Tennis Tips - Backhand

One of the most important tennis tips, backhand or otherwise, is that you must have the proper grip. The grip you use will vary depending on whether you use a one-handed or two-handed grip. The grip on the one-handed backhand is the Eastern grip. For the two-handed backhand, you will use different grips. Your dominant hand should use the Continental grip and you non-dominant hand should use the semi-western grip. So, for example, on the two-handed backhand for a right handed player, the right hand should be in the Continental grip and the left hand should be in the semi-western. See my lens on serving for an illustration of the Continental grip and my lens on forehands for information on the Eastern grip. Pictured here is the semi-western grip.

When talking about basic tennis tips, backhand ball striking is always an issue for the beginning player. Where you hit the ball is always important in hitting an effective tennis shot. Without the proper contact point, you may find your shot landing out of bounds or being easily returned by your opponent. The contact point (or where the racquet strikes the ball) should be slightly in front of the body. Generally about a foot in front of the body is good.

Stance is also important. In tennis there are open stances and closed stances. For a backhand you should have a closed stance. The shoulders should be perpendicular to the baseline as you begin your backswing. It is important to establish position early if possible so there is less margin for error in the actual stroke itself.

Among tennis tips, backhand topspin is always of great interest to beginning players. Using topspin in your backhand can be a powerful tool to keep your opponent off guard. Without learning how to use topspin (and slices) you will not reach the next level as a player. To use topspin, the racket should be in a closed position. You should start with the wrist firm and the elbow bent. With the racket starting low, swing it forward from a low to a high position, brushing up and over the back of the ball. This is where the topspin comes from. As you swing, you will also be transferring the weight onto the front foot. This momentum, along with the shoulder rotation will give you the power for the shot. Make sure that you keep your eyes on the ball all the way through the swing up until the point of contact. Glancing around the court at your opponent is a sure way to increase errors in the timing and execution of the shot.

When talking about basic tennis tips, backhand power is an important issue for beginning players. As with any shot, using your whole body to hit the ball will provide more power on your shot. Without enough power, any decent opponent will control the tempo of the match and eat you alive. For a more powerful backhand, use the whole body. The upper body should rotate into the ball from a closed stance to an open stance. Turning the lower body can also generate the power necessary to hit a strong backhand. LIke any shot, the backhand is not a shot that isolates one part of the body. Using only the arms will result in a weak shot and an easy opportunity for your opponent.

For more tennis tips, backhand exercises and techniques and more, visit some of my other lenses below. If you're looking for a comprehensive guide on how to improve your game, whether beginner or advanced, I highly recommend the guide at www.top-tennis-tips.com. I've linked to them below as well. Their guide will take you step by step through how to improve your game and become the player you want. They have great, low-cost guide that will cover every aspect of your game and help you start winning your matches consistently before you know it.