When do you step in for 1 handed backhand?

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Say unit turn is completed and you have decided to go with closed stance. When do you step in with the forward foot relative to the ball flight? Too early would cause problems reading the ball path and too late obviously is bad. The ball might turn after the bounce too.

So what is the right time?
 

Shroud

Talk Tennis Guru
Whenever you need to to hit about a 1ft out in front. And certainly you can adjust to the bounce in mid flight?
 

Fintft

G.O.A.T.
Whenever you need to to hit about a 1ft out in front. And certainly you can adjust to the bounce in mid flight?

The most recent coaching advice I got was not to hit too much in front, but try to hit in line with my feet, to minimize pushing the ball...

Another coach had told me in the past, to draw (in my mind) some kind of a triangle (with the sides about 1 -1.5ft) from the point where the ball will bounce, perpendicular to you and you to its right side. That's where you should aim to step to, that right corner, closest to you.

The when part, you should(if I remember correctly) aim to step in the corner of the triangle, as the ball bounces.
 
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sureshs

Bionic Poster
Whenever you need to to hit about a 1ft out in front. And certainly you can adjust to the bounce in mid flight?

The person I am playing with now once a week can move the ball into the body from the backhand side, and away from the body towards the sidelines with a sharp angle. That has what caused my intuition to fail (the intuition which was honed with lesser players hitting without much spin).

If I could "certainly" adjust to the bounce in mid flight, I wouldn't have created the thread. I need some specifics before reaching that new level when it will become automatic.

This person was #1 singles in high school not very long ago.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
The most recent coaching advice I got was not to hit too much in front, but try to hit in line with my feet, to minimize pushing the ball...

Another coach had told me in the past, to draw (in my mind) some kind of a triangle (with the sides about 1 -1.5ft) from the point where the ball will bounce, perpendicular to you and you to its right side. That's where you should aim to step to, that right corner, closest to you.

The when part, you should(if I remember correctly) aim to step in the corner of the triangle, as the ball bounces.

I cannot visualize this. What are the 3 points of this triangle?
 

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
If you see the ball spinning, you need to stay on your toes even as you set up. That's because spin adds a very large element of uncertainty to where the ball goes (sideways or hop or slide). You should not plant, but try to estimate where the ball will end up, which is why you 'stay on your toes.' Once you get comfortable reading the spin, then perhaps semi-plant.
 

Shroud

Talk Tennis Guru
The most recent coaching advice I got was not to hit too much in front, but try to hit in line with my feet, to minimize pushing the ball...

Another coach had told me in the past, to draw (in my mind) some kind of a triangle (with the sides about 1 -1.5ft) from the point where the ball will bounce, perpendicular to you and you to its right side. That's where you should aim to step to, that right corner, closest to you.

The when part, you should(if I remember correctly) aim to step in the corner of the triangle, as the ball bounces.
With my extreme grip I am probably out in front more than a traditional grip but looking at my vids on normal balls I do just what your coach is saying I think.
 

Shroud

Talk Tennis Guru
The person I am playing with now once a week can move the ball into the body from the backhand side, and away from the body towards the sidelines with a sharp angle. That has what caused my intuition to fail (the intuition which was honed with lesser players hitting without much spin).

If I could "certainly" adjust to the bounce in mid flight, I wouldn't have created the thread. I need some specifics before reaching that new level when it will become automatic.

This person was #1 singles in high school not very long ago.
You answered you own question. You just need more play to adapt. A 110" helps and the more you see it the more you can judge the spin and get used to it.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
If you see the ball spinning, you need to stay on your toes even as you set up. That's because spin adds a very large element of uncertainty to where the ball goes (sideways or hop or slide). You should not plant, but try to estimate where the ball will end up, which is why you 'stay on your toes.' Once you get comfortable reading the spin, then perhaps semi-plant.

Thanks. But till what time do you wait before you go closed stance?

Dealing with sideways movement after bounce is something no coach ever seems to discuss. To listen to them in person or video is to think that the ball has a fixed direction and all you have to do is to setup for that direction. They never discuss the change of direction.
 
P

PittsburghDad

Guest
You hit the ball in front of your shoulder. Before it gets to your feet. Everytime. What do you mean by pushing the ball? If you're too far in front you will frame a ball you're trying to hit CC.

OP, if you're thinking of "when" to step, you're thinking of the wrong thing. Hit the ball out in front, trying to feel a great rythym and whipping racket head. Your body will figure out when to step. Get a ball machine. Or a tennis valet.
 
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PittsburghDad

Guest
Because what you're doing describing isn't real. Read the spin you'll know where the ball is going if you're fooled by the bounce, you're not paying attention.
 

Fintft

G.O.A.T.
You hit the ball in front of your shoulder. Before it gets to your feet. Everytime. What do you mean by pushing the ball? If you're too far in front you will frame a ball you're trying to hit CC.

If you are talking to me, the point was to not hit too much in front (of your shoulder), as you end up pushing it (sometimes).
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Swing speed is different for every player, and every player has fast and slower swings.
You step when it's the right time to prepare and drive into your 1hbh. A slice swing can be completed quicker, so when late, you can slice.
Also, the incoming ball is different with different opponents. Some moonballer hit really slow shots, while Berdyk and DelPo don't give anyone time to relax and set up.
Science and engineering is great for the desk, but when playing tennis, practical EXPERIENCE is the only teacher.
 
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PittsburghDad

Guest
If you are talking to me, the point was to not hit too much in front (of your shoulder), as you end up pushing it (sometimes).

"Pushing" the ball is more a function of swing speed. Once you've finished unloading forward and the racket is accelerating forward it should keep accelerating. You can certainly make bad contact by being too far in front, resulting in yanking the ball too far CC or most likely framing it or driving it into the net because you've already closed the racket face. But thats a timing issue that repitition will fix. I'm lucky enough to see a SICK OHBH hit daily. When I think of pushing its a weak shot that comes off hard to the right. More a function of getting jammed because the ball gets too deep into your stance. The opposite of hitting out front.

The way I personally think OHBH should be taught you cant really push. That racket is ten oz or so. You can rip that thing with crazy racket head speed. After that its a function of takeback and figuring out your contact point. Over tens of thousands of reps. Which is definitely a foot (or more) out front. NEVER deep in your stance. High speed video from the pros bears this out as well. Ball's out front of that lead foot.
 

Chotobaka

Hall of Fame
A good place to practice "finding" your contact point is at the net (high side close to the post). Try a variety of positions and distances while swinging up into the net. It does not take a lot of repetition and is much better than shadow swinging at air since there is actual contact and feedback. No delicate swings, make real contact. You will quickly get a feel for spacing to the ball based on the feedback of contact with the net. Easy to translate this to hitting live balls immediately afterwards. Guys that are squeamish about making some contact with the net cord with their racquets should pass on this one.
 

RajS

Semi-Pro
@Suresh: When I was working on my 2-hander, I was initially hitting open stance (don't know why) but later decided to step in 'cos all the pros were doing it. You kind of space yourself with the left foot, and step in with the right foot as you are completing the back swing. Once the front foot is planted, you swing forward. If you are alert, you can adjust for the ball breaking one way or the other after the bounce, by adjusting your last step - but a little anticipation does not hurt! Probably the 1-hander is similar...
 
You want to catch each ball far enough in front of you where you can hit the ball with the sweet spot of your racket. Also, you should step into the ball instead of backing up.
 

ARKustom93

Professional
Say unit turn is completed and you have decided to go with closed stance. When do you step in with the forward foot relative to the ball flight? Too early would cause problems reading the ball path and too late obviously is bad. The ball might turn after the bounce too.

So what is the right time?

You're a step late, so to speak, in your thinking. Timing the unit turn correctly is the base for all that follows.

 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Hope you guys caught my revolutionary high-tech alternative to spinning rackets or flipping a coin before a match (in the Tournaments section). Download a random number generator app to your phone and set it to uniform distribution between 1 and 100. Ask the caller to predict if the next number will be below or above (or equal to) 50. Press the button and generate the number and check.

That is the way to go.
 
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