Court Movement: The Backhand

Tennis is a game of movement, and movement is just as important on the backhand as on the forehand. But the backhand movement patterns are probably less well understood than the forehand by many players. Whether you hit with one hand or two, effective movement means understanding the first move, how to move out and set up behind the ball, and the best method for efficient recovery. In fact, the patterns of movement to the hit and the recovery are almost identical for the backhand as for the forehand. Although more forehands are probably hit with open stance, it is equally important to be able to hit open stance on the backhand side. This is true for both the one hander and the two-hander. The first move, the set up, and recovery are the same on the backhand as the forehand. The Initial Move For the backhand, start in a good, balance ready position, with your feet spread a little more than shoulder width, the knees flexed, and the body upright. The initial move begins with a push with the Inside Foot and, at the same time, a step with the Outside Foot toward the ball. Again, the push is...