Backhand Technique and Footwork Patterns

Key Points

• The best 2 handers are incredibly strong with their left hand
• Start gradually working on left handed forehands to strengthen up and build coordination with your left hand
• Mix up open stances and closed stances and eventually progress to playing points using the left hand
• Maria Sharapova and Jessie Pegula would constantly practice this with ball feeding, rallying and even set play
• The power comes from the left hand, hips and legs
• Load with the left leg and step in with the right
• If you don’t have time to step in, hit an open stance backhand
• The open stance backhand is the foundation to good footwork on the backhand and should be taught from a young age
• On short balls, load with the left leg and then propel yourself forward with the right leg
• If you have a flatter backhand, it’s better to try and step in and take it on the rise so you don’t lose too much court position
• If you have more spin on your backhand, it’s ok to move back and hit a heavier shot
• It’s important that the right hand or bottom hand on the 2 hander is a continental grip so you can easily hit a slice, drop shot or volley etc.
• Play baseline games where you have to slice every ball that comes to your backhand
• Not only will this help your slice, it will also teach you to run around and dictate with the forehand more when you can’t attack your backhand
• It can also slow the game down for big hitters and teach them to construct points