Backhand：How to Play Tennis --- part IV

1 Get your name across
As you prepare to hit a backhand, pretend that your name is written on your back. Then, as you hit, rotate enough so that your opponent is able to read it.

2 Turn, turn, turn
On your backhand, instead of thinking about taking your racquet back, turn your body sideways instead. This will automatically put your racquet in the right spot.

3.A Real no-brainer
Relax! Instead of bemoaning the fact that you can't hit with your backhand like you can with your forehand, learn to hit a good, neutralizing backhand (either a high or low shot that stays out of the opponent's power zone).

4. Two-hand touch
Coaches have widely differing opinions regarding hand placement on a two-handed backhand. While your nondominant hand drives forward and gives your shot its power, your dominant hand helps put spin on the ball. Warning: Don't slide your nondominant hand toward a Continental grip; this will cause the racquet face to open up and keep you from getting enough spin on the ball to bring it down into the court.

5. Keep your distance
Have trouble playing shoulder-high backhands? It's all in the spacing. Get too close to a high ball and you'll have to bend your arm to make contact, resulting in a crippled shot. The farther away from the ball you are, the more relaxed your swing will be -- and the better you'll hit.

6 .Target practice
If you hit your backhand with one hand, think of your front shoulder (the right shoulder for a right-handed player, the left shoulder for a left-hander) as your directional pointer. Pretend there's a line between your two shoulders; as your body shifts around, fix the front shoulder so that it's pointing in the direction of the intended stroke, and then accelerate the racquet arm toward impact.