Let’s dive into this fantastic tennis lesson where we’re dissecting Eloise’s backhand. We’re on a mission to add more topspin and power, by placing a lot of emphasis on her top hand. We’re not just stopping there – we’re also exploring a more complete turn and a wrap-around finish. Why? Because we’re all about maximising the power on this particular groundstroke. So, grab your racket and join us in this tennis tutorial as we uncover the tricks to elevate Eloise’s backhand to a whole new level.
Video Lesson:
The Mistakes that need fixing
Let’s zoom in on the specifics of Eloise’s backhand in this video, breaking down areas that could use a bit of fine-tuning. In the initial part of the footage, it becomes apparent that Eloise isn’t wrapping her racket around her body sufficiently. This shortfall directly affects the effective use of her hips and shoulders, which are key contributors to generating power in a backhand stroke. By addressing this aspect, she can unlock a considerable boost in the force behind her shots.
Now, let’s shift our attention to the subtler details. Upon closer inspection, we notice that Eloise may not be fully capitalising on her top hand. There are two crucial aspects here. Firstly, by turning her wrist over the ball a bit more, she can add that extra bit of topspin to her shots. Secondly, by emphasising the use of her top hand to push through contact, Eloise can enhance both control and power in her backhand. It’s all about these subtle adjustments, that will make a big change in her game and we’re here to guide Eloise through these refinements for a far more effective backhand.
Drill 1 – Roll the Wrist!
Let’s start by focusing on an essential aspect to enhance Eloise’s backhand – the wrist movement. Here’s a great drill: we’re encouraging her to feel the wrist movement with her non dominant hand. As she shadows this movement, holding the throat of the racket, it becomes a guide to understand the degree of wrist turn required for maximising topspin.
Picture this – we’re aiming for the racket head to complete a full 180-degree turn over. By exaggerating this wrist action, Eloise can gain a deeper sense of how to generate that topspin on her backhand strokes. It’s all about building that muscle memory and getting a feel for the motion.
Drill 2 – One Hand Only
Now, let’s transition into our second drill, and this time, Eloise gets to hit some balls. Still holding the throat of her racket, we’re adding a little bit of turn into the shot (not yet full rotation). The key here is to build on the wrist movement she worked on in the previous drill. It’s all about translating that feel into action – getting the wrist over the ball and producing that crucial topspin.
Drill 3 – Slowly Adding the Bottom Hand
Let’s dive into the third drill in this lesson. This time, we’re bringing in the bottom hand, focusing on the thumb and index finger. The emphasis remains on turning the wrist over the ball with the top hand, but now we’re slowly delving into a more complete grip.
Here’s the interesting twist: by incorporating only the thumb and index finger of the bottom hand, Eloise is in a sense compelled to rely more on her top hand. It’s like a power play between the hands, with the bottom hand providing just a bit of support. This drill serves as a fantastic way to develop the feel and recognise the significance of leveraging the top hand when executing the backhand.
When you try this yourselves, pay attention to how the interplay between your hands affects the shot. It’s a small but impactful adjustment that can really elevate your backhand.
Drill 4 – Pinky off
On to the next step in our improvement journey with Eloise’s backhand. We’re getting her to incorporate almost her entire right hand onto the grip, leaving only the pinky finger off. The purpose here is to instill a sensation where the left hand remains predominant, with the raised pinky on the right hand acting as the stability element.
As we guide Eloise through this exercise, the focus persists on rolling the wrist over the ball. The goal is to maintain that critical topspin while still achieving a clean and effective strike through the ball with the top hand. You’ll also notice that we are moving a little further back to the service line as we progress here.
Remember, when practising this yourselves, think of it as a dynamic dance between your hands, where the left hand takes the lead but the right hand is right there in harmony. This adjustment is geared towards refining your feel for the stroke and enhancing the synergy between both hands. Get ready to experiment and feel the balance as you progress through this drill. Your backhand is on the path to becoming a masterpiece on the court!
Drill 5 – Wrap Around Finish
Let’s look at refining Eloise’s unit turn and follow through, essential elements for a powerful backhand. In this segment, I’m breaking down for Eloise how far she should wrap her racket around her body, emphasising a broader range of motion. This adjustment aims to maximise the utilisation of her hips and shoulders, unlocking more power in her backhand strokes. It’s not just about power; this enhanced range will also contribute to achieving greater depth on her shots from this wing.
Now, if you’re trying this out for yourself, here’s a mental image to help guide you. Envision a clock, with straight ahead being 12 o’clock. For right handed players like Eloise, I’d like your left elbow to face more towards 1 o’clock. Alternatively, think about pointing your lead elbow towards the right net post. This mental cue will help you achieve that desired wrap around motion, ensuring your backhand not only packs a punch but also delivers depth and precision on the court.
Drill 6 – Release the Back Foot
And now, for the grand finale of our backhand masterclass – we’re pulling all the pieces together. But wait, there’s a crucial observation: Eloise’s back foot occasionally seemed like it was holding back the use of her hips and shoulders. It was acting like an anchor, limiting the full rotation needed for that maximum power.
So, to fix this, I suggested to Eloise that she focuses on bringing that back foot through more. Sometimes, I even encouraged her to step through with it. Why? Because getting that back foot involved ensures a smoother and more complete rotation of the hips and shoulders. It’s like unlocking the full potential of a cannon ready to fire!
Feel the connection between your footwork and the dynamic rotation of your upper body.
Summary
In the lesson here, to enhance and fix Eloise’s backhand, the drills unfold with a focus on refining key aspects. Starting with an exploration of wrist movement, the first few drills build upon this element. Eloise progresses from shadowing the wrist action to hitting balls, incorporating the bottom hand, and refining the grip dynamics. The emphasis on maintaining the left hand’s predominance evolves into a nuanced interplay between hands. As the lesson advances, attention turns to the unit turn and follow-through, emphasising a broader range of motion to harness the power of hips and shoulders. The final drill addresses the role of Eloise’s back foot, ensuring its involvement in the rotation for optimal power. Through these interconnected exercises, her backhand improves massively, in such a short space of time. Get out there and try these drills for yourself. Good luck!