Your split step should occur right before your opponent makes contact with the ball. This enables you to be ready to chase down the ball as soon as you know where it is going to hit.
All your weight should now be on your back foot. This will help generate power and pace when you take the shot. By turning your body sideways you can move in a sideways and upward direction with your legs while taking your shot. Your arms should not be turning back during this step. They should stay directly in front of your chest. It is very important that your arms are not used during this step.
To achieve the Continental grip use your left hand to hold your racket in front of you. Point the grip to the right and orient the string area perpendicular to the ground, facing you. Hold your right hand out as if you are shaking hands with the racket. Place the base knuckle of your index finger on the small, sloped side of the grip to the right of the flat side top, and close your hand around it squarely. The sloped side should go diagonally across your palm to point toward the heel of your palm below your pinkie. To achieve the Semi-Western forehand grip you will place the bottom knuckle of your non-dominant hand on the bottom left slanted facet of the grip and close your hand around the grip. The same slanted face should point diagonally across your palm to point toward the heel of your palm beneath your pinkie.
You should be looking over your shoulders at the ball at this point.
This step is the transition from the preparation to the swing. You have the option of taking a small step forward with your front foot at the same time but this is optional. For beginners it is a good idea to take this small step forward at the same time. Make sure your eyes stay on the ball so that you can anticipate the ball’s location and height.
Your upper body will rotate back towards the net as you make your swing.
You want your follow through to be one easy motion so that the deceleration of the racket is smooth. Your shoulders should be facing the net by the end of your follow through. Your racket should end up over your right shoulder when you are finished following through.
All your weight should now be on your back foot. This will help generate power and pace when you take the shot. By turning your body sideways you can move in a sideways and upward direction with your legs while taking your shot.
To achieve the Eastern backhand grip use your left hand to hold your racket in front of you. Point the grip to the right and orient the string area perpendicular to the ground, facing you. Hold your right hand straight out directly above the grip. Bring it directly down so your base index knuckle rests completely on the top facet of the grip, and close your hand around it squarely. An alternative grip includes the Extreme Eastern or Semi-Western Backhand grip. This grip is for use by stronger, more advanced players and is good for hitting high balls but not good for hitting low balls. Another alternative grip is the Continental grip, which holds the racket at a 45 degree angle and is good for hitting slices. The Semi-Western backhand grip is a rare backhand grip that is good for hitting heavy topspin but bad for hitting flat shots and slices.
This step is the transition from the preparation to the swing. Keep your non-hitting hand on the racket as you complete this step. Make sure your eyes stay on the ball so that you can anticipate the ball’s location and height.
Make sure your arm and the racket swing from the shoulder as a unit. This way your arm position relative to the racket does not change as you swing. The racket should come as low as your knee right before you make contact with the tennis ball. This will produce the topspin that you want on your backhand. Your upper body will rotate slightly back towards the net as you make your swing.
The relationship between your arm and racket should not change until your hand is at the same level as your head.
Letting your non-hitting arm extend behind you limits the rotation of your upper body, helping you recover faster and stay balanced during your shot.
All your weight should now be on your back foot. This will help generate power and pace when you take the shot. By turning your body sideways you can move in a sideways and upward direction with your legs while taking your shot.
To achieve the Continental grip use your left hand to hold your racket in front of you. Point the grip to the right and orient the string area perpendicular to the ground, facing you. Hold your right hand out as if you are shaking hands with the racket. Place the base knuckle of your index finger on the small, sloped side of the grip to the right of the flat side top, and close your hand around it squarely. The sloped side should go diagonally across your palm to point toward the heel of your palm below your pinkie.
This 90 degree angle or L shape between your arm and racket is very important for hitting the ball at the correct angle for the slice.
Make sure your eyes stay on the ball so that you can anticipate the ball’s location and height.
In your back-swing your arm and racket formed an L shape. As you swing forward your elbow will straighten completely until your arm forms a V with the racket.
Make sure contact is made at waist height slightly in front of your body to enable you to maximize power and backspin. The combination of the downward swing and slightly open angle of the racket will create backspin on the ball.
This may feel strange because you had been bringing the racket down to meet the ball for the shot before bringing it up after the point of contact but it will actually occur naturally to slow down the racket. The strings of your racket should end up facing the sky when you finish your follow through. Look at your contact point during contact and as you complete your follow through your eyes should stay at that same point.
Letting your non-hitting arm extend behind you limits the rotation of your upper body, helping you recover faster and stay balanced during your shot.
