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The last time I played tennis, it was with my racket in one hand, a beer in the other, and my shoes somewhere over by the pool. But just like always, I found myself doing everything short of pulling somersaults to make sure I didn’t have to hit a backhand. So when I had the chance to rework my groundstroke down at the pop-up Nike Court in Manhattan, I jumped. Coach Ray Chin and actual pro Nick Kyrgios—you know, the teenager last seen beating Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, now playing in this week’s US Open—came through with these five tips for fixing a horribly broken one-handed backhand.
** 1) Your mom was right: Quit hunching!
**Step one: start with a sturdy base. Feet shoulder-width apart, back straight, and head up: If you hunch over the ball (like I did), you’ll hit it into the net (like I did).
** 2) Apply some pressure
**As you step into the shot, keep your racket parallel to the ground—you can even use your off-hand to apply a little pressure on the throat (the y-shaped gap between the handle and the face) to keep the face on that horizontal line. If the racket gets too high, you’re hitting a gopher-getter. In fact...
** 3) Arc from low to high
**Your stroke should trace a gentle upward angle. This may take some practice if you’re used to slicing the ball. In the words of Kyrgios—who, once again, beat Rafa Nadal at freaking Wimbledon—"Just go after it. Don’t even bother about making the shot, just hit it." Once the contact feels solid, then you can worry about aiming. Which brings us to...
** 4) Follow the face
**This one’s simple: If your racket face is pointed at the sideline, that’s where the ball is going to go. In time you’ll work your way up to aiming your shot, rather than just praying it lands in play.
** 5) Stiffen your floppy wrist
**A few words on the follow-through: Flicking your wrist like you’re brushing dirt off your shoulder is a pretty common amateur mistake, I was told. Once the ball is on the racket, push through the shot with a fairly stiff wrist, rather than flinging your racket through the zone. You can brush dirt off your shoulder once you hit a winner.
Related: How Old Is Too Old for the U.S. Open?
