How to Hit a Topspin Backhand in Tennis

For many novice players, a defensive slice is the go-to shot on the backhand side. It's usually a fairly forgiving shot that many players feel they can rely on, but it's not usually one that's used as an offensive weapon.Hitting backhands that really put your opponent under pressure really calls for a topspin shot that enables you to hit with more power, while coming over the ball and imparting spin in order to bring the ball down into the court.Here are a few tips to keep in mind when trying to add this shot, and a little offensive spark, to your game.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tennis racket
• Practice balls
• Practice partner

1. Hold the racket fairly loosely, out in front of you, with both hands. Make sure that your weight is on the balls of your feet, or even your toes, so that you're able to make quick adjustments in preparation for the shot. Your knees should be slightly bent, and you should be in a balanced position.

2. Make sure that you prepare for the shot by moving to your backhand grip of choice (probably some variation of the Eastern grip), and as you plant your left foot at the beginning of the stroke (assuming you're right-handed), place your left hand on the throat of the racket as a guide for the back swing. This should assist you in making the entire swing a fluid one, which is key to its success.

3. Keeping your eyes on the ball, turn your shoulders as you take back your racket. Try not to turn your hips into the shot; the motion should all come from the shoulders. Try to turn enough so that you're almost looking over your shoulder at the ball. The more shoulder turn you have, the more power you'll be able to generate.

4. Making sure that your elbow is bent and your wrist firm, and with the racket starting low, swing it forward from a low to a high position, brushing up and over the back of the ball. This is where the topspin comes from. As you swing, you will also be transferring the weight onto the front foot. This momentum, along with the shoulder rotation will give you the power for the shot. Make sure that you keep your eyes on the ball all the way through the swing up until the point of contact. Glancing around the court at your opponent is a sure way to increase errors in the timing and execution of the shot.

5. The racket's face will be closing on the follow-through to accentuate the overspin that will be bringing the ball down into the court, and the racket should finish well above the shoulder. Your left arm will be behind you in direct counterbalance to your racket arm and you should then be immediately readjusting your footwork in readiness for the next shot.

Tips & Warnings

• Footwork is key in this shot. You should be making small steps to get yourself in the perfect position, and then a larger one as you plant the left foot and pivot from it as you begin the back swing. As the back swing is completed the front (right) foot should be set and the weight will transfer to it as you execute the swing.
• A good drill for practicing your topspin is to stand inside the service box and have someone feed balls to you. Let the balls bounce once and then hit backhands into the open court. You'll find that the only way to keep the balls from going long is to hit them with topspin. It's a good no-pressure way to get the necessary feel of the shot.
• Don't try to create topspin by flicking the wrist as if it's a table tennis shot. The wrist should be firm and it should be the angle of the racket and its shoulder-generated head speed as it comes over the ball that generates the spin.
• Don't get caught hitting the ball late. You should be hitting it early, on the rise and out in front of you, as your body weight moves forward. If your timing is off, you may find yourself letting the ball get almost behind you at the point of contact. This way, there will be no momentum or accuracy for the shot.

Resources

• Beautiful slow motion look at Roger Federer's topspin backhand
• A video look at a backhand grip

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