Game version
Rally game: a pair rallies backhands and tries to beat its own longest rally, then swaps feeders.
High Backhand Control
Handle a high-bouncing ball to your backhand by stepping in early or backing up in time.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Your partner feeds high, looping balls to your backhand.
Core: Medium. Beat your own longest rally.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 12 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Gym or court
- Bring
- Racket, balls, court, partner or ball machine
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Backhand
The steps
How it works
- Your partner feeds high, looping balls to your backhand.
- Choose to take it early on the rise or move back to let it drop.
- Send it back deep and cross-court.
- Do 4 sets of 8.
Coaching point
Decide early: up or back.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
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
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