Photo Study of Serena Williams's Strokes

Next to her serve, Serena's backhand is her best shot. Here, she is using her favorite stance, semi-open, which gives her a mixture of linear and rotational energy. Her wrists are laid back so that their forward whip will enhance her racquet-head speed, delivering more power to this tremendously powerful shot. Having the racquet head below her hands helps Serena get the strings farther below the ball, thus increasing the low-to-high path of her swing that creates the topspin that allows her to hit as hard as she does without hitting long.