TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

TOPSPIN BACKHAND [11 records]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2012-05-03

English

Subject field(s)
  • Racquet Sports
OBS

Strictly speaking there is an important distinction to be made between a "touch shot" and a "finesse shot", terms quite often used synonymously. A "touch shot" requires a delicate "touch" of the hands to execute shots such as a "drop volley" or a "lob volley", whereas a "finesse shot" is simply any shot that has required much agility and nimbleness on the part of the player, e. g. backhand topspin lob. Related term : specialty shot.

Key term(s)
  • touch shot

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports de raquette
DEF

Retour de la balle exécuté à la perfection, le joueur ou la joueuse ayant mis tout juste la vivacité, l'empressement, la précision et la force calculée nécessaires pour placer la balle de sorte à prendre son adversaire au dépourvu; du grand art, comme celui de l'artiste devant sa toile, d'où le choix de mots.

CONT

Vous devez considérer votre style de jeu parmi les critères d'achat d'une raquette de tennis. Par exemple, si vous privilégiez le style service-volée, vous devriez choisir une raquette avant tout puissante (pour votre service), ayant aussi de la «touche» (pour vos coups en finesse) et légère en tête (pour votre volée).

CONT

Le fameux coup de patte de Pete Sampras, la volée de revers amortie.

CONT

[...] il a tenté quelques retouches en ajoutant ces coups de pinceaux qui font de lui qu'il n'est plus tout à fait ce qu'il était, un limeur de fond de court au toucher de fée.

CONT

Elle avec son coup de patte révisé dans les usines Bollettieri [...]

Spanish

Save record 1

Record 2 2012-01-11

English

Subject field(s)
  • Racquet Sports
DEF

Spin produced by hitting over the ball, i.e. brushing the racket face up and over the ball, causing it to rotate forward.

OBS

Also refers to the stroke which not only imparts such a spin on the ball, it also causes it to dip in flight. Top spin is used extensively to pass opponents attacking at the net.

OBS

Warning: the term "overspin" in many contexts could also refer to "excessive underspin" - a completely different concept. The term "lift" is rarely heard today.

PHR

Backhand, forehand, heavy, one-handed, severe topspin.

PHR

To apply, impart topspin. To hit a topspin.

PHR

To put topspin on the ball.

Key term(s)
  • over spin
  • over-spin
  • top-spin

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports de raquette
DEF

Effet donné à la balle frappée par dessous de bas en haut, qui aura un rebond plus haut et plus long, car elle tourne sur elle-même dans le sens de sa course. Qualité passagère d'une balle qui a une forte rotation d'avant en arrière.

CONT

La raquette légèrement fermée en dedans pour coiffer la balle et lui imprimer un lift.

CONT

Le brossé permet [...] un meilleur contrôle de la distance car on peut même frapper fort dans la partie avant du terrain adverse comme lors d'un «passing shot» (ce qui est impossible sans le brossé).

PHR

Imprimer un (fort) effet brossé.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Deportes de raqueta
DEF

Acción de abajo-arriba que se imprime a la pelota. Se utiliza para controlar la pelota y para darle potencia al golpe.

CONT

Existe naturalmente el efecto liftado, que es, como se sabe, el que produce un avance de la pelota en sentido de la misma dirección que va a llevar, que se origina al realizar una especie de raspado con las cuerdas en la pelota, de abajo hacia arriba; aquí, más que de abajo hacia arriba, es un poco de un lado a otro [...]

PHR

Imprimir un efecto (liftado).

Save record 2

Record 3 2012-01-11

English

Subject field(s)
  • Racquet Sports
DEF

Action of hitting the ball and the resulting action. ... A player is deemed to have attempted a stroke if he faces up to the ball with his racket, attempts to play and misses.

CONT

A shot is the combination of a stroke and the situation in which it is used.

CONT

The technical manner of hitting the tennis ball (forehand, backhand, volley, etc.) and the resulting action combine to constitute a stroke.

CONT

The height and direction of the bound can be affected by the nature of the surface, the amount of spin, the weather conditions and ... the power of the strike.

CONT

Compact backswings and short, smooth strokes are best [if you want to use the new Dunlop Max Enforcer tennis racquet].

CONT

Player and ball are together during the stroke.

OBS

Important nuance: a "stroke" implies early preparation and a complete follow through. If one were to envision a stroke, one would see a series of sequences, ending with a "shot", i.e. the result of all of the above. A "shot" is the result of the "stroke". "Shot" implies a quick, sharp movement because one is focusing on the end result, not the series of sequences leading up to it. One speaks of "classical strokes" rather than "classical shot". A "blow" on the other hand is rather a blunt, general term similar in meaning to "shot". Although many would like to maintain these nuances in English, "shot" and "stroke" can often be used synonymously. "Blow" is used only rarely. Note, however that although there are two possible equivalents ("coup" and "frappe") in French, neither are semantically identical to the English offerings.

PHR

Attacking, awkward, backhand, basic, big, choppy, classical, compact, competent, controlled, defensive, drive-type, flowing, fearsome, forehand, full, ground, ineffective, jammed, left-handed, limiting, looping, normal, pet, precise, punched, punch-type, short, smooth, soft, static, sustained, tennis, topspin, two-handed, unorthodox, versatile, volley, weak, wristy stroke.

PHR

Stroke of the rally. Stroke production. Arsenal of strokes. Stroke folds under pressure.

PHR

To complete, develop, execute, make, mistimed, rush, take a stroke. To groove, modify, shorten one’s stroke. To follow through with a stroke.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports de raquette
DEF

Mouvement au cours duquel la raquette est portée à la rencontre de la balle jusqu'à l'impact.

CONT

J'ai vu [des] volées, techniquement bien amorcées, finir comme une gelée fondant trop vite, parce que la frappe manquait de fermeté.

CONT

Au moment de la frappe, le tamis doit être légèrement orienté vers le ciel afin que la balle soit dirigée du bas vers le haut pour lui permettre de passer le filet.

CONT

Il faut leur faire apprendre à ralentir leur coup pour commettre peu d'erreurs.

OBS

À moins qu'on ne fasse pas allusion à un coup particulier pour lequel il existe déjà un terme fixe, p. ex. : coup droit, on devrait utiliser le terme «frappe», terme sémantiquement moins précis.

PHR

Frappe accélérée, énergique, ferme, foudroyante, plate, puissante, sèche, souple.

PHR

Fermeté d'une frappe. Geste, point, puissance, rythme de frappe.

PHR

Coup de qualité. Solidité des coups.

PHR

Ajuster, précipiter, raccourcir un coup.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Deportes de raqueta
CONT

Muster prosiguió su inspiradísima racha de golpes ganadores y Bruguera acabó por rendirse, ante la evidencia de que su condición física [...] era inferior a la de Muster.

PHR

Golpe de ataque, avanzado, básico, blando, compacto, defensivo, delicado, desconcertante, fuerte, molesto, natural, (nada) ortodoxo, preliminar, vistoso.

PHR

Ejecución, preparación de un golpe. Precipitación en el golpe. Una serie de golpes.

PHR

Amagar, dirigir, efectuar, ejecutar, enriquecer, mejorar, realizar un golpe.Conectar, iniciar el golpe. Descomponer en tiempos un golpe. Conocedor de los golpes.

Save record 3

Record 4 2012-01-10

English

Subject field(s)
  • Racquet Sports
DEF

Refers to a shot aimed to or toward the diagonally opposite side of a tennis court.

PHR

Crosscourt backhand, pass.

PHR

Crosscourt topspin backhand shot.

PHR

To go crosscourt.

Key term(s)
  • cross-court
  • cross court
  • on the diagonal

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports de raquette
PHR

Volée amortie en croisé.

PHR

Passing-shot croisé.

PHR

Trajectoire en diagonale.

PHR

Smasher en diagonale.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Deportes de raqueta
CONT

Tres posibilidades de resto: al centro a sus pies, cruzada o paralela.

CONT

Cuando os halléis en dificultades jugad siempre cruzado.

PHR

Servicio cruzado.

Save record 4

Record 5 2011-12-16

English

Subject field(s)
  • Racquet Sports
DEF

A type of stroke that not only imparts a forward spin on the ball, it also causes it to dip in flight.

OBS

See "drive" and "shot" for more in-depth information concerning the nuances between these two terms. Briefly, a "drive" implies a hard-hit ball, whereas "shot" is neutral, i.e. it makes no statement as to the force or speed of the ball. The distinction between these two terms is sadly not always made in the media.

CONT

For the top spin lob, the racket technique is an exaggerated version of the topspin drive. The loop of the racket is more pronounced and the stroke is played with less pace through the ball.

OBS

topspin shot: also a table tennis term.

PHR

Backhand, brush, forehand, one-handed topspin drive.

PHR

To hit a topspin drive.

Key term(s)
  • top spin shot
  • top spin drive

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports de raquette
DEF

Coup imprimant à la balle une rotation avant.

CONT

Réalisation technique d'un coup droit ou d'un revers lifté.

OBS

coup lifté : terme employé aussi au tennis de table.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Deportes de raqueta
CONT

El mejor golpe para el passing [cuando está en buena posición] es el golpe liftado.

Save record 5

Record 6 2011-12-16

English

Subject field(s)
  • Racquet Sports
DEF

A deep shot usually initiated from midcourt that gives a player enough time to move toward the net and set up for a first volley; this may be a topspin drive or a slice shot depending on the player’s preference.

OBS

Sometimes "approach shot" is used synonymously with the more specific term "forcing shot", especially in reference to a hard drive rather than a sliced shot after which a player may advance to the net.

PHR

Depth on an approach shot.

PHR

Attack, backhand, crisp, deep, flat, forehand, short, slice, sneak, solid, stop and hit, topspin, underspin, well-placed approach shot.

PHR

To aim, attack, attack behind, contact, develop, drive, execute, guide, hit, land, neglect, place, plan, play, practice, return, scatter, set up, sharpen, toss, underspin an approach shot.

PHR

To hit an approach shot flat. To hit an approach shot with topspin. To hit an approach shot with underspin. To approach shot bounces.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports de raquette
DEF

[...] coup effectué à mi-terrain permettant au joueur de monter au filet, que ce soit à la volée ou après rebond court de la balle.

OBS

Coup d'approche lifté, plat, à contre-pied.

PHR

Couper un coup d'approche.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Deportes de raqueta
DEF

[Golpe] ejecutado para preparar la subida a la red.

CONT

Aproximación. Se trata de cualquier golpe con que se prepara la subida a la red. Puede ser tanto cruzado como paralelo o al centro.

Save record 6

Record 7 2011-11-24

English

Subject field(s)
  • Racquet Sports
DEF

The stroke used to return a serve.

CONT

... won the tiebreak on a screaming service return hit right at the charging Sampras.

CONT

With Becker serving at 6-5 in the fourth set, the Romanian hit some good returns, and broke for the match.

CONT

A player claims his return shot was good after a linesman called "out."

OBS

return of service: term also used in table tennis.

PHR

Accurate, aggressive, anticipated, attacking, backhand, blocked, controlled, crisp, cross court, dink, down-the-line, driven, drop shot, effective, flat, high, ill-directed, ineffective, lobbed, low, mishit, predictable, short, topspin, underspin, unplayable return of serve.

PHR

Interception of a return of serve.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports de raquette
DEF

Premier renvoi ou coup de la balle qui fait suite au service adverse.

CONT

Le grand tamis favorise beaucoup les lifteurs étant donné sa surface plus large ainsi que le joueur de double et de service-volée. Il est idéal pour le retour de service et la volée.

CONT

[...] l'échange s'avère en général très bref, sans compter que les retours de service de votre partenaire vous font regretter d'avoir joué.

OBS

retour de service : terme employé aussi au tennis de table.

OBS

Celui qui l'effectue est le relanceur. Le terme «retour» est en l'occurrence, une forme abrégée de «retour de service».

PHR

Retour de service d'attaque, bas, bloqué, court, croisé, en coup droit, en montée au filet, en parallèle, en revers, faible, gagnant, haut, imparable, lobé, millimétré, placé, plongeant, profond.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Deportes de raqueta
CONT

Muster elevó el brazo derecho hacia el cielo, justo en el momento en que la última devolución de Chang salió fuera de los límites de la pista central de Roland Garros.

CONT

Si la devolución es mala, nuestro adversario aprovechará la ocasión y tomará la iniciativa [...]

CONT

Las tres cualidades más importantes que debe reunir un resto son: 1.° No fallar la pelota jamás. 2.° Poner siempre en dificultad al adversario. 3.° Tomar la iniciativa [...] Tres posibilidades de resto: al centro a sus pies, cruzada o paralela.

PHR

Devolución alta, corta.

PHR

Resto bloqueado, cortado, en globo, largo.

PHR

Un fallo en la devolución.

PHR

Interceptar, realizar un resto/una devolución.

Save record 7

Record 8 2011-11-18

English

Subject field(s)
  • Racquet Sports
CONT

In doubles, it is always an effective strategy to aim one's shots down the middle between the two opponents. His down-the-line topspin backhand is more potent than his topspin forehand down the line.

OBS

Usage: when used predicatively after the qualifier, hyphens are optional; when used adjectivally before the qualifier, hyphens are de rigueur.

PHR

To serve up-the-middle.

Key term(s)
  • down-the-center
  • down the middle
  • down the center
  • down the centre
  • up the middle

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports de raquette
CONT

On pourrait [...] frapper fort au centre afin d'incommoder l'adversaire.

PHR

Jouer au centre.

Spanish

Save record 8

Record 9 2000-08-04

English

Subject field(s)
  • Sports (General)
  • Racquet Sports
OBS

backhand topsin: table tennis term.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports (Généralités)
  • Sports de raquette
OBS

(coup en) revers avec effet vers l'avant.

OBS

lift du revers : terme de tennis de table.

Spanish

Save record 9

Record 10 2000-07-14

English

Subject field(s)
  • Racquet Sports
CONT

The top-spin backhand is a most potent weapon but cannot be achieved without good body position so first ensure you know the correct stance.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports de raquette
CONT

Réalisation technique d'un coup droit ou d'un revers lifté.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Deportes de raqueta
DEF

Golpe con efecto de rotación hacia adelante, trayectoria muy lenta, bote alto [...] Ideal para los Passing-Shots, a los pies del adversario y pelotas cruzadas.

CONT

[...] muy poco gente [utiliza] el liftado de revés. [...] no es aconsejable realizar un golpe liftado de revés [...]

Save record 10

Record 11 1995-10-22

English

Subject field(s)
  • Racquet Sports
Key term(s)
  • one-handed topspin backhand shot

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports de raquette

Spanish

Save record 11

Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank

© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau

Display options

Change the order of display of the official languages of Canada
Option to display the non-official languages (Spanish or Portuguese)
Display definitions, contexts, etc., on records

Features

Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.

Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.

Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.

Date Modified: