How to Hit a Forehand in Tennis

A forehand is a tennis stroke in which the ball is hit with the palm of the hand facing the direction in which the player is moving.

The Grip

The most important part of hitting a forehand is the grip. Many people think they can just pick up a racket and start swinging, but that’s not the case. There are different grips for different strokes, and the forehand is no different. If you want to hit a forehand correctly, you need to start with the right grip.

Continental

The continental grip is the most popular grip for hitting a forehand in tennis. To execute the continental grip, start by holding the racket in your dominant hand with the handle running across your palm. Then, place your other hand on the underside of the racket neck and wrap your fingers around it. Your index finger and middle finger should be touching, and your thumb should be behind the racket neck.

Eastern

The Eastern grip is the most popular grip for hitting a forehand in tennis. To assume this grip, start by positioning your hand on the beveled edge of the racket’s handle. Your palm should face the side of the racket, and your thumb and index finger should be positioned near the top of the handle. Next, tuck your remaining fingers underneath the bottom part of the handle. You can adjust your grip as you swing, but make sure that your fingers remain curled around the racket’s handle.

Western

The western grip is most commonly used in tennis and is considered the standard grip. Players who use a western grip on their forehand tend to hit the ball with a lot of topspin. And while this grip offers less power than some of the others, it is much easier to control.

If you are a beginner, or if you want to play a more consistent game, the western forehand grip is probably the best choice for you.

The Stance

When hitting a forehand in tennis, you want your feet to be parallel to the baseline and your weight should be evenly distributed. You should be holding the racket in your non-dominant hand and the ball should be in front of you. Your dominant hand should be close to the throat of the racket.

Closed

A closed stance is when your feet are placed closer together. This stance is most often used for forehands, as it gives you more power behind your swing. To get into a closed stance, start by positioning your feet about shoulder-width apart. Then, point your back foot at the center of the tennis ball, and position your front foot so that it’s slightly angled toward the net. When you’re in a closed stance, your feet should be parallel to each other.

Semi-Open

One of the most important aspects of your forehand is your grip. Your grip will determine how much topspin or backspin you can put on the ball, and how much power you can generate. For a semi-open grip, your palm should be in front of the handle and your knuckles should be pointing to the ground. You can achieve this grip by holding the racquet in your hand and letting it dangle down. Then, curl your fingers around the handle until they’re pointing downward.

Your stance is also important for a strong forehand. For a semi-open stance, start with your feet shoulder-width apart and point them slightly toward the net. Then, step forward with your non-dominant foot so that it’s positioned in front of the other one. When you’re ready to hit the ball, rotate your hips and shoulder so that they’re facing the net. Then, swing your arm forward and hit the ball with an open racket face.

Open

The Open Stance forehand is the most popular choice among recreational players and beginners. Many of the world’s best players also use this stroke, including Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro, Stan Wawrinka, and Serena Williams.

The biggest advantage of the open stance forehand is that it allows you to hit the ball in front of your body. This gives you more time to react to your opponent’s shots and makes it easier to generate power. The open stance also allows you to see both the ball and your opponent at all times, making it easier to anticipate where your opponent is going to hit the ball.

Another advantage of the open stance is that it lets you hit with a lot of topspin. When done correctly, this can make your shots very difficult for your opponent to handle. It can also help keep your shots in the court when hitting on a windy day.

A disadvantage of the open stance forehand is that it can be harder to generate power than with other strokes. This is because you are swinging more horizontally than vertically, which can make it difficult to transfer your weight into the shot. The open stance can also be less accurate than other strokes because it is harder to keep your eye on the ball when hitting with an open racket face.

The Swing

The forehand is the most common stroke in tennis and is hit by right-handed players when the ball is on their right side and by left-handed players when the ball is on their left side. The stroke is executed by swinging the racquet in an arc and making contact with the ball in the sweet spot. The sweet spot is the area of the racquet face that produces the most power and is located right in the middle of the strings.

Backswing

Assuming a right-handed player, the first step of the forehand swing is to take the racket back. The player starts this step by turning the shoulders, then the waist, followed by the arms and finally wrists. All of these parts of the body turn at roughly the same time. The player should turn his or her head last so that it faces the net at the end of the backswing. From start to finish, the racket will have travelled from below and behind the left shoulder, up and around to above and behind the right shoulder.

Downswing

The downswing is a turning motion that starts with the shifting of weight from the back foot to the front foot, while the hips and shoulders rotate back to their original position. The racket is then pulled down and around, with the elbow leading, to make contact with the ball. The power for the shot comes from both legs pushing off to create momentum and from rotating the upper body.

Follow Through

Once you’ve contacted the ball, resist the urge to stop your swing. Instead, continue moving your arm and racket forward and up until they’re both pointing directly at your target. This is called following through. Proper follow-through ensures that you hit the ball with the “sweet spot” of your racket for maximum power and accuracy. It also allows you to put spin on the ball, which can be useful for making the ball dip quickly after it bounces (which makes it harder for your opponent to return). Remember to keep your grip on the racket firm but relaxed as you follow through.