Transcription
I'm here with Rosco Bellamy, number 11 in the world in singles. In this video, number six.
>> Number six.
11. You didn't let me finish. 11 - 5 equals six. And today, he is giving me and you a master class in the two-handed backhand drive. Let's get into it.
I think this might be the hardest shot for a non-tennis player.
>> What if you're not wearing pockets?
>> If you don't have pockets, I I would just say stick with a one-handed back.
I Yeah. Yeah. He gives. It's still good. It's still good.
>> I want you to be able to go and hit the two-minute back end without thinking a lot.
>> Damn.
>> How's that? I've never heard that before. That's great.
All right. So, the first thing we need to know about the two-handed backend is the grip. A lot of people have trouble with this because they try to make it too complicated, but I would say with your right hand, you want to make sure you have a continental grip. That's going to be key. and our non-dominant hand is going to be right above with kind of an eastern forehand here. So, they're going to stack on top of each other. If you have to bring the finger up, that's fine if you need some extra room, but for the most part, we want to make sure our hands are touching here. So, we got continental and then we got an eastern forehand with our left hand, which is going to help us with some of that top spin.
Now that we have the grip set up, let's talk about the early preparation and the unit turn, which is a huge part of this preparation. So, the second I see that a backhand is coming and I'm at the baseline, I want to turn my shoulders and get my outside leg face this way because I'm going to be moving this direction. And what we're doing is we're we're basically doing the preparation with our back swing early so that when we get to that ball, all we have to do is follow through. So, if he feeds me a ball here, I'm turning and my preparation is done early. So, the first thing I'm doing is I'm turning these shoulders and I'm getting ready
>> to move parallel with the ball here.
>> That's really really good. So, it's probably feels a little foreign getting that paddle set so early,
>> but that's going to help you a lot in the long run.
>> I feel like when I I remember this visual in my head like Serena Williams I feel like would load
>> 100%. She more than anybody would load
>> that paddle immediately.
>> Okay. Yeah. So maybe like for me it's even it's a racket.
>> The mistake that I think I still make and also even just my my buddies who didn't play tennis like it gets very it gets very uh gets very
>> army very quickly. Getting my body turned
>> just naturally put me into a position to not get army
>> 100%. Yeah. You you want to stay turn like you want to stay close. But the biggest thing is I don't like when people get there and then they're having to do this swing because we're having to worry about too like once that ball is here, we all we want to do is be able to step in and extend. And so if we can do that preparation early, it's going to help us get in the best possible position and then it's really simple and there's a lot less that can go wrong when we're actually swinging. So we want to make sure we're doing that as early as possible.
>> First part was grip. Second part was early preparation and and getting to this unit turn. And then yeah, what's the third component?
>> All right, so the third thing is once we get to this ball and we're here, we're in this position, it's very important that our paddle is set the right way. So a lot of this has to do with my left arm. I'm a huge proponent on having a straight left arm. I think it makes things a lot easier when hitting your backhand. And I like to put my left arm and my paddle right by my left pocket. And this is going to help with um something that we'll get to in a minute, but basically swinging and finishing above our shoulders.
>> What if you're not wearing pock pockets?
>> If you don't have pockets, I I would just say stick with a one-handed back.
>> It's going to be too confusing. I don't want to teach it.
>> Okay.
>> So, we get here. We're we're unit turn and we have our our good leg position. I want you to load this this power on your back leg, but I only want you to do that when you're in the position to really step through. So, you know, I want to make sure we're getting there with our little steps here. And then we load and it's going to help our step in. But the biggest thing is making sure that that left arm is straight here. So, I don't want you like bunched up here
>> because this is going to uh cause a lot of problems with our contact point and timing. I want that left arm extended almost like you're pointing this paddle tip
>> at like at a at a 90° angle here.
>> Yeah.
>> So, the left arm is is straight here. here. And I'm I'm really getting that paddle back. Do one more here.
>> God, it's like such like it really is such small details.
>> It's small details, but it's it's overall helping us keep things simple, which is what we want. I want you to be able to go and hit the two-handed backhand without thinking a lot. And so just by straightening that left arm, you're taking variables of your elbow and your wrist out of the equation, which is going to help things just just you're not going to have to worry about those things or worry about those things going wrong because you have one lever now, which is just going to be your arm.
>> Really try to extend that left arm down.
>> Oh, dude, that's money right there. So good.
>> Keep that left arm extended the whole way through
>> like
>> Yes. And then once you hit, well, we'll get into this in a minute, but once you hit this part, then you can bend the elbows.
>> Really nice.
>> Really nice. Get prepped even a little earlier. So, I really want the footwork to be a a big focal point here. Get that preparation with the upper body in the unit turn. Get your feet in good position and load load those legs right when you get that paddle.
>> I think we got a I think we got a brand new two-handed backhand here. This extended left arm for me personally is like one of the biggest things that helps me. So having
>> I've never heard that before. That's great.
>> I think a lot of people are like, "Oh, you want to use like a lot of like whip here, but for the left, you need this this to be very simple."
>> Dude, that's so good.
>> That's so good.
>> Just to connect the dot to drops. I know this isn't a drops video, but
>> will you keep your left arm straight when you're Jay? Can you give me one more? when you're going to hit like an actual top spin drop or will you kind
>> So, if I'm hitting a topsin drop, I'll I'll normally bring my elbows back a little earlier.
>> You're just trying to get more behind the ball.
>> And so, in singles, deception is a huge part of that. So, I like to show that I'm hitting a drive here like this. And then I'll just take some off early
>> and pull like that drop.
>> And that's for another video.
>> That's for another video. Go ahead and join singles video.
>> Join Rosco's school for that one. Here's my affiliate code for his school.
>> I should give you one.
>> Yeah, I'll give you one.
>> You can see you can see. Yeah, we can figure something out here.
>> Let's put both of our schools right here. You make the choice.
Now that we've moved into our prepped position, we have that left hand by our pocket. We now want our weight transfer forward. And this is going to come from a step of our right leg. So, we're going to lean into that ball. Um, and what I don't want people to do is try to hit this ball open stance. Sometimes you're gonna have to do that if you're really running this way. But if we're doing our preparation correctly and we're getting that left leg behind the ball, it's going to allow us to step forward and really use our weight to get more power forwards. And so if we pair this with that extended left arm, we're going to have a really nice result, a really crispy kind of powerful shot forward. So, I'll show you what this looks like. I'm getting behind that ball early and then I'm stepping forwards with this right leg and I'm really allowing my weight to come forwards.
>> Talk to a non-tennis player. What's the biggest problem with hitting an open stance, especially when you don't have the basics of like tennis background to know what to do?
>> So, from a mechanic standpoint, if we're hitting with a closed stance, everything is going to be a lot cleaner, right? I'm getting here. My body's already turned and I'm really just allowing my my arms to come forward. I'm leaning into that ball. The second I get an open stance, which we're going to have to hit in singles a lot. If we're on the run, it's a lot easier to lean back. It's a lot easier for things to go wrong because it's really hard to stay stable from here. We don't get that forward weight transfer. Um, things can go wrong a lot easier. So, if we're doing it correctly, if we're using good preparation, we want to make sure that we're getting a close stance here and leaning in, keeping things really nice and um I think efficient is the word. So, I want you to get behind the ball with your left leg and step in with your right.
>> Boom. Perfect.
>> Let's see how good this feet is.
>> Yep. So, one thing I also want you to think about is I don't want you pulling back here. I want you staying turned with your elbows or sorry turned with your shoulders because if we're pulling back here and stepping forwards, it's really counterpoint.
>> So like if I'm hitting this like and I'm just I'm out of the court by myself or with with one other person when I'm hitting these like I should be like should I have my left foot be
>> Yeah. If your left leg if your if your left leg wants to pivot that's totally fine. But make sure that we're staying turned through the shot as we're leaning in with the right leg. I don't want you opening up with this right shoulder here.
>> So, say turn with that right shoulder. Finish.
>> It's like a little jammed there.
>> Yeah. A little jammed. Keep that left arm straight.
>> Yeah.
>> Yep.
>> Still. You're You're opening up just a little bit.
>> My chest is coming up.
>> Yeah. I want you to stay turned until you finish the shot. Boom. Yes. And then it comes around.
>> Okay.
>> That's really nice. But I would extend just a little more.
>> Just get really like literal. Extend means extend the paddle.
>> Keep that left arm straight. Extend the paddle forward. Yeah,
>> that's really good.
>> Feels like I'm opening up a little bit just naturally.
>> You're doing this
>> and you're kind of leaning back.
>> Let me watch you get another one.
>> Yeah.
>> Watch how I stay turned here.
>> Let me watch you from a different angle.
>> See? So you see I'm still facing this way. I'm not pulling open like this.
>> Oh, interesting. Okay.
>> So, I'm staying turned. It's going to allow my hands to just come forward and so I don't want you to open up with that body.
>> Yeah. Like the Yeah, the shoulders going back. Okay.
>> God, it feels so natural. Like I want
>> I know. I know. You're right. Your right arm wants to come. I just I want try to keep your chest facing over there or like overrect face behind you.
>> Let that left the left arm is going to come through. Your body doesn't need to turn, right? So, that left arm is naturally going to pass from the back to the front.
>> Okay.
>> And let that come through while keeping your body turned.
>> Let's see.
>> That's a little better.
>> Oh, yeah. This is I knew I think I need to see this cuz I I know what you're saying logically, but let me do one more here.
>> Yeah,
>> I like that one.
>> I like that one.
>> Yeah, there's still there's still
>> Yeah, and that's that's something we'll continue to work on. Um, but it's just going to allow you a lot more accuracy and you're going to hit your targets more if you're able to just let those arms come through and your body isn't shifting your weight.
>> You have that you have that leg which is is extending your your weight forward towards your target, but we don't want that weight to really go that way.
>> Tell me if this is correct. If when like I've done the pre-work and I'm here, arm straight by my pocket,
>> like is that the finish?
>> Yeah. Yeah. You're staying turned. I mean, you're really just imagine you take your right hand off and you're really just coming like this.
>> Yeah.
>> But go lower. Start lower. And you're just swinging low to high.
>> Yeah.
>> Yes.
>> I guess where it is.
>> It's just here, but my arm is straight.
>> Okay. That's good.
>> Yeah.
>> It's hard.
>> It is.
>> So, I brought Rosco here.
>> Check out his school. But here's also my school.
All right. So, now let's talk about contact point and really the trajectory of the ball. Um, which is going to come from how we're swinging. So, we get here, we prep, we step in with this right leg, and now where do we make contact? Because your left arm is extended, you should know exactly where your contact point is, right? We're not having this bent arm, which is going to change our contact point. If your left arm's extended, which it should be, we know exactly where we want to make contact with that ball. Um, and then also from a swing perspective, I'm coming from my left hip and I'm swinging upwards over my right shoulder. So, I'm making contact right there in the middle. I'm extending my left arm towards my target and then I'm finishing over my shoulder. But really, what we're thinking about right now is just that contact point.
>> So, I'll show you exactly where it is with my left arm straight.
>> I'm making contact right about there. and I'm extending. So, this is going to help you hit your targets. If your left arm is extending towards where you want to hit, paired with weight transfer, which is my right leg going forward, you're going to hit that spot. If I want to hit this down the line target right here, I'm going to extend my left arm towards that target,
>> right? And then same thing crosscourt. If I want to go crosscourt, I'm going to extend my left arm there.
>> Right? So, so this is controlling where the ball is going and it's helping me hit my targets. this left arm extending towards where I want to go.
>> Yeah, you're pulling up. So, so your body is going like this right now. I want you to stay turned and let that left arm
>> come through. Damn. Damn.
I think this might be the hardest shot for a non-tennis player. It it's very
>> it's it's very necessary in today's game, but I think a lot of people are trying to learn it and struggling with it. And I think the more we can break it down into simple steps, the easier it's going to be. But it's not going to be something that's like, oh, you watch this video and all of a sudden you have an amazing backhand drive.
>> Well, maybe.
>> Do we know yet? We don't know yet.
>> Yeah. No, for sure. I think this is one that's going to take itakes time. It takes a while. Yeah. But using like like for me even in my matches I'm like like if I'm missing a few backhands I'm like extend that left arm extend that left arm. Keep it extended because I know when I get when I add a lot of um variables here like my wrist my elbow things just start going wrong.
>> I I do one additional thing on this is because I I uh I feel like when you first start learning all these teaching points you
>> you feel overwhelmed because oh I forgot to unturn. I forgot my prep. Now my left arm's bending. Um my eyes are you know all these things are happening. But then over over time or like those skills become one and then it becomes automatic when you're in a match like you're saying. That's when I think it's really valuable. You want to have the knowledge of the technique so you can make the correction when you miss quickly.
>> Yeah.
>> Um which is I think what you're saying right now is like that was the left arm that I had no weight transfer or whatever it was. Um I should have got close there. I had time. But I think that's for all of you watching is like it probably will feel overwhelming at first, but this skill probably takes, you know, months to get really good.
>> Yeah, it's it's constantly refining. I will say that I think
>> the more reminders you have of little things that you can do to fix that um mechanical chain, I think the easier it becomes over time because you're like, "All right, I've missed a few backhands." Like, "Ah, my left arm wasn't straight. Oh, I've missed a few backhands. Oh, I'm preparing too late. I'm catching it. You know, I'm just catching the bullet.
>> I don't have pockets in my pants.
>> Yeah, I I didn't wear pockets.
So, the last little piece of this is going to be the finish and also your targets. Um, we'll start with the finish, which is very simple. Um, I just want you to basically go from this left pocket here and we're going to finish after extension. So, once we've already hit that extension with the straight arm, our elbows are going to bend and we're going to finish over our right shoulder. Um, and so this low to high motion here is what's going to create that top spin, which is necessary if we want to hit this shot hard and still keep it in. Okay.
>> Okay. So, it's going to look like this. Just finishing over my shoulder, right over that right shoulder.
>> Yeah. And and also say, as everyone's watching the next couple examples, just watch the follow through. Don't watch everything else. You can go back to the other part of the video for that.
>> Yeah. So, I don't want you finishing here. I don't want you just finishing out there. I want those arms to come across and finish over that shoulder. I'll show you one more time here.
>> So, I'm finishing right here, but I'm making sure that I hit that extension and then I'm coming in.
>> All right, here we go.
>> It's really good.
>> That one fell.
>> It felt It looked good.
>> I can still You know what's funny? It's like I You said this is my big habit.
>> Your hitch is is opening up. Like I bet I bet everybody has one or two things that is like their their thing that's like not going to I feel like the prep and the footwork actually I I feel like I do that pretty well.
>> Um the left arm I feel like I'm straight but I even on that last one I felt all of the weight shift into my right hip. Yes.
>> You know so that's not going to happen this time.
>> Yeah. Try that. That was absolutely clean. You know what I actually noticed you doing there was he hit you a wider feed. So you were forced to kind of step this way and therefore you weren't able to open up so much.
>> Had to go.
>> You almost were forced to not open up.
>> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. He gives up.
>> It's still good. It's still good. I can't get it. Yeah,
>> call the police.
To add on to this, if we're looking at targets for the two-handed backhand, I want you to aim linear over the net here, or sorry, pretty linear, just a little bit over the net here. But that top spin you're getting will make sure that it's, you know, clearing the net. Yeah.
>> Fairly high. Um, but if you aim at this kind of net tape just above it, it's going to and and you have that low to high swing, you're going to have a really nice result in this pocket right here that just allows you to really hit that line drive.
>> When you say aiming, too, cuz like like you think about throwing a dart, like you're literally looking at the target, you throw the target here. You're literally looking at the ball, but you have a target in mind like just how do you think about that? I so I mean we're behind the ball so you almost have to have that hand eye coordination of like looking at both of them at once but my weight is going towards my target and my arms extending towards my target. So I have that target in mind and I just need to make sure that I have that ball contact. But I'm going to aim kind of right at that white net tape. And because I'm swinging from low to high, it's going to lift above that net. And I'm really I really feel comfortable doing this. Like I'm not going to miss and it's going to pierce through that cord a lot. So, I'm aiming at that net tape and I'm just swinging low to high and it's clearing the net just nicely every single time. So, I'm hitting this pocket, but I'm aiming right here, but that top spin is allowing it to clear the net here. So, I'm not going to miss long because I'm not clearing the net by this much. I'm not going to miss in the net because I have that top spin and it's hitting this nice pocket here. So, as long as you do the mechanics right and we're hitting our targets,
>> we should have a really clean, crispy backhand.
>> I'm afraid to try again.
>> Do it. No, do it. You got it. Aim right at the net tape, but with the top spin.
>> Yeah, there's there's a real jealousy building of like tennis players. You probably have felt this tennis players ability to just strike the ball so well,
>> which is perfect.
>> We can't think though.
>> It's true. But like in his in his school, if you want to learn stuff like this, this if you want to learn strategy, how do you beat tennis players without having good strokes, come to my school. Here's both of them right here. Okay.
>> Which will you choose?
>> Still opening up.
>> Oh, shoot. Say I did it right.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Do it again. Do it again. Let's
>> It's very consistent.
>> Yeah. I mean, you're hitting that exact pocket that we talked about, which is right here. Let's say someone just hit a return. They're coming in and you're hitting a ball that has top spin that's crossing the net here. It's going to be so hard for them to to block that ball back. I mean, it's going to be easier if the ball's right here, but I mean, hitting a hip height ball
>> while moving forward and you have someone maybe closing in is not easy. So, you're able to do this every single time just from a few little key factors that we've we've talked about. Um, and so I think it just it it adds a major layer of confidence in your game, in your backhand of just I can do this every single time just by focusing on these little things.
>> Yeah. And one final thing just to add on that is is, you know, for me in my doubles game, I historically have sliced most backhands and gone top spin on most forehands.
>> Yeah. But if you're playing against a team like they're unwinding the stack or they're slow to get on the return, having the ability to not give up court position by hitting a forehand where you can actually hit a backhand with the same outcome, you know, dipping over the net, get the ball on them quick, but I'm still in a great position is something I've realized like, wow, that's actually a huge opportunity that you're losing when you when you one don't be aggressive when you have the opportunity to, or two, try to be aggressive, but you you're giving up court position because you're trying to get to your forehand. you you have no vulnerabilities in your drive game now. They can't avoid your drive by just going to your backhand or if they're slow to get up that kitchen line. You you have a weapon on both sides. I mean, the backhands you just hit right now,
>> if I'm if I'm playing a a pro PPA match, I don't want those coming at me when I'm approaching the net. That's going to be a nightmare to deal with. And if you have a good partner who can close, I'm screwed.
>> Yeah.
>> So, I I really think I mean those looked amazing. So, a really good drill that you can do to practice your two-handed backhand is just hitting lefty forehands here. And I just took my right hand off my paddle or my grip. And this is going to allow me to work on that left hand and that's that really extending towards my target. It's really hard. It's not easy. I feel like I like my backhand and it's still hard to do this, but you can practice this if you have never done a two-handed backhand to really make life easier. And now I'm going to add my right hand back and I miss because my lefty forehand is now better than my right hand back.
>> And when you were just doing the when you were just doing the the one hand, you were actually still moving your like you were almost like shadowing.
>> I'm trying I'm trying to like keep that unit turn for sure. Okay, let me see a couple. So,
>> wow, you might be left-handed.
>> I was going to say you might not need a two-handed back.
>> All right, lefty lefty battle. Whoever misses first loses.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah, you got lucky in that one.
>> It's in. So, remember all the All right, prep. Left arm. You turn hit line.
>> Dude, this guy's a pro.
>> All right, prep you turn. Turn crosscourt. Oh, loser. Come on.
>> Where's he going this time? Oh, no. 911. You're chasing around.
>> Yeah.
>> You look like you look like Ericson just won PPA Asia.
>> Oh yeah. So, thank you T Backhand Drive. Um people can follow you on YouTube, uh Instagram, um your school, the Pickleball Collective.
>> The Pickleball Collective. Yeah. So, I'm Rosco Belli on on all channels and then uh I have an online community um inspired by this dude right here called the Pickle Ball Collective, which is basically just kind of frameworks of of breaking down the game and showing players how to get to that next level. Um, and you might even learn the two-handed backhand.
>> Yeah, but you don't need to because you just learned it here. So, it's like true. That's true. But no, check it out. Thanks for watching. See you in the next video.