Late on a deep backhand? Fix the last step, not the swing

A deep ball arrives faster than you expected, you reach, step across, and the backhand goes into the net or floats long. Most players blame the swing. The real problem is the last step.

Why forcing the step hurts you

When you are late, the instinct is to force a big step forward into the ball. That step pulls your weight across your body, kills your balance and takes away the coil you need for power. You end up hitting with only your arms.

The fix: adjust, don't force

• Move back, not across. On a deep ball, take a small drop step back with the outside foot to create space.
• Load on the back leg. Let your weight settle on the back foot so you stay balanced.
• Use an open or semi-open stance if needed. On a fast, deep ball there is no time to step in. Hitting from a more open stance with a strong shoulder turn is better than a forced closed stance.
• Turn the shoulders early. Your preparation should start as soon as you read the ball, not when it bounces.

A simple drill

Have a partner or coach feed deep balls to your backhand. On each one, say "back" as you take the drop step, then swing. Do 3 sets of 10, then play out the point after each feed.

Footwork comes from the ground up

Precision starts with your feet. Small adjustment steps before every shot keep you in position so the swing you practice can actually show up in a match.