BACK-HANDERS. 



15 



BACK-HANDERS. 



When hitting a back-hander, careful attention 

 must be paid to the correct way of turning the wrist. 

 The hand should be slightly turned, so as to bring 

 the thumb down the front of the handle with the 

 knuckles outwards (Figs. 7 and 8), and the stick 

 still held in such a position that the long end of 

 the head will be away from the pony. Additional 



Fig. 7. — Ordinary back-hander, 

 view from front. 



Fig. 8. — Ordinary back-hander, 

 view from behind. 



Strength can be put into the stroke by the support 

 which the thumb gives by being held down the 

 handle. The arm must be straight and kept as close 

 to the side as possible. 



There are four kinds of back-handed strokes. 



I. Straight back. — When hitting straight back, 

 the ball should be struck when about one foot 

 behind the rider's knee (Fig. 9). 



