Forehand and backhand: fluid motion and follow-through

What this lesson covers

Developing a fluid motion from the back of the court requires relaxing the body and avoiding robotic movements. When hitting the forehand, keeping the elbow closer to the body facilitates pushing the ball instead of relying on a restricted swing. Proper footwork remains the foundation for these adjustments, as small, frequent steps allow for better positioning than long strides.

On the backhand, power originates from pushing through the ball with the dominant hand and pulling back with the non-dominant hand. Avoid closing the wrist at impact, as this restricts the follow-through. Instead, maintain contact with the ball for as long as possible by pushing through the shot. When defending against volleys, lower the entire body to reach low balls rather than just dropping the hand. The primary goal from the back is to survive and wait for a weak volley to play a lob and transition to the net.