Bollettieri would not have said it any better.

 

[ATP100]

Yes, I agree is a very important to reposition yourself immediately after you strike the ball. But once that is done you have to make another important first step, the one you take immediately after you estimated the return path of the ball coming from your opponent.

It is never "done".

 

[newpball]

It is never "done".

Yes, it is never done.