One-Handed Backhand Fundamentals

Richard Gasquet hits a one-handed backhand.

This page contains links to the one-handed backhand.

Introduction to the One-Handed Backhand Fundamentals
This video introduces the one-handed backhand. We have taught the one-handed backhand by focusing on the fundamentals — the things that every single player with a good one-handed backhand does when they hit.

Pivot and Shoulder Turn
The first step of the one-handed backhand is the pivot and shoulder turn. You execute this step as soon as you realize you are hitting a one-handed backhand. This pivot and shoulder turn is also how you begin to take your tennis racket back. Because your shoulders are turning sideways the racket will start to come back.

Grip Change
The second step of the one-handed backhand is change your grip. As you pivot and turn your shoulders you need to switch to an acceptable one-handed backhand grip.

Take Your Racket all the way Back
The third step of the one-handed backhand is to take your tennis racket back. Having pivoted and turned your shoulders, now you can use your hitting arm to take the tennis racket all the way back.

Step Into the Court and Drop the Racket Down
The fourth step of the one-handed backhand is to step forward with your inside foot. This step is relatively simple, but it allows you to transfer your weight into your one-handed backhand when you swing.

Swing to Contact
The fifth step of the one-handed backhand is to swing to your contact point. Now that you’ve stepped into the court and have brought your tennis racket down, it’s time to swing forward. The swing on the one-handed backhand is relatively simple: your arm and tennis racket swing, as a unit, to your contact point.

Follow Through
The sixth step of the one-handed backhand is to follow through. From contact, extend on in the direction you are hitting the tennis ball. Your hitting-arm position — the relationship between your tennis racket and arm — does not begin to break down until your hitting hand is about head level.

A note about your Non-Hitting Arm
This video talks about the role of your non-hitting arm during the follow through of your tennis one-handed backhand. You want to keep your non-hitting hand back in order to hold your shoulders sideways during the forward swing and follow through.

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Come inside and play like you have an unfair advantage.

anshu.G

Hi will, ur site is amazing...........but i have some problems with my OH backhand contact point , backhand approach and my serve.........so can u give me some tips or drills for this problems.
first, my backhand contact point-whenever i hit my backhand now,it hits my frame and go anywhere.....and luckily if it don't then i hit it without any topspin which some times go out of bounds........it is not like before........i m struggling with consistency.

second,my bachand approach-it is not like before.....i can't hit it with topspin now.......i don't know why......some problem like above contact point.

third,my serve-i have developed problem by copying like federer.first it was going very nicely i can hit powerful serve too..........but now a days after 1month of rest due to my neck pain......what see is that i can't my backhand properly nor my serve.i m struggling with my ball toss, weight transfer and trophy pose.i had tried to adopt another simple motion.........but i m unsuccessful in it........i m use to that federer serve......its been 15 days after comeback and i can't get my rhtym back.

can u plzzzzzzzz help me i m in big trouble and noe a days i m losing too much confidence over my game and i get frustrated too early...i don't know what to do......can u give me some tips or drills to figure out this problem please and reply as soon as possible. try to add backhand approach too in ur transitional section...

Ruben A.

Here's an odd thing... After studying the e-mail course on forehand fundamentals... My one-handed backhand LEFT THE BUILDING! So this coming week, will be BACKHAND ONLY RESERVED... Question, on the "take the racket back" fundamental step (Backhand), how far back am I trying to go? Also, am I trying to shape a C on my swing path up to the ball?

Thanks for all the great advice,

Rubén

philippe

I have a "natural" one handed backhand ....I have noticed if the fundamentals were done correctely ... et bien ça marche.

Cedric

This entire section was GREAT thanks alot Will!

Henry

Hey Will,

I've been trying to learn the one handed backhand (I'm a lefty too) and I've encountered some problems.

Obviously the strike zone is further out than the two handed backhand's, meaning I have to start my racket drop and swing earlier (results have shown if I hit it too late it ends up dumping into the net).

However, is there any particular way in dealing with deep balls? I find backpedaling and then stepping into the shot too much of a hassle, especially if those balls were hit with any particular force. Perhaps I just need more practice.

Thanks for this great site,
Henry

Will Hamilton

Hi Henry... sorry for the delay in my response. Backpedaling and stepping in really isn't a practical solution. You either have to take the ball on the rise or hit off your back foot.

Like Dean said, it's often preferable to take the ball on the rise but this requires good timing.

Hitting off your back foot / hitting a high ball is difficult as well. But it may be easier to time. In these situations get the ball back deep and extend the point.

Slice can be a nice alternative as well. Federer does this a lot with deep / high balls to his backhand.

Dean Wright

Henry, You are hitting on some probs lots of ppeps have trying to learn a one handed backhand. I'm also a lefty! Were special peps you know!! Your prob with deep balls, can easilly be overcome. I don't back pedal!! I take it on the rise and brush up and to the side. this is what the pros do! I'm also a teaching pro ! I could fix your backhand in 5 minutes, or no charge!!