National
TIPS FOR BEGINNERS: CONTROL YOUR BACKHAND
We’re going to show you a simple activity to introduce the backhand stroke – the self rally. To find your grip, have your knuckles facing up and your racquet to side of your body.
Tap the ball in the air about eye high, let it bounce on the ground, then trap the ball on the strings of the racquet with your opposite hand.
The goal is to get sideways to the ball by moving your feet and turning your shoulders.
After you are successful trapping the ball on the strings, continue to tap the ball up after each bounce. The self-rally backhand activity will give you lots of reps on your backhand to learn control and height.
Leah Friedman works at the USTA National Campus at Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla.
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