The first point to note is mental. Hitting the one-handed backhand is in large part a matter of the right attitude. 

Players who have the elements correct, may still not crack the ball convincingly unless they are mentally determined to “lean on the ball.”  This doesn’t mean tilting your body, it means showing the ball who’s the boss!

I see many players do this well on their forehands but the mental conviction just isn’t the same on the backhand side. Once an understanding of the backhand model has been attained, it’s then very important to approach the shot like you mean business. This doesn’t mean trying to rip every backhand! It’s more about making contact when and where YOU want to instead of letting the ball dictating the contact point.

The contact range will vary from person to person, but on every solid one-hander the contact point is beyond or in front of the foot that’s stepping into the ball. Hitting over or behind the lead foot will greatly undermine one’s chances of controlling the shot.

The Straight Arm Position

As you move the racket forward to the ball, the hitting arm should straighten out well before contact. This straight arm position continues after the hit all the way through the followthrough. It’s hard to stress this point too much. The most common cause of weak one-handers is the dreaded “elbow lead,” with the arm bent at the contact. This is one reason why we stressed in the preparation phase that the loop should be as compact as possible.

The exact contact point—that is, how far you actually hit the ball in front is a matter of individual feel.  To establish your own personal contact range, be sure to keep your head still and square on your shoulders, Now watch the ball until you HEAR it hit your strings.  

Mark Philippoussis straightens his hitting arm out immediately as the racket moves forward to the ball.  It stays straight at and through the contact.