Just the Facts Ma’am – Just the Facts

 FACT - Most club-level players have a more consistent , accurate and powerful forehand than backhand!

FACT - Most club-level players begin every warm-up or practice rally by dropping and hitting the ball with their forehand!

FACT - Most club-level players have never even given a thought to beginning a warm-up or practice rally by dropping and hitting the ball with their backhands.

Why not ? My best guess is that their initial exposure to tennis was in a group lesson at a park or club and the instructor, rightfully so, made sure the students had some level of immediate success by playing shots with their dominant hand and everyone left class itching for more.

The instructor is happy, the student is happy, and the next class generally would begin with a recap and practice of what was covered in the first class.

What needs to happen after that brief recap time is a pivot to the non-dominant side ball striking skill (the backhand).

Success won't generally be as easily generated on that side, simply because of how human brains 'are wired.  Just try brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand and you'll feel what I mean.

A seasoned instructor will be sure that the student has a clear mental picture of backhand mechanics (be it one handed or two) and is able to demonstrate the ability to:

A: Stand sideways to the net.

B: Set up the racket for a swing forward through the ball.

C: Gently drop the ball so it bounces softly to a good point of contact and then…

D: Swing to make square contact with a vertical racket face.

Once that practice skill (YES IT IS VERY MUCH A SKILL) has been established, the student has the tools (however rudimentary) to begin building their game.

Just this week, I had a lesson with a couple of  3.5-level league players who wanted to get some help on their backhands. These players have been playing for 10-plus years and I asked them to stand at the baseline, drop a ball, and hit it at a ball hopper I'd set up on the other side of the net.

Well, it didn't take long for them to start peppering the target with near misses and direct hits, but of course every ball they dropped to hit, they dropped to their forehand sides. I'd never suggested to them that they use either their forehands or backhands.

When I congratulated them on their skill and accuracy, they were pleased and seemed happy.

I then asked them to do the same thing with their backhands, since those were the shots they wanted to improve,  and they were instantly lost at sea without a paddle!

It turns out, after a little questioning, that in their years of playing, team practices and lessons, that neither of them had, in memory,  ever dropped a ball to start a rally with their backhands !!

FACT - You won't improve  a physical skill without practicing.

FACT - If you don't actually have a  functional PRACTICE SKILL you'll avoid practicing !!

If you have a weakness in your game, and don't we all, be sure to get reliable information from a highly experienced coach, and then develop a detailed practice sequence that can lift your level of competence.

The FACT is that it won't get better unless you put in the repetitions using the correct technique!

Howie Burnett is a USPTA Elite Level Professional with over 50 years of coaching experience. Before accepting the Tennis Director position at the Island Country Club in 1998, he operated the Net Advantage Tennis Club management company and concurrently served for 10 years as Head Coach of the USTA Training Center for Elite level Juniors in Central Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Howie was inducted into the United States Professional Tennis Association New England Hall of Fame in 2016. He is currently teaching part-time on the Tennis Staff at the Marco Island YMCA. His Book --NET NOTES (common sense ideas to lift your game) is available on amazon.com. You may contact him with tennis questions or lesson inquiries at marcoY10s@icloud.com or hb10s@me.com.