The tennis backhand is one of my favorite shots in tennis.
I love the feel of getting my racket back and smashing the ball across the court.
It is fun in that there are multiple ways to hit a backhand including a one handed backhand or a two handed backhand.
I prefer using two hands.
In this post we will go over everything you need to know about how hit the best tennis backhand you can so you can smash your opponent.
Here is a quick run down of what we will be covering:
- Tennis One Handed Backhand Tips
- One handed backhand grip…Which one should you use?
- Tennis Backhand footwork
- Tennis Two Handed Backhand Tips
- How to Improve Your Tennis Backhand Technique
- Best Tennis Backhand Drills for Beginners
- Frequently Asked Questions about Tennis Backhands
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Tennis One Handed Backhand Tips
Are you wondering how to hit a one handed backhand?
The one handed backhand requires strength (try these tennis workouts to get stronger) and lots of practice as it does not come naturally to most people.
Many professional players use it and it can definitely give you an edge if you learn to hit it.
One Handed Backhand Grip…Which should you use?
It seems that there are a few different grips that can work well for a one handed backhand.
The semi western grip is a popular option that should allow you to get some power and spin on your shot.
Other grips that you can consider for your one handed backhand would be Eastern and modified Eastern.
You can read more about the different tennis grips HERE.
Tennis Backhand Footwork
Having the right footwork will help you hit a better backhand because it allows you to get to where you need to be and fully prepare for the shot.
You will want to try around with different ways of getting to your shot in order to see what works best for you.
A popular step in tennis footwork is to simple move laterally with a “shuffle”.
It may feel a bit awkward at first but in some instances it may help you get to the ball quicker and into a position that allows you to focus on your form and getting your racket back.
Here are some of the best tennis footwork drills to try and improve your footwork on the court which will allow you more time to prepare for each shot.
Tennis Two Handed Backhand Tips
One of the first things you may be wondering is what is the best grip to use with a two handed backhand?
Although there may be different opinions out there one of the common choices is using a chopper grip while cradling the top of your racket with a semi western grip using your other hand.
Another important part of hitting a slamming backhand is to make sure you have your body alignment correct.
Once you get where you need to be on the court you then need to get your racket back and shoulder turned towards the net.
The sooner you get your racket back…the better.
The last thing you need to be aware of is making sure to follow through on your backhand shot.
This means you bring the racket all the ways through the swing and up over your shoulder.
This will help guide the ball in the direction.
How to Improve Your Tennis Backhand Technique
There are a few different ways that you can improve your tennis backhand technique.
One of my favorite ways is to get feedback from your tennis coach or other knowledgeable tennis players.
Have them watch you play during a tennis match or practice and take notes on how your form, footwork, and overall technique looks when you are playing.
Then sit down and discuss what they saw and make a plan.
Should you focus on your footwork so you can get into position better?
Are you holding your tennis racket correctly?
All of these small things need to be in alignment in order to have great backhand technique.
Another way you can improve your technique is by recording a video of yourself to see if you notice anything that needs to practiced more.
Self reflection can be one of the best tools to grow as a tennis player.
If you are still looking for more information on how to hit the perfect backhand it may also be helpful to watch and review other players.
You can go and watch your team mates play or you can search online to see how the professionals hit their backhand.
Search for your favorite tennis player and see what you can learn from them.
Here is a good example of how a professional tennis player hits their backhand.
Best Tennis Backhand Drills for Beginners
One of the best ways that you can improve your tennis backhand is by incorporating backhand tennis drills into your practice.
Tennis drills allow us to really focus on one specific stroke and will help strengthen the muscles needed for that specific movement.
Let’s take a look at a few easy backhand drills that you can start with.
Direct Feed Backahnd
This is about as easy as it gets but it is very effective.
Have another player or coach feed you balls to your backhand side.
Focus on making sure that you are getting to the ball efficiently with your footwork as well as using good form to execute the shot.
Surprise Feed Backhand Drill
This drill is a bit different than the first on in that they will be hitting still to your backhand side but they will be aiming for different depths.
This will make the drill feel a bit more like a real tennis match and keep you on your toes.
You need to be able to hit your backhand whether it be for a short volley or a long ground stroke.
Practice Your Backhand Without a Partner
If you don’t have a partner you can still do thing so strengthen your backhand.
One of my favorite ways to do this is by simply finding a wall or backboard to hit against.
Hit as may backhands in a row as you can and play a game with yourself and count how many you get each time!
You can find more ideas on how to practice tennis alone here.
There are many ways to improve your tennis backhand by either strengthening your muscles, performing tennis drills, or working on your footwork.
Either record yourself or have another tennis player watch you hit in order to see what you should focus on to improve your backhand.
The backhand is important because you use this shot very frequently as it allows you to hit the ball on your non forehand side.
Having a powerful and consistent backhand will allow you to return more shots and win more points in any tennis match.
You can practice your tennis backhand by using tennis drills with other players or by yourself.
Having your couch or tennis pro feed you balls to your backhand side can be a very simple but effective way to practice and improve your backhand.
If you are practicing tennis alone you will want to use a wall or backboard and focus on hitting repeatedly to your backhand side.
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