| The Basics of the Tennis Forehand | | | | time, extend your other, non-hitting arm out |
| The forehand is arguably the most important shot | | | | across your body so that it is parallel with the |
| in tennis. It’s typically a player’s most | | | | baseline. This will help you stay balanced and judge |
| offensive groundstroke. Many top college players | | | | the oncoming tennis ball. Once you get into this |
| and most pros inside the top ten have big | | | | position your preparation is complete and you are |
| forehands. | | | | ready to swing forward to your contact point. |
| The forehand is a very complicated shot and this | | | | Swing to Contact |
| article won’t cover all of its ins and outs. | | | | From the completion of your preparation, do the |
| What this article will try and do is teach you the | | | | following three things at the same time: 1) Push |
| fundamentals, the things every player with a good | | | | off your back foot, 2) Rotate your body back |
| forehand does, so that you can then pursue | | | | toward the net, and 3) Drop the racket down and |
| those tweaks that will take your shot to the next | | | | swing forward to your contact point. The path |
| level. The four steps outlined here may seem | | | | your racket travels along during this step will look |
| simple, but the fact is that most club level players | | | | very similar to the letter “C” when seen |
| do not execute one or more of these steps | | | | from the side. Your contact point will be out in |
| properly, but every single pro does. | | | | front of your body, about waist high. Your upper |
| Pivot and Shoulder Turn | | | | body should be facing the net. Also, make sure |
| The pivot and shoulder turn motion is how you | | | | the strings are perpendicular to the court when |
| should begin every forehand you hit no matter | | | | you hit the ball. |
| what stance you will hit your shot in. You execute | | | | Follow Through |
| this step as soon as you realize you are getting a | | | | The point of the follow through is to smoothly |
| forehand. This motion gets your body sideways | | | | decelerate the tennis racket after you make |
| and allows you to move effectively to the tennis | | | | contact with the tennis ball. Based on how you |
| ball. To execute the pivot and shoulder turn, pivot | | | | were swinging earlier in the shot, the follow |
| with your outside foot (your right foot if you are | | | | through should be the best and easiest way to |
| right handed) and transfer your weight to that | | | | stop the racket. In the case of the forehand, |
| foot. At the same time, you need to turn your | | | | extend out in the direction you hit the tennis ball |
| shoulders sideways while leaving both hands on | | | | and continue to rotate your body. Once you have |
| the racket. It is also very important that you do | | | | extended out, turn your forearm and wrist over |
| not use your arm to take the racket back yet; | | | | together like you were trying to check the time |
| this is a big mistake that a lot of club level players | | | | on a wrist watch. Bring the racket across your |
| make. The racket will start to come back, | | | | body in a smooth and relaxed motion. |
| however, simply because your shoulders are | | | | Hopefully this article has given you a clear picture |
| turning sideways. | | | | of the fundamentals involved in hitting a technically |
| Take the Racket Back / Extend Other Arm | | | | sound forehand. Every top pro does these things |
| Now that you have pivoted and turned your | | | | when they hit, and if you can master these basics |
| shoulders, you can now use your hitting arm to | | | | you’ll have the foundation upon which you can |
| get the racket all the way back. At the same | | | | build a killer shot. |