Returning player looking for feedback on my 2hbh (video)

[StopAndPoint]

Hi all,

I used to play tennis 2-3x a week growing up as a kid, it's about 10 years later and I'm trying to get back into it. Picked up a babolat pure drive and been hitting with my partner (she's much better than me) a few times a week for the last month.

Having some trouble getting the backhand back to consistency, so I asked her to feed me some balls and took a video. Any feedback would be great, I've watched it a couple times and not sure what to look for. Some of them felt right and go over and others are just netted.

Here's the video:

. The last few (from 2:40) have some where I try to take it higher, and I think that's a particular point of weakness.

My best guess is that it's about where I contact the ball: when my footwork is good and I'm ready quickly, I make contact in the right position, out in front and to the left. But when I'm slow/late then I take it too far back and it's all over.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Deleted member 771407]

Higher balls are always harder, the best solution imo is to either move in and take the ball early on the rise, or move back and it hit when it's going down. When you have to hit it high, simply change the contact point to higher and a little bit back, and don't forget to still up low to high a bit (brush the ball).

My main comment about your bh, but I'm no expert, is to try to be a bit more relaxed, to get more easy power. Maybe hold your racquet slightly less tightly.
And try to prepare and coil even earlier.

 

[ballmachineguy]

I have one idea for improvement, but since I don’t hit a two-hander, I am keeping it in a sealed envelope. I will open it after a consensus is reached and then I will reveal whether I am right. I’ve hired an independent auditing firm, so I won’t be cheating.

 

[Nellie]

You have a lot of tension in that stroke, and I would suggest a couple of things for now - (1) step forward on the rear (left) leg during the follow through so you do not end in such a twisted position, and (2) prepare the racquet higher on higher balls so you are not swinging with such a steep swing path and contacting the ball. I would also suggest trying to decrease the tension in your hands when swinging

 

[KingBugsy]

Hi Stop,

Number one tip: Bring a broom to the court! You are asking for a serious injury there! My friend just slipped on some leaves that were on the court and tore his Achilles heel! Surgery required. No tennis for many many months. Not worth the injury! Sweep the court. Looks like a beautiful area you are in. Somewhere in Europe ? Very nice.

Best of health to you and friend!

KB

 

[travlerajm]

Hi all,

I used to play tennis 2-3x a week growing up as a kid, it's about 10 years later and I'm trying to get back into it. Picked up a babolat pure drive and been hitting with my partner (she's much better than me) a few times a week for the last month.

Having some trouble getting the backhand back to consistency, so I asked her to feed me some balls and took a video. Any feedback would be great, I've watched it a couple times and not sure what to look for. Some of them felt right and go over and others are just netted.

Here's the video:

. The last few (from 2:40) have some where I try to take it higher, and I think that's a particular point of weakness.

My best guess is that it's about where I contact the ball: when my footwork is good and I'm ready quickly, I make contact in the right position, out in front and to the left. But when I'm slow/late then I take it too far back and it's all over.

Thanks in advance!

It looks like you are rotating well, but not really transferring your weight forward though the ball. The latter is required for good consistency and power.

Focus more on extending your left arm forward through the shot, which will keep your momentum going forward longer instead coming across too early.

 

[StopAndPoint]

Thanks all for the replies!

Higher balls are always harder, the best solution imo is to either move in and take the ball early on the rise, or move back and it hit when it's going down. When you have to hit it high, simply change the contact point to higher and a little bit back, and don't forget to still up low to high a bit (brush the ball).

My main comment about your bh, but I'm no expert, is to try to be a bit more relaxed, to get more easy power. Maybe hold your racquet slightly less tightly.
And try to prepare and coil even earlier.

Good point, I think my footwork + late preparation is the real problem here, as I find the shot is much smoother when the ball happens to be in the right position. Glad to hear that higher balls are always harder and it's not just me.

I have one idea for improvement, but since I don’t hit a two-hander, I am keeping it in a sealed envelope. I will open it after a consensus is reached and then I will reveal whether I am right. I’ve hired an independent auditing firm, so I won’t be cheating.

Time to open that envelope...?

You have a lot of tension in that stroke, and I would suggest a couple of things for now - (1) step forward on the rear (left) leg during the follow through so you do not end in such a twisted position, and (2) prepare the racquet higher on higher balls so you are not swinging with such a steep swing path and contacting the ball. I would also suggest trying to decrease the tension in your hands when swinging

You and others have pointed out the tension in the stroke, I didn't realise it was present but will try to work on it. Also very good point on stepping forward on the left leg, watching the video it does seem like an awkward position I end up in without that. As an aside I was wondering if 2 hourly sessions per week is enough to improve on as a recreational player or whether I should push it to 1hr + 2hrs, and a search in this forum turned up that most people seem to play for 10-20 hours/week, so I guess I'm not going anywhere fast!

Hi Stop,

Number one tip: Bring a broom to the court! You are asking for a serious injury there! My friend just slipped on some leaves that were on the court and tore his Achilles heel! Surgery required. No tennis for many many months. Not worth the injury! Sweep the court. Looks like a beautiful area you are in. Somewhere in Europe ? Very nice.

Best of health to you and friend!

KB

Hah thank you for that! I am in the UK, and it's a valid point you make. I don't know about a broom but I'll make a point of moving the leaves off the court beforehand, surgery is not something I'm after.

It looks like you are rotating well, but not really transferring your weight forward though the ball. The latter is required for good consistency and power.

Focus more on extending your left arm forward through the shot, which will keep your momentum going forward longer instead coming across too early.

I had just read about arming the ball before this so I was making a point of trying to uncoil and not arm the backhand, looks like I have some way to go in getting that to work. Thanks for the advice!

 

[ballmachineguy]

Time to open that envelope...?

“The envelope, please!”
You haven’t received too many replies. Hard to get a consensus with so few. I am no two-hander guru, but I was in the same boat as travlerajm. Hard to tell everything from behind. I saw the finish over the shoulder which is great, but it looked like you just put it there. I didn’t think you were hitting/extending through the shot in a way that would force you to finish over your shoulder. Drive the left shoulder to your target. Good luck!