Tennis backhand: top tips and techniques

Whether it’s your forehand or backhand, your grip is the foundation of a good shot, and one drill that will pay dividends is simply swapping between your chosen grips. 

There are a number of grips that a coach might suggest for a good one-handed backhand. To cut through all the terminology (continental grip, western grip, eastern grip etc), try this simple set up:

•    Put the head of your racket under your weaker arm with the handle pointing forward;
•    Reach across with your stronger hand and pull it out. 
•    The end result is something like a handshake grip. 
•    That’s it!

You can also get there by grasping your racket – with the face horizontal - with your palm flat across the top of the handle, before revolving the racket by a quarter turn towards your weaker hand.  

It took a while for the two-handed backhand to catch on, but with two hands, it’s much easier to produce a powerful shot - it’s also easier to put top-spin on the ball.

Despite the advantages of playing a two-handed backhand, you should continue to work on your one-handed shot. You’ll need it for shots on the run and high smashes, and if you’re reluctant to use your backhand or have a notably weak one, that’s the shot any good opponent will make you play given the chance.

It’s natural to think that a powerful shot comes from the arms, but you don’t see many pro tennis players with Popeye forearms, and there’s a reason why: real power comes from the bottom half of the body.

A backhand shot – played with either one or two hands – requires you to harness the power of your leg muscles by making a good turn during the shot. 

As soon as you know a shot is coming to your left side (for right-handers), you should turn your body to the side and watch the ball come to you over your right shoulder: it’s the unwinding of this turn that’ll produce the power.

Just remember, shoulder, waist and hip motion is far more important than a high-speed whip of the arm.

Tip: keep your turn going into a strong follow through, sending the arms after the ball before turning back to a straight-on stance. 

Where possible, a walk through the shot will add even more power.

You’ll need to be well set, and it will be much easier in response to a higher bounce, but a step through the shot will make for a powerful change of momentum.

Cricketers will have an advantage here, as a good walking backhand isn’t far off a front foot drive played with your weaker hand! 

The backhand slice – the undercut, back-spinning shot - is the ultimate weapon to have in your arsenal.

A backhand slice can bring extra accuracy to an attacking shot, add swerve to a return, and send an opponent scampering into the net by taking all the speed off their attacking shot. It’s the easiest way to lob, and if you can learn to disguise it, you’re going to have a really killer shot.  

Key things to remember when practising your backhand slice:

•    Shoulders – rotate your body and raise your racquet at approximately shoulder height. Use your weaker hand to assist the turn.
•    Bend your knees – this will allow you to hit through and ‘underneath’ the ball.
•    Swing all the way through – swing smoothly, high to low and transfer your weight through the ball. Remember, here, a long stoke is key.
•    Use it effectively – a slice isn’t a go-to shot, it should be used tactically and effectively – put your opponents in difficult positions or slow the pace down when you’re on the difficult end of a rally.

The best way to get good at a difficult skill is to repeat it. Again and again.

•    If you have a patient partner or coach who will toss a ball for you, you can start off by playing the shot from a pre-set starting position.
•    Once you’ve mastered that, give yourself a bit more space and step into the shot.
•    Finally, start practising your backhand from a realistic bouncing starting position. 

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