Playing Short Balls with Two-Handed Backhands

I was working with an adult student who had not played regularly since high school, and was looking to get back into the game. The player had a very effective topspin, two-handed backhand, popular with many high school players.

But he also had the same problem that many young players with a two-hander have: each time he received a short ball, he bailed on his topspin stroke, changed his grip, and hit a weak slice backhand that often went out.

One of the first things I told him was that if I was going to play him in a match, I would set up points by hitting balls deep and wide to his forehand, then hitting short and crosscourt to his backhand, which I could then pound, or watch sail long.

The good news? We were able to help him not only eliminate his need to change grips and hit slice backhands on short balls, but helped him to turn short balls to his backhand into shots he could hit as winners.

And we did it without changing his stroke!

How did we do it?

Most errors at the recreational level are made with the feet, not the hands. Poor positioning is reason so many players with otherwise sound strokes hit poor shots.

The player I was working with was addressing short backhands too close to his body, because the angle he was taking to the ball was incorrect. By getting him to examine his footwork and positioning for short backhands, I was able to show him that he didn’t need to change grips or swings, but to change his footwork.

Part of this change included better racquet preparation (the initial shoulder turn) prior to moving to the ball, a key mechanic which is also explained in the article.

Another problem for players with two-handed backhands is that they are often basliners who are not willing to move too far forward, and so they hit balls from a position that allows them to get back easily (and therefore precludes the player from moving into a shot).

I worked with this adult student on getting into better position on short backhands, and within minutes he was ripping short balls for winners. Because footwork is so critical in tennis, there’s no time during the season when a review is not helpful.

Click here to read the article, Win More Points With Your Feet, and check out the related skill-building drill for ways to work on taking advantage of or improving weak backhands caused by short balls.