Backhand defence and volley technique

What this lesson covers

The coach addresses two specific technical flaws: the backhand defence in the back of the court and the backhand volley. For the backhand defence, the common mistake is preparing the paddle too high and too far back, which causes the player to arrive late to the ball. The fix is to keep the paddle low and close to the ground as soon as the ball is coming, ensuring the paddle reaches the ball's path before the ball does. When defending, avoid stepping into the ball and instead stay planted to strike it near the glass. The coach emphasizes pushing the ball horizontally rather than lifting it.

Regarding the backhand volley, the issue is an overly long preparation that exits the player's peripheral vision. The coach instructs keeping the paddle within the peripheral field of view at all times to ensure a short, compact preparation. The goal is to strike the ball from behind to generate a clean, flat contact, avoiding the tendency to cut underneath it, which causes the ball to balloon upwards. The coach suggests mastering these mechanics by focusing on the middle of the court first before attempting more complex angles.