How to Hit a Forehand in Tennis: Grip, Technique, & Drills
The forehand is one of the biggest weapons in the arsenal of most tennis players. Naturally, the forehand is used to attack, while the backhand is used to move the opponent, defend and build points.
With a solid forehand, you can effectively cover 75% of the court, which makes it an essential component of a solid groundstroke game and singles strategy.
Below, weโll show you videos (including Federerโs forehand in slow motion), common mistakes, drills to improve, and more. Youโll learn to develop a powerful and consistent forehand.
- Forehand Fundamentals
- Federer Slow Motion Forehand Breakdown
- Common Mistakes to Avoid on Your Forehand
- Exercises and Drills to Improve Your Forehand
- The Forehand: Frame-by-Frame in 14 Steps
- The Key to Developing Your Forehand into a Weapon
FOREHAND FUNDAMENTALS
Before you start hitting a forehand like the pros, we need to make sure you have the fundamentals of the forehand groundstroke correct.
FIND THE RIGHT FOREHAND GRIP
Every effective forehand starts with the correct grip. You have a choice of three grips:
- The Eastern Forehand Grip
- The Semi-Western Grip
- The Western Grip
However, we highly recommend that you stick to the Eastern Grip and the Semi Western Grip. The Western grip requires a great deal of acceleration and only a few players can use it effectively.
EASTERN FOREHAND GRIP
SEMI WESTERN GRIP
This video on forehand grips will help you decide which is best for you.
