Laid Back wrist

[paul pearce]

John

From your article on the commonalities of the forehand and backhand, you touch on the laid back wrist at the start of the foreward swing.

The effect appears a little like a bull whip with some players effectively laying the wrist back further to the point that the butt actually points at the ball. Other players less so. Compare Hewitt and Agassi backhands to amplify this point.

My question is wherther you believe this is a deliberate action or whether it is the product of something else such as being very loose at the beginning of the forward swing.

What do you believe we should be teaching children with regard to this particular point?

Your help would be much appreciated.

[johnyandell]

Good question. Do the players you mention do it deliberately? Consciously? Probably not. Do the vast majority of players struggle to find this position on time? Yes.

With a kid I think you phyiscally model the positions--especially the laid back wrist at the contact. Then you see what happens. Video will tell the tale. If it happens on time and correctly, then don't worry about it further. If not then you work more on the positions.