INSTRUCTION
By Morgan Evans
The Backhand Slap
The fully loaded position for a high backhand volley put-away .
PHOTO CREDIT STEVE TAYLOR
Your overhead can win the point from anywhere and your high forehand is the stuff of legend , but what about your high backhand ? This tip will help you develop enough power and spin to put that ball away .
Do you remember throwing a Frisbee ? If you still have one , then it ’ s time to dust it off and take it to the court . Stand at the kitchen line with a partner opposite you but on the baseline . Coil from the hips and draw the Frisbee back using your shoulder and elbow . Quickly unwind those hips to create a whip-like effect before tossing the Frisbee with full extension .
Get a number of reps of doing this until the motion becomes familiar . Start slow and loft the Frisbee to get it to fly the required distance , but make sure you gradually increase the level of spin and power . By doing this you will start to train the muscles and tendons in your wrist / forearm to accelerate quickly . Once you feel comfortable throwing in one direction , ask your partner to start moving around the baseline to give you a moving target . It ’ s time now to grab a paddle and do some shadow shots without the ball . Try to get a sense of how you can swing the fastest by relaxing your shoulder , elbow and wrist . The idea is to simulate the same feeling you had with the Frisbee by employing a real flicking motion that finishes with your hand fully hinged at the end of your follow-through . The added weight of a paddle compared to a Frisbee is significant , so make sure to stop and rest if you feel any discomfort in your hand , wrist or forearm . As always , the number-one rule defining good technique is that it can ’ t result in an injury .
Finally , it ’ s time for your partner to feed some high balls to be met with your newfound technique . Don ’ t worry about accuracy to begin ; just look for raw speed and trust that as you build your skill at this shot , the accuracy will come . If you notice the ball flying uncontrollably high or low , then make some slight grip changes until you reach a sweet spot . Remember , for the most part , this shot is going to be used when you have plenty of time for a grip change so don ’ t worry about it feeling different from your standard dink grip .