Forehand Fundamentals

Welcome to the Forehand Fundamentals section of FuzzyYellowBalls.com.

Pivot and Shoulder Turn
The first thing that all pro players do when they hit a forehand is pivot with their outside foot and turn their shoulders sideways. This starts their racket takeback. Both hands stay on the racket during this step.

Take the Racket Back Completely
Once the pivot and shoulder turn is complete, the second thing that pro players do is take their racket back using both their shoulders and their arms.

Swing to Contact
The third thing that professional tennis players do when hitting a forehand is swing to contact. They do three things to get to contact — 1) push off their outside leg, 2) rotate their bodies back toward the net, and 3) drop their rackets down and swing forward.

Follow Through
From contact, pros follow through to complete their forehands. They accomplish this by extending out in the direction they’re hitting and bringing the racket across their bodies in a smooth, relaxed motion.

Swing Path
The final fundamental thing about the forehand is the swing path — the path the racket travels along from the start of the motion to the completion of the follow through. Once you release the racket with your other hand, it shouldn’t stop moving until you complete your follow through.

<< Return to the Forehand Section <<

Come inside and play like you have an unfair advantage.

Diego

Thanks a lot for this marvellous lessons!. I am self taught, and one of those rare people who finds easier to execute the backhand (extreme one handed backhand, a la Gaudio hehe) than the forehand. This tips helped me to spot a flaw with my follow through, and now i can hit some nice forehands. Thanks a lot Will.

Engineer17

please may some answer me..Does roger federer opens his wrist or performs any wrist movement during the beginning of his swing?

Mikee

Will: I'm a 4.5 aggressive baseliner. (and I don't want to give up hard hitting because it is fun and my hard hitting penetrates my opponent and wins or sets up points). I finally solved the problem of hitting groundstrokes too long--- past opponent's baseline. The only change--adjustment I made is : fight to get lower. What I now do is when I prepare to stroke the ball (and before I transfer weight forward) is to really bend both knees and sort of sit (with a straight back)...then step into ball and finish the unit turn and stroke, and rising up as drive ball and follow through....and I put more topspin and control on the ball. At the same time I am pleasantly surprised to note that I still drive through the ball toward opponent's court & baseline for good penetration. I swear I tried all kinds of other adjustments without success (bringing me to frustration & near DESPAIR). Lesson: Persevere. Mikee

Anthony Monforte

The email course on the forehand is great. In defense of Kevin and probably many other amateurs, many teaching pros teach you to point toward the ball with the non hitting hand thus putting the arm in front rather than across your body. Thanks for correcting this flaw.

Will Hamilton

That's true -- it is a very common piece of advice. It has it's place when folks are first learning but, as we saw in the course, it's something that interferes with the proper execution of the fundamentals.

Shimley

Will
You have to do this same segment on the fundamentals of the two handed backhand. I can hit clean powerful two handed backhands on my ball machine but during match play it's no where near how I execute with the ball machine.
Thanks

Will Hamilton

Hey -- I'd look at your feet. Hitting well on a ball machine but having the stroke come apart during a match is typically means your footwork is a little off. Next time you hit on a ball machine, force yourself to move a little bit. Move out, hit, and recover (around a cone, for example). This creates a more realistic match situation than just standing there waiting for the ball.

Agassi'sHairpiece

I loved watching the beginning guys hit. It reminds me of the American Idol tryouts.

JohnnyDepp

hi,
could u please tell us why is it so important to extend the not hitting arm infront of the bodey whan u r hitting the forehand?

John

The non-htting arm helps in measuring the distance of the ball from your body so that the ball would not be too far or too close when you hit it. As you rotate your body, it also provides good momentum to transfer to the ball.

josele

hi,

congrats for your website...
just one question...is it possible to download the videos?

thanks

vamos rafa

hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii rafael is the best ,,,,,,,,,, vamos rafa,,,,,,,,,,,,, viva nadal

Raja

Good tips.. my rating is 6 for 10

Aristides Araujo

thanks very much for the lessons! it was very very usefull to me!

Rudy

Usually love the site but lately been getting a lot of lag when i go hd any advice

Peter G.

Your videos are great. My only issue would be that you explain a step out as a pivot of the outside foot. I think a step out is a clearer way to describe this and alot less confusing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFKfERXZyGU&...

Watch how Chuck describes the same thing...its alot more clear, IMHO.

Michael McCroary

At one time I could veiw the video's, it seems now the video will not open.

Ram

Hi,

Great website with excellent videos. My coach tells me that I flex my wrist at point of contact when hitting my forehand. How can I fix this problem?

Jack Buck

friend said interesting web site.

aminmd

none

vesna

Thanks to you, now I know what and how to do!

jake

great, I'm taking a course here and applying everything on court :D thanks a lot!

Igor

Will, can you please comment on Ana Ivanovic's forehand (you have it in the Pro Stroke Library). She does not line her non-hitting arm parallel to the baseline when preparing for a swing - is that technically wrong?