Ask Nick: One-handed backhand grip

May 08, 2016
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Ask Nick: One-handed backhand grip

A 4.0 player gets a little advice from Nick Bollettieri.

Published May 08, 2016

A 4.0 player gets a little advice from Nick Bollettieri. (AP Photo)

Dear Nick: I am a 4.0 player with a one-handed backhand. I mainly  hit it with an Eastern backhand grip. When I face a hard hitter playing with tons of topspin, my form tends to fall apart and my timing goes off completely. I would truly appreciate your thoughts on this issue.

— Peter Angjeleski, Queens, NY

Hi Peter: Here are three options for you to offset your difficulties. 1) Without changing your grip, move in and make contact with the ball earlier before it gets too high on your backhand. 2) Move back and let the ball drop down into a comfortable hitting zone, then hit back up on the ball. 3) Adjust from an Eastern to a semi-Western backhand  grip, used by most top players today. P.S. Many top players will chip back these high balls to their backhand if they cannot implement any of the above options and wait  for a better opportunity.

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