Your Strokes: Gayahtri Evani: Two Handed Backhand

No obvious flaws, but what about the set up and how it relates to extension?

This month I want to explore some of the issues on the two-handed backhand regarding set up and stance, and how that can affect other factors in the shot, by looking at the two-hander of Gayathri Evani, a ranked Texas junior player who lives in Austin.

Gayathri and her dad Subbayya came to see me recently, as part of a family trip to California. As long time Tennisplayer subscribers, they were interested to see Gayahtri on film and see what I thought about the key positions in her strokes.

What we saw on her two-hander was very interesting, and has application for anyone who aspires to hit this shot as well as possible. These issues have to do with the set up and the use of the legs, particularly the back leg, but also how that can affect the swing pattern.

Because most two handers are hit with neutral or closed stances, the exact positioning of the back leg in the preparation is a point that often gets overlooked. But emphasizing it correctly can make a big difference.

Alignment, balance, power: three reasons to develop…