Off bh return

[kickingbird]

Does anybody else find this shot hard to make? When I play doubles on the Deuce side and the serve comes to my bh, I often want to (and have to) play an off bh crosscourt but find it very difficult to execute. I'm right handed and I play a 2h bh. I often frame the ball and I think it's because I'm trying to hit it too far infront of my body. I can hit Xcourt bh returns with no problems but it's the off bh return that I shank quite often.

What do I have to do? Take the ball much later? Turn my shoulders more? Please help!

 

[Rickson]

Off backhand? You've been listening to Patrick McEnroe too much. To hit an effective inside out backhand, make contact with the right side of the ball. The 2hbh is usually executed with an open stance so close your stance more and aim for the opponent's deuce side.

 

[kickingbird]

Haha, sorry about that Rickson... what is the difference between an off stroke and an inside out stroke anyway?

Thanks for the tip on hitting with the open stance! Will try it ASAP.

 

[JohnThomas1]

The off backhand is older slang for the inside out shot Ricko. Way back it was called that all the time. BB told me that footwork wise one almost has to run into the ball kickingbird. Attack it on the diagonal. Another posibility is that you might be opening up on the shot causing the shank. Get the shoulder around and hit thru it might be a good tip.