Backhand technique: non-dominant hand and rotation
Key takeaway from our Guru
How do I improve my backhand consistency from the back of the court?
Focus on your non-dominant hand to guide the rotation. Finish your swing with your chest and arms pointing toward the side glass to keep the ball under control.
What this lesson covers
The backhand from the back of the court requires control over the rotation of the torso. A common mistake involves finishing the swing with the chest facing forward, which causes the ball to lose trajectory and hit the glass. The coach instructs the player to finish the shot with the body and arms turned toward the side glass. This rotation helps maintain control over the height of the ball and prevents the racket face from opening prematurely.
The non-dominant hand plays a central role in generating power and stability. By pulling back with the left hand, the player creates a balanced movement that allows the racket to follow the ball through the point of impact. The coach suggests hitting the ball low, ideally at knee level, while adjusting footwork to move backward if necessary rather than always rushing forward. While the player may feel tempted to look at the ball throughout the entire swing, focusing on the rotation of the torso toward the side glass serves as a drill to correct poor body positioning. This lesson is for advanced players who want to move beyond survival mode on their backhand.
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Original video
Added on Apr 2, 2026
Backhand Masterclass - Advanced Technique Training ft Coach Hugo Cases
Description
In today’s video we continue our new technical series with Hugo Cases — one of the most respected padel coaches in Spain. This episode is all about the backhand from the back of the court. For me, it’s one of the shots I’ve worked on the most in my career, and still one of the hardest. With the forehand I feel solid and confident, but on the backhand I often struggle with preparation, timing, and generating enough length. Hugo breaks down the key concepts to build a powerful, consistent backhand — especially the role of the non-dominant hand, which is where most of the power actually comes from. We spent 20 minutes working in detail, adjusting small things that make a huge difference for advanced players. This series is aimed at players who love technique, mechanics and deeper understanding of the game. If you’re an advanced player or a padel geek… you’re going to enjoy this a lot. Hope you like this episode, and let me know in the comments what shot you want us to cover next with Hugo. 🎾 Check out my website if you need a new racket: https://www.padeldrivers.com/ Use code PADELDRIVE10 for a discount. #PadelDrive #HugoCases #PadelTechnique #BackhandPadel #PadelTips #AdvancedPadel #PadelTraining
Good for
Skill level
Intermediate, High Intermediate, Advanced, High Advanced
Court position
Backcourt
Keywords
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