The backhand is the stroke you use when the ball arrives on the opposite side of your body from your dominant hand. For a right-handed player, that is usually the left side. For a left-handed player, it is usually the right side.
Beginners sometimes feel comfortable hitting forehands but struggle when the ball comes to the backhand side. The movement can feel less natural and it may be tempting to run around the ball just to hit another forehand.
A functional backhand changes that. You do not need a powerful or advanced stroke. You need a repeatable way to prepare, reach the ball, make clean contact and send it back into the court.
The goal is simple: when the ball comes to your backhand side, you should have a dependable response.
What a Beginner Backhand Should Do
Your first backhand does not need to produce winners.
It should help you:
- reach balls arriving on your backhand side
- make clean contact consistently
- control the direction of the ball
- clear the net with a reasonable margin
- recover after the shot
- continue the rally instead of feeling forced to avoid your backhand
Consistency matters much more than speed.
A controlled backhand that lands safely in the court is far more useful to a beginner than a hard swing that works occasionally.
One-Handed or Two-Handed Backhand?
There are two common ways to hit a tennis backhand.
Two-Handed Backhand
The two-handed backhand uses both hands on the racket throughout most of the stroke.
For a right-handed player, the right hand remains near the bottom of the handle while the left hand is placed above it. For a left-handed player, the positions are reversed.
Many beginners find the two-handed backhand easier because the second hand adds stability and helps control the racket.
It can make it easier to:
- keep the racket stable
- control the swing
- handle faster balls
- produce a consistent contact point
One-Handed Backhand
The one-handed backhand is hit primarily with the dominant arm.
It can provide greater reach but usually demands more precise timing, spacing and strength.
Neither style is automatically correct for everyone. The important thing for a beginner is to choose one approach and practice it consistently rather than constantly switching between the two.
For many true beginners, the two-handed backhand is a practical starting point because of the additional stability it provides.
Start With the Ready Position
Your backhand begins before the ball reaches your side of the court.
Start in a balanced ready position.
Keep your:
- feet roughly shoulder-width apart
- knees slightly bent
- weight balanced toward the front of your feet
- racket in front of your body
- hands relaxed
- eyes watching the opponent and the incoming ball
Holding the racket in front makes it easier to prepare quickly in either direction.
Avoid standing upright with the racket hanging beside your body. That creates unnecessary movement once you recognize that a backhand is coming.
Recognize the Backhand Early
One of the biggest challenges for beginners is reacting too late.
As soon as you recognize that the ball is traveling toward your backhand side, begin preparing.
Do not wait until the ball is almost beside you.
Early preparation gives you time to:
- turn your body
- move toward the ball
- establish comfortable spacing
- swing without rushing
A rushed backhand is often caused by late preparation rather than a problem with the swing itself.
Turn Your Shoulders
The first major movement is the body turn.
Instead of pulling only the racket backward with your arms, rotate your shoulders so your upper body begins turning sideways toward the incoming ball.
For a right-handed backhand, your right shoulder generally begins turning toward the net.
For a left-handed backhand, your left shoulder generally begins turning toward the net.
This shoulder turn helps prepare the racket while keeping the movement connected to the rest of your body.
Think of the racket, arms and torso beginning the preparation together.
You do not need an exaggerated backswing. A compact preparation is usually easier for a beginner to control.
Move Into Position
Good backhands depend heavily on spacing.
Once you recognize where the ball is going, move your feet rather than reaching for the ball with your arms.
Try to position yourself so the ball reaches a comfortable contact point in front of your body.
Small adjustment steps are especially useful as the ball approaches.
Avoid planting your feet too early. The ball may bounce differently from what you expected and you may need one or two final steps to create proper spacing.
The goal is to arrive balanced enough that you can swing without falling, stretching or crowding yourself.
Avoid Getting Too Close to the Ball
A common beginner problem is allowing the ball to get too close to the body.
When that happens, there is not enough room for the racket to move naturally.
The result may be:
- cramped contact
- weak shots
- late contact
- balls pushed sideways
- awkward wrist movements
Create enough space between yourself and the ball for your arms and racket to move comfortably.
At the same time, do not stand so far away that you have to reach excessively.
The best position allows you to make contact while remaining balanced.
The Contact Point
For a reliable backhand, try to contact the ball in front of your body rather than beside or behind you.
Exactly how far in front will depend on your backhand style, your grip and the incoming ball, but beginners should avoid letting the ball travel too far backward before swinging.
Contact that is too late often produces:
- weak shots
- poor directional control
- balls traveling wide
- uncomfortable body positions
Watch the ball closely as it approaches the racket.
Instead of worrying about generating speed, concentrate on meeting the ball cleanly near the center of the strings.
Clean contact is the foundation of a functional backhand.
Keep the Racket Stable
Beginners sometimes try to control the ball by making last-second wrist movements.
That usually makes the racket face less predictable.
Keep your hands secure but not excessively tight. The racket should feel controlled without being squeezed as hard as possible.
As you move through contact, try to maintain a stable racket face.
Your larger movements should come from the coordinated action of your body and arms rather than from flicking the racket with your wrist.
Swing Through the Ball
Do not stop the racket immediately after contact.
Allow the swing to continue naturally through the hitting zone.
A smooth forward swing helps create both depth and control.
The beginner goal is not maximum racket speed. Think about moving the racket steadily through the ball.
A useful sequence is:
prepare → move → contact → continue the swing
Avoid thinking of the stroke as simply hitting at the ball.
You are swinging through the contact area.
Finishing the Two-Handed Backhand
On a two-handed backhand, both hands remain involved through contact and into the follow-through.
After striking the ball, allow the racket to continue forward and upward naturally.
Your shoulders will begin rotating back toward the court as the stroke finishes.
Do not force an exaggerated finish. The follow-through should be the natural result of a smooth swing.
You should finish balanced enough to begin recovering for the next shot.
Finishing the One-Handed Backhand
With a one-handed backhand, the hitting arm extends through the ball while the body remains controlled.
The racket continues forward and upward after contact.
Avoid collapsing the arm immediately after hitting the ball.
The stroke should feel like a smooth extension through the contact area rather than a short jab at the ball.
Balance remains important. An oversized swing is unnecessary for a beginner.
Use Your Body, Not Just Your Arms
A backhand becomes easier when the body and arms work together.
Your preparation includes the shoulder turn. Your legs help establish balance and positioning. Your torso contributes to the movement of the stroke.
Trying to create the entire shot using only your arms can make the backhand feel weak and difficult to control.
You do not need dramatic body rotation. You simply want the stroke to feel connected instead of isolated.
Keep Your Head Steady Through Contact
It is natural to want to look toward the other side of the court immediately after hitting the ball.
Try not to lift or turn your head too early.
Keep your attention around the contact area as the racket meets the ball.
Moving your head suddenly can affect balance and make clean contact more difficult.
You will have plenty of time to follow the ball after contact.
Aim for Height and Margin
Beginners often hit backhands into the net because they try to send the ball directly forward with very little clearance.
Give yourself margin.
Instead of trying to skim the ball just over the net, aim comfortably above it and allow the ball to travel deeper into the court.
A higher, safer ball is often better than a fast ball with very little margin for error.
Your first goal is to keep the rally going.
Do Not Try to Hit Every Backhand Hard
Power should not be the priority while learning the stroke.
Trying to swing harder often creates:
- late contact
- poor balance
- excessive tension
- inconsistent racket angles
- rushed technique
Begin with a controlled swing speed.
Once you can consistently prepare early, create space and make clean contact, additional speed can develop naturally.
Common Beginner Backhand Problems
Preparing Too Late
If you wait until the ball is close before turning, the entire stroke becomes rushed.
Start preparing as soon as you recognize that the ball is coming toward your backhand.
Standing Too Close to the Ball
Crowding the ball prevents your racket from moving freely.
Use your feet to create comfortable space before swinging.
Reaching Instead of Moving
Stretching your arms toward the ball may work occasionally but makes consistent contact difficult.
Move your feet whenever possible.
Hitting the Ball Too Late
Allowing the ball to travel beside or behind your body makes controlling the shot much harder.
Try to establish your contact point farther in front.
Swinging Only With the Arms
A disconnected arm swing often feels weak and unstable.
Use your shoulder turn and balanced body movement to support the stroke.
Flicking the Wrist
Trying to steer the ball with the wrist makes the racket face unpredictable.
Keep the racket stable and use a smooth swing.
Swinging Too Hard
More effort does not automatically produce a better backhand.
Use a comfortable speed that allows you to maintain balance and clean contact.
Stopping the Swing at Contact
Do not treat contact as the end of the stroke.
Continue the racket naturally through the ball and into the follow-through.
Running Around Every Backhand
There will be situations where moving around a backhand to hit a forehand makes sense, but a beginner should not use that as a way to avoid learning the stroke.
You need a backhand you trust when there is not enough time or space to move around the ball.
A Simple Backhand Practice Progression
The easiest way to build confidence is to reduce the difficulty at first.
Step 1: Shadow Swings
Practice the motion without a ball.
Move through:
- ready position
- shoulder turn
- preparation
- imaginary contact in front
- follow-through
- recovery
Move slowly enough to stay balanced.
The purpose is to become familiar with the sequence.
Step 2: Easy Drop Feeds
Have a ball dropped or gently fed near your backhand side.
Focus only on:
- positioning
- spacing
- contact
- balance
Do not worry about power.
Step 3: Gentle Feeds
Progress to easy balls coming toward your backhand.
Try to return several balls using the same controlled technique.
Your goal is repeatability.
Step 4: Short Cooperative Rallies
Begin exchanging gentle backhands with a partner.
Keep the rally controlled instead of trying to beat the other player.
This helps you begin judging moving balls while still maintaining manageable speed.
Step 5: Backhands From Different Positions
Once the basic stroke becomes comfortable, practice moving slightly left, right, forward and backward before hitting.
The swing itself may be simple, but real rallies require you to adjust to the ball.
What to Focus on During Practice
Trying to correct everything at once can make learning frustrating.
Instead, concentrate on a few priorities:
Prepare early.
Recognize the backhand and begin your turn before the ball gets close.
Move your feet.
Create the spacing you need instead of relying on your arms to reach the ball.
Contact in front.
Do not allow the ball to travel too far beside or behind you.
Stay balanced.
A controlled body position makes the stroke easier to repeat.
Swing smoothly.
Do not chase power.
Finish the stroke.
Allow the racket to continue naturally after contact.
These fundamentals are enough to begin developing a dependable backhand.
What a Successful Beginner Backhand Looks Like
A successful beginner backhand does not need to look like a professional stroke.
It should look controlled.
You recognize the incoming ball early, turn your body, move into position and create enough space to swing.
You meet the ball in front of your body with a stable racket and continue through the shot without losing your balance.
The ball clears the net and gives you a reasonable chance to continue the rally.
That is the standard that matters when you are starting.
Build a Backhand You Can Trust
The purpose of learning the backhand is not to create the most impressive shot on the court.
It is to remove a major weakness from your game.
When the ball arrives on the opposite side of your body, you should not feel that you have no option.
Prepare early, move into position, create comfortable spacing, make contact in front and swing smoothly through the ball.
Practice those fundamentals until the movement becomes familiar.
A simple, controlled backhand that you can repeat is exactly what a beginner needs.