Learn the tennis BACKHAND by CoachV / Mr.Tom Blake

Hi Everyone, this is CoachV ( well duh ), today i am going to give you the three steps James Blake's dad gave me when i was 15 that forever change my Backhand.

Step 1:

Change Grip and Turn backwards Point your shoulder first before the ball comes.Point your shoulder just under the ball.

then move so you can wait for the ball to get to your contact zone/ move to the ball within your contact zone.

Step two

step to the ball. & Swing!

Straighten out the Hitting arm behind the body before the swing after the step, at the same time of the step, get off the back foot and leg to strike the ball on the closest foot. make sure you have a pendulum style swing and get the hand under the ball.

the swing its self will be like a Golf Swing or a baseball bat swing.

*** note: A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. ***

Step 3:

Follow Through & Point the Racquet up in an "L" Shape

The Follow Though can come across the ball with no elbow bend. also try to keep the pointed part of the elbow pointed Down. Turn your hand where the tip of the racquet points up to the sky without bending your elbow and Pinch your shoulder blades or back. Also Swing your opposite arm in the equal swing of the hitting are

Step 4: Finishing and Recovery of the swing. ( for advance players )

Above are my interpretations of what James Blake's dad told me to do many years ago training at the Harlem Junior Tennis Program. But i have become more advance in the process and there are steps to take to recover within the backhand swing. Finsh the Swing all the Way step 4 is the extra frames after my hit. here is the next Pic in the Video as a Still.

it looks like im Sky diving and notice that im still facing sideways and my shoulder blades are completely flexed back. that range of motion allows you to hit harder and with more spin. also notice that i am standing on my toes now, because the swing speed is pulling my body up. all back hands are hit on 1 foot. single or double. you can see the low to high idea/ tip is you go back to step 2
Since I am up on one foot & Completely finished my swing. While im on my toes and flying a little bit im gonna use that swing speed to help me recover my ground on the tennis court. Im gonna spin a little back into ready position, but also leave my arm back since its now prepared automatically for a forehand.

Part Deuce of Recovery Part 5.

now notice that my Body is staring to turn towards the Net. I'm gonna leave my arm in that back position and simple spin my grip around to the forehand as if i was pulled out wide and I'm gonna come back in to play/hit a forehand. So instead of waiting energy and time I'm just gonna leave my arm there and run down the next ball to hit a forehand.

I'm also using the kinetic energy of my back leg to help swing my body back around. you can see the motion from step 4 to Part 5.

if you have any questions please ask.