Rick Newman's Tennis Lesson 4: Two-Handed Backhand

Rick Newman's Tennis Lesson 4: Two-Handed Backhand

Two-Handed Backhand Notes:

1. Shoulder and hip rotation provides two-handed power
2. Wrist movement provides spin
3. Need to select the right combination of power  + spin
4. Feet do not move until after ball contact (to keep the stroke quiet)
5. The racquet grip is not too tight - to allow the wrists to flex upwards

Here is a GoPro Hero4 Silver video of my tennis lesson:





Serving Lesson Notes:

1. Focus on up and up-and-out swing path of the tennis racquet
2. If the ball lands outside the service box, the racquet is opening up too early
3. Before contact, the right hand should have a 15-degree elbow bend. The elbow should not be locked before ball contact
4. Try to keep the racquet closed until ball contact. The wrist needs to snap forward for more power
5. Use more of the shoulders to get power
6. To slice the ball, hit around the ball (like around an orange)
7. The swing path follows wherever the ball is tossed.
• Toss the ball forward for more power
• Toss the ball left, and you will move left

In-Game Adjustments

Forehand/Backhand Drive

• If the tennis ball hits the net:
• Aim higher, above the net
• Need more extension on the swing
• Check racquet grip
• Need a less upward swing (more power, less spin)
• Need more power (more shoulder turn, more wrist)
• If the tennis ball goes out:
• Aim lower
• Use more wrist for more topspin
• Use a longer low-to-high swing path

Serve

• If the tennis ball hits the net:
• Toss the ball more forward
• Hit with more power
• If the tennis ball goes out:
• Hit with more topspin
• Hit more up and out
• Hit with less power