The biggest problem I have in singles is the high bouncing ball to my one-handed backhand. When the ball is low I usually have no problem hitting through the ball and hitting a deep shot. But when the ball is high, I find myself brushing up too much and hitting a short, loopy topspin backhand, or I will hit it into the net. What do you do to adjust to the high ball to hit more through the ball?
high balls to one-handed backhand
- Thread starter raiden031
- Start date
PimpMyGame
Hall of Fame
I will either run around and take it on my forehand, or take the backhand earlier (when it's not as high).
If you want topspin, try taking back the racquet higher (around your shoulders and head) and do not loop so much. Instead, stay high and finish high, above the height of the ball to put just enough top spin. I don't suggest this, but with a one handed backhand, I have also seen some people go to more of a western backhand grip to handle the higher ball, like Guga.
The difficulty is that if the ball is bouncing high, it is moving almost vertically. When you take a big cut up at the ball, your racquet is moving almost vertically as well, so you will have a very low margin of error.
The safest shot is a slice, but it will put you in a defensive situation, and eventually, you will run into players who will take advantage when you slice every shot.
The difficulty is that if the ball is bouncing high, it is moving almost vertically. When you take a big cut up at the ball, your racquet is moving almost vertically as well, so you will have a very low margin of error.
The safest shot is a slice, but it will put you in a defensive situation, and eventually, you will run into players who will take advantage when you slice every shot.
Supernatural_Serve
Professional
The primary thing I do is prepare my racquet higher (up near my chest/shoulders) versus low down between my waist and knees, I also tend to hit the ball defensively or neutral in terms of swing speed, spin, etc. I rarely try to swing hard through a high ball. I simply want to clear the net with good coverage, get some spin on the ball, and hopefully drive it deep cross court even if it lacks pace.
Maybe one of your problems contributing to your weaker topspin balls is that you start your forward swing from a relatively low position (relative to the ball) which inhibits some of the drive while also creating more timing challenges (especially if you swing fast).
Maybe one of your problems contributing to your weaker topspin balls is that you start your forward swing from a relatively low position (relative to the ball) which inhibits some of the drive while also creating more timing challenges (especially if you swing fast).
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
You have several things you can do and practice. All of it involves strengthening the muscles around the shoulder (back, top, and front) of the hitting arm.
1. The swing pattern is sort of high to high. Or high to straight, however, you want to do it.
2. The contact for the high ball is slightly more in front. It is an optical illusion that you have more time to hit the ball.
3. You can alter your grip to a Extreme Eastern to help you hit through the ball more (you dont have to though).
4. Do not brush up so much as you would expect unless you want to hit a moon ball.
5. Make sure you transfer your weight and you are hitting in front.
6. Try to take the ball on the rise more.
7. Develop your high ball driving slice where you cut the ball down.
Supernatural_Serve
Professional
That's a really important point. The number of high backhands I've hit with seemingly nothing but arm (no core, no rotation in the hips, no leg drive), is a crime.
I prepare high, swing high to slightly higher, everything is set up about right, and then my arm tries to do all the work and then I stand there dumbfounded by the ball that looks like it was hit by a small child.
Its as if by preparing higher, I don't get any leg bend, I'm standing relatively flat footed, and the legs hips, etc. are essentially immobilized.
That's funny - I have the same problem where the high balls get me out of my good stance, and I end up straightening out and hitting the ball long. I need to work on keeping a good power stance with bent knees .
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
You want to bend your knees so that you can rise on an angle. Which is up and forward hitting the ball in front. Many players mistime their weight transfer and get jammed or render the weight transfer useless because they do it too late and the ball is on top of them.
To practice hitting the high ball with authority you must slow the ball down on the feed and build up from there. You have to strengthen different shoulder muscles through repetition.
As you rise, you want to time it so that when you make contact with the ball, you are making a "flat" contact. The ball will have topspin on it but will sort of be driven downward.
If you go to steep or come at the ball from underneath you risk hitting it long which is why the setup of the racquet preparation is higher then it seems. Many people prepare the same as a normal shot because they are mezmorized by what they need to do and forget to prepare properly.
Use the height of the ball for your net clearance and smack it going through it.
What hasn't been discussed is that you should hopefully try not to get so many balls out of the strike zone. Once the ball is over your shoulders, the onehanded backhand is difficult to hit as is the twohander but not as much as the onehander because of the tophands ability to swing through the ball when it is higher.
Whatever grip you use, you should understand the strike zone for your grip. Then you should train your footwork, footspeed, and hand/eye coordination to take a clear majority of your balls in that strike zone. This means you need to hustle for your positioning to the ball. Hence, you need to move it.
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Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
On another note, you can hit the high balls like Lubicic which is another way of doing it.
In this case the racquet face windshield wipes the back of the ball and the player rises off the court sending his weight transfer slightly forward and up.
Lubicic takes the ball around shoulder height. In my opinion, this is slightly more advanced but some players feel comfortable hitting a high ball this way, so it is your choice on what to practice.
Notice he is still hitting the ball well in front (which I think is the biggest issue with hitting the high ball for most onehanders, they dont hit it in front enough), his knees are bent in the preparation, his racquet preparation even in the drop is higher then normal, and his non-dominant arm is helping to control his rotation allowing his racquet to still go through the ball.
In this case the racquet face windshield wipes the back of the ball and the player rises off the court sending his weight transfer slightly forward and up.
Lubicic takes the ball around shoulder height. In my opinion, this is slightly more advanced but some players feel comfortable hitting a high ball this way, so it is your choice on what to practice.
Notice he is still hitting the ball well in front (which I think is the biggest issue with hitting the high ball for most onehanders, they dont hit it in front enough), his knees are bent in the preparation, his racquet preparation even in the drop is higher then normal, and his non-dominant arm is helping to control his rotation allowing his racquet to still go through the ball.
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split-step
Professional
Ljubicic is hitting an 'open stance' backhand there. His weight is planted on his backfoot before contact. It is indicative of him receiving a deep heavy topspin ball that he had to back up for
When I hit high balls this way I tend to hit more windsheild wiper and topspin the ball back.
When the high ball isn't as deep and I can step in and hit off the front foot I hit more of the 'high to straight' and flatten it (with some top) deep aggressively. I hit with a semi-western 1HBH grip though so I prefer these balls to low ones.
When I hit high balls this way I tend to hit more windsheild wiper and topspin the ball back.
When the high ball isn't as deep and I can step in and hit off the front foot I hit more of the 'high to straight' and flatten it (with some top) deep aggressively. I hit with a semi-western 1HBH grip though so I prefer these balls to low ones.
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
I would not say that is an open stance. His hips remain perpendicular to the net. It is a nuetral stance that he is in and he is planting on his back foot and rising up and slightly forward as he swings to the ball.
For the nuetral stance and the closed stance onehander pushing off the back foot is appropriate.
goober
Legend
When you say cut the ball down you don't mean chopping motion right? That seems to make the ball weak and sit up for me on a high 1HBH. Is it more of a high to straight motion?
Do you have any sequence pics of this slice off a high 1HBH?
BTW is this what Brad Gilbert refers to as the Spanish Slice?
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
1. Cutting down the ball based on what I mean is referring to the flight and speed of the ball. I am referring to a knifing slice backhand.
2. Nope
3. I have never heard of the Spanish slice. I have heard of the German slice.
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goober
Legend
Ok thanks.
WTH is the german slice? When gilbert was talking about Spanish slice I assumed he was talking about slice against high bouncing balls on clay that Spaniards often see
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
Ok thanks.
WTH is the german slice? When gilbert was talking about Spanish slice I assumed he was talking about slice against high bouncing balls on clay that Spaniards often see
Calling it a German slice is not popular and I dont think it really stuck obviously.
The german slice referred to an offensive slice where it was used as a normal groundstroke reply like Steffi Graf used to hit:
Try this and review some of the keys: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Keys-To-An-Effective-Slice-Backhand&id=1027993
Go here to see it in action: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0tC3BnsoC_Y&feature=related
If you can pause the video right, you can see how much she is balanced on her front foot. There is a drill I post often that works on your balance on your front foot to help you hit that knifing fast paced slice.
split-step
Professional
Of course pushing off the back foot is appropriate. Who said it wasn't?
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
You did with your words below:
Ljubicic is hitting an 'open stance' backhand there. His weight is planted on his backfoot before contact.
An open stance forehand is hit by placing your weight over your back foot. If this is not what you were implying with your words above, you weren't clear about it at all. Planting on your back foot is common in all stances.
split-step
Professional
You still haven't explained where I said hitting off the backfoot isn't appropriate.
The salient part of my post was that there might be some correlation to him hitting off the backfoot on the 1 hander and the windsheild wiper type stroke he used.
This is opposed to flattening out the high backhand which seems to be the shot that would be used when stepping in and hitting off the front foot.
I thought it was clear in my post...
The salient part of my post was that there might be some correlation to him hitting off the backfoot on the 1 hander and the windsheild wiper type stroke he used.
This is opposed to flattening out the high backhand which seems to be the shot that would be used when stepping in and hitting off the front foot.
I thought it was clear in my post...
split-step
Professional
You ideally want to hit your 1HBH off the front foot/with your weight loaded on the front foot.
However, like I wrote in my earlier post, there are times when you cannot step in and hit off the front foot. A deep high ball, a running shot, hard service return etc.
However, like I wrote in my earlier post, there are times when you cannot step in and hit off the front foot. A deep high ball, a running shot, hard service return etc.
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Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
Well, I guess you weren't clear!
First, as I said, that is not an open stance. So right away your words are confusing. The second sentence did not tie in "hitting off the back foot and the windshield wiper technique."
If you expected someone to gather this from your sentences above, well I am sorry I didn't "get it".
As I said, planting off the back foot is common to all stances. His stance is not open and is neutral at best.
I am sorry you think that I meant you werre saying something that was unappropriate. I was trying to draw out that planting off the back foot is common to all strokes and not just the open stance. Whatever else you took from that is your thing.
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Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
If you choose to hit with an open stance on the onehander, it is recommended that you still hit the ball with your upper body still resembling how it would look if you hit the ball with a closed or neutral stance.
Usually you use the open stance onehander if you dont have time or for service returns. Of course, James Blake can do it whenever he feels like it.
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
Thanks a lot BB and Nellie.
The problem one faces is that the 1h is typically taught just low to high (for low balls). No where do instructional videos handle the high ball.
So often we (I) try to replicate the same motion for a high ball, and that obviously fails.
I have thus been trying two approaches with some success (as an alternative to slicing).
1. As Nellie says, the take-back is high
, the followthrough is high.
2. The second is close to the sequence you posted, but what i tried:
handle/fist is driven forward, and then racquet rotated into ball (wrist supinated or rotated). The racket is perpendicular to ground.
Obviously, for a newbie like me with underdeveloped muscles and rarely time to practice this, the result is not a strong hit (as yet).
There is a risk here, the timing has to be precise too, so that the rack is exactly 90 degrees.
Thanks for posting the sequence, will try it.
Some explanations on how Kuerten handled high balls will help, I have seen some matches, but verbal cues/explanations would really help.
The problem one faces is that the 1h is typically taught just low to high (for low balls). No where do instructional videos handle the high ball.
So often we (I) try to replicate the same motion for a high ball, and that obviously fails.
I have thus been trying two approaches with some success (as an alternative to slicing).
1. As Nellie says, the take-back is high
, the followthrough is high.
2. The second is close to the sequence you posted, but what i tried:
handle/fist is driven forward, and then racquet rotated into ball (wrist supinated or rotated). The racket is perpendicular to ground.
Obviously, for a newbie like me with underdeveloped muscles and rarely time to practice this, the result is not a strong hit (as yet).
There is a risk here, the timing has to be precise too, so that the rack is exactly 90 degrees.
Thanks for posting the sequence, will try it.
Some explanations on how Kuerten handled high balls will help, I have seen some matches, but verbal cues/explanations would really help.
armsty
Hall of Fame
Personally I have a two handed BH and I find it best (both FH and BH) to get the ball on the rise, really early, try half volley it, means it's more timing then getting up to the ball.
Another thing is if you are trying to get the high ball, remember to still have bent knees, never hit any shot with straight legs.
Another thing is if you are trying to get the high ball, remember to still have bent knees, never hit any shot with straight legs.
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
Well some of the good high ball hitters use a different grip. You could think about using the Extreme Eastern. The other thing is they have grown accustom to hitting as they rise off the ground a bit on some balls. If all you do is receive high balls all day long, then you might want to learn a bit from them.
The grip that is usually taught is the Eastern backhand grip. Ball feeds are given so the player can hit balls in the strike zone for that grip. Anything out of the strike zone for that grip would be considered a low percentage shot and would call for a different stroke because it is more defensive in nature.
However, if you do want to take that shot more offensively then you need to practice the above advice. Otherwise, slice it back and get a better ball.
You can also consider taking more of your balls on the rise so you can get into position to take a majority of your balls in your preferred strike zone.
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
Thanks BB.
Yes, I do want to take high balls offensively, and I am willing to use the 2hbh for handling high balls --- provided the 2hbh _can_ handle a high ball offensively. I am currently unable to figure out how with a 2h.
Even the 2hbh instructional vids usually talk of handling the ball in the strike zone.
BB and others, either you could give (2h) pointers and any links in this thread, or if you feel it would be hijacking, I could start another thread for that.
btw, I have a vid of the Safin bh, and have seen quite some chaps raising their left leg and hitting. Not sure if that helps take a high bh.
Thanx a lot for your help.
Yes, I do want to take high balls offensively, and I am willing to use the 2hbh for handling high balls --- provided the 2hbh _can_ handle a high ball offensively. I am currently unable to figure out how with a 2h.
Even the 2hbh instructional vids usually talk of handling the ball in the strike zone.
BB and others, either you could give (2h) pointers and any links in this thread, or if you feel it would be hijacking, I could start another thread for that.
btw, I have a vid of the Safin bh, and have seen quite some chaps raising their left leg and hitting. Not sure if that helps take a high bh.
Thanx a lot for your help.
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
Well, yes, the twohander is very capable of hitting high backhands. And yes, lifting that leg really does help and should be practiced.
It is the tophand that causes the racquet to come up that ball to smack it.
Yes, here is one http://www.hi-techtennis.com/video_sample/index.php?movie=safin_twohander_jump.swf&size=wide
The back leg is lifted to help raise the center of gravity of the body. It is basically to get to the ball lower or take it more in the strike zone as if it was a normal ball. Watch how Safins butt rises in the shot and then he hits the ball.
I am sure there is some videos of Hewitt doing the same.
soyizgood
G.O.A.T.
I can't really add much on this topic for 1HBHers, but when I have to hit high balls to my backhand, I'm content with making sure the ball either lands deep on the opponent's side or I impart spin so it will keep the opponent at the baseline.
Because it's a high ball I'm facing, my mentality is to maintain or re-establish court position. I'm aiming to hit a difficult ball back to the opponent's backhand, but high balls are problems for forehands as well so I'm okay hitting them to either side. From my experience, the best time to go offensive on high balls is if you anticipate facing such a ball and you're able to step in and hit on the rise.
Because it's a high ball I'm facing, my mentality is to maintain or re-establish court position. I'm aiming to hit a difficult ball back to the opponent's backhand, but high balls are problems for forehands as well so I'm okay hitting them to either side. From my experience, the best time to go offensive on high balls is if you anticipate facing such a ball and you're able to step in and hit on the rise.
TennisProdigy
Professional
slice it or hit a jumping one handed bh to raise the strike zone
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
warneck
Rookie
As said by the other posters here, one of the key elements to being successfull with the high 1HBH is good preparation and hitting it in front of yourself.
Depending on the situation there is three (four) ways to solve a high inc ball to the 1 HBH.
A) Moving forward and taking it on the rise. This is maybe the hardest shot when you are trying to go for very good placement. It's probably the most effective when you already have your opponent a bit off his foot, maybe you just hit an good cross-court BH and want to approach the net with an effective on-the-rise DTL. One of the keys in A is using the straightward motion, and even some high to low motion without brushing the ball too much.
B) Taking it at, or above shoulder level. This may be the most requiring stroke when it comes to pure psychical strength. In opposite to the A stroke it doesn't require the same very good timing and clean strokes. What most people fail on here is not hitting well in front, and therefor lacking power. I would guess about every 4.0 players and above will punish you for such. Most likely you want to use an high-to-high motion, or high-to-mid. A bit thougher might be the mid-to-high motion. I personally use the high-to-mid, and mid-to-high. Mostly because I got the psychical strength to do this.
C) Moving a few steps back and hitting a heavy ball back. Why a heavy you ask? Because you're further back then you were originally. This opens some vulnerabilities which you might not except. For example the opposite player might close in on the net. I know I do this if I see my opponent a bit off-balance and when he have moved back. If your opponent stays back usually a mid-high net clearance ball with good topspin is your best option. That will allow you to recover more, than a flat ball. Alternatively you can do a short cross-court ball if you got the angle and situation.
D?) Slice it. Not much more to explain. This stroke is best used when approaching the situation with B. What you must remember here is forward motion, power and forward motion. A slice is not a straightward down motion, which many seem to think. So don't forget to put some depth behind that slice!
E?) As in any stroke, don't forget to use the same leg bend, shoulder rotation.. you know the drill!
-- If I forgot anything or anyone disagree then gimme a note.
Depending on the situation there is three (four) ways to solve a high inc ball to the 1 HBH.
A) Moving forward and taking it on the rise. This is maybe the hardest shot when you are trying to go for very good placement. It's probably the most effective when you already have your opponent a bit off his foot, maybe you just hit an good cross-court BH and want to approach the net with an effective on-the-rise DTL. One of the keys in A is using the straightward motion, and even some high to low motion without brushing the ball too much.
B) Taking it at, or above shoulder level. This may be the most requiring stroke when it comes to pure psychical strength. In opposite to the A stroke it doesn't require the same very good timing and clean strokes. What most people fail on here is not hitting well in front, and therefor lacking power. I would guess about every 4.0 players and above will punish you for such. Most likely you want to use an high-to-high motion, or high-to-mid. A bit thougher might be the mid-to-high motion. I personally use the high-to-mid, and mid-to-high. Mostly because I got the psychical strength to do this.
C) Moving a few steps back and hitting a heavy ball back. Why a heavy you ask? Because you're further back then you were originally. This opens some vulnerabilities which you might not except. For example the opposite player might close in on the net. I know I do this if I see my opponent a bit off-balance and when he have moved back. If your opponent stays back usually a mid-high net clearance ball with good topspin is your best option. That will allow you to recover more, than a flat ball. Alternatively you can do a short cross-court ball if you got the angle and situation.
D?) Slice it. Not much more to explain. This stroke is best used when approaching the situation with B. What you must remember here is forward motion, power and forward motion. A slice is not a straightward down motion, which many seem to think. So don't forget to put some depth behind that slice!
E?) As in any stroke, don't forget to use the same leg bend, shoulder rotation.. you know the drill!
-- If I forgot anything or anyone disagree then gimme a note.
ok
There are a couple of ways to deal with a high backhand
The first and obvious way is to hit the ball with a suitable grip, the extreme eastern,(aka semi western) backhand grip, which places the palm of the hand behind the the handle, allows you to hit the ball with authority and spin from any height, unless oyu have some technical deficiency you are not going to struggle with high balls, it just won't be an issue.
The minus with the extreme grip is that you cannot slice with the same grip.
If you use one of the more classic grips, you are going to struggle with the high ball, or, rather, you are going to struggle to hit the high ball with topspin.
The only uncompromised way of hitting a high ball with such a grip is to hit the ball with a very slight high to low swingpath.Ivan Lendl was the absolute king of this, He just used to blast winners by people with this shot with no noticable dip in power.I can't seem to find a clip of this shot just yet but I'll explain it to you.
Basically, at shoulder height, it is anatomically just 'wrong' to hit a topspin shot with a classic grip, (maybe even lower than shoulder height for very conservative grip users, eg, tim henman), the only way the racquet face can be orientated correctly is if the racquet head is above the hand, swinging low to high with the racque head above the hand with great effort puts a lot of strain on the elbow, and it's unnatural and requires a lot of effort to stop the hand and wrist naturally folding back, which stiffens up the arm, which results in a weak shot.
The reason a slice is easy on a high ball is becasue as you are swinging high to low for backspin, the racquet head is naturally above the hand and orientated correctly.The key is to flatten out the slice the same way you flatten out a topspin gruondstroke, (think of Safins flattened out topspin backhand for example), where the ball is being hit with a certain amount of rpm's of spin, but not enough to exert any effect on the ball.In the case of Safin's flattened out tposin backhand for eg, there is topspin on the ball, but nowhere near enough to influence the trajectory of the ball/ pull the ball down, at all.In the case of the flattened out slice, the same principle applies, you swing on as flat or as horizonatal a trajectory as possible while still maintaining some low to high.The height of the ball you are striking means it naturally has decent net clearence.This gives you the freedom to go for the flat winner, or hit with slightly more slice and less pace for more safety.
People nowadays are always amazed when they hear how great Ken Rosewall's slice backhand was supposed to have been, What people don't understand was that Rosewall drove that slice backhand as hard as could be.
I believe the extreme eastern backhand grip is the way to go, if you're going with the classic grips, hit the ball as described above.
There are a couple of ways to deal with a high backhand
The first and obvious way is to hit the ball with a suitable grip, the extreme eastern,(aka semi western) backhand grip, which places the palm of the hand behind the the handle, allows you to hit the ball with authority and spin from any height, unless oyu have some technical deficiency you are not going to struggle with high balls, it just won't be an issue.
The minus with the extreme grip is that you cannot slice with the same grip.
If you use one of the more classic grips, you are going to struggle with the high ball, or, rather, you are going to struggle to hit the high ball with topspin.
The only uncompromised way of hitting a high ball with such a grip is to hit the ball with a very slight high to low swingpath.Ivan Lendl was the absolute king of this, He just used to blast winners by people with this shot with no noticable dip in power.I can't seem to find a clip of this shot just yet but I'll explain it to you.
Basically, at shoulder height, it is anatomically just 'wrong' to hit a topspin shot with a classic grip, (maybe even lower than shoulder height for very conservative grip users, eg, tim henman), the only way the racquet face can be orientated correctly is if the racquet head is above the hand, swinging low to high with the racque head above the hand with great effort puts a lot of strain on the elbow, and it's unnatural and requires a lot of effort to stop the hand and wrist naturally folding back, which stiffens up the arm, which results in a weak shot.
The reason a slice is easy on a high ball is becasue as you are swinging high to low for backspin, the racquet head is naturally above the hand and orientated correctly.The key is to flatten out the slice the same way you flatten out a topspin gruondstroke, (think of Safins flattened out topspin backhand for example), where the ball is being hit with a certain amount of rpm's of spin, but not enough to exert any effect on the ball.In the case of Safin's flattened out tposin backhand for eg, there is topspin on the ball, but nowhere near enough to influence the trajectory of the ball/ pull the ball down, at all.In the case of the flattened out slice, the same principle applies, you swing on as flat or as horizonatal a trajectory as possible while still maintaining some low to high.The height of the ball you are striking means it naturally has decent net clearence.This gives you the freedom to go for the flat winner, or hit with slightly more slice and less pace for more safety.
People nowadays are always amazed when they hear how great Ken Rosewall's slice backhand was supposed to have been, What people don't understand was that Rosewall drove that slice backhand as hard as could be.
I believe the extreme eastern backhand grip is the way to go, if you're going with the classic grips, hit the ball as described above.
I agree that the extreme eastern grip is the way to go. But it's difficult because you have to switch grips real quick. If you can anticipate the high bounce then try this.
Too me slice is difficult to hit from high bounce.
Most of the time I end up just blocking it back and just hope that it goes in.
Too me slice is difficult to hit from high bounce.
Most of the time I end up just blocking it back and just hope that it goes in.
well, that shouldnt be a problem shot since its high and slow. its just by slicing from real high you wont get much oomph on it so it just should be a placemnt/percentage defensive response. likely to the wing that is your opponents weakest stroke.
