tennis forehand - Tennis Basics

Mastering the Tennis Forehand: Grip and Stance Tips

To hit a tennis forehand properly, with spin, power, control, it is important to understand what preparation is required before you actually get ready to swing. Our prior articles explain these and are listed below in sequential order. If you are struggling with power, spin, or control on your current forehand , refer to the sequential list below to ensure you are preparing properly.

Forehand Grip: Semi Western Grip
Ready Stance:
Split Step
Unit Turn
Racquet in Power Position ( This article )
Step forward ( Closed Stance )
Step and twist ( Open Stance )
Racquet head drop below the wrist
Step forward and pull racquet with handle butt facing net
Make Contact with ball in front of your front foot/body
Follow thru with swing over shoulder, or across the chest around backside.
Leg swing to return to ready position ( closed stance )

person holding a tennis racket — Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels.com

To find the forehand grip, the forehand grip is a semi-western grip in my example. The semi-western grip is powerful because it places the racquet pointing down, which ensures when you make contact with the ball, you will instantly have access to spin and control. To find the Semi -Western grip, place your racquet flat on the ground, and pick it up as you see in the picture. That is the semi-western grip! It might be easier to pick up the racquet than to find the bevel on the grip. To find the correct bevel for the right handed player, you want to place your index finger knuckle pad and heel pad on bevel #4. For a left handed player, you want to place your base index finger knuckle and heel pad on bevel #6.

The Ready Position, Split Step and Unit Turn

The Ready Position is exactly what it sounds like. You are preparing yourself, ready to strike;

You are facing the net
Feet shoulder length apart
Knees slightly bent
Racquet in forehand grip, head slightly above your wrists
Eyes on your opponent
After opponent strikes ball ( example on forehand side )
Perform split step, a slight hop forward landing with both feet
When landing, right foot should be pointing towards moving to forehand side ( right-handed player ). Opposite for left handed player. Left foot pointing towards forehand side.
Perform the unit turn, left shoulder now pointing to the net. ( right-handed player ) Opposite for left-handed player, right shoulder pointing toward the net.
Racquet rotates to power position.

Ready Position Pictured Below

Photo by Roger Aribau Gisbert on Pexels.com

Unit turn and Racquet in Power position pictured below.

The Forehand Swing

Racquet head drops below the wrist, racquet face is closed. Racquet butt end is facing net. Player is in closed stance. Ball strike takes place in front of front foot. Left arm extended as counterbalance.

Forehand follow through over the left shoulder to ensure completion of swing and plenty of spin and power. See below image.

Photo by Sebastian Angarita on Pexels.com

Summary

You now have a roadmap to your tennis forehand. What’s next? Get out there on the courts and try this out. Be patient, it takes time to learn all of these steps, and then put it all together into one awesome forehand shot.

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Mastering Tennis Grips: Key Techniques for Success

Tennis is a complex sport, but when broken down into small bite sizes, it becomes easier to learn and memorize.

Why is the Grip so important?

If you don’t use the proper forehand and backhand grip, you will not be successful. Without the proper grip, your forehand, backhand, serve and suffer the following;

Lack of Control
Lack of Power
Lack of Spin
Lack of depth on shot

What are the two grips I should use

The two grips we are going to use are called the Semi Western for the Forehand Grip and the Continental for the Back Hand Grip. These are the only two grips you need for a well rounded tennis game. This is how I teach my students, and this makes it very easy to remember. I say easy to remember, but often hard to find the two grips at the right time.

What does the semi western forehand grip look like?

A really simple way to find the semi western forehand grip is to lay the racquet flat on the ground. Simply pick the racquet up off the ground, and you now have a semi western forehand grip! This is a very popular grip, and one used by a high percentage of professional tennis players today. It feels a little awkward to use on the forehand, but only for a short time. When you get the feel of this grip related to the forehand, it forces the racquet face to be closed and keeps it marginally closed at the contact point of the ball. This closed face contact is what creates the natural topspin with the semi western grip.

What does the backhand grip look like?

The backhand grip is referred to either the Continental Grip or the Hammer Grip. An easy way to find this grip is to hold the racquet in your left hand, and place your right hand face on the face of the strings. Simply let your hands slide down the strings, down the racquet and onto the grip. You are now holding the racquet grip in the continental grip. To get a feel for the continental grip, hold the racquet like a hammer, and strike the racquet like you are driving a nail through a wall, you will get the feel of the grip and why it is called the hammer grip.

What grip do I use for the serve and volley?

The backhand grip is also used for your serve, and when you volley at the net. The backhand grip is also used as a slice backhand grip.

How to practice finding these grips while you are playing

The best way to find these grips while you are playing is to teach yourself to always hold the grip in the forehand grip. If you always hold the grip in the forehand position, you only need to practice flipping the racquet from the forehand to the backhand grip. I instruct my students to do this while relaxing and watching tv. Hold the racquet in the forehand position and flip the racquet to the backhand grip. Continue going back and forth, and randomly look down and make sure you are holding the racquet correctly.

Repeat these steps, until you can switch from forehand to backhand naturally without looking down.

The Grip is critical to obtaining proper forehand, backhand, serve, volley, and slice backhand.

Spend some time on the court when practicing. Ensuring you have the proper grip for either the forehand or backhand shot. We will spend a lot more time on this grip when we look at the forehand, backhand, serve, and volley shots.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions or comments in regards to this article.

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Essential Steps for a Powerful Tennis Forehand

In this series, we are focusing on the Kaizen Standard Work process of preparation before you strike the ball. In our last series, we looked at the Kaizen Standard Work process for the ready position. When we break these moves and positions down into individual steps, it becomes clear what is required from a standard work process. If we are not successful in the proper execution of these steps, it will greatly effect the next sequence of moves to have a successful forehand strike.

Standard Work Sheet Split Step and Unit Turn

The importance of the split step and unit turn are paramount.

Let’s begin with the split step. The split step or jump step is performed right after your opponent has struck the ball. After the opponent strikes the ball, you are to:

Jump slightly forward after opponent has struck the ball
Determine if the ball is hit to your forehand or backhand
Your front foot is to point in the direction you are planning to move
Land from your jump and immediately start the unit turn.
Perform the unit turn. Turn your shoulder to face the net.
The shoulder turn will be either for the forehand or backhand
As your shoulder turn is starting, prepare your racquet in the ready or loaded position
Racquet slightly above your wrist
Racquet grip correct for either forehand or backhand
As your shoulder turn is rotating, begin to bring the forehand to the power position.
Note: The power position is where the racquet is in loaded position. See example of power position for the forehand

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

The Forehand Strike

In our next article, we will now put everything together. We have learned how to prepare for the shot with the:

Ready Position

We have learned how to start the shot with the:

Split Step

Unit turn

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Get ready, our next article we will actually hit the ball with a forehand strike!

Is your forehand giving you problems? Landing short, sailing long, no power? Stay tuned for our next article.

Enhance Your Tennis Skills: Importance of the Ready Position

When looking at any tennis stroke, it is important to break the stroke down into smaller, bite size chunks of instruction. To do this I am using a process called Kaizen. I explain the Kaizen process as continuous improvement through standard work, or standard process. The idea is to make the instruction simple enough to follow, but also simple enough to remember. The instructions are to the point and focus on key steps to deliver the desired outcome.

Kaizen Work Sheet

The above is a Kaizen Standard Work Sheet I use with my students in person, and for online training. The students actually recognize when they have missed a Standard Work Step, and in many cases they can self correct themselves while playing. Combining the Kaizen Work Sheet method, with Video lessons, or in person one on one, is a powerful way to quickly develop good form and good habits.

The Goal

The Goal of the Standard Work is to be clearly set and the instruction is to be clearly identified.

The Best Practice Image

The Best practice image is to supply the student/player of the image they should attain when following the Standard Work Steps are followed precisely.

The Standard Work Steps

The Standard Work Steps are the details in step by step order to perform the Goal. Each step builds on the next, until the Goal is achieved. If any of these steps are missed, or done incorrectly, it may put the next Goal in the process in jeopardy.

Key Takeaway

The Key Takeaway depicts the importance of the standard work steps, as it relates to the next standard work movement or shot.

Why is the ready Position so important?

Without the ready position being performed correctly and consistently, all of your shots, whether it be a forehand, backhand, volley, will lack balance, fluidity, power, and control. The ready position is used when:

Returning Serve
After you have hit your shot and waiting for the return
After you have served and waiting for the return
When ever you retrieve a ball, return to center of court in the ready position
If you are at the net, you are in the ready position.

Try this Standard Work. Repeat the steps over and over until the ready position becomes automatic. Without the proper, fundamental ready position, the rest of your game will suffer.

Be ready to explode into our next section in this forehand series. We will be looking at the split step and the unit turn in our next Standard Work.

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Kaizen: The Secret to Mastering Tennis Techniques

Kaizen Definition

Kaizen is a Japanese term that means “continuous improvement” or “change for the better.” The philosophy and approach to life and in this case, tennis, is to focus on small incremental improvements over time. This leads to greater efficiency, quality and success.

How I use Kaizen to teach tennis

As a tennis coach, I try to break down each shot, and each movement pertaining to a particular shot or stroke. What is really helpful to me, is to have a reference book to use with the student, to help them follow along with the flow and visual aids for a particular shot or stroke. It is also helpful if you are using video analysis of a player, you can quickly compare the students stroke with the best practice example in the Kaizen playbook. Of course I demonstrate the stroke with shadow swings when I am doing individual coaching, but If I am doing remote on line lessons, it is very easy to compare the strokes with the students video and give instant feedback, and the player has a copy of the standard work playbook to refer to.
The playbook also works well with my online training courses.

13 steps to get ready to hit your forehand

Almost all shots in Tennis, require multiple movements, multiple positions, multiple patterns, which can lead to a wide array of standard steps in one process, such as a swing on a forehand.

In the photo above, the player is running towards the ball to strike a forehand. In this photo, the player has performed 13 steps to get into this position, and she hasn’t even struck the ball yet. The steps she has taken to get to this point of her shot are;

Standard Work Forehand Preparation

Ready Position
Visually tracked the ball to determine if the ball will be to her forehand or backhand.
Performed a split step
Stepped towards her forehand side out of the split step
Rotated her shoulder to face the net
Changed her grip to forehand
Tilt the racquet above her wrist, position racquet in power position
Bring her right arm up to track the ball and provide balance
Perform long stride cross over steps to quickly get to the ball
Begin her forehand backswing
Let the racket head drop below her wrist as she starts her swing
Keep her eye on the ball
Begin to slow down as she approaches the ball with small shuffle steps

Kaizen Standard Work/Work Flow

In the Kaizen world, these 13 steps would be characterized as Standard Work, or Work Flow. In the tennis world this is known as preparation before the shot. The positive side about looking at Tennis as standard work, is it helps a coach teach with consistency, the student will learn a consistent method, the player can refer to standard work when shots stop being consistent, or you want to add spin or power to your shot.Learning or improving tennis can be simplified with Kaizen methods. If you look at the 12 steps, it is imperative these steps are performed, but it is even more important, these steps are performed correctly.

Standard work for the Ready Position

Feet shoulder length apart
Player facing the net
Two hands on racquet
Player has forehand grip
Racquet slightly above wrist
Eyes on opponent
Knees slightly bent
Player in relaxed state but ready to move

Try this standard work for the ready position the next time you take the court. Use the standard work as a best practice to follow. You might be surprised there may be a few things missing from your ready position stance. If you are struggling with your forehand, start with the ready stance. It is extremely important as are all positions in tennis.

We will start a Kaizen series on the forehand!!! Follow along and enhance your game.

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Rafa Nadal Top Spin Forehand versus intermediate player.

If you are a tennis player, you have surely spent time watching your favorite tennis player and trying to emulate some form of their game in to your own game. The Rafa Nadal topspin forehand is a shot of beauty and pure animalistic power. I thought I would take a look at my own forehand on video and for some reason I thought it might be a good idea to compare my forehand with the 20 time grand slam champion Rafa Nadal. The video details the beginning of what I believe will be a long but yet fulfilling journey to truly try to emulate the great Rafa Nadal topspin forehand. I only say trying because Rafa Nadal is a once in a generation player and no one on this planet can hit a forehand like him.

There were some interesting takeaways from the video that I found. My take back of the racquet took way too long making me hit the ball late. I was striking the ball at or even with my body, meaning I was restricting my own power and top spin by not getting the full momentum of my racquet swing. I also found I was not bending my knees during the racquet take back sequence meaning there was no use of my legs to coil and uncoil during the shot. This is also a major flaw in developing any type of repetitive power and a solid topspin forehand. Lastly my follow through was around my body, except Nadal’s follow through is more pronounced straight up above his head with a helicopter motion as his follow through. The last finding was my left arm was not distanced as far from my body as Nadal’s, meaning he is picking up even more power and speed with the “whip action” of the forehand.

More articles and videos will follow as my journey continues.

Problem with the Forehand. 5 quick fixes

Get a grip. Make sure you are using the correct grip for the forehand. If you are a right-handed player a solid grip is the eastern forehand grip which would be bevel number 2 for the right-hander view. Same bevel number 2 for the left-hander view. The eastern forehand grip will steady your forehand stroke because the contact point is relatively flat and with the proper swing, the ball can be easily brushed up against to cause the ball to spin in the court.

2. Take back on your backswing too long. If your forehand continues to give you problems after correcting your grip you may be taking your racket back too far on your backswing. With the eastern forehand grip, a large backswing is not required as the contact point is flat and a simple brush up on the ball is all that is required for.

3. You are letting the racket head drop too early on the back swing. The racket head needs to stay above the shoulders on the backswing. As you progress towards the hitting the ball, the racket needs to make a loop from the backswing to the contact point causing the racket to brush up on the ball creating top spin and providing net clearance and depth on your shot.

4. You are not following through on your swing, and stopping your swing after you make contact. This will cause the shot to lose power and spin. This is a very common problem for beginners and even some intermediates. All of the effort goes into the grip, backswing, keeping the racket head up, but there is no follow through on the shot, thus canceling out all of the previous steps.

5. You are not getting to the ball and preparing early enough. If you have successfully corrected the first 4 steps and still struggling with the forehand, you may not be getting to the ball with sufficient time to get the right grip, take your racket back, keep the racket head up, follow through on your swing. There are many reasons why you may not be getting to the ball on top, but court position is key. You should always try to position yourself at the center of the baseline and standing a foot behind the baseline. This will ensure you can move laterally either way and the ball will be in front of you so you don’t have to back pedal.

In summary, give yourself enough time to perform steps 1-4 as you move towards the ball. If you get to the ball in time with proper techniques as listed, the forehand will soon become the ultimate weapon in your tennis game arsenal.