There is one thing I’m focusing on right now in my tennis journey—my single-handed backhand.

I’ve been playing tennis for more than two decades, and I can say I’m happy with my forehand, my backhand slice, and my volleys. When it’s on, I’m also happy with my first serve, and in recent years I’ve made some improvements to my second serve as well. I would consider myself a solid TennisBear Level 5 player, which is more or less equivalent to an upper intermediate level in Japanese tennis schools.

I want to improve, and the next logical area I need to work on is my backhand stroke. I’ve always gotten away with having a poor backhand because I have a relatively reliable slice. However, I’ve recently noticed that my opponents have learned to exploit this weakness. They consistently target my backhand, knowing I’ll either slice it back or make a mistake.

For a long time, I blamed my weak backhand on my insistence on sticking with a single-handed stroke. It has always been less reliable than my forehand, so I rarely use it in matches. I stuck with it partly because it looks cool—and partly because Roger Federer uses it. There was even a time when I tried switching to a more stable double-handed backhand, but I couldn’t help feeling envious whenever I saw a beautiful single-handed one.

So I stayed with it, hoping it would eventually improve—but it never really did. The truth is, I didn’t give it enough chances to develop. In matches, I would default to my slice instead of committing to the stroke.

Now, I’ve decided enough is enough. I need to resist relying on my slice and start committing to my backhand. It won’t improve if I keep avoiding it. I need to face it head-on.

In my last few sessions, I’ve started using it more, and I think I’m seeing some progress. I’m still experimenting with grips to generate more power, and YouTube has been helpful for tips and guidance. I no longer attend tennis school, as I’ve realized I learn better through match play and adjusting as I go.

I’m turning fifty next year and am certainly not getting any younger, but it’s reassuring to know that the desire to improve is still there. Hopefully, that drive will still be with me when I turn sixty a decade from now. And with any luck, my single-handed backhand will have become a real weapon by then.