THE HOW TO OF THE FOREHAND
THE FOREHAND GROUNDSTROKE IS ONE OF THE POWER STROKES OF THE GAME. THE GREAT PLAYERS OF TODAY USE MANY GRIPS TO STRIKE THE BALL ON THE FOREHAND SIDE. THE STRONGEST OF THESE GRIPS AND POSITIONS FOR THE HAND IS THE EASTERN OR SEMI WESTERN, TO FULL WESTERN POSITION. THE WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS POSITION WITH THE HAND IS TO SHAKE HANDS WITH THE RACQUET AND THEN TURN YOUR HAND A 1/4 INCH TO THE RIGHT OF THAT. THIS FLATTENS OUT THE RACQUET FACE, SO AS TO ALLOW YOU TO STRIKE THE BALL, WELL OUT IN FRONT OF THE BODY. PLAYERS ALSO USE THIS POSITION FOR THE HAND ON HIGH BALLS.
THE CONTACT POINT IS WHERE YOU TRY TO CONSISTENTLY MEET THE BALL ON THE FOREHAND SIDE. THIS SHOULD BE FROM JUST IN FRONT OF THE LEFT FOOT FOR RIGHT HAND PLAYER, TO 6-8 INCHES IN FRONT OF THAT, DEPENDING ON THE GRIP.
THE FOLLOW THROUGH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE STROKE. IT IS HIGH ABOVE THE LEFT SHOULDER, WITH YOUR EYES LOOKING OVER YOUR RIGHT ARM. YOUR CHIN SHOULD BE RESTING ON TOP OF YOUR SHOULDER TRACKING THE FLIGHT OF THE BALL WITH YOUR EYES. THE RACQUET HEAD IS ON EDGE, WITH RIGHT ARM EXTENDED. THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE FOLLOW THROUGH IS LIKE A JET AIRPLANE TAKING OFF; GRADUAL AND AT A SLIGHT INCLINE. THIS PORTION OF THE STROKE ADDS CONSISTENCY TO THE HITTING ZONE OR CONTACT POINT.
THE TURN IS THE INITIAL TAKE BACK OF THE RACKET; FROM THIS POINT THE RACQUET DOES A LOOP. THE LOOP IS THE CIRCULAR PATTERN OF THE RACQUET AS IT DROPS DOWN BELOW THE BALL TO START ITS FLIGHT TO THE FOLLOW THROUGH OR FINISH. THIS ADDS POWER OR MOMENTUM TO THE STROKE, SIMILAR TO THE ARC OF A GOLF SWING THE RACQUET STARTS DOWN TO STRIKE THE BALL AND JUST AS IT’S STARTING THE UPWARD PORTION OF THE SWING; YOU MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BALL.
THE BALL IS NOW BEING STRUCK WITH TOPSPIN FOR MORE CONTROL. THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT YOUR RACQUET IS VERTICAL OR FLAT, WHEN CONTACT IS MADE. THE END RESULT IS THAT THE STROKE HAS SOME IMPORTANT COMPONENTS 1. FINISH, 2, TURN, 3, GRIP, 4. LOOP FOR POWER, 5, AND TOPSPIN. THESE ARE THE PARTS OF A GREAT FOREHAND.
THE PLAYERS TODAY ALL HAVE LOOP FOREHANDS AND STRIKE THE BALLS WITH LOTS OF AUTHORITY AND SPIN. A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF THE LOOP IS MATS WILANDER WINNER OF THE US OPEN. ALSO ANDRE AGASSI AND MICHAEL CHANG PERFORM THE FOREHAND WITH A LOOP PATTERN. THE NEXT TIME YOU LOOK AT TENNIS ON TV WATCHES THE FOREHAND STROKE AND SEE IF THE PROFESSIONALS PLAYING THE MATCH USE THE LOOP.