How to Teach Forehand in Tennis?

Teaching a forehand in tennis can be easy if you follow these steps. You must first start by gripping the racket and then positioning yourself correctly. After that, you’re ready to swing and make contact with the ball.

Introduction

In this article, we will provide an overview of the forehand stroke in tennis and some coaching points to help you teach this important stroke to your students. The forehand is the most common stroke in tennis and one of the most important strokes to master. A proper forehand technique will generate more power and consistency in your shots. In addition, a well-executed forehand can be very effective in winning points. Teaching the forehand stroke can be a bit challenging, but with patience and practice, your students will be hitting winners in no time!

The grip

The first step to teaching a forehand is to make sure your grip is correct. The most common grip for a forehand is an eastern or semi-eastern grip, which is where you position your hand on the racket so that your palm faces the target and your thumb and first two fingers form a “v.” For a right-handed player, this would mean positioning the racket in your left hand. Once you have the correct grip, you can then start to focus on hitting the ball.

The stance

To start, have your student stand with their back foot perpendicular to the baseline and their front foot pointing toward the net at a 45 degree angle. For right-handers, this will be their left foot back and right foot forward; for lefties, the reverse. They should then place their racquet hand on the handle and rest the head of the racquet on their shoulder so that the strings are facing behind them.

The backswing

The backswing is a fluid movement that takes the racket from the ready position behind the body, up and over the head, and then back down to the hitting area. Use your nondominant hand to help guide the racket head up and over your shoulder. As you swinging, your arm should be relaxed and slightly bent at the elbow. Once the racket is above your head, start to bring it down by cocking your wrist and elbow. Use your dominant hand to help control the speed of the racket as you bring it down.

The forward swing

The most important part of the forehand stroke is the forward swing. This is the part of the stroke where you generate most of the power. To generate power, you need to use your larger muscles, specifically your legs, hips and trunk.

Start the forward swing by shifting your weight from your back foot to your front foot. As you shift your weight, start to turn your shoulders and hips towards the net. As you turn your shoulders, start to swing your arm up and across your body. At the same time, start to uncock your wrist. As you come across the ball, snap your wrist so that your racquet face is perpendicular to the string bed. Make sure that you hit the ball in front of you so that you can put topspin on the ball.

The follow-through

After contact, the player’s arm should continue in the direction of the shot until it is fully extended, with the racket hand pointing downwards. The player then drops the racket below waist level and allows it to pass behind the body.

In a backhand, the racket is dropped after contact and allowed to pass behind the body.