Hitting a Forehand
In any competitive tennis match, the forehand is a must-have shot. Because the forehand stroke comes effortlessly to most individuals, it is frequently the first shot players learn. Top players can build formidable smashes that help them win points from the baseline by practicing precise forehand tactics. When hitting a good tennis forehand, learn appropriate tactics and prevent frequent blunders.
Get ready for the shot.
Your dominant hand should grasp your racquet, while your other hand should hold it at the throat. When the ball crosses the net and approaches your wing, turn and take the racquet back to open your shoulders. Maintain a comfortable bend with your legs shoulder-width apart. It gets referred to as the “ready” position.
Adjust the angle of your backswing.
As your non-dominant hand exits the neck of your racquet, keep the racket head level with your head. Make sure your shoulder gets fully turned and that the racquet is not brought back too low or too high. Lock your wrist to ensure a smooth, round, and consistent action as you return your racquet.
If your backswing is inconsistent, your forehand may become erratic. To generate more power, don’t take a longer backswing. Maintain consistency, especially while under duress.
Prepare to take a step ahead.
Drop the racket underneath the height of the ball by lowering your elbow and pronating your forearm once you’ve estimated the ball’s approach and positioned yourself into the proper position. Develop racquet speed so it may get released at the point of impact.
Keep your gaze fixed on the ball. Hold your head until after you’ve made contact, and make sure your swing is free of hitches.
Swing the ball across the air.
Whenever the ball is inside striking range and at a suitable distance from your body, hit it. Stretch your arm and utilize your wrist to maintain the racquet’s face lay back as it makes maximum contact with the ball.
Overestimate the low-to-high trace of your swings because your strokes may land short unintentionally, allowing your opponent to attack.
Carry it out
Whip your wrist and pronate your forearm after impact to keep your arm extended out in front of you. To make a windshield wiper effect, bring the head of your racquet to the side of your non-dominant hand.
Keep your balance and stay locked in. Don’t look up too soon to see where your shot fall. These factors can skew your shot and cause it to go wrong.
Avoid changing your swing.
Your strokes may fly out of boundaries if you slow your racquet head during your follow-through. If you cut your follow-through too short, you’ll strike the net.
Maintain your swinging path smooth and consistent, starting with your backswing and continuing through your hit and follow-through. There must be no jerking motions in your forehand at any moment.
Maintain a low profile and avoid moving your head.
A consistent swing path gets achieved by controlling your head movement. Don’t stand up or glance up too quickly. Maintain your focus and retain your eyes on the ball from the moment it leaves your opponent’s racquet until you follow through.
Hold your head down and don’t look up and see where the ball is heading too early. Maintain a constant level of follow-through.
Get a Good Grip on Your Racquet
The racquet grip is essential for the forehand since it transmits the touch from the racket strands that interact with the ball to your hand. You have an excellent understanding of what’s going on with the ball and how to deal with it.
Your forehands do not have tight control if something is wrong with the grip, irrespective of how your other outward technique looks. Consider shaking someone’s hand and applying the same approach to your racquet. Let one edge of your racquet point to the court as you hold your racquet vertically. Wrap your fingers around the grip on the butt end of your racquet.
Grasp the handle with your wrist
Place your palm just behind the racket’s handle. If you’re right-handed, hold the racquet on the right side of the body and grasp it using your wrist gently to the right at the bottom of the handle. Your index finger and thumb must get spaced towards and above the back of the handle.
If you’re a left-handed player, keep the racquet to the left of your body. With your palm slightly behind the handle, grip the racquet. Keep your wrist near the handle’s left butt end. The space between your index and thumb should be at the back of the handle, above the handle.
The Eastern Forehand Grip is the most popular grip used by novices. As it is the most comfortable and adaptable grip, it utilizes to play strong forehands. Nonetheless, the Western and Continental grips get employed for other tennis strokes such as the slice.
When employing the Eastern Forehand Grip, close the racquet face.
Close the racquet head on your backswing if you wish to hit with power. When you strike the ball with force, closing the racquet head during the backswing produces more topspin. Aim a little higher than the net’s top.
Adopt the Semi-Western Grip.
Place your index finger’s knuckle and lower palm on the fourth notch of your racquet grip. Placing the racquet flat on the ground is a shortcut. You establish natural contact areas between your shoulders and waist when you lift it.
By angling the face of your racquet towards the ground, you can close your backswing. As you shorten your backswing, you’ll be able to hit the ball harder. Practice making the ball fly as you use more force and create more spin. You will diminish the power of your forehand if you execute it incorrectly.
The Western Forehand Grip produces the maximum spin.
Align the knuckles of your index finger and the base of your palm just on the fifth notch of the racquet handle. Around your shoulders, you must make the connection with the ball.
Keep your racquet in a loose grip.
To make the proper shot, you should easily alter your grip. To hit a drop shot or a short slice, you might switch to a Continental Grip from an Eastern Grip.
