Are you lacking power and accuracy on your forehand and backhand. First check out my article on getting the right grip. I referenced an eastern grip for the backhand and a semi western for the forehand. Both of these grip types will ensure you have the racquet turned correctly to impart spin and power, but the grip alone will not generate consistent power on your forehand and backhand. To do that, you will need to generate power from your racquet take back which includes the shoulder turn and thereby the waist turn. Several aspects not reviewed in this article is the importance of the knee bend and utilization of your large leg muscles, arm, elbow, wrist, footwork, open or close stance to name a few. There are many coordinated actions that must take place to hit a clean, smooth, spinning and powerful ball. Today we are only looking at the take back and follow through.

See the slow motion video below as I take the racquet back on the forehand first and then the one handed backhand. I slowed the video down so you can see my non dominant hand, ( my right hand ), grabbing the racquet throat before I take the racquet on the backswing. As I take the racquet back, my non dominant hand gets pulled backward with my racket, forcing my shoulders and waist to to rotate or coil with the backswing. You can see my back at the top of the backswing right before I begin to uncoil for the forehand or backhand.

Just as important as the shoulder turn and waist coil on the take back of the racquet, is the acceleration of the racquet head as you uncoil your waist and step into the shot. If you look at the video again, you can see after the shoulder turn my non dominant hand comes off the racquet throat and swings forward creating more uncoiling action as the shoulders, waist and hips create a kinetic chain with your bent knees also springing up, causing the racquet to accelerate at the contact point creating an enormous amount of spin and power on the ball.

The last part of this article will focus on completing the swing. I can’t tell you how many players who do the first 2 parts of this swing satisfactorily but don’t finish the swing by not not following through. They actually slow the swing down or stop mid swing after contact! This will ruin all of your efforts of the shoulder and waist turn and the uncoiling of your shoulders and waist, only to stop the swing before completing the kinetic chain. All of your power and spin gains will be lost as well as the control aspects. Take one more look at the video and observe the end of the forehand swing. The racquet comes all the way across my body and finishes somewhere around neck high behind my head. The one handed backhand finish is even more pronounced with the racquet finishing high above my head racquet head pointing to the sky. The follow through is what will separate you from the pack. Please don’t try to force the racquet finish by flicking your wrist or twisting your arm. This will quickly lead to arm and elbow injury and not give you the desired outcome.

To find out more about the forehand and backhand swing, stay tuned for more follow on articles and videos. Also coming this spring is the Tennis Basics guide to better tennis. Available for free.

In the meantime practice your grip, shoulder and waist turn, uncoiling and follow through, and in no time at all you will see big improvements on your forehand and backhand power and spin.

See you on the courts.