Lemme tell ya how I totally screwed up before figuring this thing out. So I bought David Pech’s online tennis course last month, ’cause my backhand sucked worse than expired milk. Paid $89 thinking “how hard could it be?”
The Messy Start
First day following his video drills? Total disaster. Grabbed my racket before breakfast like an idiot. Forgot to stretch at all – legs felt like wooden planks. Swung at the garage door practicing form, smacked the frame HARD. Neighbor’s dog started howling like I murdered someone. Wanna know worse? Followed his “hold racket loose” tip so much it flew outta my hand. Nearly broke the damn window.
- Rage moment: Kicked the ball bucket across the yard
- Wasted time: 2 hours doing footwork drills wrong
- Result: Backhands still hitting the net
The Actual Useful Part
Felt ready to quit till Tuesday morning. Was so mad I just slapped balls without overthinking. Boom. Suddenly they sailed deep with this weird topspin. Made zero sense ’cause my form looked trash. Then I realized:
David’s golden nugget: Don’t copy his exact elbow bend or grip shift. Nope. The hack is using your damn legs. Sounds stupid obvious? I bent knees too early like a squid for weeks. When I finally shoved my weight forward through the shot? Night and day difference.
- Changed my stance: Feet wider than shoulders
- Stopped trying pretty swings
- Just pushed off back foot HARD when swinging
Now My Shots Fly Different
Thursday’s practice was witchcraft. That leg push thing? Ball shoots off like a rocket. Even my garbage serves improved. Not cos I magically got better technique. Nuh-uh. Still drop balls like crazy. But now when I connect? Enemy territory gets scary. Friend thought I swapped rackets secretly.
Moral of the story: Stop obsessing over elbow angles. Your legs hold the gunpowder. Light that fuse right, even ugly swings pack a punch. Still got pinky finger pain from yesterday though.