Backhand Fundamentals Taught To Taylor Fritz

Key Points

• Place 3 balls on the court, 5 or 6 inches apart
• Right hand in a continental grip with both hands touching
• Elbows out in front with the racket tipped up
• Turn the wrist so you’re looking through the strings
• As you turn the wrist, your shoulders are moving and turning while pivoting on the left foot
• Drop the racket head, picking up speed and momentum while driving through the shot and following through over your shoulders
• Step in with the right foot and take the ball early with relaxed wrists
• Hands should be touching so they’re working together when hitting
• One continuous motion that never stops and picks up speed as you hit
• Line the ball up with your left foot and then step in at a 45 degree angle
• Don’t step across with your right foot and block your left hip
• Step with a small heel to toe movement and as the weight hits the front foot, make contact out in front of your body
• Drop the racket head with loose wrists and brush up the bottom and back of the ball to generate topspin
• Take the racket back before the ball hits on your side of the court
• You want your racket to be coming forward by the time the ball hits the ground
• “Absorb” the pace on the hard deep ball, timing it with early preparation, using your opponents pace
• Don’t try and muscle the ball and hit it twice as hard as back
• Work on extending your racket through each ball
• When hitting, try and visualize hitting through 2 more balls when following through to keep the racket in a straight line
• Perfecting this allows you to expand your hitting zone when you catch the ball too early or late
• Hitting through the ball is constant on every stroke
• Progressing through these steps will help you develop a fundamentally sound 2 handed backhand
• Please watch Guy’s follow on video to the backhand ‘High Ball v Low ball - Hitting on the rise’