A large part of every rally goes through the back wall. Play it securely and you gain time and can return balls that seemed lost. The core: you turn with the ball, let it rebound and hit it in front of your body while moving forward.
How to play off the back wall
1Recognise early that the ball is going into the wall, and turn your shoulder to the wall.
2Move back with small steps, but not all the way to the wall.
3Let the ball rebound and move forward with it.
4Hit it to the side, in front of your body, and play it back low or as a Lob.
The choice after the wall
If the rebound is low, play a Chiquita or a low ball into the middle. If it comes up high, you can lob or try a Bajada.
The ball bounces and hits the back wall, A lets it rebound and plays it back low.Your pairOpponentsBallMovementBounce
Common mistakes
Running with your face to the wall: you lose sight of the ball.
Hitting the ball behind your body: it goes into the net or straight up.
Standing too close to the wall and having no room for the shot.
Drill: Reading the wall
Your partner throws balls at different speeds into your back wall.
Catch each ball with your hand after the rebound first, to get a feel for the rebound.
Then play the balls back with the racket.
Frequently asked questions
How far in front of the wall should I stand?
About one to one and a half metres, depending on the pace of the ball. You need room for the rebound and the shot.
What do I do with a double wall?
If the ball hits the back wall first and then the side wall (or the other way round), it slows down. Let it come and play it calmly.
