to backhand
- verb
- /ˈbækˌhænd/
- In tennis practice, he focused on learning how to properly backhand the ball.
- ready to backhand
Examples
-
On the other hand, he has to backhand the catch because he's a lefty.
Blog text (20) -
Backhanded by Chapel, throws to first.
-
I lightly backhanded it and told her to suck her gut in.
Fiction book (1998) -
He skillfully backhands the ball over the net, surprising his opponent.
-
During the match, she learned to backhand the tennis ball with precision.
Synonyms
To hit a ball with a smooth, controlled movement in sports
Compounds
A stroke in tennis or similar racket sports made with the back of the hand facing the ball
How Difficult
- Jargon
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Etymology
Backhand as a verb comes from back and hand and means 'to hit with a backhand', because you strike the ball using the back side of your hand. So to backhand the ball is to make that specific kind of hit.