How Carlos Alcaraz Built His Backhand — With Baseball Bats and Wrist Speed
From baseball bat drills for full extension to one-hand reps for spin control, Alcaraz’s backhand training built shoulder rotation, sweet spot accuracy, and the wrist speed that finishes points.
Key Points
Natural Talent, but Constant Refinement
While Alcaraz’s forehand stood out, his backhand was also natural and agile. Carlos Santos focused on shoulder rotation, grip control, and keeping the elbow low during preparation.Key Technical Focus Areas
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Prepare from below (not high) to avoid elbow bending
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Start slow, then accelerate explosively at impact
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Wrist speed is critical — Carlos often finishes points with just a flick of the hands
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Emphasized relaxed but active footwork throughout
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Baseball Bat Drill for Extension
To teach racket-tip extension and proper follow-through, Santos had young Carlos hit backhands with a heavy wooden baseball bat on a dirt field.
→ The bat forced full arm extension and proper racket-tip path, critical for backhand power and timing.One-Hand Drill for Non-Dominant Side Control
They also practiced left-hand-only backhands to train the dominant arm to generate spin and control. After 10–15 reps, Carlos would return to two-handed shots with more precision.Sweet Spot Feedback Using Stencils
Santos used stencil paint to track sweet spot contact on the racket. If the ball didn’t leave a mark, the shot was off-center. Simple, direct feedback.
