Tweener (Between-the-Legs Shot)
Also known as: tweener, tweeners, between the legs shot, between-the-legs shot, hit between my legs
A tweener is a shot hit between your legs, usually while running back toward your own baseline to chase a lob. You swing down and back through your stance with your back to the net. It is legal, and it is often the only way to reach a ball that has gone past you.
On a full-size tennis court, this shot starts with a long sprint. An opponent sends the ball over your head, and you chase it toward the baseline. You strike it as it drops, and it travels back over the net while you still face the back fence.
There is nothing illegal about it. The rules care whether you hit the ball with your racquet before its second bounce, not how. Some players also hit a forward version, facing the net, as a trick shot. That one is mostly for show.
To hit one, run hard so you overtake the ball's line. Let it bounce and drop to around knee height. Widen your feet a little and snap the racquet down and back through them. Aim high and deep to give yourself time to recover. In a match, save it for when no normal shot is possible. It is a rescue, not a weapon.
Tips by skill level
Practise slowly with a partner feeding soft lobs. Get the footwork right before you add any speed to the swing.
If you can turn and hit a forehand on the run, do that instead. Keep this shot for balls you can only reach running straight back.
Example
A topspin lob sails over his head. He sprints back, gets ahead of the ball and flicks it back through his knees. The opponent, surprised, nets the volley.
Why it matters
It keeps you alive on balls you cannot turn and hit. Knowing the shot is legal and when to use it saves points you would otherwise concede.
Common mistakes
- Trying it when a normal shot is still possible
- Swinging before the ball drops low enough
- Running behind the ball instead of getting ahead of its line
- Aiming low and leaving no time to recover
Frequently asked questions
Is a tweener legal in tennis?
Yes. The rules only require you to hit the ball with your racquet before it bounces twice. Going between your legs is a normal legal stroke.
When should I hit a tweener?
Only when the ball has gone over you and you are running straight back with no time to turn. In that case it is often the only shot you have.
Related terms
- Lob DefenseLob defense is using a high, deep shot over an approaching or net-positioned opponent. It buys time, resets the point, or forces a difficult overhead.
- LobA lob is a high, arcing shot meant to clear a net player's reach. On defense it buys time; on offense, a topspin lob near the baseline can win the point.
- Tennis Drop StepA drop step is the first move back for a deep ball or a lob. Step back with the foot on the side of the ball and turn your hips and shoulders in the same move. Then shuffle or cross over into position, so you can hit from balance instead of backpedalling.
- Overhead / SmashThe overhead (or smash) is a serve-like stroke struck above the head to put away a lob, demanding quick shoulder turn, a trophy-position racquet path, and aggressive pronation through contact.
- Tweener (Between-the-Legs Shot)A tweener is a shot you hit between your legs, usually after a lob has gone over you. Run straight back along the ball's path, let it bounce and get just past it. Then swing the paddle down and back through your knees toward the net behind you.
Related guides & benchmarks
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