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Is it ever right to turn your back fully to the net?
Side-on for wall play. Watch the ball over your shoulder and keep the court in view.
When playing a ball off the back glass, should you turn fully to face the wall, or stay partly sideways?
Side-on for wall play. Watch the ball over your shoulder and keep the court in view.
Why
The correct body position for a ball off the back glass is side-on, the same as for any groundstroke, with the head turned to watch the ball hit the wall over the shoulder. From there you can see the rebound, you can see the opponents in your peripheral vision, and the swing is a normal forward swing as the ball comes out. Turning fully to face the wall makes the ball easier to watch but leaves you blind to the court and needing a half-turn before you can hit; staying square to the net means reaching behind yourself. Side-on is the position that lets you do both jobs.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Turn sideways for wall balls, the way you would for a normal forehand or backhand. Look over your shoulder to watch the ball hit the glass.
Intermediate
The rebound is played as a groundstroke: side-on, step forward, swing through. The wall just delivers the ball.
Advanced
On the double-wall corner ball you may need to turn further to track it, but come back to side-on before contact. Contact is always made from a hitting position.
Common questions
When playing a ball off the back glass, should you turn fully to face the wall, or stay partly sideways?
Stay side-on. You need to see both the ball and the court. Side-on for wall play. Watch the ball over your shoulder and keep the court in view. The correct body position for a ball off the back glass is side-on, the same as for any groundstroke, with the head turned to watch the ball hit the wall over the shoulder. From there you can see the rebound, you can see the opponents in your peripheral vision, and the swing is a normal forward swing as the ball comes out. Turning fully to face the wall makes the ball easier to watch but leaves you blind to the court and needing a half-turn before you can hit; staying square to the net means reaching behind yourself. Side-on is the position that lets you do both jobs.
Why not face the wall fully. It is easier to watch the ball?
You can see the ball, but you cannot see the court, and your swing has to come round 180 degrees. Side-on is the compromise that works.
What should a beginner do here?
Turn sideways for wall balls, the way you would for a normal forehand or backhand. Look over your shoulder to watch the ball hit the glass.
How does this change for an advanced player?
On the double-wall corner ball you may need to turn further to track it, but come back to side-on before contact. Contact is always made from a hitting position.
Puzzles like this one
The ball is coming off the back glass. When do you hit it?
Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.
beginnerThe ball bounced then hit your own back glass. Still in play?
One bounce on the floor, then any number of walls. Only a second floor bounce ends the point.
intermediateA smash is coming at you. What is your job?
You are not trying to win this ball. You are trying to still be in the point two shots from now.