Back glass preparation: the hinge technique

What this lesson covers

Preparation for shots off the back glass relies on the hinge, a movement where the hand acts as the pivot to open the racket face. This early preparation allows for a faster reaction when the ball comes off the glass. On the forehand, when the ball is low, the player lets the racket head drop to pick it back up through contact. The height of the takeback must match the height of the intended contact point. If the ball is high, the racket stays up. If the ball is low, the racket drops.

On the backhand, the hinge remains the same but the drop is removed. Instead, the player opens the racket face more as the ball gets lower. When the ball moves quickly, the swing must be smaller. The player keeps the racket close to the contact point and uses a pushing motion to guide the ball rather than a full swing. These adjustments rely on small footwork steps to maintain the correct distance from the ball.