How to Hit a Backhand in Tennis: The Ultimate Guide

You’ve come to the right place. This is the ultimate guide on how to hit a backhand in tennis with step by step instructions and videos.

Tennis Backhand Overview

The backhand is one of the most important strokes in tennis. When executed correctly, it can be a very powerful and effective shot. A backhand is hit with the back of the hand facing the direction of the target. Backhands are hit on both forehands and backhands.

The grip

The backhand is one of the most important strokes in tennis. A sound backhand can be the difference between winning and losing a close match.

There are two main grips for the backhand: the continental grip and the eastern (or semi-western) grip. The continental grip is best for players who like to keep the ball low over the net and hit a lot of topspin. The eastern (or semi-western) grip is better for players who want to hit a flatter shot with less spin.

Here are instructions for both grips:

Continental Grip
1. Start with your hand on the beveled edge of the racket handle, with your index finger pointing toward the top of the racket head.
2. Wrap your hand around the racket so that your thumb is on top of the handle and your pinky is on the bottom. Your palm should be facing you, and your index finger should be touching your middle finger.
3. Adjust your grip until you feel comfortable. You may need to experiment with different positions until you find one that feels natural.

Eastern (or Semi-Western) Grip
1. Start with your hand on the beveled edge of the racket handle, with your index finger pointing toward the top of the racket head.
2. Wrap your hand around the racket so that your thumb is on top of the handle and your pinky is on bottom. Your palm should be facing you, and your index finger should touch your ring finger.
3. Adjust your grip until you feel comfortable

The stance

There’s no one way to stand when hitting a backhand in tennis. Some players prefer to have their feet parallel to the baseline, while others stagger their stance so that one foot is slightly ahead of the other. The important thing is to find a stance that is comfortable for you and allows you to generate enough power.

Your weight should be evenly distributed on both feet, and you should bend your knees slightly. If you’re staggered, your front foot should be pointing in the direction you want the ball to go, and your back foot should be angled so that you can step into the shot. Try different stance widths until you find one that gives you a good balance.

The backswing

When you’re ready to hit the ball, take your racket back in a smooth arc. As you swing your racket back, rotate your forearm so that your palm faces up. When your racket is at about waist level, start to uncock your wrist, so that by the time your racket is pointing behind you, your wrist is straight. The further back you take your racket, the more power you’ll generate—but don’t take it so far back that you lose control.

The Two-Handed Backhand

The two-handed backhand is one of the most popular strokes in tennis. Many of the top players in the world use this stroke, including Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, and Novak Djokovic. The two-handed backhand is a very versatile stroke that can be used to hit all kinds of different shots. It can be used to hit groundstrokes, volleys, and even overhead shots.

The grip

One-handed backhands are more common these days, but the two-handed backhand is still used by many of the game’s best players. If you’re a tennis beginner, or if you’re looking to add a little more power to your one-handed backhand, the two-handed backhand might be for you.

The grip is the most important part of any tennis stroke, and the two-handed backhand is no exception. For a two-handed backhand, you’ll use an eastern forehand grip. To find this grip, hold the racket in your dominant hand and position your hand so that the “V” created by your thumb and index finger points toward your non-dominant shoulder. Then place your non-dominant hand on the racket below your dominant hand and clasp both hands together.

There are variations of the eastern forehand grip that you can use, depending on what feels comfortable for you. For example, some players like to place their non-dominant hand higher on the handle, while others like to grip the handle with their fingertips only. experiment with different grips until you find one that feels comfortable for you.

The stance

There are many different ways to hit a two-handed backhand, but the basic stance is the same for all of them. For a right-handed player, the feet should be shoulder-width apart and turned slightly to the left so that the left foot is leading. The weight should be shifted onto the left foot, and the player should be leaning forward slightly from the waist. The racket should be held in the non-dominant hand, and the dominant hand should be placed on top of it.

The backswing

The backswing is the first part of the two-handed backhand tennis stroke. Remember to keep the arms relatively close to the body and to turn the shoulders rather than just moving the arms. The racket should be at shoulder height and pointing diagonally across the body, towards the opposite net post. From this position, the player can generate a lot of power for their backhand. The player then starts their swing by uncoiling their body using their legs, glutes, and lower back to start moving their torso and upper arm backwards. As they do this, they should start to bring their racket hand up and around their head. The arm should remain relaxed as it reaches above the head. As they complete their backswing, the player’s weight should have shifted from their back foot to their front foot, and their upper arm and racket should be in line with each other above their head.

The One-Handed Backhand

The backhand is one of the most important strokes in tennis. If you can master it, you’ll be able to hit some amazing shots. This guide will show you how to hit a backhand in tennis using the one-handed technique.

The grip

The most important thing when hitting a backhand is to have the right grip. If you don’t have the right grip, you will not be able to control the ball. There are two main grips for hitting a backhand: the continental grip and the eastern backhand grip.

The continental grip is the most popular grip for hitting a backhand. This grip is used by most professional tennis players. To execute this grip, place your hand on the racket so that your index finger and your thumb form a V shape. The rest of your fingers should be clenched around the racket.

The eastern backhand grip is not as popular as the continental grip, but it is still used by some professional players. To execute this grips, place your hand on the racket so that your index finger is stretched out along the side of the racket. Your thumb and your middle finger should form a V shape. The rest of your fingers should be clenched around the racket.

Once you have chosen your grip, it is time to position your hand on the racket. For both grips, you will want to position your hand in the middle of the strings. This will give you more control over the ball.

The stance

Assuming a right-handed player, the standard backhand tennis stroke begins with the player positioned to the left of the center line of the court, with feet roughly shoulder width apart and weight evenly distributed on both feet. The player then takes a step back with the left foot (for a right-handed player), followed by a big step forward with the right foot, planting it to the right of where the ball will be hit. As the right foot hits the ground, the player should be transferring weight onto it and shifting his/her body weight forward. This helps promote an upward swing path and prevents excessive slicing or netting of the ball. The player’s racket arm should be fully extended out in front of them and they should be holding the racket in their non-dominant hand. For a right-handed player, this would be their left hand. The player should grip the racket lightly and be sure not to tense up their arm or shoulders.

The backswing

The backswing is the first part of the two-handed backhand stroke. The player starts with both hands on the racket handle and the racket head up in front of the body. The player then takes the racket back behind them with one hand while keeping the other hand on the handle. The backswing should be a smooth, fluid motion that ends with the racket arm stretched out behind the body and the racket head up in front of the face.