Sunday, September 15, 2013

Tips To A Smooth Tennis Forehand Stroke

By Davis Pete


A forehand is a basic stroke in the game of tennis. It is one of the most important strokes in the game as it can be both a defensive and an offensive shot. There are various kinds of forehands such as the topspin, slice, flat and lob forehands. This is due to the different spins used to hit each type of forehand. The topspin forehand will create a heavy bounce that will cause the ball to rotate forward and hop when it bounces on the court. The slice forehand will cause the ball to rotate backwards (backspin) and creates a shorter bounce. A slice forehand can also cause the ball to skid when it bounces on the court. The flat forehand will cause the ball to travel fast through the air with very little spin and will skid off the court. The flat forehand is usually an offensive shot as it travels very fast. The lob is a shot that is loopy and can have either spin or no spin; usually a defensive shot. This article aims to teach you how to hit a forehand and the things to take note of when hitting a forehand.

The five things to remember to hit a forehand stroke:

1. Get into the correct position. Beginners should learn to hit the forehand by turning sideways and stepping into the ball. This is called the closed stance. As one improves, the open stance would be preferred. The key for beginners is to able to be able to contact the ball properly each time. Then to progress to learning the swing. For beginners, the initial grip is to learn to hold the racket with the eastern forehand grip.

2. Take your racket back and move towards the ball, at the same time, turn your body to a quarter to the right.

3. Sound footwork will work wonders for your forehand. Move towards the ball and step into the ball with your left foot. This will ensure your body is turned when you hit it. Ideally as a beginner, stay in a square stance position before progressing into an open stance.

4. Contacting the ball on the racket sweet spot is important. Always try to hit the ball in a squarely. Have your tennis racket beside and low and brush up and forward on the ball. Ensure you are properly balanced. As a beginner it is better to stay sideways and only rotate your arms. Do not rotate your lower body. This will ensure stability when you strike the ball.

5. Follow through - this is very important as following contacting the ball at the point of contact, you will need to continue with the swing upwards and towards your left ear. A high follow through will tend to add top spin to your shot. A flatter follow through will result in a flatter and faster pace ball.

Now that you have read all these 5 steps on how to hit a forehand, you can try it yourself at home. But remember that it takes time and practice to master your forehand. Try out the different types of forehands and experiment with your swings and your grips to get different spins and speeds of the balls. Enjoy yourself and happy practicing!




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