Dealing with High Balls on the Backhand
Many players struggle when facing a high-bouncing ball on their backhand side. What are the best options in this situation?
- Move back. Allow the ball to drop to a more comfortable hitting height.
- Move forward. Take the ball early, on the rise, before it reaches an awkward height.
- Choose slice. If you have to hit a high backhand, slice is often a better option than topspin. It’s generally easier to play a high ball with backspin, rather than ‘brushing up’ in an attempt to generate topspin.
- Avoid it. Run around your backhand and hit a forehand instead.
For every challenge tennis presents, there are several possible solutions. That’s one of the things that makes our sport so fascinating.
Here’s the latest article in our Tennis Unlocked series by Peter Farrell, one of Ireland’s most experienced coaches. The series will build into a library of knowledge, specifically designed for club-level players, that can help make your match play more effective.
