Forehand strokes are the most played strokes in tennis and are one of the first strokes many players learn. Therefore, knowing how to hit a forehand is very important for progressing at the sport and improving one’s game.
A forehand is a stroke hit on the forehand side (same side as the hitting hand), usually with the palm facing generally toward the net at contact. A right handed player hits from the right side, and a left handed player hits from the left side. Players often hit forehands with high speed and controlled shot shape.
What is a Tennis Forehand?
Forehand strokes are typically made by swinging the racket across the front of your body and hitting the ball on the same side of your body as your racket hand.
Below we dive into forehand strokes, how it’s done properly, tips for improvement, and drills to exercise to make sure you’re ready for your next match.
Forehand Vs. Backhand
A forehand is typically the stroke you play from the dominant side of the body.
A backhand is typically the stroke you play from the nondominant side of the body, and you can hit it with either one hand or two hands.
Many beginners think of their forehand as the front of the body, but in reality, the forehand in tennis is determined by which side of the body you hit from and how you strike the ball.
Groundstroke Vs. Volley
Typically, a forehand can be classified as a groundstroke or a volley shot. Groundstrokes occur when the ball first hits the ground and then you return it. A forehand can also be hit out of the air (aka volleyed). A volley, which includes drop volleys and drive volleys, is when the player strikes the ball before it ever hits the ground, which usually occurs around the net area.
Where You’ll See Forehands Used In Real Play
Forehands show up everywhere, but here are common contexts:
- Baseline rallying: Trading forehands crosscourt or down the line.
- Attacking short balls: Stepping in to take time away.
- Approach shots: Using a forehand to move forward to the net.
- Passing shots: Trying to get the ball past an opponent who’s at the net.
- Defensive forehands: Running wide and sending the ball back with height/spin.
Basic Mechanics of a Forehand
There are many ways to teach a forehand, and many players have different hitting styles, but most forehands can be simplified into a few main building blocks.
Ready Position & First Move
Before the ball comes, players typically start in an athletic “ready” stance:
- Balanced
- Knees slightly bent
- Racquet held in front
Common coaching tip: A rapid unit turn typically is the first movement. The alignment of the shoulders and hips during this movement prepares the body to swing with the whole body, instead of arming the forehand.
Footwork & Spacing
Success in hitting forehands is usually more about getting into the correct position than being able to generate more force through your swing. How do you know if you have good spacing?
- You’re not jammed (ball too close to your body).
- You’re not reaching (ball too far away).
- You can swing smoothly and meet the ball in a comfortable zone.
Common coaching tip: As a general rule, try to keep the ball consistently at the same contact distance from your body. It is common for players to move their feet to find their swing distance and spacing.
The Swing Path
Several modern forehands feature a low to high swing path that generates topspin. With a high speed swing, it is beneficial to have topspin because it arcs the ball down into the court.
Also keep in mind that low to high does not mean elevating or lifting the ball with your arm, but is generally a factor of your body rotating, how you move your racquet, and the timing of your swing.
Contact Point
When making contact with the ball on a forehand, the conventional reference point is in front of your body and comfortably to the side of your hitting hip.
One of the most common coaching cues for forehands is for the player to visualize a point to meet the ball in front of the lead hip.
If the player makes contact out in front of the lead hip, the racket face points differently than if the player hits the ball late, which results in a shot that goes wide or into the net.
Follow-Through
The follow-through is where your swing finishes after contact. It helps with:
- Control
- Racquet head deceleration
- Consistency of direction and spin
Common coaching tip: Rather than trying to get a posed finish for your shot, try to maintain a relaxed follow-through that stays smooth and stable.
Forehand Variations You Should Know
Forehands aren’t one single shot. Players adjust the forehand based on the situation.
Topspin Forehand
The definition is a forward-spinning (topspin) forehand shot. It is used to give you a greater margin of error over the net and improved control over your shot when hitting at high speed.
Most developing players find it useful because it promotes consistency with aggressive play.
Flat Forehand
Characteristics include lower spin and more direct ball movement. With this type of swing, you create speed through the court and have a greater ability to penetrate or hit through the shot.
However, the trade-off is generally a smaller margin for error, and therefore it may make it more difficult to maintain control in a high-stakes situation.
Slice Forehand
Using backspin with a slicing motion on the forehand side can also be a way to change the ball’s pace, as well as attempt to keep the ball low to the net or stay in the point when stretched out.
With regard to backspin use, there are many examples, including defensive situations, short angles, and low balls.
Inside-Out & Inside-In Forehands
With inside-out shots, you run around your backhand to hit a forehand at a diagonal angle.
In the same way you do with the inside-out, you hit the inside-in shot in similar fashion, but instead of going to the side of the court, you hit straight down the line.
These tactics often work because many aspects of players’ shots are forehand oriented, and they want to create a forehand opportunity from the backhand corner.
What Makes A Forehand “Good”?
How you define what a good forehand looks like varies based on your ability and goals. As a beginner, it can relate to hitting your shots consistently.
An advanced player defines a good forehand by several different attributes, including the amount of spin imparted to the ball, pace, and the ability to hit different targets.
The list below provides an array of practical benchmarks divided by level of play and does not use statistical data to measure success.
For Students (Beginner To Intermediate)
A good forehand usually means:
- You can repeatedly hit balls back and forth with another player, or rally
- You can play crosscourt, or diagonal, with height over the net
- You can occasionally change the direction of a shot without a loss of control
- After each shot, you recover by placing yourself in a ready position
For Parents
Having a solid forehand generally means:
- You can practice several rallies in a row with a partner.
- You can hit cross-court with enough height above the net.
- You have the ability to periodically change the direction of the ball and stay in control.
- You are able to recover to your ready position after each shot.
For Enthusiasts
- A good grip
- Solid mechanics
- A very consistent contact zone
- The ability to add variety in height or spin
- The use of patterns such as crosscourt pressure and then changing direction each time
- Good recovery and court positioning after the hit
5 Common Forehand Mistakes & Simple Fixes
Below are common issues and the safest “first adjustments” that many coaches use. These are not one-size-fits-all, but they’re good starting points.
Mistake 1: Hitting Too Late
When these issues occur, they typically result from either hitting the ball too late or striking it while off balance such as hitting with both feet off the ground.
The solution for most players is to either prepare earlier or improve their footwork so that they create a better open space and have a more stable contact point when they hit with a different type of shot.
Mistake 2: Swinging Only With The Arm
When this occurs, you will likely see erratic ball control and tire quickly because your arms generate too much swing and not enough racquet speed comes from the larger muscles in your body.
The usual solution to this problem is to rotate your hips clearly and allow your torso turn to drive the racquet through contact.
Mistake 3: Getting Jammed
When you have too little space between you and the ball at contact, you get crowded. To hit correctly, you typically create more room by using quick adjustment steps so you can maintain a balanced swing.
Try to remember the coach’s tip: small steps find distance.
Mistake 4: Over-Hitting For Power
The swing flattens out as soon as you begin trying to hit with more power, resulting in the ball going long. Once this begins to happen, your margin is gone.
A common correction is to add height by aiming for higher targets. Build speed gradually while maintaining spin/height so the ball still drops in.
Mistake 5: Losing Balance After Contact
If you find yourself falling or losing your balance during play, it is probably because you arrive in an unstable position and swing with no base from which to make contact.
The usual way to correct this is to avoid rushing through your approach steps, use slower and more controlled adjustment steps, and finish in a stable stance. An effective reminder for players can be summed up with the following phrase: hit, hold your finish, recover.
5 Drills To Improve Your Forehand
There are many types of drills for students and novice players alike. Here are a few of the best practice routines for improving your forehands.
Drill 1: Crosscourt Rally To A Big Target
The aim is to create a consistent area of safety across which you build confidence in your game without overhitting shots.
To do this, use the same idea as in cross-court drills with a partner and rally your forehand cross-court, aiming to keep all shots well within the sideline with plenty of margin for error and well past the service line without chasing toward the corners, rather than trying to land the ball as close to the service line as possible.
Start at a normal playing pace that you can control, use a higher arc to create added height for better net clearance, and then increase the speed of play while continuing to use the same large target for depth and angle.
Drill 2: Bounce-Hit Rhythm Drill
To work on timing and improve your contact point, you can start the rep with a self-feed or a drop-feed, let the ball bounce, say “bounce” as the ball is bouncing, and say “hit” when you strike the ball.
This technique slows your thinking and helps you better understand when contact actually happens, and it encourages you to make in front contact rather than hitting late or getting crowded at contact.
Drill 3: Two Crosscourt, One Down The Line
Creating positive direction control and making solid choices is your overall objective. A solid way to create this is to hit two forehands crosscourt followed by hitting one down the line, then repeat the cycle.
This pattern shows you how to continue hitting high percentage rally direction before you change direction, and one thing we learn in coaching is to make sure that you are balanced and set up early enough to control the contact before you hit down the line.
Drill 4: Short Ball Attack & Recover
Developing transition skills is the focus of this skill development exercise by teaching players to recover back toward a good court position.
You start from the baseline, and your partner either feeds you a short ball or hits you a short ball. You step into the ball, let it bounce, and hit a controlled forehand back to a safe target, then recover to a strong ready position rather than standing and watching the ball.
For parents, this is also an example of how you teach your child movement patterns, balance, and control not just hit harder while they work on their shots.
Drill 5: Wide Ball Defensive Forehand
When you are in a stretch, your ultimate goal is to remain in the point. For example, begin at midcourt with a partner who intentionally hits wide shots. Then focus on running hard enough that you establish the most stable base possible before hitting your ball back after resetting the rally in a high and deep manner.
As an added benefit, remember that defense is a unique skill, too, so at times, when you feel pressure, it is more important to focus on height and depth first to create time and take away attacking options for your opponent.
Practical Takeaways & Checklist
When you practice your forehand shot in tennis, check to see if you are using the correct techniques to perform it properly.
Use the unit turn technique to set up a strong base for your forehand. Make sure you have the right amount of space between your feet so that you can strike effectively. Ensure that you contact the tennis ball in front of your body instead of to the side or behind you.
Hit the ball slightly higher over the net so you have a larger margin of error, and keep your swing fluid as you follow through and finish with balance – consistently rally crosscourt before you attempt to hit a winner.
Also, mix cooperative rallies with point style drills so that your practice translates to playing points in a match setting.
6 Forehand Hitting FAQs
Have questions about how to improve your forehand shot? If so, see if your question is answered below. Otherwise, please reach out to speak directly to one of our coaches.
1. What’s The Difference Between A Forehand & Serve?
In most games, a forehand is struck after the ball bounces in a rally. In comparison, a serve starts the point: you hit the ball out of the air (no bounce) after a toss.
2. Is The Forehand Always Hit With Topspin?
No, the idea of hitting with topspin is common among many players. Hitting a forehand with topspin is primarily based on your particular style of hitting and when you are required to play with an alternative method.
3. Do Left-Handed Players Still Have A Forehand?
The term forehand applies to the player’s dominant hand regardless of whether the player is left or right handed. Left handed players have their left forehand.
4. What Grip Should I Use For A Forehand?
There are several different grips associated with forehands. Traditionally there are different ways to grip the racket depending on how comfortable the player feels, where they are in their development, and how they would like to play. The continental grip is a good starter for newer players.
A good rule of thumb is to find a grip that allows a player to meet the ball in front of them and maintain a solid racket face without straining their wrist. A qualified instructor or coach can give the player specific and individualized guidance on which grip works best for them according to their own skill set.
5. Why Does My Forehand Go Into The Net?
Common problems associated with hitting a forehand generally include catching the ball too late, failing to stabilize the racket face at the point of contact, and trying to hit a forehand too flat while not getting enough clearance above the net. An initial change many players make is to aim higher over the net earlier in their swing to improve their overall game.
6. Why Does My Forehand Fly Long?
Commonly seen issues include contacting the ball too late or pushing through the ball too hard and not creating enough shape on the forehand return, meaning the ball is too low or flat. The players first step in adjustment is to target bigger areas, create more clearance above the net, and increase racket head speed slowly rather than muscling through the shot.
Learn to Hit Forehands & More at Basha Tennis in Mountlake Terrace
Your forehand is a basic tennis shot, a family of groundstrokes that you hit after the ball lands and that you typically play from your dominant side wing. It also grows over time in layers. The first layer is consistent contact and distance control, the second layer is direction control, and the third layer is pace and variety.
If you live in the Mountlake Terrace area of Washington and want to take up lessons and learn to hit a forehand like a pro, stop by Basha Tennis today or click here to book your first lesson online or here to meet our coaches. We offer classes for juniors and group tennis lessons for adults.
If you’re looking to learn more about the game, check out our tennis blog or glossary and if you have questions about tennis classes, please reach out directly.