How do I improve my backhand? (closed)

[Jan_]

I've always had a weak bh game, mainly the topspin. I can't get the feeling of gripping like I do on my fh, my strategy was always to block and punch but now that I'm playing on a higher level it's a huge weakness and it's being constantly exploited.

The only way I can do a topspin is by putting much more power than I should or using a big stroke that still doesn't grab the ball, as much as guiding it. The ball has a straight trajectory and doesn't curve, and I can't do it consistently, I feel like I'm too loose and can't penetrate even very soft sponges, and when I hit harder I lock or stiffen my wrist and loose control of my movement.

Do you have any tips about how to get a consistent grab on the bh without putting power, how to penetrate the sponge consistently and grip the ball? Basically ways to get heavy contact and good grip on the ball with low power.

p.s. It's not the rubbers age, I've tried with friend's rackets and it's the same everywhere.

 

[dingyibvs]

I've always had a weak bh game, mainly the topspin. I can't get the feeling of gripping like I do on my fh, my strategy was always to block and punch but now that I'm playing on a higher level it's a huge weakness and it's being constantly exploited.

The only way I can do a topspin is by putting much more power than I should or using a big stroke that still doesn't grab the ball, as much as guiding it. The ball has a straight trajectory and doesn't curve, and I can't do it consistently, I feel like I'm too loose and can't penetrate even very soft sponges, and when I hit harder I lock or stiffen my wrist and loose control of my movement.

Do you have any tips about how to get a consistent grab on the bh without putting power, how to penetrate the sponge consistently and grip the ball? Basically ways to get heavy contact and good grip on the ball with low power.

p.s. It's not the rubbers age, I've tried with friend's rackets and it's the same everywhere.

Relax your grip, let the ball come to you more. Just bounce a ball on the table and then do a BH shot. The distance that feels the most comfortable to you is the distance you should try to hit every ball at.

Adult learners have issue with this because we often start our journey blocking with the BH, which requires taking the ball rather early and in front of us. When we try to learn how to attack with our BH we usually try to use that blocking motion but add more power. That's the incorrect approach. You need to first learn the timing difference between a block and an attack.

 

[Federal_Agent]

Something that helped me is training with a robot and watching Franziska and Kreanga's videos... bringing the racket from the side of your hip, use de legs and and the wrist is the way to improve your topspin drive.

 

[Dr Evil]

Back to basics. Practice making brushing contact using one of those goose neck spin trainers. Or have someone roll the ball to you and contact it as it's falling off the table, spinning it up and over the net. Then multiball. Contact the ball late (on the fall). Try to produce a slow, heavy loop with some hook sidespin (which will encourage contact a little on the outside of the ball and then following the spin to maintain contact as long as possible). The key to "grabbing the ball" is to accelerate through contact, but of course this won't have the desired effect unless you're making good brushing contact.

 

[blahness]

I've always had a weak bh game, mainly the topspin. I can't get the feeling of gripping like I do on my fh, my strategy was always to block and punch but now that I'm playing on a higher level it's a huge weakness and it's being constantly exploited.

The only way I can do a topspin is by putting much more power than I should or using a big stroke that still doesn't grab the ball, as much as guiding it. The ball has a straight trajectory and doesn't curve, and I can't do it consistently, I feel like I'm too loose and can't penetrate even very soft sponges, and when I hit harder I lock or stiffen my wrist and loose control of my movement.

Do you have any tips about how to get a consistent grab on the bh without putting power, how to penetrate the sponge consistently and grip the ball? Basically ways to get heavy contact and good grip on the ball with low power.

p.s. It's not the rubbers age, I've tried with friend's rackets and it's the same everywhere.

Try watching Ti Long's video on how to use 2 finger lever arm (thumb and index finger) to brush the ball. My BH had a big jump after implementing it. Now I can even generate quite decent topspin with BH antispin (not even inverted!) which really surprises my opponents lol.

 

[Tinykin]

Now I can even generate quite decent topspin with BH antispin (not even inverted!) which really surprises my opponents lol.

Nightmare player. Don't come near me. Please.

 

[Jan_]

Relax your grip, let the ball come to you more. Just bounce a ball on the table and then do a BH shot. The distance that feels the most comfortable to you is the distance you should try to hit every ball at.

Adult learners have issue with this because we often start our journey blocking with the BH, which requires taking the ball rather early and in front of us. When we try to learn how to attack with our BH we usually try to use that blocking motion but add more power. That's the incorrect approach. You need to first learn the timing difference between a block and an attack.

I started when 16 when I quit tennis, maybe it stuck from there, idk. So I should contact the ball later? Should I let it drop or do I just stand closer to it? Do I snap my wrist or practice a smooth wrist?

 

[Jan_]

Something that helped me is training with a robot and watching Franziska and Kreanga's videos... bringing the racket from the side of your hip, use de legs and and the wrist is the way to improve your topspin drive.

Is there any specifically that helped you? I don't think I use my legs properly either.

 

[Jan_]

Back to basics. Practice making brushing contact using one of those goose neck spin trainers. Or have someone roll the ball to you and contact it as it's falling off the table, spinning it up and over the net. Then multiball. Contact the ball late (on the fall). Try to produce a slow, heavy loop with some hook sidespin (which will encourage contact a little on the outside of the ball and then following the spin to maintain contact as long as possible). The key to "grabbing the ball" is to accelerate through contact, but of course this won't have the desired effect unless you're making good brushing contact.

Is the key snapping the wrist too or going more forward through the ball smoother? If I start with either and it's wrong than I won't do any progress...

Try watching Ti Long's video on how to use 2 finger lever arm (thumb and index finger) to brush the ball. My BH had a big jump after implementing it. Now I can even generate quite decent topspin with BH antispin (not even inverted!) which really surprises my opponents lol.

I'll find it, thanks!

 

[blahness]

Nightmare player. Don't come near me. Please.

i had to join the dark side to defeat the dark siders....

 

[tzifos]

Why don't you ask your coach?

 

[Jan_]

Why don't you ask your coach?

Lol, because he doesn't care.

 

[tzifos]

Why don't you ask your coach?

Lol, because he doesn't care.

Then you should try another coach. Go to Dionysos club!

 

[Dr Evil]

Is the key snapping the wrist too or going more forward through the ball smoother? If I start with either and it's wrong than I won't do any progress...

The key is making good brushing contact. If you get the feel for doing this well, then there are many different paths to significant improvement. If you don't, every path will be a dead end.

 

[Jan_]

Then you should try another coach. Go to Dionysos club!

I went there once but I'm behind Penteli, I can't really go there efficiently, and I don't trust my car on the mountain.

 

[Jan_]

The key is making good brushing contact. If you get the feel for doing this well, then there are many different paths to significant improvement. If you don't, every path will be a dead end.

Any way to develop that contact? Someone recommended that wire ball thing, will that help? Any other ideas?

 

[You're Tacky & I Hate You]

The only way I can do a topspin is by putting much more power than I should or using a big stroke that still doesn't grab the ball, as much as guiding it. The ball has a straight trajectory and doesn't curve, and I can't do it consistently, I feel like I'm too loose and can't penetrate even very soft sponges, and when I hit harder I lock or stiffen my wrist and loose control of my movement.

It's tough to say without seeing your technique in action. But from this description I wonder if you are contacting the ball too late in your swing, therefore you struggle to generate the grip because your racket is decelerating, the trajectory is straight because at the point of contact your arm will be extended too far to brush effectively so it becomes a hit.

Try using your non playing arm as a guide. I've seen Ti Long and some other coaches use the example of hitting the ball at the same distance away from your body as if you would catch the ball in your non-playing hand, roughly in a position so that if you were to hold both your hands together in front of your chest with elbows slightly bent it would make the top point of a triangle.

For a consistent topspin you need a good forearm motion first, swinging around your elbow which then supports being able to achieve extra spicy spin with wrist and finger action.

If you're trying to do too much with your wrist this might also go some way to explain why your struggling to activate the sponge.

Hope this helps you explore and overcome your issue.

 

[Dr Evil]

Any way to develop that contact? Someone recommended that wire ball thing, will that help? Any other ideas?

The wire ball thing will help. A 5 ply blade with soft slow rubber will help. Patience will help. Good in person coaching will help the most, even if it's only a half hour lesson.

 

[Jan_]

It's tough to say without seeing your technique in action. But from this description I wonder if you are contacting the ball too late in your swing, therefore you struggle to generate the grip because your racket is decelerating, the trajectory is straight because at the point of contact your arm will be extended too far to brush effectively so it becomes a hit.

Try using your non playing arm as a guide. I've seen Ti Long and some other coaches use the example of hitting the ball at the same distance away from your body as if you would catch the ball in your non-playing hand, roughly in a position so that if you were to hold both your hands together in front of your chest with elbows slightly bent it would make the top point of a triangle.

For a consistent topspin you need a good forearm motion first, swinging around your elbow which then supports being able to achieve extra spicy spin with wrist and finger action.

If you're trying to do too much with your wrist this might also go some way to explain why your struggling to activate the sponge.

Hope this helps you explore and overcome your issue.

That's super useful thanks!

 

[Jan_]

The wire ball thing will help. A 5 ply blade with soft slow rubber will help. Patience will help. Good in person coaching will help the most, even if it's only a half hour lesson.

I'll mention it to my coach, maybe he'll help guide me. Equipment is fine I think, intensity and bluestorm z3. I'll train at the robot too as some others said.