Backhand Counter Fix: Face Down, Knees Soft, Keep It Compact

Summary

Ty Butson’s Road to 5.0 session targets counters that keep floating at tournaments.

Main adjustments: tip the paddle face down (not open), stay light on the feet with soft knees, and shrink a swing that got too big. He’s also testing a two-handed counter option and shifting off the middle so the BH isn’t forced. Simplify: face down, loose, compact — then add variety once the ball stays low.

Key takeaways

• Open face = pop-ups; tip the face down on BH counters
• Soft knees + compact swing beat a big arm swipe
• Position off-center so the BH isn’t jammed in the middle

Action items

• Partner feeds: 30 BH counters with a “face down” call before each
• Film: pause at contact — is the face open or closed?