Pile Driver Syndrome

Pile Driver Syndrome: The left arm should not 'push' the racket forward. Extend the elbow momentarily just around the moment of contact then allow it to bend, wrapping the racket around your neck. This follow-through flexion indicates that before contact the left bicep muscle was contributing to counter-rotation of the wrists, boosting the power of the shot.

This pesky problem plagues the two-handed backhand exclusively. It consists of locking the non-dominant elbow (left side for a righty) and leaving it locked through the point of contact and into the follow through. This syndrome results in a loss of snap and is basically the two-handed version of the Hot Shoulder Syndrome or Push Syndrome in that you end up pushing through the ball instead of pulling into it and releasing stored control and spin forces. There is also a decided loss of pace in this syndrome which does not typify the Hot Shoulder or the Push. This loss of power occurs with the two-hander because of the important role of stored force in providing racket head speed in all short strokes including the two-hander.

The Pile Driver Syndrome is easy to recognize. First, it obliterates the follow through of the two-hander. Instead of wrapping the racket around your neck, you find yourself following through in the direction of the target. Second, the ball makes a hideous sound as it thuds off of the strings.

You can diagnose the syndrome off-court. If you shadow stroke your the two-handed backhand and don't hear a healthy 'swish' of the racket head, suspect this syndrome first. The solution to this problem is to make sure that the non-dominant elbow reaches full extension before the moment of contact and immediately starts to bend into the follow through.

    Pile Driver Syndrome
  • Chief Complaint
    • "My two-hander is dribbling into the net!"
  • Symptoms(Sx):
    • marked loss of power
    • loss of control
  • Signs(S):
    • no snap
      • following through towards target insted of around neck
      • pain in upper back
      • dull thud on contact
        Pathophysiology(Px):
      • pushing through the ball with straight left arm
        • no explode
        • no counterroation in the wrists
        Diagnostic Tests (Tx):
      • shaadow stroke
        • no or decreased 'swish'
        • no wrap in follow through
        • Treatment(Rx):
      • allow left elbow to bend at or before moment of contact
        • try not to force it
    • Prevention
      1. monitor closely
      2. shadow stroke
        • wrapping follow through around neck
        • early elbow bend
        • snap
        • swish