Video:Quick Tip: Perfect the Follow-Through of a One-Handed Backhand
with Jeff CooperA proper follow-through can make your one-handed backhand both more effective and healthier for your arm. Watch this video from About.com to learn good form.See Transcript
Transcript:Quick Tip: Perfect the Follow-Through of a One-Handed Backhand
Hi, I'm Jeff Cooper for About.com; I'm here to help you perfect your follow-through for a one-handed backhand.
About the Follow-Through of a One-Handed Backhand
The essence of the follow-through on a one-handed backhand should be up and forward, not around. Players with poor backhands often have follow-throughs that look like this, which indicates that they're swinging like a gate, or like this, which indicates that they're chopping out at the elbow instead of lifting from the shoulder.
Doing the Follow-Through of a One-Handed Backhand
When you follow through on your one-hander, your arm should end up out in front, and how far back your racquet ends up depends on how fast you swing. If you have a more compact swing, you might finish here. If you have a faster, longer swing and you're more flexible, you might finish here. In all cases, your hips should be pretty sideways at the end of your swing, and your upper body should be at least partly sideways.
Here's an average follow-through on a basic one-handed backhand.
For more on backhands and everything else in tennis, visit About.com.