My Backhand Video

[boojay]

About a month and a half ago I posted a vid of my forehand and shortly afterwards I decided to start working on my backhand because it was just hideous when I saw it for the first time on video.

In short, after a month of tweaking I have this so far:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYUSMiK9pk8

It's far from where I need it to be, of course, but I feel I'm headed in the right direction. Any advice is welcome as I've neglected the backhand for far too long. I know I lean too much and my recovery is poor (I'm not letting my hitting arm and body pull my left leg over to help me move back to my recovery position). I also think I'm reaching for the ball too much at times. Obviously, timing would be an issue too as I haven't been hitting like this for very long.

On a sidenote, however, it's rather unusual that my backhand returns are drastically stronger than my forehand returns, but in rallies, my forehand dominates. Whyzzat?

 

[Hewitt Aussie]

i like your backhand, your forehand is good too. what racquet are you using in these videos?

 

[boojay]

i like your backhand, your forehand is good too. what racquet are you using in these videos?

Thanks

I'm using the one and only........*drum roll*...............PS85.

 

[Hewitt Aussie]

thought so, it looks so small, i wish i could have played with it before.

 

[angelsdemons8600]

Very Federer like backhand. I like your groundstrokes. Very nicely struck...Expecially when using a PS85!

 

[krz]

Like your strokes very smooth, good technique, no bad comments from me. although they were all cuts so maybe you got rid of all your bad ones

whats your NTRP like 4.0-4.5?

 

[Hewitt Aussie]

sorry this post was a mistake.

 

[Hewitt Aussie]

Is that a ball machine that is feeding you those balls? If so, what kind? Do you play USTA? Whate section? Whats your name and rank? I think that i play a lot like you, and i would like to see where you are in rankings.

 

[stevekim8]

i like your backhand it looks really consistent

 

[Grizvok]

Nice looking stroke on that backhand :}

 

[boojay]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

whats your NTRP like 4.0-4.5?

Yes, although I've been beating 4.0s rather consistently (I think I'm on like a 10 match winning streak against 4.0s) so I'm probably more of a 4.5 right now. I hope to be a legitimate 5.0 by the end of the year.

Is that a ball machine that is feeding you those balls? If so, what kind? Do you play USTA? Whate section? Whats your name and rank? I think that i play a lot like you, and i would like to see where you are in rankings.

Heh, no it's not. I'm rallying with my hitting partner. I'm from Canada so I don't have a USTA ranking or anything like that, but interestingly enough I do have some sort of ranking provincially because I played in one tournament late last year and made it to the quarterfinals (only to get crushed).

 

[AJK1]

Nice player, well done.

 

[Solat]

looks very consistant in clean contact, i really think you would benefit from an earlier and larger shoulder turn, think about showing your R shoulder blade to your opponent on your turn

good luck

 

[35ft6]

It's not a bad stroke, and you're well on your way, but the backhand looked shaky to me. I have a feeling strong players can break it down rather easily.

But nice looking strokes.

 

[boojay]

looks very consistant in clean contact, i really think you would benefit from an earlier and larger shoulder turn, think about showing your R shoulder blade to your opponent on your turn

good luck

Totally agree and eventually I would like to get to that point, but I've made some pretty significant changes to my backhand in a short period of time so I'm still in the process of trying to groove it.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Ambivalent]

Looks nice, but there's something every 1hbh hitter should worry about: the loopy topspin ball.
Learn to hit that and you should be fine. Also, it doesn't look like you're following through as much
as you should be.

Btw, are those Mayfair courts? I think i played a couple tournaments there back when i lived in Canada.

 

[koolperson359]

very nice looking strokes

 

[takeuchi]

holy crap its roger federer. Are you trying to model him or did it just happen that way?

nice vids, i liked the vid of your forehands before too.

 

[habib]

Nice, nice forehand. Me gusto. But, is it me, or are you arming the ball quite a bit on the backhand side?

 

[Bungalo Bill]

About a month and a half ago I posted a vid of my forehand and shortly afterwards I decided to start working on my backhand because it was just hideous when I saw it for the first time on video.

In short, after a month of tweaking I have this so far:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYUSMiK9pk8

It's far from where I need it to be, of course, but I feel I'm headed in the right direction. Any advice is welcome as I've neglected the backhand for far too long. I know I lean too much and my recovery is poor (I'm not letting my hitting arm and body pull my left leg over to help me move back to my recovery position). I also think I'm reaching for the ball too much at times. Obviously, timing would be an issue too as I haven't been hitting like this for very long.

On a sidenote, however, it's rather unusual that my backhand returns are drastically stronger than my forehand returns, but in rallies, my forehand dominates. Whyzzat?

Is it me or did everything go out? I mean it looked like the ball was headed for another country.

Some basic things on the backhand. Bend your knees. You are hitting to straight up. Also, you are hitting while you are leaning back. Center your weight over your front leg as you make contact.

I didnt really watch your forehand shots.

 

[boojay]

Learn to hit that and you should be fine. Also, it doesn't look like you're following through as much
as you should be.

Btw, are those Mayfair courts? I think i played a couple tournaments there back when i lived in Canada.

I don't think so either. That's one of the reasons why I'm not recovering as well as I should be. When I shadow swing, I REALLY come through, but when I hit, I can't......yet.

Nope, these aren't Mayfair. Where's Mayfair?

holy crap its roger federer. Are you trying to model him or did it just happen that way?

nice vids, i liked the vid of your forehands before too.

Thanks

I won't lie, if there's anyone's strokes who I'd like to copy or use as a model, it'd be His.

Nice, nice forehand. Me gusto. But, is it me, or are you arming the ball quite a bit on the backhand side?

I'm not arming it anywhere near as much as I used to. At the same time, I certainly could be putting more weight into the shot. It's still a work in progress, so we'll see how it goes.

Is it me or did everything go out? I mean it looked like the ball was headed for another country.

Some basic things on the backhand. Bend your knees. You are hitting to straight up. Also, you are hitting while you are leaning back. Center your weight over your front leg as you make contact.

I didnt really watch your forehand shots.

It's the camera angle. Whenever I hit a shot out you can hear me go "awwww!!" and that only happened once, otherwise from what I recall, all my shots were in and beyond the service line (except for one where I stopped my follow through--that one landed short).

And you're right about me leaning back. I'll definitely keep working at it. Just a month ago I couldn't even fathom hitting off my front leg, but I'm getting closer. Thanks for the advice!

 

[krz]

Is it me or did everything go out? I mean it looked like the ball was headed for another country.

Some basic things on the backhand. Bend your knees. You are hitting to straight up. Also, you are hitting while you are leaning back. Center your weight over your front leg as you make contact.

Well if you look at the video most of those balls were comming above his waist or around his waist. Do you really expect him to go down on those balls(haha sry I was thinking of something funny/dirty)? And on the low balls he clearly is bending his legs.

btw... your forehand and backhand do seem to resemble feds A LOT lol but hey if you need someone to imitate might as well be him.

 

[AngeloDS]

Your backhand and forehand are the same as mine (racquet too, I play with the wilson PS 6.0 85 =) ) heh; however, you will find the greatest shot in your arsenal on the backhand is a subtle change instead of "snapping the wrist" keep the wrist very firm throughout the stroke and don't let the racquet head drop down after the shot. It's a nice shot to have in your arsenal with such a subtle change.

On the forehand, you need to swing much faster =).

However, it'd be nice to see the whole entire reel rather than a highlight reel =p. And with much more movement (more movement left to right and forward and back).

 

[boojay]

btw... your forehand and backhand do seem to resemble feds A LOT lol but hey if you need someone to imitate might as well be him.

My sentiments exactly. I mean, the way he hits the ball, it's like there was never meant to be any other way to hit the ball--it's simply the most natural and most ethereal looking movement I've ever seen and my brain tells me that's how it should be done.

Your backhand and forehand are the same as mine (racquet too, I play with the wilson PS 6.0 85 =) ) heh; however, you will find the greatest shot in your arsenal on the backhand is a subtle change instead of "snapping the wrist" keep the wrist very firm throughout the stroke and don't let the racquet head drop down after the shot. It's a nice shot to have in your arsenal with such a subtle change.

On the forehand, you need to swing much faster =).

However, it'd be nice to see the whole entire reel rather than a highlight reel =p. And with much more movement (more movement left to right and forward and back).

You mean hitting flat? Cuz I can, but we were just rallying. If I swung any faster on my forehand, my partner wouldn't be able to return it lol. And eventually I'll post something more complete. Keep in mind I'm still trying to fine tune and discover things so I'm far from where I intend to be and you'll only ever see my full movement in a match. I never go all out in a rally.

 

[boojay]

Your backhand and forehand are the same as mine (racquet too, I play with the wilson PS 6.0 85 =) ) heh;

oh, and P.S. do you have a clip of yourself playing? I'd like to see how similar we are out of curiosity.

 

[shindemac]

It's not a bad stroke, and you're well on your way, but the backhand looked shaky to me. I have a feeling strong players can break it down rather easily.

But nice looking strokes.

Boojey, nice. What happens when your bh gets attacked?

 

[Jay27]

It's not a bad stroke, and you're well on your way, but the backhand looked shaky to me. I have a feeling strong players can break it down rather easily.

But nice looking strokes.

I agree with this. I like your backhand, but it looks as if you're not hitting the ball out in front enough. I think a little more racket preparation and hitting the ball more out in front will help you achieve that next level. Keep up the good work, though.

 

[boojay]

Boojey, nice. What happens when your bh gets attacked?

Then I'd probably revert back to my old way of hitting my backhand. Like I had mentioned earlier, I have a very strong backhand return (stronger than my forehand) so I handle pace very well on the backhand side, but I don't like THAT way that I hit the ball. I'm very off balance (moreso than now anyway) and am almost falling over when I hit my old backhand.

I've also developed a much better slice recently too, so that's another option.

 

[boojay]

I agree with this. I like your backhand, but it looks as if you're not hitting the ball out in front enough. I think a little more racket preparation and hitting the ball more out in front will help you achieve that next level. Keep up the good work, though.

Certainly good advice, but if you look closely, I'm actually hitting very far in front.

Thanks.

 

[dima]

oh, and P.S. do you have a clip of yourself playing? I'd like to see how similar we are out of curiosity.

Never, if he posts a video of himself he won't be able to post on this section anymore LOL

 

[rosewell4ever]

Boomjay.cool shots...was thinking of getting a p85... what is your string setup by the way?if you don't mind me asking

 

[boojay]

Boomjay.cool shots...was thinking of getting a p85... what is your string setup by the way?if you don't mind me asking

Thanks. I have four racquets strung with Luxilon Ace or Wilson Sensation ranging from 50 to 53 lbs. My fave string is Ace. I'm only using Sensation because I ran out of Ace.