Prep and power

By Mike Hall, December 16, 2016

Daniela Hantchukova has been playing the WTA tour since her teenage years.

Extremely tall like Maria Sharapova from Russia, she possesses a laser-like backhand that is scintillating in match play.

What can you learn from this world class shot?

1. Outstanding shoulder turn like a power hitter in baseball.

2. Excellent grip with dominant hand nudged over to continental like Andre Agassi.

3. Terrific stance with great width to enable using her kinetic chain. Most people have not heard those words together but it’s a good homework project to google. Many club players have a much narrower power limiting stance.

4. Eyes following the ball like a hawk.

5. Great arm position and racquet will soon drop fifteen inches below the level of the incoming ball. This provides power and what Larry Loeb calls, ‘up spin.’ Another name for
topspin but it reinforces a swing plane that rises through impact to reduce felonies.
A felony is a ball hit into the net. (Thanks Welby Van Horn)

6. If you are a visual learner, try copying this prep position.