How to teach single and double-handed backhands to U10s?

Tennis CoachCoach

Hi Adam - Are you looking for drills for teaching the single or double backhand or asking which you should teach to under 10's?  I have been teaching only under 10 kids for almost 4 years now and I've let the child decide which they are most comfortable with as long as (1) the dominant hand is at the bottom of the grip and that they are producing the proper contact and follow-through. 

I kind of invented a simple drill to get them to understand the backhand concept.  using the soft foam balls - AND NO RACQUET - I dead feed them backhands and they most hit them with....the BACK of their HAND! 

Hope that helps!

Tennis CoachCoach

Hello Adam - I have had a lot of success teaching the double backhand by starting the student hitting against a backboard or wall using their left hand ( assuming that they are right handed ) and gripping higher up on the handle then hitting a one handed left hand forehand ( Eastern or Semi -Western grip ) until I feel that they are able to control the ball . After this I have them incorporate the dominant hand ( in this case right using a Continental or an Eastern Backhand grip) into the stroke . I try to make sure they take a complete follow-through finishing over the opposite shoulder using both open and neutral stances when practicing the double backhand . Begin with low compression balls until they are capable of effectively hitting the stroke . Be sure that they recognize that their contact zone should be beside the body to just slightly in front of the body . The one hand backhand is hit farther in front of the body with more of a closed stance .Grip choices are Eastern Backhand or Continental and the non -hitting arm moves as a counter balance .If you hit up on the ball to produce topspin the arm would go down , if you hit a slice more of a downward stroke the arm moves up .This is followed by dead ball feeds so that they can work on depth of shot and direction . I have taken people who have never held a racquet before and had them rallying from the baseline within a few days to a week using this technique . I hope this helps .