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Drop-Feed Backhands

Learn a clean backhand contact from a simple dropped ball.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Stand side-on with your backhand shoulder to the net.

Core: Medium. Beat your own longest rally.

Ages
7 and up
Time
10 min
Players
Just you
Space
Gym or court
Bring
Racket, balls, court or wall
Level · skill
Beginner · Backhand

The steps

How it works

  1. Stand side-on with your backhand shoulder to the net.
  2. Drop the ball and swing low to high.
  3. Finish with your racket high.
  4. Hit 30 backhands.

Coaching point

Turn your shoulders early.

Safety: Use the ball and court for your age: red ball on a short court at 8 and under, orange at 9 to 10, green at 10 to 12.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Rally game: a pair rallies backhands and tries to beat its own longest rally, then swaps feeders.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (soft balls, close), Core (medium), More (cross-court targets). Beat your own longest rally.

Story

You are playing the last rally of a final.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own longest rally. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

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