Lessons From The US Open and One-Handed Backhand Tips!

Written by: Staff on 5th September 2011

Lessons From The US Open and One-Handed Backhand Tips!

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Marin Cilic of Croatia during their third round match on the sixth day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 03 September 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

Happy Labor Day everybody! Hope you can enjoy some down time and get out on the court to hit some balls! There’s been some great tennis played at the US Open the past few days, I was particularly impressed with Federer’s win over Cilic a couple of days ago because Cilic is the type of ball-striker that seems to give Fed troubles these days! I was pleased to see Fed’s backhand handling Cilic’s powerful ground strokes, it’s a good sign looking ahead. I managed to watch a very tight and pressured 2nd set tiebreak between Kirilenko and Stosur that went 17-15 in Kirilenko’s favor; the longest tiebreak in women’s singles Grand Slam history! Credit to Stosur for mentally staying in the match after losing the tiebreak to go on and win the match. So as the tennis quality goes up as the tournament progresses, I wanted to share some of the lessons I’ve learned this weekend.

I’ve been reading the Inner Game of Tennis and it mentions how still truly great tennis players’ facial expressions are when they hit their shots (Federer, Agassi on returns, Sampras on serves, etc.) The principle that goes hand in hand with this fact is that tennis players reach peak performances by “not trying to do to much” or “not over-trying” (because when we try too hard, our muscles tighten, face twists with exertion, and results produced are never truly what we truly expect). So as I watched Fed and his ability to handle deep, hard shots to his backhand, he remains relaxed and quick with his hands through contact. It got me wondering about my own one-handed backhand as I hit with Alexandra Stevenson on Saturday as well. She does a really good job of short-hopping deep balls to her backhand and is able to drive through them well. I talked with her about our common issue (where our opponents always attack our backhands relentlessly) and she told me about a few drills that will improve your ability to handle harder hit balls to the backhand. I’m not sure if Fed does these drills but maybe something similar. Anyway, Alexandra mentions two drills that are simple to replicate: You have a coach stand across the net, basket in tow, and just overhead balls to you as you stand on the baseline, preferably in a corner. This drill helps your return of serve and work on your stroke’s quickness. The second drill is more of the one that will help your ground stroke ability to pick up hard hit balls. This time, have your coach stand about halfway between the service line and the net, on the same side that you are on. Since I’m trying to improve my backhand, I’ll stand half way between the center-hash and the singles line on the Ad side. Have the coach now punch balls at you, having them land close to the baseline, forcing you to constantly short-hop each ball and exercise quick hands in order to put something on it and return it effectively to your opponent. With this said, can anyone remember how well Fed did this during a night match a few years ago against F. Lopez? Lopez would hit huge serves to Fed’s backhand, deep approaches that were both slice and drives, and Fed was hitting flat-out passing shot winners that were incredible. To tie this all together, this is an example of how great players are able to rely on muscle memory, let the shot take care of itself, rather than “overly-exert” themselves, stress out during the shot, and end up frustrated because the shot went awry. I hope this little tip can help you with your one-handed backhand or forehand if you struggle with those deep, hard hit shots! Talk to you soon and try look at some of the replays of the US Open of the pros when they hit their winners, how still their bodies are through the shot and whether they’re truly “trying too hard” during the shot!

Always trying to improve,

Shubert

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