Developing Forehand and Backhand Weapons

Key Points

• Set up a drill where you have to finish the point in 3 or 4 shots or you lose the point
• This teaches you to take the ball earlier and dictate the point
• The key to developing power on your shots is fast hip rotation
• Drive the hips and shoulder through at the same time with fast racket head speed
• Try and get there with plenty of time, with your feet in position, and the ball above the height of the net
• ‘Elbow, Hips and Zip’
• Have your wrist positioned above your elbow
• Use angles to grind and set up balls that are above the height of the net that you can attack
• Keep the elbows slightly bent when attacking the backhand down the line
• Use more of your elbows and less wrist to drive through the ball with your hips
• ‘Elbows, hips and weight transfer with the left leg driving through’
• ‘Pretend you are sweeping the table with your strings to allow for full extension through the shot’