For those of you who hit with one hand on the backhand, you find your footwork need to be consistent.
Your first movement towards the ball would be to step out with the leg closest to the ball. You’ll then turn and run to the ball if the ball is really wide, if not wide, then you could stay in an open stance and slide to the ball.
As you set up to hit the ball you should stay in an open stance with the left leg (for right handers) slightly behind the right leg. When the ball gets close enough, you will need to plant that left leg and step across your body or left leg at approximately a 45 degree angle. This will be a closed stance backhand. Your foot & toe should point at that same 45 degree angle.
This footwork is necessary for the body to twist back on the back swing. The excessive back swing on the one-handed backhand produces most of the power. Your back will almost be facing the net. Without the closed stance cross over step into the ball your backhand will be weak and ineffective.
After the shot is hit, it is efficient to let the back leg (left leg for right handers) release and come around to stop the body’s momentum and to prepare for the recovery. I call this the back leg release technique. The back leg swings around making both feet square to the net as if in a ready position.
From this position it is relatively easy to step out with the inside leg, do a cross over step jump with the left leg (right handers), and then slide the rest of the way back to the center of possible returns.
Doug Hofer January 9, 2005
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