Keep Your Head Still and Hit Your Backhand Just Like Federer!
Posted: Sunday, August 17, 2008
by John Key
Backhandworld.com
A common mistake on the backhand in tennis is an over-eagerness to look for the end product of the shot, before the shot is finished.
Like kicking a ball in soccer and hitting a golf shot, it is essential when hitting a backhand to keep your head still on impact, avoiding the temptation to follow the path of the ball with your eyes as soon as it leaves your racquet. Lifting your head too soon on the backhand will result in the top half of your body leaning back, causing you to lose control of the shot.
Good strong foundations on the backhand - keep that head still!
There is no comparison between the foundations and balance of a correctly struck ball with a still head, and one in which the head looks up too soon. The correct version will have a strong core running through it compared to the flimsy, head flipping option. The bad version will also incorrectly encourage the chest to open up too soon, causing yet more control issues.
With time you will learn to trust the result of your shot !
The secret to keeping your head still on contact (assuming your ball position is correct) is to trust the result of your shot. Nine times out of ten the reason for lifting your head too soon on the backhand is the dreaded lack of belief in the shot's result and a doubt as to whether it will land in the court. This lack of belief and the lifting of the head is generally the reason the shot goes wrong - a kind of self fulfilling prophecy!
Summary
Whether you are double or single-handed, a still head on contact will result in a stronger, safer and more accurate shot.
More technical help like this can be found at: www.backhandworld.com
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