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The Drive - The Backhand Drive Navigation   Browse Other Pages Homepage A Viewpoint on the Game How It Began A Viewpoint on the Game 2 A Viewpoint on the Game 3 Concentration; Practice Condition, Physical and Mental Keep Your Eye on the Ball Footwork and Weight Control Women's Tennis The Grips The Service The Drive The Chop and the Slice The Volley The Subtle Shots Courage Your Opponent's Weaknesses General Tactics Outside Conditions Pressure on Your Opponent Doubles and Mixed Doubles The Coaching Job Legendary Tennis Players Olympic Tennis Does Youth Rule Tennis Hall of Fame Amateurism to Open Tennis Some Defects in Tennis Doping Olympic Review Technology and Sport The Slice Service Flat Serve The American Twist The Drive The Backhand Drive Drive - The Main Uses The Volley Net Position The Volley Position The Overhead Smash The Half-Volley The Drop Shot The Mechanics of the Slice The Main Uses of a Slice The Grips Doubles and Mixed Doubles To Open the Court Doubles In Europe and US Legendary Tennis Players (1940's) Questions in Australian Tennis History of Australian Tennis History of Australian Tennis 2 History of Australian Tennis Players Women's Tennis in Australia Australian Tennis: Nature Ages of Tennis Players The Careers of Women Players Everything I pointed out in "The Mechanics of the Forehand Drive" is equally correct for the backhand if you substitute "right" for "left" and vice versa. You step over with the right foot directly toward the left sideline, let the weight pass on to the right foot, and meet the ball on its lower lift surface. The one great difference in the backhand lies in the point where the racquet face contacts the ball. All forehands are hit directly in front of the body in a space between the lines of the front (or left) hip and the back (or right) hip. (Remember that the player is standing sideways.) On the backhand, the ball should be met sooner, that is, nearer the net. The latest point to hit a backhand drive is the line of the front (or right) hip, and from there to a point about two feet forward of the hip will produce the best results. The earlier you meet the ball, the sharper cross-court will your shot go. The reason for swinging soon is easily seen, since if you allow the ball to get on a line with the body, the arm must swing back against the body, and at the moment of hitting it is still cramped in its swing. The secret of a good backhand lies in the freedom of the swing and the long follow-through. Most players have a tendency to poke at a backhand, so there is little control or power to the shot. The Mechanics of the Forehand Drive The Main Uses of the Drive  Next Page:  The Chop and the Slice