Key Points:
- Grip: The running backhand in this video is hit with a full Eastern backhand grip. Any grip from full Eastern through Continental will work well on a flat shot like this.
- Backswing: Use a short backswing to keep the timing simpler on the run.
- Footwork: With insufficient time to do a skip step or carioca step, your best choice is to run smoothly through the swing. If you can slow down a little before you start running through the swing, that will help you control your shot, but don't try to slow down while you're swinging.
- Point of Contact: Meet the ball farther forward than your hips, preferably by one to two feet.
- Swing Path: Swinging mostly forward is simplest, because it keeps the racquet in the ball's path longer. When trying to hit flat, many players swing upward slightly and create a little topspin. This slight upward motion won't complicate the stroke or create enough topspin to make much difference.
- Follow Through: You'll naturally follow through upward, even though you're not trying to hit much topspin.
- After the Shot: Get ready to split-step and execute a volley. You might hit a clean winner once in a while with this shot, but most often, you'll need to follow it up with a volley, which makes the down-the-line placement, as executed here, the best choice.
