Backhand topspin
Strokes and Technique
Srikanth Girish Asked 8 years ago
Hi Alois and Jeff,
My backhand topspin is not right i am playing with my bat close my coach says that is because of my grip so what should i do should i continue with this action or should i change my action.
Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago
Hi Srikanth,
I would first focus on the grip. If you are turning your bat in your hand then the angle will face downwards and lead to more errors.
It may be that your actual stroke is OK once you change your grip.
Thoughts on this question
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Linh Vu Posted 8 years ago
There are 4 types of balls before you consider backhand loop/flick
1. underspin (usually half long to long, when you can attack). I open my racket (80-90 degree as against the ground level). I brush the ball with thin contact in an follow through upward motion. please use a lot of wrist, elbow, upper arm, shoulder, torso, and knees. you have to wait for the ball to fall down more than usual before you backhand loop. If you don't, the ball will be under the net or your backhand loop/flick is not consistent.
Some of my friends suggest thick contact as opposed to thin contact. However, I tried thick contact. It was so fast but it is was not reliable. I don't recommend thick contact for underspin balls.
My backhand loop against underspin generates a tremendous amount of spin. My opponents will usually lose the point as most underestimate of the amount of spin I put on the ball. I focus on consistency, much less on placement.
2. no spin/clockwise sidespin. My stroke for no spin is the same as that for underspin. The differences to underspin are to close the racket at 30-80 degree and have more forward motion.
Some of my friends suggest thick contact as opposed to thin contact. However, I tried thick contact. It was so fast but it is was not reliable. I don't recommend thick contact for no spin balls.
my backhand loop consistency against clockwise sidespin is not great. can someone jump in and explain how to improve my consistency?
3. topspin/counter clockwise sidespin (I am right-handed shake hand player). I open my racket (80-90 degree as against the ground level). I backhand loop/flick with thick contact with follow through forward motion. For less topspin, follow through motion should be more upward direction. For more topspin, follow through motion should be more downward direction.
Most of the time, I open the racket. I control the ball using the follow through motion. The only time I close the racket is no spin.