Hitting a OHBH Gently

[Cashman]

I hit a fairly normal modern one-handed backhand (eastern grip, rotate into contact, etc). Recently I have been hitting with a bunch of beginners, and I have realised that I find it really hard to moderate the pace of my ball. Any time I try and slow things down substantially, I lose all sense of timing.

Does anyone have any tips on this? I have reverted to just bunting the ball back with a continental grip (which serves the purpose) but I'd rather be hitting my normal backhand motion if possible.

 

[georgeyew]

I have the same issue. To get any control, I have to hit through the ball. If I want to hit back a gentle shot, I have to slice.

 

[coolvinny]

I would try a smaller backswing with a slightly lower take back position (but still elevated), and a smaller step into the ball. Still letting the racquet ride the roller coaster but with less acceleration.

 

[Injured Again]

Tough for me to hit the ball slow with topspin also. I typically only do this to warm up doing mini-tennis and find myself reverting to a flat push type swing like on a topspin return of serve, basically using no wrist and no forearm rotation.

 

[mstrvol]

Do you hit a flat backhand? This is where mini tennis really shines. I find it helpful to start with mini court but always do full swing, then gradually move back to the baseline while keep the rally going.

Tough for me to hit the ball slow with topspin also. I typically only do this to warm up doing mini-tennis and find myself reverting to a flat push type swing like on a topspin return of serve, basically using no wrist and no forearm rotation.

I have similar problem. But swinging differently for mini court and baseline totally takes away the point of doing mini tennis

 

[FlamingCheeto]

change that gentle OHBH into a super sidespinny backhand slice, it's fun and channel your inner Barty.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Normally, when hitting with novice players, a coach will often employ a conti grip. A semi-conti (Aussie) is another option so that you can hit flat, with mild underspin or with mild topspin — whichever is most suitable for your students

 

[Injured Again]

I have similar problem. But swinging differently for mini court and baseline totally takes away the point of doing mini tennis

I use mini tennis to groove the contact point, not the stroke, so it works for me as that push type backhand requires a contact point just a little bit more in front than my normal topspin backhand contact point, and if anything I tend to be late on the backhand more than early. On the forehand side, I also tend to be late most often due to wrist lag and then it really triggers my TFCC if I catch it late and am swinging hard.

Once I get more than four or five feet behind the service line, I can swing normally on the backhand side. It's just when we first start off and we're both just about on top of the service line.

 

[davced1]

Mini tennis backhands as previously mentioned but with slightly more power. Personally I hit a very flat backhand so not the best for mini tennis, my go to grip has been the continental but working on the transition towards eastern.

 

[Chas Tennis]

Post your backhand directly above or below this video and compare frame-by-frame.

Backhands from 2010 Australian Open.

 

[Cashman]

Post your backhand directly above or below this video and compare frame-by-frame.

Backhands from 2010 Australian Open.

this has nothing to do with my question

 

[Chas Tennis]

this has nothing to do with my question

You are asking players on the forum about how to adjust the speed of your unknown backhand technique - slower.

Most forum poster's have unknown strokes themselves.

A good place to always begin getting oriented is to observe what high level players do and observe stroke differences between you and them.

For example, the pro players usually put more much uppermost body turn into their strokes than the lower level players. The relative amount of uppermost body turn vs shoulder joint motion are the two most important sub-motions for forward racket head speed. Observations of those two sub-motions would seem to be a reasonable place to start. You would learn to observe what you are doing with your sub-motions and be able to directly compare strokes, in a forum post.

You might then search for some videos of pro players starting warm up and see how they hit softly.

Coaches that feed balls also slow it down with control, and you might find videos of their techniques.

Here are some coach/instructor thoughts for forehand feeding.

I don't know the answer but looking at videos is a good approach to find out.

 

[J011yroger]

If you keep the ball on the strings longer it is easier to modulate the pace of the ball, if you slap the ball you will require more racquet speed to get the ball over the net.

Practice staying behind the ball and staying with it longer.

J

 

[tennis tom]

Hard to help without seeing a vid of what u are doing--a picture tells a thousand words.

 

[stringertom]

Just watch the very popular tennis video on YouTube (23K views in 7 years) that features the guy with soft hands (and an even softer midsection) and a taste for form fitting shirts and color coordinated shoes/visors. In the first 5 minutes of the video he hits exactly zero ohbh topspin “drives” that his hitting partner can comfortably play from the baseline on one bounce. Just lazy looping semi-lob trajectory “Driving Miss Daisy” strokes. What a genius!

 

[heninfan99]

lots of mini tennis while focusing on topspin really helps.

 

[BallChaser]

Do you hit a flat backhand? This is where mini tennis really shines. I find it helpful to start with mini court but always do full swing, then gradually move back to the baseline while keep the rally going.

I have similar problem. But swinging differently for mini court and baseline totally takes away the point of doing mini tennis

Yes, hit slower balls by swinging slowly, not by compacting or changing your swing path.

 

[Cashman]

I don't know the answer

that much is certainly clear

 

[HuusHould]

Definitely easier to take the pace/spin off with a double hander. As suggested I use a conti grip in this situation, and will generally hit a Lendl drive bh, without the windscreen wipe (no outward rotation of the arm/forearm in the forward swing) in order to go easy on the topspin.
Sometimes I'll hit a fairly heavily sidespun drive with the conti grip as it doesn't break as severely as a heavily sidespun slice, stays relatively low and takes the pace off the ball.

 

[Shroud]

I hit a fairly normal modern one-handed backhand (eastern grip, rotate into contact, etc). Recently I have been hitting with a bunch of beginners, and I have realised that I find it really hard to moderate the pace of my ball. Any time I try and slow things down substantially, I lose all sense of timing.

Does anyone have any tips on this? I have reverted to just bunting the ball back with a continental grip (which serves the purpose) but I'd rather be hitting my normal backhand motion if possible.

I can do that mini stuff pretty well but it wasnt always like that. Havent played in months because of injury so i cant exactly test what I am about to suggest though I bet it works

1. if you havent already, shadow swing the slower shot repeatedly till your body gets it down. That way the timing is clear

2. Feel tennis had a vid where the swing was basically a mirror image of the ball. Racquet was at the lowest point when the ball bounced and at the highest point at contact. That I think has some timing cues built in

 

[1HBHfanatic]

-cut down your backswing
-cut down your follow through

 

[StringSnapper]

Just watch the very popular tennis video on YouTube (23K views in 7 years) that features the guy with soft hands (and an even softer midsection) and a taste for form fitting shirts and color coordinated shoes/visors. In the first 5 minutes of the video he hits exactly zero ohbh topspin “drives” that his hitting partner can comfortably play from the baseline on one bounce. Just lazy looping semi-lob trajectory “Driving Miss Daisy” strokes. What a genius!

ATP technique
Kindergarten movement

 

[stringertom]

ATP technique
Elephantine movement

FTFY