You can try extending longer when hitting down the line when it comes to the follow-through, see if that works for you.

Thought maybe you missed my last reply so I am reposting… I was referring to the footwork maneuvers that you described on the forehand as being an outside influence. You’ve answered that. Would having a follow through change help accuracy for down the line? Thinking maybe finishing out in front. But now I’m second guessing myself as that would be more of a drive backhand I think and I think I want more topspin to bring the ball back down since I going over a higher part of the net with a shorter court to work with also.

I’m looking at either the footwork or follow through as an outside influence (remote control) to facilitate the change of direction with more accuracy.

Thanks!

Thanks Tomaz,

I was referring to the footwork maneuvers that you described on the forehand as being an outside influence. You’ve answered that. Would having a follow through change help accuracy for down the line? Thinking maybe finishing out in front. But now I’m second guessing myself as that would be more of a drive backhand I think and I think I want more topspin to bring the ball back down since I going over a higher part of the net with a shorter court to work with also.

I’m looking at either the footwork or follow through as an outside influence (remote control) to facilitate the change of direction with more accuracy.

Thanks!

Hi Bryant,

If you want to disguise your shots, you can do it only in one way – namely set up more for a down the line shot and then at last moment rotate more to hit more in front and hit cross court.

You cannot set up for cross court, meaning more closed and aligning more diagonally and then hitting down the line, it would be very awkward and you can lose control of your shot.

I am not sure what you mean by “outside influence” on the direction…

To clarify, I see in your last answer to Jay that you answer my question to a degree, but unlike the steps presented in the video (pun intended), there doesn’t seem to be an outside influence on the direction like the footwork. Am I correct? If that is the case can you elaborate a little more on your answer to Jay? You replied on 9/24/2016. Once again I have a 2HBH.

Thanks!

Great stuff. Love the stuff at the end, and I understand that you won’t be making a backhand version of the video. May I just ask if there any footwork that disguises / quickly change direction of the shot from being down the line to cross court for the two-handed backhand at the last second?

Thanks!

Hi Jay,

I can’t make the full video on the backhand but just try to apply the same principles.

You may also hit the ball too late for the cross court shot. A certain contact point works for down the line but not for cross court.

You need to hit closer to you and more in front and the cross court will just happen. Closed stance is not a problem if you “get out of it” once you hit. Just allow your body to rotate more and release yourself from a closed stance after contact.

As for changing grips, take a look at this article:

https://www.feeltennis.net/forehand-backhand-grips/

Can you make this video on the BackHand side. I have a One handed Backhand have great difficulty in hitting cross court from Baseline. Its easier for me to hit Down the Line because my feet are set up in closed stance.

I am also late in changing my grip from Semi Western Forehand to Eastern back hand and hit balls wild. How to fix this lateness?

thnx again.

Jay

Thomas,
I thank you for answering my previous qs a long time ago (above). it’s nice how you answer our questions. not everyone does that. if i could niggle you another time. i would like to ask you, is there anything helpful we might do to automatically ‘ingrain’ the different contact points (for down the line and cross court) as i’m thinking about it as i practice but it may take a lot of time for it to be a natural thing . ideally one doesn’t want to have to think about 2 different contact points but naturally do it on the fly.
as always , much appreciated
Joe