When a speed-up comes at your backhand, the goal isn’t simply to block the ball back. According to pro player and PPA commentator Greg Dow, the key is getting your body and paddle into position early and making contact out in front.

In a recent lesson with Alex Walker, Dow broke down his one-handed backhand counter and offered one simple tip that can make the shot more effective: hit the ball as far out in front as possible.

Get low and get your paddle up

When you see a speed-up coming to your backhand, Dow recommends getting in front of the ball rather than letting it get into your body.

Start with your paddle up and out, get into a slightly lower stance and lean forward. From there, the stroke is a compact punching motion.

Dow describes the movement as being similar to a “ninja” stabbing motion.

The goal is not to swing across your body or take a large backswing. Instead, keep the motion short, controlled and directed forward.

Contact point is everything

One of Dow’s biggest priorities is the contact point.

“You want to be somewhere in the middle,” Dow explains. The arm should be slightly bent at contact rather than completely extended or jammed close to the body.

Making contact out in front gives you several advantages.

First, it makes it easier to get the ball moving downward. Second, the ball travels toward your opponent from a position closer to the net, helping it get there faster. And finally, an out-front contact point can produce a more solid connection.

What if the ball gets outside your body?

A one-handed backhand counter becomes more difficult when the ball moves well outside your body.

Dow suggests either reaching for the ball with the one-handed backhand or switching to a two-handed backhand when possible.

The important thing is recognizing that the ideal contact point is in front of you—not beside you or behind you.

The one tip to remember

If you only remember one thing from Dow’s lesson, make it this:

Hit the ball out in front.

Start with a wide base, keep your weight slightly forward, get your paddle up early and punch through the ball with a compact motion.

Think “ninja”—not a big swing.

That simple adjustment can help you produce a lower, faster and more solid one-handed backhand counter when your opponent speeds the ball up.

Watch the full lesson with Dow and Walker for a visual breakdown of the technique.