| The forehand is arguably the most important shot in | | | | parallel with the baseline. This will help you stay |
| tennis. It's typically a player's most offensive | | | | balanced and judge the oncoming tennis ball. Once you |
| groundstroke. Many top college players and most pros | | | | get into this position your preparation is complete and |
| inside the top ten have big forehands. | | | | you are ready to swing forward to your contact point. |
| The forehand is a very complicated shot and this | | | | Swing to Contact |
| article won't cover all of its ins and outs. What this | | | | From the completion of your preparation, do the |
| article will try and do is teach you the fundamentals, | | | | following three things at the same time: 1) Push off |
| the things every player with a good forehand does, so | | | | your back foot, 2) Rotate your body back toward the |
| that you can then pursue those tweaks that will take | | | | net, and 3) Drop the racket down and swing forward |
| your shot to the next level. The four steps outlined | | | | to your contact point. The path your racket travels |
| here may seem simple, but the fact is that most club | | | | along during this step will look very similar to the letter |
| level players do not execute one or more of these | | | | "C" when seen from the side. Your contact point will |
| steps properly, but every single pro does. | | | | be out in front of your body, about waist high. Your |
| Pivot and Shoulder Turn | | | | upper body should be facing the net. Also, make sure |
| The pivot and shoulder turn motion is how you should | | | | the strings are perpendicular to the court when you hit |
| begin every forehand you hit no matter what stance | | | | the ball. |
| you will hit your shot in. You execute this step as soon | | | | Follow Through |
| as you realize you are getting a forehand. This motion | | | | The point of the follow through is to smoothly |
| gets your body sideways and allows you to move | | | | decelerate the tennis racket after you make contact |
| effectively to the tennis ball. To execute the pivot and | | | | with the tennis ball. Based on how you were swinging |
| shoulder turn, pivot with your outside foot (your right | | | | earlier in the shot, the follow through should be the best |
| foot if you are right handed) and transfer your weight | | | | and easiest way to stop the racket. In the case of the |
| to that foot. At the same time, you need to turn your | | | | forehand, extend out in the direction you hit the tennis |
| shoulders sideways while leaving both hands on the | | | | ball and continue to rotate your body. Once you have |
| racket. It is also very important that you do not use | | | | extended out, turn your forearm and wrist over |
| your arm to take the racket back yet; this is a big | | | | together like you were trying to check the time on a |
| mistake that a lot of club level players make. The | | | | wrist watch. Bring the racket across your body in a |
| racket will start to come back, however, simply | | | | smooth and relaxed motion. |
| because your shoulders are turning sideways. | | | | Hopefully this article has given you a clear picture of |
| Take the Racket Back / Extend Other Arm | | | | the fundamentals involved in hitting a technically sound |
| Now that you have pivoted and turned your shoulders, | | | | forehand. Every top pro does these things when they |
| you can now use your hitting arm to get the racket all | | | | hit, and if you can master these basics you'll have the |
| the way back. At the same time, extend your other, | | | | foundation upon which you can build a killer shot. |
| non-hitting arm out across your body so that it is | | | | |