Fixing your backhand dink

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Tip of the day

Cliff shares a pivotal moment from his first professional tournament where playing against the legendary Ben Johns revealed a significant gap in his defensive game.

While Cliff could hit the ball hard, the experience exposed his lack of a reliable crosscourt backhand dink and the ability to reset high-pace shots effectively.

The crosscourt backhand dink is a foundational skill that requires a "lift first, slice second" approach to ensure the ball clears the net consistently.

To maintain defensive integrity, use a shuffling movement to return to a neutral center position immediately after every wide dink.

Cliff utilizes a one-handed backhand for extra reach on wide balls but switches to a two-handed backhand when he wants to apply aggressive pressure.

Reseting the ball from the transition area depends on removing tension from your body and using a fluid, down-to-up motion to absorb the ball's pace.

Avoid jerky movements when resetting; instead, use your entire body to guide the ball softly back into the opponent's kitchen.

A strong neutral position involves keeping the paddle out in front with a continental grip, ready to react to either side of the body.

For backhand volleys, Cliff emphasizes early preparation by bringing the paddle back and anticipating the ball's flight path for a powerful put-away.

Mastering these backhand skills transforms you into a more aggressive player because opponents become hesitant to target your backhand during a rally.

Progress is made through dedicated drilling, such as spending two hours focusing exclusively on crosscourt backhand dinks with a partner.

Key Points:

  • Master the crosscourt backhand dink by lifting the ball over the net before applying any slice.

  • Always shuffle back to a neutral position after hitting a wide shot to stay ready for the next ball.

  • Use a one-handed backhand for maximum reach and a two-handed version for added power and stability.

  • Reset hard-hit balls by absorbing pace with a soft, full-body motion rather than just moving the wrist.

  • Practice early paddle preparation to turn high backhand volleys into unreturnable put-away shots.

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Happy pickling,

Paul