Tennis Backhand Programs & Playlists

Carlos Santos Bosque was Carlos Alcaraz's first coach, working with him daily from age 5 to 12 and shaping the foundations that made him a future Grand Slam champion. He developed an all-court style built on variety, touch, net aggression, and creative shot-making, underpinned by elite footwork and mental resilience.

Over eight years, Santos trained Alcaraz in every facet: explosive groundstrokes with natural feel, the drop shot as a daily weapon, disguised slice, aggressive returns, and pressure scenarios from match points to tiebreakers. He fostered trust, joy, and freedom, letting creativity flourish while building a player who loved the game and thrived under pressure in any style.

Michal Kaznowski coached Iga Swiatek from age 10 to 16, shaping her into one of tennis's greatest players through technical expertise focused on speed, footwork, and strength. His methods combined daily Theraband training for elbow positioning with active preparation drills featuring small, precise steps that became hallmarks of Swiatek's explosive power.

His CoachLife series reveals the psychological insights and zone training techniques that built Swiatek's remarkable forehand power and shot consistency. These proven methods offer coaches and players a comprehensive guide to replicating elite-level performance through systematic technical and mental development.

With over 10,000 hours coaching Nick Kyrgios, Todd Larkham has been instrumental in shaping Nick's career from age nine. As a player, Todd competed in 18 Grand Slams with a career-high ranking of 136, giving him deep insight into what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Todd's CoachLife content includes detailed forehand techniques, highly effective kick serve instruction, and research on pathways to breaking into the top 100. His lessons combine professional experience with practical drills designed to elevate your game.

Joel Myers is a USPTA Elite Professional and former Australian college standout widely regarded as one of the top 10 coaches in the world. Based in San Diego, he works daily with elite juniors and consults with top global players, blending deep technical knowledge with a practical, modern approach that works at every level.

His content covers the first two shots that decide most points, return targets, grip setups, slice technique, court positioning, and smart approach strategies — always with clear, high-percentage solutions. Joel emphasizes performance-based goals over results, and his serve and return drills are among the most creative anywhere, building match pressure and advanced tactics players can use immediately.

Misha Kouznetsov recounts the remarkable journey of Frances Tiafoe, from living at a tennis club to ascending as one of the world's top tennis players. His content delves deep into the backstory of their countless hours on the court and their collective aspirations to compete among the elite. Misha provides an insightful breakdown of fundamental forehand and backhand techniques, emphasizing the early development of playing angles before transitioning to crafting powerful strokes.

He offers detailed guidance on drills and techniques that shaped Frances's exceptional touch, drop shots, and overall feel for the game. Misha explains that the secret to developing formidable weapons lies in harnessing power from the hips combined with mastering angles and spins—crucial elements for junior players' growth. Additionally, he shares the intriguing story of securing a billionaire sponsor and the rigorous training regime of six hours daily, where Frances battled relentlessly for every point. This narrative not only highlights Frances's technical skills but also his grit and determination under Kouznetsov's mentorship

Diego Moyano is one of tennis's most distinguished developmental coaches, having guided Tommy Paul, Reilly Opelka, Frances Tiafoe, and Taylor Fritz from juniors into the pros during his 11-year tenure with the USTA. He has also toured with elite players including Coco Gauff, Sloane Stephens, Kevin Anderson, and Fernando Gonzalez.

A former top-130 ATP player and Buenos Aires Open finalist, Diego blends South American footwork intensity, French technical precision from 17 years abroad, and US strategic insights. He currently coaches top juniors globally, sharing expertise on periodization, the 64-point rule, and developing world-class serves and forehands.

Recognized as one of the most adept transitional coaches in WTA history, Michael Joyce has notably propelled Maria Sharapova, Jessie Pegula, and Ashlyn Kruger from their junior beginnings to the pinnacle of tennis. With a 20-year tenure as a touring coach, Joyce has collaborated with Victoria Azarenka, Sofia Kenin, and Genie Bouchard, while achieving a top 60 global ranking as a player with victories over top 10 opponents.

Michael's CoachLife offerings showcase innovative techniques like adjustable net targets and the reverse forehand used by Sharapova, Nadal, and Sampras. His content includes vital insights on tennis parenting, the Pete Sampras development method, and comprehensive serve return masterclasses, blending strategic gameplay with targeted technical improvements for players aiming to transcend their current levels.

As the former head coach at IMG Academy, Glenn significantly contributed to the development of numerous national and international junior champions and professional players. He coached Kei Nishikori, a former world number 4, from his junior years through to success on the professional tour, alongside nurturing Michael Mmmoh from the junior ranks to the professional circuit. Glenn himself had a notable career as a professional player, coming close to breaking into the top 100 with a career-high ranking of 119.

His content on CoachLife stands out for its in-depth backhand footwork masterclass, featuring innovative strategies such as utilizing a medicine ball to refine technique and detailing step-by-step transitional patterns for approaching the net. Additionally, Glenn's expertise in serve technique is unparalleled, offering essential insights that are considered among the best in the field. He also delves into the nuances of various slice shots, providing a comprehensive breakdown of the techniques needed to execute these shots effectively, making his CoachLife contributions invaluable for players aiming to improve their game.

Sly Black is one of tennis's greatest developmental coaches, having nurtured 12 world junior champions including Coco Gauff (ages 6-14) and Sloane Stephens (ages 9-13). Four of his protégés reached the top 100, with two winning Grand Slam singles titles.

His philosophy emphasizes fun yet disciplined training with focus on solid technique, range of motion, timing, and transitional play. His CoachLife content covers player development psychology, parent engagement strategies, beginner instruction videos, and essential movement skills like adjustment steps.

Former top 100 ATP player and Italian Davis Cup representative, Vincenzo Santepadre brings elite playing experience and proven coaching expertise. Most notably, he coached Matteo Berrettini from age 14 to the Wimbledon final, guiding him through every developmental stage.

His coaching philosophy focuses on long-term development, point construction, and shot selection over pure technique. Inside his videos, you'll find advanced pattern-building drills, decision-making frameworks, and insights into serve and return patterns—connecting technical, tactical, and mental aspects into one clear system for developing high-performance players.

Patrick Tauma, one of the world's premier tennis coaches, blends French technical brilliance with American adaptability. As former junior coach to Naomi Osaka, he shaped her championship technique and mentality while coaching top juniors and touring professionals worldwide.

His masterclasses break down complex techniques into actionable steps, from slice backhands inspired by Federer to movement patterns used by Djokovic and Osaka. Patrick's balanced approach integrates tactical preparation with technical precision, helping players adapt and reach their full potential.

Jeff Drock, Coco Gauff's junior fitness coach, is credited with building the foundation for her exceptional movement and athleticism. With a master's degree in exercise science and over 20 years of experience, he has worked with numerous pro players and top juniors worldwide, establishing himself as a leading figure in tennis-specific speed, footwork, and conditioning.

Jeff's training emphasizes balanced strength and functional movement tailored to tennis, focusing on agility, positioning, and injury prevention. His program includes tennis-specific drills for efficient court coverage, balanced muscle development to avoid overuse injuries, and bodyweight exercises that build resilience in young players without heavy weights.

Adriano Fuorivia, a renowned Canadian coaching legend, guided Denis Shapovalov from age 12 to 18, transforming him from a player with no national titles to a champion winning junior Grand Slams and famously defeating Rafael Nadal at the Masters Series. His coaching philosophy centers on taking the ball early, creating linear power through leg drive, and developing a wide base for explosiveness.

Fuorivia's content includes brilliant drills using targets to track ball placement, second serve plus one patterns, and turning defense into offense. His famous mantra "I'm not in the business of excuses" was pivotal in developing Denis's mental toughness, pushing players to their limits while teaching attacking tennis and smart court positioning.

Guy Fritz's legacy in tennis coaching is solidified by his unparalleled achievement of developing two top-ten players from the ground up, including his son, Taylor Fritz, from age 2 to 18. Under his guidance, Taylor developed one of the cleanest techniques in the sport's history. Additionally, Guy coached Coco Vandeweghe from ages 8 to 16, further showcasing his expertise in nurturing young talent.

A former professional player with over six decades of experience and thousands of players coached, Guy is celebrated for his mastery in technical shot shaping. His series on CoachLife stands out for offering in-depth technical breakdowns of all shots, accompanied by game-changing tips. Guy's philosophy emphasizes creating the optimal environment for development, focusing on the long-term growth of the game rather than the immediate outcomes of winning or losing. This approach is a testament to his visionary coaching style, which is vividly presented in his content.

Widely regarded as the GOAT of developmental and junior coaching, Robert has played a pivotal role in shaping over five world number 1 players, including legends like Pete Sampras, Maria Sharapova, Lindsay Davenport, and Tracy Austin, along with nurturing well over 50 top 100 players from the age of 10. He was one of the first coaches to popularize the reverse or buggy whip forehand, a technique adopted by some of the greatest players in tennis history. Robert shares the intriguing story of how he integrated this technique into Pete Sampras's game and how it was crucial for Maria Sharapova's Wimbledon victory.

His content on CoachLife delves into his coaching philosophy of hitting the ball as hard as you can with consistency, while cautioning against overusing the body to generate power. He explains the strategy of driving the ball 2 to 2.5 feet over the net, challenging the conventional wisdom that consistency requires hitting 6 feet over with topspin, which he critiques as the "academy ball." Robert's teachings provide unique perspectives that offer valuable insights, particularly for those interested in exploring various approaches to tennis training

Arguably the greatest college tennis coach in history, Peter Smith boasts five NCAA championships with USC and developed two world #1 doubles players. His system contributed to Steve Johnson's top 20 ATP success, and he guided Iva Jovic from age 12 to grand slam junior champion and pro winner at 15.

Peter's philosophy emphasizes aggressive play and self-discovery through clear guidance without unnecessary technical changes. His CoachLife content features elite volleying strategies, doubles drills, and backhand development, plus personalized video analysis and Zoom consultations covering college recruitment and performance optimization.

Aref Jellali is one of the world’s leading junior development coaches, known for building complete players through innovative drills, elite movement patterns and long-term development. Originally from Tunisia, he developed his coaching philosophy under legendary coach Bob Brett before becoming a Head Coach at Tennis Canada, where he coached Bianca Andreescu from ages 9 to 13 and also worked with Victoria Mboko. He now coaches at the Ons Jabeur Academy.

His 38 CoachLife lessons cover strokes, footwork, tactics and player development, with a strong focus on movement, timing and decision-making. Aref believes the drill should teach the player, using purposeful, game-based exercises to develop heavier shots, faster serves, better volleys and complete all-court players.

Dean Hollingworth, MTPS, CSCS, brings over twenty-five years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach, author, and performance consultant. Certified as a Master Tennis Performance Specialist, he has trained players from ITF to ATP and WTA levels, including a Grand Slam champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and a world #1 ranked doubles player.

Dean played a pivotal role in developing former world number 4 Genie Bouchard and continues training elite juniors globally. His comprehensive tennis-specific program includes daily exercises with video demonstrations covering warm-ups, injury prevention, reaction drills, plyometrics, and strength training for all levels.

Piotr Sierzputowski, renowned for guiding Iga Swiatek from 16 years old to a French Open victory, emphasizes variety in training and champions the concept of implicit learning as core to his coaching philosophy. His CoachLife content delves into his belief that racket head speed is what distinguishes good players from great ones, offering unique insights into Swiatek's journey and development under his guidance. Piotr advocates for gamifying practice sessions to mirror match conditions as closely as possible, enhancing the realism and intensity of training.

Showcasing drills that epitomize his coaching ethos, Piotr emphasizes adaptable reaction drills, creative ball feeding, and the pursuit of speed and precision to closely replicate match conditions and foster implicit learning. His comprehensive approach focuses on the importance of diverse drills, adapting to match unpredictability, and varying training intensities to prevent player burnout while encouraging players to find their own solutions on the court. Currently a full-time WTA coach for Shelby Rogers, Piotr continues to work with top Polish juniors, sharing his deep expertise and innovative training methods to shape the next generation of tennis talent

I'm the founder of CoachLife and a former professional player ranked 220 in the world. After my playing career, I coached beginners through to college and professional level, with multiple players reaching high-level competition. I then spent over two years traveling globally, filming and learning from 30+ elite junior coaches behind players like Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Swiatek.

My content focuses on situation-specific technique—executing the right shot based on court position, incoming ball characteristics, time available, and match situation. I specialize in the buggy whip forehand and its variations, which I consider the most important and misunderstood shot in modern tennis. Everything is designed to be practical, repeatable, and built for real match play.

Todd Widom, a former top-200 ATP player, and Pierre Arnold, with 40 years of coaching experience, are two of the most respected coaches in the U.S. They developed Peyton Stearns from age 10 through 18, preparing her for college and the professional tour. They have also coached numerous world junior champions, high-level college players, and ATP and WTA professionals.

Their CoachLife content offers practical drills and strategies focusing on consistency, movement, and tactical decision-making. Todd's professional playing experience combined with Pierre's decades-long coaching legacy creates instruction that translates directly to match play, making their proven methods essential for players and coaches at all levels.

Dejan Petrovic is one of the world's most respected transition coaches, having worked with three former world No. 1s—Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, and Jelena Jankovic. He coached Djokovic from ages 16–17, guiding him from ATP #300 to inside the top 100, and later helped Laslo Djere break into the top 100 from outside the top 200.

A former ATP pro himself (career-high No. 130), Dejan's 30+ videos on CoachLife reveal the exact drills and tactical patterns he used with elite players—covering movement, footwork, return positioning, and physicality. His content offers a world-class guide to building complete, physically dominant athletes.