| There are at least two backhand tennis drills that you | | | | - By the time you contact the ball, your arm should be |
| can be using right now, they will help you to improve | | | | straight and the face of the racquet should be |
| your backhand in tennis. Even if your forehand is pretty | | | | perpendicular to the ground. |
| good, your backhand, if you are like most people, may | | | | - You should be able to stop the racquet just before |
| be terrible. The backhand is very unnatural feeling | | | | the ball makes contact. Since the ball still has a lot of |
| because it's not fluid like the forehand, so it's going to | | | | momentum and you are standing close to the net you |
| take some practice to get it right. Believe me; the | | | | should be able to just let the ball bounce off your |
| practice will be worth it! This may be an old | | | | racquet face and go over the net. This is the perfect |
| cliché, but practice does make perfect. As I | | | | time to concentrate on making the ball contact the |
| said before, there are at lease two drills you can be | | | | center of the strings. |
| using to improve your backhand. I will list them below: | | | | The second of the backhand tennis drills you can use |
| The first of the backhand tennis drills is called the | | | | is called the "drop and hit" drill. Once again, you will |
| "backhand volley". This drill is called a "volley" because | | | | need another person to help out. |
| the ball never touches the ground when it's on your | | | | - Use the same grip that we used in the first drill, the |
| side of the net. The student should use the following | | | | Eastern backhand grip.Where you stand for this drill will |
| steps to practice with the "backhand volley" | | | | be a little different because you should stand on the |
| - Hold the racquet with the Continental grip. | | | | baseline with your hips and shoulders perpendicular to |
| - Start out by touching the net with your stomach. | | | | the net. |
| - Back away from the net using three good size steps | | | | - Your helper should stand out in front of you and |
| (shorter people should go ahead and take short steps; | | | | gently toss balls towards you so that they take one |
| taller people should be a little further back than three | | | | bounce in front of you and then are ready to be hit by |
| steps). | | | | your backhand. |
| - Have a friend throw or hit the ball to your backhand | | | | - As you hit these balls, take a small step forwards |
| side. | | | | into the ball and practice rotating your hips and |
| - As you're moving to hit the ball take one step | | | | shoulders; that's where your power will come from |
| forward. | | | | when you use your backhand. |
| - After you hit the ball, your racquet should end up | | | | - You may not need this power right now, but when |
| over the spot where you took your first step back | | | | you do need power, it's nice to know how to make it. |
| from the net. | | | | You should practice these two backhand tennis drills |
| - Keep your wrist straight and you're arm slightly bent | | | | each time you play and you will get better. I'm sure of |
| when you bring them back. | | | | it! |