One-Handed Backhand: Power with Open & Closed Stance

Key Points

• “Push the ground” with a nice and smooth rotation and swing path, snapping the hand and wrist on contact
• Split step into a wide base with a low center of gravity
• Start the unit turn with the hip, with the left foot parallel to the baseline and a nice knee bend with the left leg
• Look over your shoulder at the ball before hitting
• Keep the racket head above the wrist, using gravity to accelerate through the shot
• Drop your racket head as you transfer your weight forward and pull the non-dominant hand back
• Focus on the rotation of the wrist on contact to get that “bite” and spin on the ball
• Releasing the left hip helps generate power and sets up your base to recover and crossover step back to the middle
• Aim to get the left leg behind the ball with a nice bend and rotation
• Focus on nice posture with your shoulders square and center of gravity below your trunk, using your core to stay balanced
• As you hit, the outside foot should turn from parallel to the line to perpendicular to the line to help you push back to the middle
• After contact and follow through, the non-dominant hand will return to the racket to stabilize your balance and recovery