IMPROVE YOUR GAME:
AIR THE ARMPITS ON YOUR BACKHAND
July 9, 2018

At any level of the game, the goal is to keep balls out of the net. For newer players, this can often be more challenging on the backhand side. To keep more backhands in the court rather than in the net, think “air the armpits."
When you hit a two-handed backhand, finish with both armpits “aired” and your elbow of your non-dominant arm pointing across the net. For a right-hander, this is your left elbow. If you're a left-hander, this will be your right elbow.
By using this tip, it will force you to lengthen the follow through and, as a result, give you more height and allow you to clear the net with a comfortable margin.
Rita Gladstone is a head tennis professional at the USTA National Campus at Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla.