There’s a moment every tennis player knows: you spot the opponent’s backhand wobble, feed it one more ball, and suddenly they’re blasting winners down the line. Ouch. The answer isn’t to stubbornly hit there forever. It’s to make that weakness uncomfortable, move your opponent out of position, and use the space they leave behind. Do that well, and a shaky backhand becomes the start of your point—not a lottery ticket.
Here’s how to find the weakness, build a pattern around it, and keep your opponent from turning the match into a backhand practice session.
First, find out what “weak” really means
A backhand can look poor for several different reasons. Your opponent might miss when the ball is high, struggle to handle pace, avoid hitting down the line, or have trouble moving wide to that side. Those are different weaknesses, and they call for different tactics. A backhand that breaks down on high balls may handle low slices just fine.
Spend the opening games testing rather than guessing. Rally crosscourt to the backhand, then change the height or speed. Try a shorter ball that makes your opponent move forward, and see whether they can attack it. Notice not just errors, but the quality of the reply: Does it land short? Float? Come back with little pace? Can they change direction confidently?
Watch their feet, too. A player who prepares late may be uncomfortable even when they make the shot. Someone who runs around the backhand to hit a forehand is giving you information—but don’t keep feeding them the ball they’re hoping to attack.
Build the point before you go after the weakness
The most reliable pattern for many right-handed players is a firm crosscourt forehand into a right-handed opponent’s backhand. It gives you a safer net clearance and a generous crosscourt angle, while making your opponent hit from the less comfortable side. If you’re left-handed, the mirror-image pattern often works: use your forehand to find their backhand crosscourt.
But the goal isn’t simply “backhand, backhand, backhand.” It’s to make the opponent defend from that wing until the court opens. Once you get a shorter reply, attack the space—often with a forehand into the open court. The backhand is the pressure point; the open court is the payoff.
Be patient enough to earn that shorter ball. Trying to hit a winner from behind the baseline on the first backhand you see is a fine way to donate errors. Use height, depth, and direction to make your opponent play one more uncomfortable shot.
Change the ball, not just the target
Predictability lets an opponent settle in. Keep the ball aimed at the backhand, but vary what arrives there:
- High, heavy topspin: Useful against a player who dislikes contact above shoulder height. It can push them back and make it harder to drive the ball comfortably.
- Deep, flatter pace: Take away preparation time from someone with a long or late backhand swing.
- Low slice: Pulls the player forward and asks them to lift the ball. It’s especially useful against a backhand that struggles to generate its own pace from a low contact point.
- Short angle: Makes your opponent move wide, then leaves court open for your next shot. Use it when you can stay balanced and recover—not as a desperate attempt from a bad position.
Choose the variation that matches what you’ve observed. Heavy topspin isn’t automatically the right answer to a weak backhand: some players love using your pace and height. Test the response, then trust the evidence from the match.
Use serve patterns to start in control
Your serve can expose the backhand before the rally even begins. From the deuce court, a right-handed server’s slice out wide often pulls a right-handed returner toward their backhand side. From the ad court, a serve toward the body or backhand can jam a returner who needs space to swing. The best choice depends on handedness, court position, and what the returner has shown you.
Don’t force the same serve every time. Mix in a body serve, a serve down the middle, and a kick serve that climbs toward the backhand if your opponent struggles with high contact. Then be ready for the likely reply. A good serve pattern isn’t just about where the ball lands; it’s about knowing where your next shot should go.
For example, serve wide to draw a backhand return, then play your first groundstroke behind the returner if they recover toward the sideline. If they stay planted to protect the backhand, use the open court. Make them pay for whichever choice they make.
Recognize the backhand’s shape—and its limits
One-handed and two-handed backhands can have different vulnerabilities, but neither type is automatically weak. A high, heavy ball can be awkward for some one-handed players because it pushes contact above a comfortable strike zone. A low ball may trouble a player who struggles to lift with a two-handed backhand. These are tendencies to test, not rules to assume.
Rafael Nadal’s heavy left-handed forehand to Roger Federer’s one-handed backhand is a famous example of a player repeatedly testing a specific matchup. The useful lesson isn’t “hit high to every one-hander.” It’s that a pattern can put a specific shot under repeated pressure—and the opponent may still adapt. Federer adjusted his positioning and tactics over the years, so the pattern had to be supported by more than simply hitting the same ball again.
Keep checking whether your plan is still working. If the opponent starts stepping inside the baseline and attacking your crosscourt ball, change the height, go behind them, or use the line when you’re balanced. A weakness can become less useful once the other player anticipates it.
Attack the backhand without opening your own court
There’s a trap here: you aim everything to one corner, lean too far into the shot, and leave the opposite side wide open. Good opponents will eventually redirect the ball down the line or run around the backhand and strike a forehand. Stay balanced and recover toward a position that lets you cover both the likely reply and the open court.
Change direction only when the ball gives you time and a comfortable contact point. From a stretched or defensive position, going for the line is a high-risk choice. Crosscourt gives you more room and can keep the opponent under pressure. When you do get a short ball, step in with purpose: attack the open space, or approach behind a shot that genuinely makes the opponent hit up or stretch. Don’t charge forward just because you finally hit to the backhand.
| What you notice | Pattern to test | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Backhand floats short under pace | Drive deep to the backhand, then attack the next ball | Whether the reply sits up or your opponent starts blocking it deep |
| Backhand struggles with high contact | Add heavy topspin to that side | Whether the player retreats, runs around it, or starts taking it early |
| Backhand is uncomfortable moving forward | Use a low slice or shorter ball to bring them in | Whether they lift the ball short or handle the approach comfortably |
| Opponent runs around the backhand | Mix the target and use the space behind or away from them | Whether they’re leaving the court open to protect the forehand |
Make the plan hold up under pressure
On a big point, don’t confuse “target the weakness” with “go for too much.” A deep crosscourt ball to the backhand may be a smarter play than a risky line shot. Give yourself a clear cue—such as “heavy crosscourt, recover”—instead of trying to invent a new tactic while serving at 30–40.
And keep your expectations realistic. Even a player with a vulnerable backhand can hit a good shot when they’re balanced, prepared, and expecting it. Your job is to disrupt those conditions. Change direction, depth, or height when the ball gives you the chance, and make the opponent earn every comfortable backhand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I hit every shot to my opponent’s backhand?
No. Repeating the same target can help your opponent anticipate and can leave you exposed. Use the backhand to create pressure, then attack the space when their reply is short or their position makes the opening clear.
How do I tell whether the backhand is truly weak?
Test it with different heights, speeds, and court positions. Look for repeated signs: short replies, rushed preparation, errors under pressure, reluctance to change direction, or frequent attempts to run around the shot. A single miss isn’t enough evidence.
What if my opponent starts hitting winners from their backhand?
Stop feeding the same comfortable ball. Try changing the height, depth, or pace; play behind them when they run around; and choose safer targets when you’re stretched. The weakness may be conditional, or they may have adjusted to your pattern.
Is a slice always effective against a weak backhand?
No. A slice can trouble someone who dislikes low contact or moving forward, but it can also give a strong player time to attack. Test it, pay attention to the reply, and use it as one variation—not an automatic solution.
Final Thoughts
Exploiting a weak backhand is less about picking on one side and more about asking the right questions. What kind of ball makes that player uncomfortable? What reply does it produce? Where will the court open if you keep the pressure on?
Find the answer early, build the point with control, and stay ready to change the pattern when your opponent does. That’s how you turn a backhand weakness into a smart singles strategy—and make the other player solve the problem on your terms.
