Forehand topspin against backspin

Setup

1. The coach (CO) stands to the side of the far end, with the bucket raised on a chair or stand and clear of the space the player moves in.
2. The player (P1) starts a small step back from the forehand half of their end, in a low, wide stance.
3. Waiting players stand well back and collect balls between sets so none are left rolling under foot.

How it runs

1. CO feeds a long, heavy backspin ball to P1's forehand half, roughly one every two seconds.
2. P1 lets the ball drop from the top of the bounce, then brushes up and forward to topspin it deep onto CO's half.
3. Sets of 10 balls, then rotate. Each player counts how many of the 10 land on the far half.
4. Finish with a live version: a partner pushes long backspin to the forehand, P1 loops and the partner blocks it back once.

Coaching points

• Bend the knees and drop the bat below the ball before the swing; the lift comes from the legs and hips.
• Brush the back and top of the ball with a slightly open bat. Heavier backspin needs a more upward swing.
• Contact the ball as it falls from the top of the bounce, in front of the body.
• Turn the waist through the stroke and finish with the bat around forehead height.
• Recover to a ready stance before the next feed arrives.

Common mistakes

• Hitting flat and fast into the net: against backspin the ball needs lift, so swing more upward.
• Standing tall and swinging with the arm only.
• Taking the ball too early, on the rise, before getting low.
• Over-lifting, so the ball floats high and long past the end line.