Excellent lesson. People say it is important to get the racquet head tip vertical and pointing straight up to the sky prior to drop and indeed many pros like Stan do this. But I think there is some leeway there. It can be about 45 degrees instead of straight up 90 degrees. That feels more comfortable to me. Still get the assist from gravity when I drop from that position. And that looks similar to what you are doing. Discuss!
There is some real good information here, but I do have a couple of comments. I just watched numerous backhands by Federer, Wawrinka, and Thiem, three of the best. Each of these players immediately start turning when a ball comes to their backhand. However, the backswing is considerably slower than the rest of the swing. In fact, if he has enough time Wawrinka almost stops at the top of his backswing. It's as they are dropping the racquet that the acceleration really starts. It's like they get their racquet into position at the top of the backswing and then accelerate through the ball. Also, these pros come up very little, if at all, as the racquet approaches the ball. Teaching people to get up from a sitting as they are hitting the ball is going to make things difficult. If they bend their knees, drive through the ball, and release their arm and wrist as you said they will naturally finish straight. The only time I see pros hit the ball with a straight leg is when they are out of position and the ball is coming in high. Watch Wawrinka, his head hardly moves as he hits the ball. Thiem will frequently stay down throughout the shot. Federer comes up the most of the three, but not that much. Even in the waist-high slow motion shot you show your head remains pretty much at the same height. Timing your shot as you are lifting your legs while your racquet is accelerating seems very difficult to me.
Yes, I agree about Wawrinka's backswing... almost stops and then HUGE acceleration through the ball. As far as lifting with the legs on the forward swing... some shots call for more (behind the baseline and hitting a deep topspin drive) others for less (Passing shot down the line), but remember we're talking about a topspin drive here... so the racquet is moving from low to high... to keep the racquet and body in "SYNC" you want your body also going from low to high (leg lift), if you study Wawrinka, Fed and all the other great one-handers hitting topspin, they are lifting into the shot, as I mentioned sometimes more sometimes less. On the backhands with less lift (such as a passing shot) it takes more effort, because the legs are not as involved and the stabilization and posture through the shot is maintained more by the core. To your tennis success, Tom
Mr. Avery, the next time I get on the courts, I will definitely think about your tips re: OHB stroke and exercises. This is the most logical and detailed video instruction on OHB. You explain it so well! Thank you.
Before deciding on whether to hit a one hand or two hand backhand, make sure your or your student's eye dominance matches. A right hander must have equal eye dominance or right eye dominance or they will never ever get good with the one hand backhand. To show this close your right eye and then take the racquet all the way back and you will notice you can not even see the ball coming. When you have a weakness in one of your eyes your brain uses the good eye not the bad eye. I learned about this by accident before reading scientific research. I took tennis lessons with my left arm because of a chronic right elbow issue. I had a very solid lefty one hand backhand. I am very left eye dominant. When my right arm healed a few years later I went back to right handed. My righty one are backhand was terrible but the left hand skill helped me develop a very good two hand backhand very quickly. I also noticed I volleyed better depending on which eye was facing forward, not which arm I was using. This is an issue for any sideways standing shot - one hand backhand, slice, vollies. It is an issue coaches must understand or they are ruining students.
@@Fundamentalsoftennis Thank you Tom. Excellent video by the way. To test eye dominance, make a triangle with your thumb and index fingers using both hands. Focus on an object 10 feet away with both eyes open and center the object in the triangle. Now close one eye. If the object jumps out of the triangle that is your dominant eye. In my case I have an astigmatism in my right eye which is why my brain uses my left eye more than my right.
Thanks very much I tried it and the object stayed in the triangle left and right closed... I guess that means both are close in dominance... it moved a little more with right eye closed. All the best, Tom
There is no way, elders have something else while their teaching I do learn much more with elders it's amazing. My coach is an old man and I love the way he teaches (even though there are days I want to kill his because he is so perfectionist)
I found the keys for me were the lifting of my body from low to high when striking the ball, as well as unwinding at the wrist. These days I deliberately accelerate my wrist movement through the ball and I get a lot of power that way, with minimal accuracy reduction.
Tom, this truly is a brilliant lesson, better than any other I've seen on the backhand. Thanks for sharing these great tips, can't wait to get out there and try it tomorrow.
Great video You are one of the few instructors I've seen who even mentioned the semi western BH grip. My coaches discouraged me from using it but i stuck with it nevertheless and am glad that i did. My BH is so much more of a weapon than it would have otherwise been.
Yes, it works well for some!!! Gustavo Kuerten winner of French Open 3X's used it... one of THE BEST BACKHANDS of all time. To your tennis success, Tom
Just one caveat: For low balls at the baseline (corner, particularly)/in general for the neutral rally balls bouncing low you should stay low also on the BH side all the way through the swing, not coming intentionally/aggressively up from the legs thus breaking the loose swing and hitting the ball typically in the net. Stay in the shot, always stay in the shot until the shot leaves you and your body itself. Let it swing by itself.
Nice observations Jack... my take is this, if I can get some leg lift I'll get net clearance and more power... also my racquet and body are moving in sync (low to high) if I stay down with the legs I have a force going down (legs) and a force going up (arm)..... forces are now working in opposite directions which will require more effort... I'm talking about "some" leg lift.... on a passing shot or a shot like you describe you wouldn't need to come OFF the ground as you might on another ball where you're being more aggressive. To your tennis success, Tom
Exultant presentation. At this time I'm working at ' committing ' to the eastern grip. With the ball machine I'm OK - but after, when I play games - I'll creep back to my old grip, where in order to drive & put topspin on the ball I'm needing to bend my wrist under. I think when I'm playing a match I tend to think defensive mentally & the old grip lets me resort to the slice return. More time with the ball machine !
Really a great lesson. Full of experience full of secrets and full of tennis passions. You really helps with this lesson our One hand backhand. We can only appreciate your great work . My best regards to your professional guide. bravo
Hi Coach. I always only slice on my single handed backhand. I have been trying to develop a two handed drive. I wish u had a tutorial on that which really breaks down the correct mechanics like u have on all your other strokes.
Great video and great tennis master, but how many tennis racquets do I need to buy and throw over the fences before getting the tsisipas rubberband supreme backhand? this is truly a high budget shot.
Thousands!!! LOL... Seriously, you've got to throw as many as you need to burn the rubberband signal into the brain... for each player it's different. To your tennis success, Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis You are a great person Tom besides being a great tennis master thank you for the free videos wondering why would you do it for free since thousands and thousands of racquets are needed just for the rubberband backhand drill.?
tom your tips are always the best.......and the more complete.....and easy to understand and follow.....thanks you for all what you do for beginner and intermediate and advanced tennis players.....and all the people that want to begin this wonderful sport ....that is tennis.........
Absolutely fantastic video I’ve been working at my backhand and this took it to the next level I have more than double the power and spin much love Tom thank you!
Yes, I've used that analogy before... the one-hander is like throwing a frisbee, especially the take back (Pulling the rubber band) and keeping the hitting arm loose... nice observation! To your tennis success, Tom
Can you explain the wrist angle sequence and the reason for the angle at different points? It is bent up during the back swing and then I think it straightens by impact with the ball.
Yes what you say is correct slightly bent on the backswing.... as you pull the racquet back and down the wrist should naturally relax and straighten... at contact the wrist is in a stable position behind the racquet handle and is releasing upwards especially after contact. Hope that helps. To your tennis success, Tom
Hi Tom, thanks for a good lesson. What is the grip pressure in a scale of 1-10? Where should the thumb be - pushing on bevel 6 or wrapping around the index finger?
Good question! You do not need a tight grip I'm usually around 4 coming into the contact area... my thumb is wrapped around touching the middle finger with my index finger spread slightly. To your tennis success, Tom
I can tell you have a beautiful backhand, Tom, just by your demonstration motion. I played fairly high level competitive junior and college tennis, and no kidding, it looks just like mine. All the best.
Tom, I play men’s 60’s- 80’s doubles with a 110 sq in racket. I am 67. Do you think it would be a good idea to reduce my racquet head size to 100 sq in to improve my one handed backhand speed ? Thanks Tom.
Reducing the head size will help with control.... not with speed unless the smaller head size is easier to maneuver and you can get more racquet head speed coming into the contact zone. To your tennis success, Tom
Nice vid - gotta ask though if you're trying to demonstrate hitting a flatter/ side spinning backhand (ball spins horizontally)? Many players do this technique, and even though Jimmy Connors used a double back hand, it was similar to this on how the ball came off his racket - he hit a flat, driving backhand with little to no top spin - the ball stays low after hitting the opponents' side. If you're trying to demonstrate hitting a top spin backhand, your technique in this video doesn't really do that. Top spin backhand techniques can really loop or curve the ball's path and really kick hard and high after they hit the opponent's side. Both styles are great and useful - your technique the ball rolls off the top of your racket head as you pull it away more laterally (horizontally) - whereas with topspin, the ball would be rolling off the bottom (or side) of the head (at contact) as the racket would be pulled vertically away from the contact zone, then snapping the wrist in a looping motion as the racket is thrown out to the side of the hitter's body. The whipping of the arm and snapping of the wrist adds huge top spin, but does ruin balls quicker and breaks strings a lot - and a player's timing has to be more precise or the ball can get shanked off the frame. Flatter backhands use slower racket head speeds, top spin backhands generate much higher racket head speeds due to a full wrist snap during and after contact.
What I'm teaching here is a swing path is "low to high" and a racquet face that is vertical at contact... put those two things together and you've got some topspin on the ball. The balls I'm hitting in this demo have topspin. Topspin is generated by the "swing path"... yes the wrist "flicking" helps generate more but the topspin is already there from the swing path. To your tennis success, Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis Hello Tom, as promised, even a bit late, my feedback.. I tried the backhand trying to hit the ball just the way you explained and I have to say, that, when I was able to really do what you teach the shot was great and I found power I did not even know I could ever have. really.. It is not simple tough. it really needs to stay in balance with the correct position of body/feet, correct distance from the ball (my main difficulty at the moment) and let the arm go.. and I was amazed. even my opponent (friend) started asking how I could do that.. ;). so I would like to thank you and I'll continue to watch your video because they really take the most out of me.. Thank you
@@skinred3790 Hey that's great!!! At first you will lose some control but as you get a "FEEL" for the "TIMING" as to when to pull the rubber band back it will all start to click even better. To your tennis success, Tom
No I don't have any fatigue with it... I've been playing with racquets over 13 ounces most of my career and right now the RF which is at 12.6oz., feels good... To your tennis success, Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis Thanks Tom, i just bought mine, i have been playing babolat pure aero customized up to 340gr, so i was a bit worried as my new RF97 weighs 367gr with over grip but as i have done some research and all the pros are using racquets that are over 350gr. Thanks again, all the best.
I'm 70 years old and I attribute the movement skills I have left to changing my diet 13 years ago to a plant-based diet and trying to be regular with a stretching routine. To your tennis success, Tom
If one is getting a boomer serve to return you don’t have time to bring the racquet further back. All the other vids I watch everyone says SHORTEN racquet take back.
You must understand the swing pattern... when you know what the swing pattern should be you will know if you're doing it right... you can use a mirror or have a friend or coach check the pattern. All the best, Tom
Great instruction Tom thanks, I must get my racquet behind me for full power, also you move well and are flexible I susspect you are a vegan if so good onya mate.
Love Tom’s great instruction and passion to teach others how to play the game. 🎾 Thanks
Thank you much appreciated!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
I’ve watched many one handed backhand instructional videos by different instructors in the past 6 months and this one tops the list.
Thanks! Much appreciated!!!
To your backhand success,
Tom
Excellent lesson. People say it is important to get the racquet head tip vertical and pointing straight up to the sky prior to drop and indeed many pros like Stan do this. But I think there is some leeway there. It can be about 45 degrees instead of straight up 90 degrees. That feels more comfortable to me. Still get the assist from gravity when I drop from that position. And that looks similar to what you are doing. Discuss!
Yes, there is leeway on the take back... the key is getting enough drop so the racquet can pick up speed prior to contact.
To your tennis success,
Tom
The throwing the racquet over the fence drill looks great (maybe before 7:00 in the morning when nobody is going to see it).
Yes early morning LOL!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
You are an absolutely perfect instructor! Thank You Tom! Greetings from an instructor from Budapest, Hungary. :)
Thanks much appreciated!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Awesome lesson! I recently switched from a 2-handed to a 1-handed BH. I can’t wait to put this into practice.
Great! keep me posted.
To your tennis success,
Tom
There is some real good information here, but I do have a couple of comments. I just watched numerous backhands by Federer, Wawrinka, and Thiem, three of the best. Each of these players immediately start turning when a ball comes to their backhand. However, the backswing is considerably slower than the rest of the swing. In fact, if he has enough time Wawrinka almost stops at the top of his backswing. It's as they are dropping the racquet that the acceleration really starts. It's like they get their racquet into position at the top of the backswing and then accelerate through the ball.
Also, these pros come up very little, if at all, as the racquet approaches the ball. Teaching people to get up from a sitting as they are hitting the ball is going to make things difficult. If they bend their knees, drive through the ball, and release their arm and wrist as you said they will naturally finish straight. The only time I see pros hit the ball with a straight leg is when they are out of position and the ball is coming in high. Watch Wawrinka, his head hardly moves as he hits the ball. Thiem will frequently stay down throughout the shot. Federer comes up the most of the three, but not that much. Even in the waist-high slow motion shot you show your head remains pretty much at the same height. Timing your shot as you are lifting your legs while your racquet is accelerating seems very difficult to me.
Yes, I agree about Wawrinka's backswing... almost stops and then HUGE acceleration through the ball. As far as lifting with the legs on the forward swing... some shots call for more (behind the baseline and hitting a deep topspin drive) others for less (Passing shot down the line), but remember we're talking about a topspin drive here... so the racquet is moving from low to high... to keep the racquet and body in "SYNC" you want your body also going from low to high (leg lift), if you study Wawrinka, Fed and all the other great one-handers hitting topspin, they are lifting into the shot, as I mentioned sometimes more sometimes less. On the backhands with less lift (such as a passing shot) it takes more effort, because the legs are not as involved and the stabilization and posture through the shot is maintained more by the core.
To your tennis success,
Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis Nice reply. I've learned a lot from your videos. Keep up the good work.
Mr. Avery, the next time I get on the courts, I will definitely think about your tips re: OHB stroke and exercises.
This is the most logical and detailed video instruction on OHB. You explain it so well! Thank you.
Sounds good! Thank you!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Before deciding on whether to hit a one hand or two hand backhand, make sure your or your student's eye dominance matches. A right hander must have equal eye dominance or right eye dominance or they will never ever get good with the one hand backhand. To show this close your right eye and then take the racquet all the way back and you will notice you can not even see the ball coming. When you have a weakness in one of your eyes your brain uses the good eye not the bad eye. I learned about this by accident before reading scientific research. I took tennis lessons with my left arm because of a chronic right elbow issue. I had a very solid lefty one hand backhand. I am very left eye dominant. When my right arm healed a few years later I went back to right handed. My righty one are backhand was terrible but the left hand skill helped me develop a very good two hand backhand very quickly. I also noticed I volleyed better depending on which eye was facing forward, not which arm I was using. This is an issue for any sideways standing shot - one hand backhand, slice, vollies. It is an issue coaches must understand or they are ruining students.
Thanks for the interesting post... I will experiment.
To your tennis success,
Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis Thank you Tom. Excellent video by the way. To test eye dominance, make a triangle with your thumb and index fingers using both hands. Focus on an object 10 feet away with both eyes open and center the object in the triangle. Now close one eye. If the object jumps out of the triangle that is your dominant eye. In my case I have an astigmatism in my right eye which is why my brain uses my left eye more than my right.
Thanks very much I tried it and the object stayed in the triangle left and right closed... I guess that means both are close in dominance... it moved a little more with right eye closed.
All the best,
Tom
Profesor Tom as always delivers the best instructions on the internet! Well done Sir.
Wow, thanks! Glad you like them!
To your tennis success,
Tom
There is no way, elders have something else while their teaching I do learn much more with elders it's amazing. My coach is an old man and I love the way he teaches (even though there are days I want to kill his because he is so perfectionist)
Thanks much appreciated!! Hooray for older coaches!
To your tennis success,
Tom
thank you Mr. Tom Avery for a very informative lesson on the one handed backhand. very well presented!!! thank you again!
You're welcome!
To your tennis success,
Tom
All key points are here!!! THANK YOU! You are a great teacher:)
Thanks much appreciated!
To your tennis success,
Tom
I found the keys for me were the lifting of my body from low to high when striking the ball, as well as unwinding at the wrist. These days I deliberately accelerate my wrist movement through the ball and I get a lot of power that way, with minimal accuracy reduction.
Yes the lifting keeps the racquet and body in SYNC which equals less effort and more power.
To your tennis success,
Tom
This instructional video is very helpful. Thank you Tom!
Glad you're benefiting!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Really now I got the proper backhand execution, thanks.
Glad I could help!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Thank you great Tom, greetings from Venice, Italy.
Grazie mille!!! Hope to visit Venice some day!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Tom, this truly is a brilliant lesson, better than any other I've seen on the backhand. Thanks for sharing these great tips, can't wait to get out there and try it tomorrow.
Glad it was helpful!
To your tennis success,
Tom
very clear and good explanation Tom
Thank you! Please share with your friends.
To your tennis success,
Tom
Great video You are one of the few instructors I've seen who even mentioned the semi western BH grip. My coaches discouraged me from using it but i stuck with it nevertheless and am glad that i did. My BH is so much more of a weapon than it would have otherwise been.
Yes, it works well for some!!! Gustavo Kuerten winner of French Open 3X's used it... one of THE BEST BACKHANDS of all time.
To your tennis success,
Tom
The best instruction I've found online
Thanks!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
I have watched this video many times and learn something new each time; thanks Tom.
Glad to hear that!!! You're welcome!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Gracias couch!!
Very clear instruction & demonstration. Now --- to practice! Thanks
Have fun!
To your tennis success,
Tom
hitting backhand drives for 1st time. its great. thanks coach
Great to hear!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Just one caveat: For low balls at the baseline (corner, particularly)/in general for the neutral rally balls bouncing low you should stay low also on the BH side all the way through the swing, not coming intentionally/aggressively up from the legs thus breaking the loose swing and hitting the ball typically in the net. Stay in the shot, always stay in the shot until the shot leaves you and your body itself. Let it swing by itself.
Nice observations Jack... my take is this, if I can get some leg lift I'll get net clearance and more power... also my racquet and body are moving in sync (low to high) if I stay down with the legs I have a force going down (legs) and a force going up (arm)..... forces are now working in opposite directions which will require more effort... I'm talking about "some" leg lift.... on a passing shot or a shot like you describe you wouldn't need to come OFF the ground as you might on another ball where you're being more aggressive.
To your tennis success,
Tom
Exultant presentation. At this time I'm working at ' committing ' to the eastern grip. With the ball machine I'm OK - but after, when I play games - I'll creep back to my old grip, where in order to drive & put topspin on the ball I'm needing to bend my wrist under. I think when I'm playing a match I tend to think defensive mentally & the old grip lets me resort to the slice return. More time with the ball machine !
Thank you! The ball machine is an excellent tool for adding new things to your game. Keep me posted.
To your tennis success,
Tom
Really a great lesson. Full of experience full of secrets and full of tennis passions. You really helps with this lesson our One hand backhand. We can only appreciate your great work . My best regards to your professional guide. bravo
Much appreciated!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Almost everybody explains the same thing, but yours is the best so far. Excellent video, sir! Helped me a lot. Greetings from São Luis, MA, Brazil
Many thanks!
To your tennis success,
Tom
great video! greetings from Brazil
Thank you!! Tudo bem!!
Tom
Excellent, Tom. Excellent. Only just come to this but glad I looked.
Glad you're here!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Hi Coach. I always only slice on my single handed backhand. I have been trying to develop a two handed drive. I wish u had a tutorial on that which really breaks down the correct mechanics like u have on all your other strokes.
I'll work with one of my coaches that has an excellent 2 Hander... we'll do a tutorial for you.
To your tennis success,
Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis the best coach on the net
Clear. Concise. Effective. Yours is one of the best tennis tutorial channels in YT. Thanks heaps Tom!
Thank you much appreciated! Please share with your tennis buddies.
To your tennis success,
Tom
Wow! That was awesome instruction - thanks!
Thank you much appreciated!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Ace Tom love it man.
Thanks so much Chris, much appreciated!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Great demonstration and a beautiful backhand....thanks so much Tom.
Thanks!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Fantastic video! 1 of the best out there on the OHB!
Thanks much appreciated!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Great video and great tennis master, but how many tennis racquets do I need to buy and throw over the fences before getting the tsisipas rubberband supreme backhand? this is truly a high budget shot.
Thousands!!! LOL... Seriously, you've got to throw as many as you need to burn the rubberband signal into the brain... for each player it's different.
To your tennis success,
Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis You are a great person Tom besides being a great tennis master thank you for the free videos wondering why would you do it for free since thousands and thousands of racquets are needed just for the rubberband backhand drill.?
LOL!!!
Best,
Tom
tom your tips are always the best.......and the more complete.....and easy to understand and follow.....thanks you for all what you do for beginner and intermediate and advanced tennis players.....and all the people that want to begin this wonderful sport ....that is tennis.........
Much appreciated!!
All the best,
Tom
Awesome video. Guga of course... what a beautiful backhand. My favorite one handed backhand though would be Edberg.
Good choice! Especially Edberg's backhand volley!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
What a great video! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Thanks for the tips. I love it
Glad you're benefitting!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Absolutely fantastic video I’ve been working at my backhand and this took it to the next level I have more than double the power and spin much love Tom thank you!
Thanks for confirming it works!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Thank you Tom. As always. Super helpful.
You're welcome, much appreciated!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Awesome and very informative
Thank you much appreciated!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Bravo ! Nice lesson !
Thank you! 😃
To your tennis success,
Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis Many Thanks
Really great explanation, and so very true for the backhand drive. How bout high backhand and slice?
Thanks!!! Please see other videos on the channel that address high backhands and slice.
To your tennis success,
Tom
14:05 try maybe a frisbee instead of a racket?
Yes, I've used that analogy before... the one-hander is like throwing a frisbee, especially the take back (Pulling the rubber band) and keeping the hitting arm loose... nice observation!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Awesome!! Thanks!!
You're welcome!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
need some videos of the open stanced single handed backhand!! We see it in thiem, federer 2017, wawrinka, gasquet, mark phillipousis!!
Sounds good... with the speed of today's game it's a shot that has naturally evolved... will work on it!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis thanks coach. I just saw it in the passing shot thiem did against nadal on the backhand side at barcelona~
Excellent Tom!
Thanks!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Hey, you are a great instructor. Thank you.
You're welcome, glad you're benefiting!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Great video. thank you for all the priceless advices. Thank you from Paris.
You're welcome!!
Happy Backhands,
Tom
Right arm more bent with racquet upright will yield more power.
Nice observation.
To your tennis success,
Tom
Amazing instruction! I ´m changing to OHB
Great glad to hear that!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Can you explain the wrist angle sequence and the reason for the angle at different points? It is bent up during the back swing and then I think it straightens by impact with the ball.
Yes what you say is correct slightly bent on the backswing.... as you pull the racquet back and down the wrist should naturally relax and straighten... at contact the wrist is in a stable position behind the racquet handle and is releasing upwards especially after contact. Hope that helps.
To your tennis success,
Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis Thank you Tom!
Good points and progressions. What about training the rubber band effect on the FH? To get the effortless feeling.
Yes nice point I'll work on that!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis Great, looking forward to it. 💪
I find it difficult to hit the ball and staying sideways since you can’t see where the ball is going.
Not staying sideways and coming around with the back foot is acceptable also on some shots.
To your tennis success,
Tom
Brilliant
Thanks much appreciated!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Keep it up Tom sir
Will do!!
Best,
Tom
Excelente demostración!!! Felicidades profe......
Thanks much appreciated!!
All the best,
Tom
Your last example trowing rackets for the backhand you can do it also with rings
Sounds like a plan!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Hi Tom, thanks for a good lesson. What is the grip pressure in a scale of 1-10? Where should the thumb be - pushing on bevel 6 or wrapping around the index finger?
Good question! You do not need a tight grip I'm usually around 4 coming into the contact area... my thumb is wrapped around touching the middle finger with my index finger spread slightly.
To your tennis success,
Tom
I can tell you have a beautiful backhand, Tom, just by your demonstration motion. I played fairly high level competitive junior and college tennis, and no kidding, it looks just like mine. All the best.
Thanks... it's my favorite shot!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Merci beaucoup !
De rien!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Realy Perfect!!!! Thank You!!
You're welcome!!
All the best,
Tom
Tom, I play men’s 60’s- 80’s doubles with a 110 sq in racket. I am 67. Do you think it would be a good idea to reduce my racquet head size to 100 sq in to improve my one handed backhand speed ? Thanks Tom.
Reducing the head size will help with control.... not with speed unless the smaller head size is easier to maneuver and you can get more racquet head speed coming into the contact zone.
To your tennis success,
Tom
Excellent Instruction,
Thanks!!
All the best,
Tom
Thank you!
You're welcome!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Omg thank you, It really help me so much
Glad the tips are working for you!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Really helped me thank you!!!
Great!! Pull the rubber band... loosen up.... and let it go!!!
All the best,
Tom
Thank you for the great video! I just loved it.
You're welcome!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Great
Thanks!
To your tennis success,
Tom
good instructions
Thanks!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Great, instructive video! Backhand broken down to accessible steps. Grazie! 🙏🏼
Thank you!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
You are the father of Wawrinka... We Have to make the DNA test... Fantastic backhand
Wow! Thanks for the compliment.
To your tennis success,
Tom
hi Tom...do you think there is a big difference beetwen your prostaff rf97 and the the wilson blade 104, at our amatour club level?
Yes I do, a little more plough through, stability and control with the RF 97.
To your tennis success,
Tom
Thanks to this video, now i got no racquet left. 😄
LOL It's over the fence in the bushes... go get it!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Nice vid - gotta ask though if you're trying to demonstrate hitting a flatter/ side spinning backhand (ball spins horizontally)? Many players do this technique, and even though Jimmy Connors used a double back hand, it was similar to this on how the ball came off his racket - he hit a flat, driving backhand with little to no top spin - the ball stays low after hitting the opponents' side. If you're trying to demonstrate hitting a top spin backhand, your technique in this video doesn't really do that. Top spin backhand techniques can really loop or curve the ball's path and really kick hard and high after they hit the opponent's side. Both styles are great and useful - your technique the ball rolls off the top of your racket head as you pull it away more laterally (horizontally) - whereas with topspin, the ball would be rolling off the bottom (or side) of the head (at contact) as the racket would be pulled vertically away from the contact zone, then snapping the wrist in a looping motion as the racket is thrown out to the side of the hitter's body. The whipping of the arm and snapping of the wrist adds huge top spin, but does ruin balls quicker and breaks strings a lot - and a player's timing has to be more precise or the ball can get shanked off the frame. Flatter backhands use slower racket head speeds, top spin backhands generate much higher racket head speeds due to a full wrist snap during and after contact.
What I'm teaching here is a swing path is "low to high" and a racquet face that is vertical at contact... put those two things together and you've got some topspin on the ball. The balls I'm hitting in this demo have topspin. Topspin is generated by the "swing path"... yes the wrist "flicking" helps generate more but the topspin is already there from the swing path.
To your tennis success,
Tom
So great, thank you
You're welcome!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Tom, great explanation... I am going to give it a try next Sunday.. I'll let you know how it went :)
Sounds good let me know!
To your tennis success,
Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis Hello Tom, as promised, even a bit late, my feedback.. I tried the backhand trying to hit the ball just the way you explained and I have to say, that, when I was able to really do what you teach the shot was great and I found power I did not even know I could ever have. really.. It is not simple tough. it really needs to stay in balance with the correct position of body/feet, correct distance from the ball (my main difficulty at the moment) and let the arm go.. and I was amazed. even my opponent (friend) started asking how I could do that.. ;). so I would like to thank you and I'll continue to watch your video because they really take the most out of me.. Thank you
@@skinred3790 Hey that's great!!! At first you will lose some control but as you get a "FEEL" for the "TIMING" as to when to pull the rubber band back it will all start to click even better.
To your tennis success,
Tom
Thanks a lot sir
You're welcome!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Thanks!
You're welcome!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Hi Tom, is that RF97 autograph that you are using? Does the weight cose any fatigue after one hour of playing? Thank you
No I don't have any fatigue with it... I've been playing with racquets over 13 ounces most of my career and right now the RF which is at 12.6oz., feels good...
To your tennis success,
Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis Thanks Tom, i just bought mine, i have been playing babolat pure aero customized up to 340gr, so i was a bit worried as my new RF97 weighs 367gr with over grip but as i have done some research and all the pros are using racquets that are over 350gr. Thanks again, all the best.
¡Gracias Tom! Muy buen video.
You're welcome!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
beautiful backhand!
Thank you!! Please visit www.ctwacademy.com/vault/
All the best,
Tom
very good video...thanks.
You're welcome!
To your tennis success,
Tom
GREAT !
Thank you!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Nice video. And one question and I mean no disrespect... the exact opposite. How old are you? Your movement is incredible!
I'm 70 years old and I attribute the movement skills I have left to changing my diet 13 years ago to a plant-based diet and trying to be regular with a stretching routine.
To your tennis success,
Tom
@@Fundamentalsoftennis Very inspirational!
Great tips love the low to hi swing
Low to high way to GO!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
If one is getting a boomer serve to return you don’t have time to bring the racquet further back. All the other vids I watch everyone says SHORTEN racquet take back.
In this video I'm demonstrating technique for baseline rallies... NOT RETURN OF SERVE... which would be a short backswing.
To your tennis success,
Tom
Great!
Thanks!
To your tennis success,
Tom
great post
Glad you enjoyed it!
To your tennis success,
Tom
What a great video,
Thank you much appreciated!!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Shadow swing is best to improve forehand but how to know whether swing is right or not...
You must understand the swing pattern... when you know what the swing pattern should be you will know if you're doing it right... you can use a mirror or have a friend or coach check the pattern.
All the best,
Tom
Thanks
Excellent sir
Thanks!!
All the best,
Tom
Got hit on the head with last racket released, but it's ok I am getting a free lesson thanks
LOL sorry bout that!!! You're welcome!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Great instruction Tom thanks, I must get my racquet behind me for full power, also you move well and are flexible I susspect you are a vegan if so good onya mate.
Thanks!!! Vegan now for 11 years!!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Thanks! Looking at switching from a two handed and going through your videos.
You're welcome!
To your tennis success,
Tom
Very good class
Thanks!!
All the best and happy stretching!!
Tom