How to Put Backspin on a Tennis Swing

Left-handed tennis players have a natural backspin on their serves, but every player needs to learn how to volley with a backspin. You can raise the level of your overall game and win more points when you figure out how to employ backspin.

Things You'll Need

• Tennis racket

Instructions

1. Employ the Continental grip to produce backspin. Place your dominant hand at a 45-degree angle on the handle to ensure an upward angle during your swing.

2. Initiate your swing above the ball as it crosses the net. Approach a tennis ball from at least 1/2 foot above its approach to put backspin on your shot.

3. Practice proper racket placement. Ask a coach or fellow player to observe the angle of your racket from start to follow-through to ensure that the strings are facing upward.

4. Swing your racket toward the tennis court and away from your body to put backspin on a ball. The combination of an angled racket and a forceful motion downward will create friction on the ball that will generate spin.

5. Reduce the movement by your racket hand to prevent the ball from getting too close to your body. A short back swing and limited follow-through helps you to focus on the finesse needed for backspin.

6. Move your non-dominant arm away from your body as you complete your shot. You can swing your opposing arm to your waist as a way to build momentum through a forehand shot with backspin.

7. Aim your shot well above the net to account for a lack of clearance by a ball with backspin. Backspin will reduce the distance covered by the ball, and a well placed ball will barely reach the opposing court.

8. Focus your attention on the path of the ball as you prepare to put backspin on your swing. Avoid the tendency of aiming your shot in a different direction. A perfect forehand or backhand shot with a spin will follow the same path back toward your opponent.

9. Push your racket from left to right while maintaining your racket's angle to add cross spin to the ball. Due to the complex coordination of movements, you should only use cross spin when you perfect your backspin during live matches.