The Lesson Process:
The Backhand
Kerry Mitchell
The process of improving your backhand can be even more daunting than the forehand learning process we addressed in the first article in this series. (Click Here.) In general, most players struggle far more with their backhands compared to the rest of the game, with the possible exception of the serve.
In my experience, many problems on the backhand, whether a one-hander or a two-hander, stem from the nature of their early instruction. In the first lesson the student is told to turn the feet sideways, step, and swing.
This seemingly straightforward advice can start a player on a path to years of frustration. In this article I'll address the hidden problems in that advice and then show you how to turn the process around and make your backhand a steady part of your game.
Just as in the forehand lesson that I described in the previous article, I have the player start by hitting backhands close-in at the service line. This tells me what I need to know about the stroke much more clearly than if they start from the baseline.First, I look at the footwork, then what their turn looks like, and how much control they have (or do not.)
