Hitting on the Run

[GMann]

As always, Pat Dougherty's article was very informative. I now have a very good sense of how to hit a forehand on the run, but obviousy, it is much more difficult to do this with a backhand. For example, can one use the "running open stance" technique to hit a running two-handed backhand? If so, could Pat explain or illustrate how to do this?

Assuming that the only way to hit a running two-handed backhand is the "load and lunge" technique, can Pat explain or illustrate how to do this?

[patdougherty]

Two Hander on the Run

For the most part, it is a mirror image with the same variations of how it is done setting up the feet on the forehand side. Actually, the one-handers struggle a little more to execute with the open stance variations than the two. Here's a clip of Hewitt showing the slalom, built in recovery move

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/strokearchive/pro_men/lleyton_hewitt/lh_backhand/lh_bh_running/lh_bh_running.html?LHBHRunningOpenStanceFront1.mov

Here's a decent example of Capriati on a two handed load and lunge

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/strokearchive/pro_woman/jennifer_capriati/jc_backhand/jc_bh_running/jc_bh_running.html?JCBHRunningFront3.mov

Another good example shows Serena hip torque as she loads and lunges finishing in a closed off stance

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/strokearchive/pro_woman/serenawilliams/sw_backhand/sw_bh_running/sw_bh_running.html?SWBHRunningCourtLevelSide1.mov

Here's Roddick

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/strokearchive/pro_men/andyroddick/andyroddick_backhand/ar_bh_running/ar_bh_running.html?ARBHRunningSide1.mov

Let's go retro for an example of the load and lunge from Connors

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/strokearchive/modern_legends/jimmyconnor/jc_backhand/jc_bh_running/jc_bh_running.html?JCBHRunningFront2.mov

Remember the load and lunge where they finish in more of a closed off stance is used primarily when pressured and stretched very wide. More commonly you'll see the running open stance finishing in a neutral stance when not pushed so wide, as seen in this example with Sharapova

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/strokearchive/pro_woman/maria_sharapova/ms_backhand/ms_bh_running/ms_bh_running.html?MSBHRunningRear1.mov

Dig thru the vast archives and you'll see many more. Thanks for your comments and I hope this helps

[GMann]

Thanks Pat.