Unleash Your Tennis Forehand

Explore the six big core ideas that drive a powerful tennis forehand, revealing how diverse styles can be lethal and effective within one unified approach.

Hold the correct tennis grip in a relaxed way, with the index finger spread like pulling a trigger, to improve racket control and forehand spin.

Turn the shoulders with both hands on the racket to coil the body for the forehand backswing. Push the wrist back to lay it back and generate topspin.

Position yourself behind the ball to contact it in front, creating space to swing, with stable legs and a loaded base to drive the forehand.

Drop the racket below the contact point to impart topspin, brush the bottom of the ball, and aim for high net clearance to let the ball kick up.

Finish the forehand by driving through to the opposite side of your body, stay relaxed at contact, exhale when you contact the ball to trust your shot.

Practice self-feeding to develop forehand: drop the ball 45 degrees in front, begin the backswing as you drop, and roll the ball over with the racket under the ball.

Practice with a partner feeding balls to a triangle zone to teach proper forehand positioning: stand farther back so the ball lands in front, avoiding jammed shots.

Shift to the full grip by holding the lowest part of the handle. Start the backswing before the ball bounces, drop under the ball, and finish high while maintaining balance.

Practice hitting balls from the opposite side of the court, learn to position yourself for accurate feeds, and stay balanced to improve your forehand.

Practice the forehand in short court tennis by maintaining form, slowing the swing when needed, and keeping the ball in play through mini tennis.

Stand further behind the service line to gain space to swing on short court tennis. Use green dot balls, about 25 percent slower than regular trainer balls, for easier practice.

Master court movement to complement your forehand, learning how to move effectively and efficiently so you can move or counter your opponent and reduce errors.

Develop good footwork by achieving perfect balance and timely, efficient reach to the ball, creating options to hit crosscourt or down the line, and recover for the next shot.

Use the open stance to run out wide for a forehand, rotate after the split step, and attack high short balls or block fast balls.

Use the semi-open stance for balls slightly off center, step in with the inside leg, rotate through the shot, and bring the outside leg forward to square up after contact.

Keep the non-dominant hand at shoulder height during the backswing and never drop by the side to maintain balance and a connected forehand.