Player practice guide
On-the-Rise Backhand
15 min Coach / feederIntermediate–AdvancedBackhand
Take the backhand early on the rise while preserving spacing and control.
Best for: players who give up court position when a deep ball reaches the backhand side.
Goal
Take the backhand soon after the bounce with compact preparation and send it deep without retreating.
Success today
Land 8 of 12 on-the-rise backhands beyond the service line while recovering on or inside the baseline.
Watch before court
Technique reference
How to take the ball on the rise in tennis: RUSH your opponent · 10:03
Technique reference—not the full drill. Watch the early preparation, compact contact and forward court position used on the rise.
Open video on YouTubeArrive ready
Before you go
- One coach or capable feeder
- Basket of 20+ tennis balls
- 3 flat cones
- Approximately 15 minutes of court time
Court blueprint
Set up the court
Hold the baseline, meet the rising backhand early and direct it into the deep crosscourt target before recovering along the line.
- Ball direction
- Feeder ball
- Recovery
- Target zone
- 01Mark a baseline contact lane on the backhand side and a deep crosscourt target.
- 02Begin with the outside foot near the baseline.
- 03Ask the feeder for controlled deep backhands that rise into the strike zone.
Step by step
Your 15-minute practice
0–3 min
Find the bounce timing
- Call bounce and rise on six tracking feeds.
- Turn the shoulders before the ball lands.
3–7 min
Shorten the preparation
- Meet easy deep balls in front of the body.
- Use the deep target rather than extra pace.
7–11 min
Stay on the line
- Recover without stepping behind the baseline.
- Use adjustment steps for changing bounce height.
12 feeds · 4 min
Score twelve backhands
- Count deep shots taken before the top of the bounce.
- Aim for eight successes.
Remember
Three player cues
- Turn before the bounce.
- Meet the rise in front.
- Recover along the baseline.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Waiting for the ball to reach the top of the bounce
- Crowding the backhand contact
- Falling backwards after contact
Keep the same purpose
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Feed slower balls to a consistent backhand spot and use the full deep half as a target.
Make it harder
Vary the feed depth and require an early call of on the rise or move back.
Keep it safe
Keep the deep-feed landing zone and baseline recovery route free of spare balls.
Continue later