The Backhand is Easy to be Hard .....

The best way to think about a backhand is for right-handers to visualize themselves as a switch hitter and bat left-handed (Lefties visualize batting right-handed). Now, take your non-racquethand off the grip of the racquet and you have the starting position for the backhand stroke.

Another old trick is to visualize throwing a Frisbee (well, I guess it's not that old because Frisbees haven't been around that long). That elbow extension is what creates a perfect backhand.A number of years ago, the old coach was asked to comment on a filming of stroke mechanics. I was amazed to see that when the film was run backwards, the forehand in reverse looked exactly like the backhand. There is no mystery about the backhand stroke except that it is often difficult to reverse the brain process.

Starting Postition - Like the forehand, students should set-up with good racquet height and depth. The lead shoulder should be slightly lower than the rear shoulder and the shoulders should turn level when swinging, not up and down. The flatter a player hits the ball, the more control they will have.

Practicing - Drop the ball with an underhand toss, turn away toward the back left corner and then turn into the ball. Make sure you stand around the receiving line for this drill and stay about six feet away from the side wall. The key phrase here, like the forehand stroke, is out and around, not up and down.

I recommend practicing sets of 10 and charting your success. Use those percentages as a gauge of your improvement. Strive to reach 80% good shots in each set. A good shot would be one that is hit low and down the line.Things that make practice easy to be hard - if the ball hits that sidewall, the contact point s too far back (away from the front wall). If the ball goes cross-co9urt, then it was hit too far forward (toward the front wall). If the ball skips, the shoulders were tilted down and if the ball is hit high then the shoulders were tilte up too high. If the ball goes straight in and comes straight back (a good shot) then the shoulders were level and the ball was contacted at the inner thigh of the front leg.

Like the forehand, out and around, not up and down. Did I say that before? That's because a player can't say it too much. Try this and happy killshots will be part of your game.

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