Short Angle Backhands (One-Hander)

[TennsDog]

I have a good one-handed backhand and I can get good depth consistantly. I just have a hard time hitting the short cross-court dipper. I can hit this shot well with two hands, but I haven't yet figured out the secret to ripping it with one hand. I know the basic physics of how to do it and what needs to be done, but does anyone here have any specific tips that they do or think about to get the ball to land short?

 

[Ryoma]

First, you need a short ball with angle.
Second, hit closer to the over the net (the distance the ball travel over the net), way out in front. More like intercepting.

 

[Spindarella]

I used to have a lot of trouble with this shot as well. You are probably going to have to meet the ball earlier than you are initially comfortable with. The further forward you make contact, the easier it will be to hit the angle.

 

[35ft6]

I know a guy who can rip one handed dippers pretty well. When he does it he has a windshield wiper follow through and he keeps his elbows slightly bent. I would practice by dropping balls about 6 feet away from the net and doing some drop hits. Don't let the balls bounce that high, make sure at its highest point it's still a few inches below net level. Under these conditions, you're going to "see" that you need to hit with the windshield wiper follow through in order to generate enough racket head speed to get the ball over the net with enough top spin to make it dip back down. I would post videos if I was more ambitious.

 

[Slazenger]

What I do is hit the outside of the ball. It's the same backhand swing.
When I don't have time to set up, e.g if I'm on the run and my opponent is rushing the net, I do a wrist flick. If I do it open stance I get more extreme angles.

 

[supersmash]

I grab a bunch of balls and do stationary backhands from about the service line area. Hit them to where you want them to go and slowly back up.

 

[stormholloway]

Hit it earlier and follow through high and to the right of the body. Where your racquet ends up is very indicative of where the ball will go on this shot.

 

[pham4313]

come over the ball more and finish up high (not to the side). Dont look for pace but aim just about a foot or so over the net..hope this helps

 

[papa]

Try not to let the ball fall too much before you hit it. The lower the ball gets, the more difficult it is to hit the angles.

 

[TennsDog]

Try not to let the ball fall too much before you hit it. The lower the ball gets, the more difficult it is to hit the angles.

That would be easier of my comfort zone for the one-hander weren't at knee-waist level.

 

[fastdunn]

At first I thought I had to turn my shoulder more to the right(righty I am)
because I'm going for an extreme cross court angle.

But now I hit this dipper without turning my shoulder much.
I look like I'm going for down the line. But my wrist is relaxed
and tad more flicks. My wrist angle is not that square (to angle
it) and thus it has less pace but lots of top spin. I also hit tad
late.

I accidentally developed this shot and not sure if it's right way.
But This whole thing makes a greatly disguised shot.
(because my shoulder looks like I'm going down the line
and then last split second flick the arm. slow but sharpely
angled dipper).

 

[Trinity TC]

That would be easier of my comfort zone for the one-hander weren't at knee-waist level.

Use your opponents spin against him or her by hitting the ball on the rise. The other good news is that means the ball will always be in your comfort zone. Like fastdunn says, you don't have to turn your shoulder too much.

 

[LuckyR]

What I do is hit the outside of the ball. It's the same backhand swing.
When I don't have time to set up, e.g if I'm on the run and my opponent is rushing the net, I do a wrist flick. If I do it open stance I get more extreme angles.

What he said ^^^^ and in addition drop the head of the racquet in your prep then whip it up and over in an exagerated topspin motion (think Borg) also since you can do it 2handed, set up 2 handed then release your left hand before you start moving the racquet head forward.

 

[TennsDog]

What he said ^^^^ and in addition drop the head of the racquet in your prep then whip it up and over in an exagerated topspin motion (think Borg) also since you can do it 2handed, set up 2 handed then release your left hand before you start moving the racquet head forward.

Good thought on the two-hander thing, but it works with my two-hander because my left hand does most of the work (almost all, really). In a two-handed backhand, my wrists both move before and after contact, but with my one-hander, I keep my wrist firm all the way through contact.

 

[papa]

That would be easier of my comfort zone for the one-hander weren't at knee-waist level.

Yeah, I know but the more the ball drops, the harder it is to grab the sharp angles. Well, you certainly know this but you see so many club players who let the ball drop into their "comfort zone" on a high percentage of their shots.
The little extra in net height along with working with shorter distances does create serious problems when it comes to sharp angles.

 

[jackson vile]

I have a good one-handed backhand and I can get good depth consistantly. I just have a hard time hitting the short cross-court dipper. I can hit this shot well with two hands, but I haven't yet figured out the secret to ripping it with one hand. I know the basic physics of how to do it and what needs to be done, but does anyone here have any specific tips that they do or think about to get the ball to land short?

You can hit is low on the string bed or you can position for the shot and hit flater with more spin if that makes sense.

The thing is IMO you have to do this with a mid to lower ball, other wise it is not going to happen