Steps to Hitting A “Tennis Forehand” Ground Stroke

In tennis there are two kinds of groundstroke one is the forehand groundstroke and another one is the backhand groundstroke. It is essential to learn the basic techniques for hitting groundstrokes so you can move on to new innovative techniques that can create more power, more spin, and more control in your game.

Forehand strokes are hit with the front of the hand leading, in which the inner side of the palm of the leading hand that is holding the racket faces forward. Essentially, the tennis forehand is made by moving the racket across one's body in the direction of where one wants to land the ball. Think of a circular type movement as you lift it up as you carry it back then drop it lower as you start to accelerate forwards. The technique to produce real power is to use all your different muscles into the shot in order. Start from the legs, then the hips, your shoulder, arm and finally your wrist.

Most tennis players play with forehands when they have to finish short balls or when they try to dictate the rallies from the baseline because they don’t know how to use the right muscles and in what procedure to hit powerful forehands. It is very important to use your big muscles in your forehand ground strokes. You should use your back, your core and your legs to swing all the way through the net ball.

To power your forehand stroke there are five steps you need to follow.

Step 1:

First step is generating good racket head speed. It’s the most essential technique you should follow to create effortless power on your forehand stroke. Practice your racket head speed to get more power. Everything starts and finishes with generating more racket head speed. Remember this:

• Everything that allows you to swing the racket faster in your contact zone gives you more power.
• Tennis players often use "Pull Techniques" with fast racket head speed to generate more power.
• The quicker our racket travels through the contact zone more power we will have on our forehand.

Step 2:

Coil your upper body at the start of the swing as you need to store energy in major muscles in your trunk. Remember this:

• The first thing you do when you look at the ball coming to your forehand side is that you turn to the side.
• As soon as the player recognizes that the ball is coming to the forehand side, the initial step he takes is turning his left shoulder if he is right handed player and turning right shoulder if he is left handed player.
• So turning the shoulder as early as possible is the most important step.
• Turning the shoulder does two things 1) It gives you time if you do nothing with your racket head but simply turn your upper body at the start of the swing. 2)Coiling the shoulder, core and hip sets up the "energy source" to get racket head speed to generate more power.

Step 3:

Next important step in hitting a tennis forehand ground stroke is to lift your racket very high above your arm. Remember this:

• It will give you more range if you want to have a bigger circle or want more space to accelerate.
• If your racket and your arm are at same level, it won’t generate much power.
• By dropping the arm and lift up the racket head you will have more space to accelerate. It will also create leverage in racket and the wrist.
• This leverage in the wrist creates power over the ball and will help you to achieve step 4.

Step 4:

Creating effortless power to the forehand stroke is generating "racket lag" prior to contact. Remember this:

• When a player is reached that power position they start uncoiling the upper body
• Have the racquet circular loop and then hitting the ball with the bottom of the racket.
• Allow your wrist to cock back almost fully and allow the racket head to move forward to make contact and create more leverage or power over the ball.

Step 5:

5th step to hit a forehand ground stroke is using the ground force or using the leg muscles. Remember this:

• The major muscles of the leg help to push off the ground and explode into the ball.
• If you are not using the major muscles in the legs you cannot generate the most amount of power.
• To get more power hitting the ball use your leg muscles.

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