ATP Forehand – Efficiency is Key 

By now, you should probably know that all top pro forehands on tour – share 3 key components in common (efficiency, adaptability and explosiveness) in order to generate high level results. However, in the ATP forehand players have learned to hit their forehands with explosive power but using the optimal amount of energy.

Technical Commonalities in the ATP Forehand

The reality is that all top pros on tour share unique commonalities in their technique that allows them to achieve more power, topspin & accuracy. Club and recreational players often lack these key technical commonalities in their technique which causes them to hit shots with lower power, topspin and accuracy than that of the pros. Poor stroke production leads to greater unforced errors and thus more lost matches. After studying the top pros in slow motion, I’ve been able to discover and break down these techniques so that players at all other levels of the game can learn the proper tennis techniques.

Key ATP Forehand Position – Racket Tip Pointed Towards Net

A key racket position notable in the ATP forehand is the racket position at the takeback of the forehand. Here, we can see how Federer points the tip of the racket slightly forwards towards the net – indicating he is leading the shot with the elbow.

Pete Sampras’s and Ivan Lendl’s forehand was notable in that these players led with the shoulder rather than the elbow.

Laid-Back Wrist Position – WTA Forehand

The ATP tennis forehand is differentiated from the WTA forehand in that women in the WTA tour use a “laid-back” wrist position at contact. This position involves supination of the wrist (often that starts after the unit turn) which puts the wrist past neutral and allows players to get into the critical “slot” during the forward swing into contact. No additional wrist movement is necessary here. The WTA tennis forehand is known for it’s elongated often exaggerated circular “C” shaped backswing where the hitting arm often goes behind the plane of the body.

Maria Sharapova’s forehand is one such example. Sharapova’s forehand is characterized by a “laid-wrist” wrist. Notice how her wrist is laid-back from the takeback. The position allows her to drive through the ball extensively, providing her with a flat ball, with much less topspin (RPM) than her male counterparts.

ATP Tennis Forehand – Pronated Wrist & Forearm

Another notable tennis technique of the ATP forehand is the unique “pronated forehand” most evident between the takeback and the set position. Notice how players like Federer, Nadal & Djokovic invert the racket so that the strings face the back fence at the height of the takeback. This move is perhaps the greatest contributor to the “rubber band” effect (biomechanically known as the stretch shortening cycle or “SSC”) where the racket then becomes like the crack of a whip allowing these players to generate the heavy ball  with ample power and topspin combined.

Done in this manner, this lethal combination makes it very difficult for their opponents to handle and is responsible for how these players can generate massive racket head speed and still maintain a good margin of safety over the net. This is how Federer produces seemingly effortless passing shots while on the dead run.

More Rotational, Less Linear

If we look at Maria Sharapova’s forehand, we can easily see how her forehand is characterized by a more classical “low to high” linear forehand with less rotational forces than her male ATP forehand counterparts on tour. Note, how Maria Sharapova really drives through the ball, which allows her to achieve high pace but a relatively flat ball with much less RPM and heavy topspin than what is known for players in the male ATP forehand style. This is mainly in part due to her greater use of linear momentum as opposed to the rotational momentum of today’s modern ATP forehand.

On the contrary, top ATP forehand players like Federer and Nadal use what is known as rotational momentum, aka the twisting and turning of the torso, trunk and hips (coil/uncoil) effect to produce more rotational energy associated with heavy topspin and power and agility. This is partially enabled by the greater use of open stances in the modern forehand which allows players to rotate more from right to left (or left to right for a lefty) as opposed to the more linear closed or neutral stance (back to front) momentum of weight transfer.

By utilizing rotational momentum, the kinetic chain energy is maximized and greater rotational forces will cause the ball to be imparted with more power and topspin in the ATP forehand.

Windshield Wiper Forehand Follow through

The ATP tennis forehand of the top pros is characterized by a follow through motion characterized by an arc-like rainbow motion where the arm motion resembles that of a windshield wiper. This motion essentially is the last key component of the ATP forehand which allows players to achieve the “heavy ball.”

Think of the windshield wiper blades in your car – and how on a rainy day the blades wipe off the rain from your windshield from low to high in a well defined arcing manner. This is the same motion required in the follow through to allow pro players to hit remarkable tennis forehands.

Contrary to tennis forehand of the past, these players do not finish “high” or above the shoulder. In some cases, in classical tennis – coaches have instructed students to “catch” the racket with the opposite hand in the follow through (this will only lead to a rapid deacceleration of the wrist & racket and a weaker and flatter shot with much less topspin).

Today’s modern tennis forehand is characterized by where players finish with their racket underneath the armpit level after the windshield wiper forehand – allowing for a full arcing motion and a rapid brushing of the ball from low to high in an intense manner.

Clearly, today’s forehand is far different than that of the tennis forehands of the past. In particular, the ATP forehand is notable for it’s emphasis on heavy topspin and lethal combination of power despite a minimal amount of unforced errors. Club players can learn these fundamentals of key pro tennis technique if they wish to learn the ATP forehand too.

Learn to Hit a Forehand Like Roger Federer

If you want to jumpstart your forehand and play like the PROS, check out my 70+ page Tennis Ebook that will immediately show you how you can take your forehand to the next level.

The Modern Forehand Domination Ebook is guaranteed to improve your tennis technique, and increase power, topspin and accuracy of your tennis forehand!

Modern Tennis Forehand Ebook
Learn How to Hit a Forehand Like Federer, Nadal and Djokovic

The post Keys of the ATP Tennis Forehand Technique – Differentiating World Class Forehand Technique appeared first on Tennis Instruction.

Because the Federer forehand grip gets so much attention, let’s discuss it for a few moments. The grip is hotly debated by those who have analyzed it. Some claim it is an Eastern grip, others say an exaggerated Eastern, others call it something in between.

The best look at the Federer forehand grip seems to indicate that it is indeed an Eastern grip with a very slight twist. That is to say, he holds the racquet one bevel below the usual placement for a typical Eastern grip.

Learning the Roger Federer Forehand Grip

Despite what many might say about the Federer forehand grip, it is not simply an Eastern grip. To match the Federer forehand grip, you would have to place the top knuckle of your index finger on the right side of your racquet handle, not on the bevel above it. In other words, your knuckle would line up at 3 o’clock on the handle if you held your racquet out from your body and looked at it like a clock.

The normal Eastern grip would have the knuckle at 2 o’clock. Most players will find this grip quite extreme and uncomfortable. Undoubtedly, Federer practiced for many hours to hit a forehand with this unusual method.

Now to the actual forehand motion that makes Federer’s forehand so legendarily lethal. We will break down his motion into six steps, from initial preparation to follow-through, with accompanying comments on each stage of his motion:

Hitting Stances Used in Federer’s Forehand Grip

On a typical forehand, Federer stands in a ¾ open stance, which will guarantee excellent rotation of his corps for the shot to come. At the pro level, it is difficult to get into a closed position for full rotation of the body, there is simply not enough time. If you are playing someone who does not hit with much pace, you will have much more time than Federer to coil your body for maximum explosion through the ball.

If Federer and other pros took the time to close their stances and coil to the max, the ball would be in the hands of a ball boy standing behind them by the time they would have to hit it! In typically fine Federer form, his racquet head is pointed towards the back fence and the strings are facing downward, reflecting the famed Federer forehand grip. This is no problem for him, however, because the head will open up naturally as he begins his swing.

Federer’s Contact Point With the Forehand Grip

As Federer prepares to meet the ball, his forehand is usually noted for having an extreme acceleration in the last 18 inches before contact is made.

This is due in large part to the position of his wrist, which is bent almost entirely back from the racquet, ensuring another whip-like component that will add punch to the shot. That position of the wrist will also give Federer the option to hit his inside-out forehand if he so chooses.

Use of the Wrist in the Federer Forehand Stroke

In some photos, Federer’s racquet is at a 90-degree angle from his hand and the ball, quite a contrast to lesser-skilled players who sweep through the forehand as if holding a broomstick. Adding this extra wrist snap to your stroke will take lots of practice, but it is one of the main reasons why the pros hit the ball much harder than those of us in the amateur ranks.

As Federer’s wrist uncocks in response to the rest of his body rotating towards the ball and opening up (not hitting inside-out), he meets the ball at about a mid-thigh level. In order to place maximum topspin on the ball, the racquet face is vertical, ensuring a maximum brush of the strings against the ball.

Contact Height – An element of Roger Federer’s Forehand Grip?

When Federer takes the ball in different parts of the court and in response to different bounces, he might meet the ball above his waist, yet he maintains his almost-perfect form. It should also be mentioned that in any photo study of the Federer forehand, perhaps the body part that should be most closely examined is his head.

In photo after photo after photo, his head remains still, his eyes laser focused on the ball.

Not even the man who some people call the greatest to ever play the game can take his eye off the ball and hit a solid forehand. That’s important to remember for the average club player: head still, eye on the ball.

Federer’s Head Position On His Forehand

Just after the point of contact, Federer’s head is still stationary and his eyes peer at the point where his racquet met the ball for a split second. In some shots, Federer’s racquet has already risen about a foot, indicating that he has put a wicked topspin on the ball. This part of the Federer forehand represents another part of the motion that separates the pros from the average Joes. Many club players have little or no follow-through, which limits the power of their stroke tremendously and hurts their promising form. Practice your follow-through constantly to ensure full power behind your shot.

Wrist Position with the Federer Forehand Grip

The position of Federer’s wrist just after contact will tell us all we need to know about where Federer has hit the ball. Famous for his inside-out forehand, if Federer’s wrist remains cocked, you can bet your bottom dollar that he has successfully struck another inside-out forehand to his opponent’s backhand side. If the wrist is aligned with the racquet, then Federer has whipped it forward to match his excellent torso rotation and zinged another forehand that draws paint and left his opponent dumbfounded.

Roger Federer forehand follow through

As Federer continues his follow-through, he either has transferred his weight completely forward if his feet got into position in enough time, or he is hitting off his back foot in reaction to the type of heavy topspin that his mortal enemy Rafael Nadal offers.

If hitting off the back foot, Federer exaggerates the whip upward of his racquet to compensate for his lack of power by hitting off the back foot with extra topspin, a good tip for all players to note.

If his body is properly aligned and he has transferred all of his power from back foot to front foot, he has a much more normal follow-through with the racquet at about shoulder height shortly after striking the ball.

The unique Federer forehand starts with the famed Federer forehand grip, which is one small step beyond the standard Eastern grip.

If you want to completely mimic Federer’s forehand, you will have to hold the racquet in the same way. Another element of the Federer forehand that will be difficult to adopt is his wrist cock, which gives him added power and an easier ability to hit the inside-out forehand that has doomed many an opponent.

Learning the Roger Federer Forehand Grip and Technique

So, once you are holding the racquet in a way that feels right to you, then you can imitate the other elements of the Federer forehand that you can actually copy: head still, eyes on the ball, fairly open stance, racquet strings brushing the ball upward for topspin, full follow-through.

Federer arrived at his place in the tennis pantheon by spending hours and hours perfecting a forehand that he could hit in two directions starting from a near-impossible angle. It is probably too late for you to do the same, but with enough practice you can perhaps add a wrist-whip and more topspin so that you can approximate the fearsome weapon known as the Federer forehand. With enough practice, you can master the inside-out forehand as well and further confound your opponents.

Learn to Hit a Forehand Like Roger Federer

If you want to jumpstart your forehand and play like the PROS, check out my 70+ page Tennis Ebook that will immediately show you how you can take your forehand to the next level.

The Modern Forehand Domination Ebook is guaranteed to improve your tennis technique, and increase power, topspin and accuracy of your tennis forehand!

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Learn How to Hit a Forehand Like Federer, Nadal and Djokovic

The post Dissecting the Roger Federer Forehand Grip appeared first on Tennis Instruction.

Federer Forehand : The Roger Federer grip

Let’s start with the basics of Roger Federer’s forehand. His forehand grip is in some version of an Eastern grip, which is considered more conservative than the majority of the other players on tour. Federer is able to hit his forehand both with topspin and is able to flatten it out at times for a pure winner. Federer’s forehand is more versatile than most of the other pros on tour, which allows him to be able to use a variety of different shot selection as well as insane angles on the run.

Federer’s Forehand Preparation

When I began studying Roger Federer’s forehand in slow motion video, I was able to piece together the forehand and finally come up with logical and biomechanical principles behind tennis technique that produced better results. I knew that Roger Federer’s technique was made only through lots of practice and repetition plus refinement. Federer is hardly a muscleman, and it was clear to me that the power he was generating was not just a result of pure strength or muscle power. Instead, I realized that Federer’s forehand must be due to his flawless tennis technique that allowed him to produce the effortless and extraordinary results that amateur tennis players could not match without proper tennis technique.

What Roger Federer shares in common with the majority of the rest of the pros on the ATP tour is what I call “world class tennis forehand preparation.” Like most top pros and high level tennis players, Federer uses a “unit turn” to initiate his forehand stroke. Basically, a unit turn is a movement where the body turns and coils as one “unit.” Federer’s tennis racket, shoulders, and lower body turn together at the start of his forehand, in preparation to create the coil and store the energy for the swing. This means that as soon as Federer acknowledges the ball flight coming towards him, he does not immediately take his racket back abruptly in a backswing. Instead, what Federer does is he makes sure to get a full and complete unit turn where the shoulders turn sideways.

At the point of the unit turn, there is very little independent movement of the tennis racket, no immediate backswing and the racket “comes along for the ride” during the unit turn.

Roger Federer’s Forehand: The Fundamentals

Federer Forehand consists of a compact and fluid takeback that results in a clean and efficient swing. Federer possess equisite tennis technique that produces a great forehand even under pressure. His timing is also flawless. Roger Federer’s backswing is a relatively simple tennis stroke that starts with a good initial unit then with the left hand followed by the racket on edge until he reaches the height of the takeback.

Core Rotation

In the modern forehands on pros on tour day, it is increasingly evident that players are now using angular momentum to their advantage enabling them to generate greater power and topspin, a devastating combination that results in the high paced game of tennis we see on tour.

Not only do we see players hitting harder, but they are quicker and more agile. This is a primarily a result of racket head speed, which is partially contributed to the groundforce reaction created by the players. The pros are thrusting their bodies into every tennis shot and maximizing the torques with both upper and lower body rotation which contributes to the increased amount of power.

Roger Federer uses full upper body rotation in his forehand, meaning he engages his entire body in the motion. It begins once his body has coiled, moments before contact, Federer releases all of the energy Federer is not intending on taking a huge backswing, rather he is actually more concerned about getting a full “coil” during his unit turn, where he can then unleash all of that power into the shot later on.

Tennis Takeback and Backswing Shape

As Federer completes the unit turn, he makes sure that he is still not abruptly taking a huge backswing. Federer’s takeback resembles an upwards arc. The shape of his backswing is not loopy, or circular based as is on some of the other pro forehands on tour. Although, the shape of his backswing appears to be relatively high, he doesn’t take his racket back behind his body. The swing stays on the same side of the body. This type of backswing, where the hand and arm stays on his right side of his body gives him more efficiency and better timing.

Federer’s backswing can loosely be considered “whippy” as evidenced by the appearance of his stroke during the foreward swing. It resembles a “liquid whip” because federer utilizes a variety of mechanics that allow him to do this. This is explained further in my Optimum Tennis EBook. I go into more detail regarding federer’s backswing and some unique biomechanics he uses that are possibly responsible for the “loose whip-like” forehand.

Lowering of the Racket

Once the height of the takeback has been reached, usually the ball would have made contact with the ground. By now, Federer continues to use a relaxed wrist and arm. From the height of the takeback, Federer then lowers his racket arm on it’s own accord letting gravity do most of the work to drop the racket below the level of the ball (to impart topspin). A key point is that Federer’s Forehand is a backswing that stays on the same side of the body, and at no point in time does the backswing extend behind the back (as seen in some of the WTA players on tour). This is important from an efficiency standpoint as well as a biomechanically important structure that will allow Federer’s Forehand to achieve an incredible amount of racket head speed once contact is made. This is predominantly a result of the Stretch Shorthening Cycle (or SSC) at work.

Passive Stretch (SSC)

The main focal point in modern tennis technique, especially on the forehand side is the ability of players to generate both power and heavy topspin to create winning tennis shots as well as extreme angles. The racket head speed in today’s tennis is high velocity and this is mainly a result of player’s increased used of the stretch shortening cycle, particularly on the forehand stroke.

If we watch Roger Federer’s Forehand in slow motion, we can visualize easier how Federer’s backswing resembles a very loose “whip-like” swing. Rather than stiffening up, Federer is completely relaxed and this facilitates a very quick “whip” action at contact, allowing Federer’s forehand to brush from behind the tennis ball with tremendous force.

Essentially, the stretch shortening cycle is a passive stretch where the power is generated upon release of the stored energy. Think of it like a rubber band. If you were to pull on a rubber band, the energy would be passively stored from within the band. Once the rubber band is then released from your hand, all of the stored energy is then shot out

Contact Point

Roger Federer’s Contact point is relatively similar to that of the rest of the ATP tour pros. There are little differences here. Contact well in front of the body. The racket face is perpendicular, unless Federer hits a mishit. There are no magical elements on the contact point that are responsible for the unbelievable shots that he makes. Occasionally, Federer may utilize a straighter arm on his forehand but this is a result of the style of takeback and not anything to do with conciously forcing a straight arm.

The straight-arm forehand as it has been called, is a consequence and not a cause. Many tennis players attempt to model Federer’s forehand by replicating incorrect elements that become detrimental to their own tennis forehand. It needs to be noted that Federer’s straight arm at contact is a result, “cause-effect” of his backswing style and not by concious force.

Finish and Followthrough

Similar to the majority of pros on tour today, Federer utilizes what is commonly called the modern “windshield wiper” finish. This is where is commonly defined as forearm rotation. The right arm finishes across the shoulder and, rather than the traditional “over the shoulder” finish that is still commonly taught by teaching pros. Federer manages to get excellent extension and drives through the ball well, even though he finishes across his shoulder.

Federer does still utilize the classic “over the shoulder” finish on some returns of serve, but for most of the balls he hits on the baseline, he finishes across in a windshield wiper movement.

Should a tennis player attempt to model his/her stroke after Roger Federer’s Forehand?

Depending on the skill level of the tennis player in question, and their current needs and goals, most tennis players would not benefit from modeling their tennis forehand with Roger Federer until he/she is at a fairly advanced level. Since Federer’s forehand is more of an advanced stroke style, it is not recommendable that a novice or intermediate level tennis player attempt to model his forehand, until their foundation is solidly in place.

However, Federer’s forehand serves as a technically-sound model in his forehand, and due to his unique biomechanics he is able to combine many different powerful techniques that allow him to execute shots that many players before his time could not even imagine doing.

What Elements can we take from Roger Federer’s Forehand?

So, what elements can we take home from Roger’s unique and powerful forehand?

• First and foremost, his unit turn. This is the start of all good high level tennis forehands, and a commonality amongst all the top pros on the ATP Tour and some on the WTA tour.
• Versatility and Adaptability – Roger’s forehand contains no hitches and his forehand is fluid. This is something that everyone can immediately be sure to work on their own forehand technique. A clean, simple motion.
• Good strong posture, balanced through the entire shot.

Learn to Hit a Forehand Like Roger Federer

If you want to jumpstart your forehand and play like the PROS, check out my 70+ page Tennis Ebook that will immediately show you how you can take your forehand to the next level.

The Modern Forehand Domination Ebook is guaranteed to improve your tennis technique, and increase power, topspin and accuracy of your tennis forehand!

Modern Tennis Forehand Ebook
Learn How to Hit a Forehand Like Federer, Nadal and Djokovic

The post Roger Federer Forehand Technique appeared first on Tennis Instruction.

He is even considered by some as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He is named as the “King or Master of Clay” due to his phenomenal domination in tennis clay matches. Some experts even called him as the greatest player on clay.

He has won several titles, eighteen (18) ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour Masters Master Tours, nine (9) grand slams. He won two (2) Wimbledon titles in 2008 and 2010, he also won one (1) US title in 2010, one (1) Australian open in 2009 and 6 French open in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010. He did not win the 2008 but he was not in the final because of some injury. Because of this achievement, he now belongs to the elite group of tennis players like Roger Federer and Andre Agassi who won all the grand slam titles.

Rafael Nadal is the present top ATP player and this is made possible because of the Nadal forehand which is one of his most powerful assets either as an offensive or defensive weapon. The Rafael Nadal forehand creates so much power and topspin that it enables him to outplay his opponents. Nadal’s forehand combined with his excellent foot speed allows him to execute the topspin forehand perfectly.

Grip type and backswing technique

The Rafael Nadal forehand is considered as one of the fiercest forehands in modern tennis and this contributes to his wins and many titles. He hits a strong and powerful topspin forehand and as the result, a very sharp brushing effect is created as the back of the ball comes in contact with the racket head.

Rafael Nadal uses a forehand grip close to a full western, which places the palm of the hand underneath the racket handle. Rafael Nadal’s forehand allows the ball to clear the net with a high net clearance as Nadal uses an upwards swing; as a result more topspin is produced. This means that the Nadal forehand is hit the ball from underneath creating the topspin.

The way Nadal grips his racket enhances the downward inclination of the racket face when he does the backswing. Then as he swings his racket forward, the face of the racket is positioned in vertical manner.

Semi-Open or Fully Open Stance

Nadal forehand stance or posture is one of the most amazing stances in tennis. When Rafael Nadal is executing a forehand groundstroke, the majority of the time he uses a semi-open and fully open stance. In this way, he is able to exert more rotational energy as he swings and at the same time allowing for his legs to produce linear force to move forwards at a very fast pace.

Backswing and Preparatory Racket swing

The Nadal forehand is also unique in some sort. The early part of his swing is characterized with the uncoiling of this body which is very evident the way his upper body twists during the shot. Nadal positions his racket below the ball to allow him to be able to brush the ball with his racket face in upwards direction producing spin. In the same instance, his legs lift from the ground pushing his body upwards resulting in the heavy topspin Nadal forehand.

When Rafael Nadal is already suspended in the air, his whole body tends to rotate towards the net but at the same time, he is able to position his head that it is locked to where the ball is. This is called the open stance which is very critical because if the player loses sight with the ball before the contact (ball hitting the racket face) it can result to mishits.

Nadal’s forehand spinning with heavy topspin makes it difficult for his opponents to return, resulting in short balls that Nadal can attack.

Forward Swing

A couple of seconds before the ball contact, the gap between Nadal’s racket and the ball is about 6 inches but in an instant he accelerates his swing and hits the ball. This shows his speed in hitting the ball resulting in a very powerful forehand shot. If you watch him play you will notice the “flicking” effect when he executes this part.

Nadal’s wrist lays back during the forward swing. During this phase, the racket is not perpendicular to his forearm. At the time of contact, the layback position of his racket disappears as he accelerates the forward movement of his racket.

Point of contact

As the ball touches the racket face, Nadal automatically adjust his racket face from an angled one (during his backward swing) to a vertical position. In this instance, he is already using a ¾ grip, which is ideal to meet the ball at a perfect distance from his body.

Just after point of contact

Immediately after the ball hits the racket face, Nadal’s forehand quickly raises his racket with the same speed as his return indicating how powerful his topspin is. Nadal is very clever in using his topspin which produces strong drives and creates high bouncing shots making his opponent vulnerable. This results in mistakes from his opponents, giving Nadal the advantage.

Reverse Follow Through

Another unique element of Rafael Nadal’s forehand is his reverse forehand. The reverse forehand is hit the same way as his usual forehands, the only difference is that his follow through moves to the opposite side of this head. This follow through wraps around creating additional topspin. Amazingly, he is still able to fixate his head at the point of contact despite the massive rotation. He also uses his back foot to support his body. This forehand variation is used when Nadal wants to create extra topspin.

Windshield Wiper Follow Through

Nadal’s forehand utilizes a same side follow-through wherein his racket swings exactly in the same side after he hits the ball. He usually uses this follow through as he moves his racket back.

Another interesting aspect of Nadal’s follow-through is the windshield wiper forehand follow through. He normally use this finish when he hits the ball in a more forceful way then he normally does. The result is a heavy topspin ball in combination with massive racket head speed.

Nadal’s Athleticism

As a counter attack to the Nadal forehand, his opponents try to outwit him by forcing him to hit low balls to his forehand side. This is because, with the type of Nadal’ grip which is ¾ western grip, it is awkward for Nadal to produce a topspin since he has to position himself low. But Nadal is still excellent in counteracting this tactic by bending his knees quickly to hit the ball underneath and still producing enough topspin to hit the ball.

As Nadal bends his knees for the forehand, he often executes the neutral stance. He only uses this stance when the ball return of the opponent is low. The good thing about Nadal is he is a very quick player, so he can arrive to the ball in position and still hit an aggressive shot that some players cannot equal or surpass.

Nadal’s Forehand on the Defensive

Rafael Nadal’s forehand is not only excellent as an attacking shot, but he also uses his forehand as a very effective defensive weapon. Because of his speed, Nadal can outrun any opponent at the professional level. Even Roger Federer has a hard time keeping Nadal on the defense.

Nadal’s forehand allows him to be one step ahead of his opponents, frequently turning the situation of being the defensive player into the offensive one. This is one of the reasons why Nadal’s forehand is such a dominating weapon in the modern game and why tennis fanatics all around the world enjoy watching him play.

Learn to Hit a Forehand Like Roger Federer

If you want to jumpstart your forehand and play like the PROS, check out my 70+ page Tennis Ebook that will immediately show you how you can take your forehand to the next level.

The Modern Forehand Domination Ebook is guaranteed to improve your tennis technique, and increase power, topspin and accuracy of your tennis forehand!

Modern Tennis Forehand Ebook
Learn How to Hit a Forehand Like Federer, Nadal and Djokovic

The post Nadal Forehand – Analysis of the Rafael Nadal Forehand appeared first on Tennis Instruction.

The Background Behind the Djokovic Forehand

Djokovic’s forehand shares many of the same commonalities of a world class forehand stroke. Many of the same elements used by top players such as Roger Federer and Nadal are present in the djokovic forehand.

Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player who is on the top 2 of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings.

Novak Djokovic is considered as one of the best players in modern tennis because of his accomplishments. He holds two grand slam titles, the Australian Open championships in 2008 and in 2011. He is also known for being the youngest player who reached the semi-finals of all the grand slams championships in a consecutive manner. These grand slam championships include the Australian Open, the French Open, the US Open and the Wimbledon Open.

Novak Djokovic entered 2011 in fantastic shape without giving up a single match so far. And this achievement is made possible by his dominating forehand stroke, his greatest weapon. This article describes the Djokovic forehand technique step by step beginning from the preparation to the follow through

Novak Djokovic Forehand Ready position

The ready position of the Djokovic forehand is the same as the other tennis stroke. He holds his racket with his right hand (since he is a right-handed player) and at the same time supports it with his left hand or non-dominant hand. He then stands with his two legs, spread at a shoulder-width distance or more with his knees bent and body slightly crouched in front. At this position, Djokovic has the ease to turn to his forehand side if his opponent hits to his forehand. But it also allows him to turn to his backhand side in case his opponent’s return is towards his backhand.

Djokovic Forehand Grip

Novak Djokovic uses a different style of grip for his forehand shot. He uses a ¾ Western which is a bit similar to Semi-Western but less similar to the full Western grip. This grip is considered the pinnacle of modern tennis, as players are using this grip to generate additional topspin while still being able to drive through the ball with pace.

Novak Djokovic Forehand Preparation

The Djokovic forehand is one of the most effective and powerful forehands in professional tennis and this is made possible by his world class preparation. The Novak Djokovic forehand preparation is characterized by strong coil of the shoulders, hips and trunk. As a result, Novak is able to create a great body turn and coil just like a pressed metal spring which is ready to spring forward.

Novak Djokovic also executes the split step as he prepares for his opponent’s return. Similar to the other professional players, Novak also performs proper tennis footwork in perfect timing. He quickly begins to execute the split step footwork as his opponent start his foreword racket swing. It should also be noted that Djokovic sometimes executes the split step before he starts moving towards the ball. Once Novak Djokovic lands on the ground, it is also noticeable that he spreads his legs at a wider distance, wider than the shoulder-width which is normally done by many of the professional players. This is done to maintain a low center of gravity which is key to effortless and fluid movement around the tennis court.

Novak Djokovic Forehand Stances

Novak Djokovic forehand execution is done with the semi-open stance. This stance allows him to have proper balance. This type of stance is more or less a combination of the open stance and the neutral stance. The good thing about this stance is that he gets the benefits of both stances. That is the generation of quick racket head speed due to angular momentum (from the open stance) and the generation of linear motion and more forward movement (from the neutral stance). It also allows him the Djokovic forehand to produce so much of the kinetic chain of energy.

The semi-open stance is characterized by the forward and upward push of the legs in addition to a perfect unit turn prior to the opponent’s shot crossing the net. With these movements, Djokovic is able to generate rotational energy needed for the modern forehand. The other advantage of the semi open stance in tennis is that It also allows the legs and torso to rotate, bringing the arm forward.

Novak Djokovic Forehand Backswing

Since the Novak Djokovic forehand is characterized by using the ¾ Western grip (as mentioned above), his racquet face points in downward direction when his racket is positioned at the farthest point of his racket backswing. One of the unique pieces of the Djokovic forehand is the position of the racket during the backswing. In the Novak Djokovic forehand, the racket face is normally facing the ground as he swings the racket forward.

Novak Djokovic’s forehand racket face is usually positioned in a downward manner as the initial step of the forward racket swing allows his racket to come in contact with the ball in a vertical position.

It is also very noticeable that during the farthest point of Novak Djokovic’s backswing, the butt cap of the racket (the end point of the racket handle) points towards the ball. This wrist and arm position in the Djokovic forehand is typical among the pro forehand and this serves as the biggest key in his forehand shot.

This butt cap towards the ball orientation allows the Novak Djokovic forehand to have more control and leverage over the ball. At this point, his left arm plays an important role. He pulls across to the opposite shoulder after the contact point which is another sign of a good forehand shot.

Djokovic Forehand Forward Swing

As Novak Djokovic starts the forward swing of his racket, he also starts to unleash his left and right leg in an upward direction. At the same time, his right arm moves in a forward motion. Just like the other top professional players, Djokovic’s eyes are always glued to the ball at this stage of the Djokovic forehand execution and always. The very fast movements of his two legs and arm are also typical of his forehand shot. At the start of his foreword swing, Djokovic rotates his wrist in such a way that previous position of the racket face (facing downward) is changed with the racket face facing the back fence. This part of the Djokovic forehand swing is that it also helps him create topspin.

As the opponent’s return approaches, Novak Djokovic’s racket begins its downward movement below the path of the ball. This action creates a situation where he can brush up behind the ball and add additional topspin to the shot. The Novak Djokovic forehand is one of the reasons why he among the top pro players that are able to hit a forehand shot with world class power and topspin. In Novak Djokovic’s forehand, the racket head during the forward swing is positioned lower than the ball’s path to properly the brushing of the ball, thus creating topspin.

Novak Djokovic’s Forehand Contact Point

During the Djokovic forehand contact point, his forearm and wrist are fully rotated. Similar to the other professional tennis players on tour, Novak Djokovic’s eyes never leave the ball and his head is always steady when the ball comes in contact with the racket face. Novak Djokovic makes sure to establish a good balance with his feet and lower body during contact which is vital to have an accurate and well executed forehand shot. In addition, the Djokovic forehand hitting arm position and non dominant arm during contact is also perfect. This means that his left arm is always stretched out to give him the perfect balance during the contact.

After the Novak Djokovic Contact Point

Seconds after contact in the Djokovic forehand, the racket face (the stringbed that came in contact with the ball) remains facing the ball for several seconds. A situation like this signifies that Djokovic’s contact point was characterized by a clean point of contact.

Novak Djokovic Forehand Follow Through

The Djokovic forehand follow through starts with his head in a stable position after he hits the ball. In most situations, Novak Djokovic’s forehand elbow position remains the same but at this stage he finishes with more shoulder and hips rotation. Like many of the other pros on tour, the Novak Djokovic Forehand follow through consists of the racket swinging across his body, wrapping around his shoulder and towards his back. This rising of the racket to shoulder level signifies enough topspin creation.

Djokovic Forehand Recovery position

Lastly, during the Djokovic Forehand follow through, he makes sure to finish the shot and immediately returning to the standard recovery position appropriate to the current point situation. Novak Djokovic sometimes comes off the ground during the shot, but once he lands, his weight is more concentrated on his left leg. This element of Novak Djokovic’s Forehand allows him to recover quickly to the right position for his next shot.

Summary of the Djokovic Forehand

In summary, the Djokovic forehand is one of the most effective and powerful forehand shots in professional tennis. In fact, the Novak Djokovic forehand is given the credit for his winning streak in 2011. Many of the same elements of world class tennis forehand technique are present in the Djokovic Forehand. The one unique aspect is that Djokovic’s forehand gets the job done without getting too fancy. In fact, the technical swing pattern of the Djokovic Forehand is quite simple and straight forward. His forehand is mainly characterized by the following:

1. Semi open stance that allows him to enjoy the benefits of both the open neutral stance, paired with great hips, shoulders and trunk rotation,
2. Constant involvement of his left hand or non dominant hand all throughout the forehand execution (especially for balance and coiling proposes)
3. The high follow through which signifies a complete follow through as well as topspin generated on the shot
4. Head position is fixated during contact, while the eyes are always alert and always glued on the ball and,
5. Speedy racket head that creates pro level power in his shot.

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Modern tennis is characterized by improved positioning, better footwork and of course more powerful strokes or shots compared to classical tennis. Specifically, the forehand tennis technique has also changed drastically.

Andy Roddick is the former world number 1 and the top American tennis player. At present, he is in the top 8 by the ATP (Association Tennis Professionals) rankings. He has one grand slam title, which is the US OPEN in 2003. Although Roddick is more popular with his ferocious tennis serve, the Roddick forehand is very commendable as well. The discussion below focuses how Andy Roddick executes his forehand stroke.

Andy Roddick’s Forehand Preparation

Good preparation is when you have the capacity to anticipate the shot of your opponent. Like for instance, when Roddick anticipates a potential forehand stroke, he then prepares himself by bringing his racket back in a smooth manner. To prepare himself for the shot, one thing he does is support his racket’s throat with his left hand or with his non dominant hand (since Roddick is a right-handed player). It is by standard the normal way to do it.

This preparatory step helps facilitate Roddick’s full shoulder turn. At this point, his racket face is in a slightly closed position.

A slightly closed position means that the racket is slightly facing downward. At the same time, the upper part of his shoulder is in cocked position. This position allows him to hit a looping, long and very powerful racket swing. This will also enhance the brushing effect of the racket into the ball, resulting in the creation of a heavy topspin forehand.

Roddick’s Loading Phase

The Roddick forehand loading phase is one of Roddick’s assets which allow him to hit a very powerful forehand. This power is achieved in the way he plants his back leg once it reaches the ground. Through this motion, he is able to create a strong force which is converted into a powerful stroke as he makes the shot. When he bends his legs, his upper body remains in a upright position. And this gives him the advantage of a low center of gravity with a wide base. As Roddick brings his racket back, his left arm that supports the racket’s throat separates and is stretched sideways. This gives him the needed balance and good position.

One of the most important aspects of Roddick’s Forehand is the full coiling of his upper body. The coiling of the upper body means that his hips and shoulders are not aligned. This is achieved as Roddick turns his shoulder without turning his whole body. This movement allows Roddick to create power in his larger body muscles such as the legs, back, and shoulder. The transfer of the energy produced from lower body (legs-hips-trunk-shoulder-arms) to the racket is called the chain of kinetic energy. Roddick’s tremendous power is unleashed as he uncoils his body and this power is channeled up to his racket.

Roddick’s Open Stance

An open stance is normally used by Roddick in executing a forehand when he is pulled out wide by his opponent or when his opponent hits a wide return to his forehand side. In addition, Roddick also uses an open stance when he hits a running forehand that upper body full rotation is inhibited if other stances are used.

In general, many professional players prefer to do a neutral stance especially if they have more time to prepare. Many players also prefer to use a neutral stance when they are positioned more or less at the center of the court. In returning a short ball or hitting an approach shot, most players again prefer to use a neutral stance and step forward rather than using an open stance.

However, the neutral stance also has a disadvantage, which is the lack of trunk rotation. On one hand, an open stance position allows the player to utilize the full trunk rotation (as mentioned above) even on a running forehand. Roddick’s forehand skills allow him to execute the forehand open stance perfectly. This can be accounted to his versatility.

Contact Point

Good preparation is when you have the capacity to anticipate the shot of your opponent. Like for instance, when Roddick anticipates a potential forehand stroke, he then prepares himself by bringing his racket back in a smooth manner. To prepare himself for the shot, one thing he does is support his racket’s throat with his left hand or with his non dominant hand (since Roddick is a right-handed player). It is by standard the normal way to do it.

The Andy Roddick forehand is a powerful stroke. As he swings his racket, Andy Roddick rotates his upper body into the ball forcefully resulting in power as the result of his rotational momentum. Roddick lifts himself up from the ground while still being able to let his body weight into the shot, creating additional power. At this instance, Roddick’s right leg is almost fully stretched. This right leg flexing motion is another trademark of the Roddick forehand that gives additional power to his shot.

Another aspect of the Andy Roddick forehand is when his body uncoils as his racket face is about to come in contact with the ball. It is very evident that at this part of his forehand stroke execution, his racket speeds up as it swings towards the hitting zone. This movement gives him the pace and the penetration he needs to hit his shot accurately.

Andy Roddick’s swing path consists of brushing the racket face creating the heavy topspin. This additional topspin into the shot gives Roddick more net clearance for his shot. In addition, it also makes the ball curve in the air and after it bounces on the ground. As a result, the shot puts the opponent in an awkward situation and puts the opponent away from his comfort zone.

Roddick uses a forehand grip close to a western grip to accomplish the forehand shot. This grip allows for the rapid brushing of the ball as well as the ability to generate a large amount of topspin. This is considered more of an extreme grip, but it is still less extreme than a player such as Rafael Nadal who uses a full western grip.

Start of Andy Roddick’s Forehand Follow-through

Andy Roddick’s follow-through is very evident how his body and racket accelerates and how his body moves smoothly. After his racket makes contact with the ball, his racket extends towards the direction of the ball. He then turns his forearm and wrist over in such a way that he seems to be looking at his wrist watch to check the time.

At the same time, Roddick also starts bringing his right arm and his racket across his body in a smooth and relaxed manner. He then continues the process by rotating his body.

Completion of Roddick’s Forehand Follow-through

Roddick completes his follow through with his tennis racket over his shoulder. This end of the follow-through is typical with Roddick’s forehand as his way of slowing down his body and his racket.

Roddick’s forehand follow through is unique in that he sometimes has different variations in his follow-through. Andy Roddick’s other forehand follow-through is with his hitting arm wrapping around slightly above his left hip rather than across his body beneath the shoulder. In most cases, Roddick’s right elbow is positioned above his racket. It’s because his racket comes across his body in the follow through (not the shoulder, which is typical).

As Andy Roddick completes his forehand stroke, his right foot ends up aligned past or even with his left foot. The position of his right foot signifies that he was successful in transferring his body weight. In cases where Roddick’s back leg finishes in front of the front leg, this signifies a proper weight transfer.

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Andy Murray’s forehand is not as impressive in terms of power as the Federer forehand or the Nadal forehand, but it is a consistent shot that involves the use of strategic placement and spins rather than pure power.

Since Murray’s forehand technique is a relatively simple and compact stroke, and the backswing is much smaller when compared to his pro counterparts he generates less power but it offers him greater control and placement accuracy. In this article, we will take a closer look behind at the Andy Murray forehand technique.

Andy Murray’s Record

British tennis star Andy Murray is one of the most complete players ever to play the game. He has power, variety and tactical brilliance. He is big and athletic, with great hands and coordination. Technically, his groundstrokes are some of the best in the business.

Andy Murray’s serve and return are also outstanding shots. Why, then, has he failed to win a grand slam title? It has more to do with his mental game. He has failed to deal with the pressure of playing a grand slam final and has not learned from his losses as much as he should have.

Andy Murray has now lost twice at the Australian Open final and once at the US Open final. He has also stalled in the semi-finals of his home grand slam Wimbledon for three straight years. Despite these disappointments, his technical abilities continue to impress and keep him in the top five. His best shot is arguably his backhand. But the Andy Murray forehand is also nothing to pick on.

Andy Murray’s Forehand: A Steady Shot

Andy Murray is described as a counter puncher. Although he can hit big first serves and offensive returns, he usually prefers to play a point one shot at a time. He lets the rally develop and mixes up his shots before looking for the right ball to put away. He also likes hitting drop shots to bring opponents up to the net where he can pass them or lob over them. His shot making ability is most evident when he is put in a defensive position.

He frequently gets out of such situations by hitting a big shot of his own to turn the point immediately around in his favor. With such talents, one would think that he should be playing points more proactively in order to control the rallies and end them sooner.

Although he has improved his fitness and stamina, he would still be far better off if he played more aggressively and kept the points shorter in order to conserve energy. This would go a long way in helping him stay mentally fresh and focused, especially in a high stakes match. There are many shots in his arsenal that he can hit more offensively. The Andy Murray forehand is one such shot that can be used to this end.

Andy Murray Forehand Grip

The Andy Murray forehand is held in a semi-western grip. He waits in the proper ready position, constantly moving and keeping balanced on the balls of his feet. His anticipation and eyesight are tremendous, allowing him to track the ball very early as it leaves his opponent’s racket. With his focus, he is very quick to recognize that the ball will come to either forehand or backhand side.

At the instant he recognizes that the ball is coming over to his forehand, he performs a split step and gets into either an open or semi-open stance. He can also hit from a closed stance but he prefers the more open stances. He has great footwork and balance even with these stances. He puts his left foot ahead of his right foot, which he loads up with his body weight.

Andy Murray Forehand: Initial Shoulder and Unit Turn

His knees are bent comfortably. His shoulders make a full turn at the same time that he takes the racket back in a circular loop. He guides it with his left hand on the throat but he doesn’t take the racket head very high. Instead, he proceeds to extend it out back behind him with a relaxed arm. The racket head is a little closed and at the level of his chest.

His left hand is now out in front of his body, but he doesn’t use it to point to the ball. He actually uses his entire forearm as his guide to the ball so his elbow is a little bent. The backswing does not have any pauses or hitches. It is a smooth and continuous, if slightly mechanical-looking shot.

Murray Forehand: The Forward Swing

The forward swing phase of the Andy Murray forehand begins when he drops the racket head below the level of the ball. His arm is still relaxed and loose with the wrist cocked back slightly. The racket head will trail his forearm and elbow more markedly later in the swing. Other players cock their wrists fully at this point of the stroke but Murray does it a little differently. His weight begins to shift to the front foot as his torso begins to unwind and his left arm gets tucked closer to his body. His eyes remain locked on the ball.

Andy Murray Forehand Contact Point

Right before contact, the Andy Murray forehand swing accelerates to top speed. His wrist is now laid back and his shoulder and arm begin to tighten, whipping the racket head along its path. His upper body is now facing the net and his weight continuing to shift to the left leg as he steps into the shot. At contact, he hits through the ball and upward creating topspin. The resulting shot can be a very fast, spinning and penetrating shot. The wrist rolls over the racket head as his forearm pronates.

Andy Murray Forehand Follow Through

Andy Murray’s forehand follow through consists of the racket extending out to the target but not exaggeratedly. He finishes by following through across his body in a windshield-wiper style finish. His right shoulder is now facing the net and his right leg steps in to finish slightly ahead of his left leg. A notable thing within this phase of the stroke is that he doesn’t keep his head down and completely motionless, unlike Roger Federer.

Andy Murray’s forehand head position is different than Federer’s. Murray actually has a tendency to look up to his target too soon. It doesn’t seem to compromise his accuracy in regular situations but it does affect him when he is nervous. Murray uses his quickness to recover back to the ready position and prepare for the next ball.

The Andy Murray forehand is a very versatile shot. He has the ability to hit it flat and hard or put heavy topspin and make the ball dip against someone rushing the net. He can also use this topspin to create sharp angles and deft lobs.

When putting extra topspin, he will exaggerate his swing’s low-to-high path. He doesn’t just use his wrist to apply the extra topspin. Additionally, with his dextrous handling of the racket, he will suddenly change grip in mid-swing to a continental and hit a drop shot. He hits this by caressing the ball in a slicing motion. He is also one of the few players who will employ the forehand slice as a change of pace shot in a rally.

Andy Murray’s Game Plan: A Counter Punching Mentality?

Despite all this variety, the Andy Murray forehand is at its best when used offensively. Because he can hit it quite hard, he can build points around his ability to put away the ball with this wing. He does have a few patterns that take advantage of this. He likes to rally with his backhand and then hit a deep and low slice down the line.

This will force his opponent to hit up back to his forehand. He anticipates this and moves over to cover the shot. He will then hit it very hard down the line or back deep cross court to take control of the point. If the ball is short, he has the option to hit a drop shot or approach shot.

How Andy Murray Can Use His Forehand

Andy Murray’s forehand is not as aggressive due to his counterpunching mind set seems very much ingrained that it has hindered his progress to the top of the rankings. He seems to be stalling at number four despite having beaten all of the top players. The main difference is that the top players aggressively go for their chances in the big points of the important matches.

When they miss, they recompose themselves and go for it again. Murray played much too passively in his three grand slam finals appearances and lost each time in straight sets. Most recently, at Wimbledon, he played Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals and was leading by a set, playing as aggressively as ever. In the second, he went for a winner… and missed. He didn’t recover from that and went on to lose. In order for him to win his first grand slam title, he will need to continue going for the big shots throughout a best of five set match.

Fortunately for him, his forehand is a great tool for developing a more aggressive game so we may yet see him in the future hoisting grand slam championship trophies.

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Not only did the Agassi forehand dominate the world of professional tennis with pinpoint accuracy, but it was a shot that was used to take shots on the rise. This on the rise play marked the beginning of the modern tennis forehand and what was soon to become in the evolution of power tennis players.

Achievements Of The Agassi Forehand

The Andre Agassi forehand is one of the most devastating shots of all time in tennis. He has used it to help him become one of the greatest ever to play the game of tennis. He is one of only seven men to ever win a career grand slam. Of these players, he is also the first of only two players who also have an Olympic gold medal in singles (Rafael Nadal is the other). Incidentally, Agassi is married to the only woman who has completed the career golden grand slam, Steffi Graf. Aside from the major titles, Agassi has 60 career titles and been ranked number one several times in his career that spanned from 1986 at the age of 16 to 2006.

Coached by the legendary Nick Bollettieri when he became a teenager, Agassi developed his talent for taking the ball early and putting maximum power and penetration into his groundstrokes. The forehand is one of the results of his precocious development under Bollettieri’s tutelage. In his career, he would earn the nickname “The Punisher.”

There are no mysteries or secrets to the Andre Agassi forehand. Probably the only supernatural thing was that he is blessed with tremendous hand-eye coordination and balance. This automatically gives him the three basic elements that make any groundstroke effective: early preparation (because he sees the ball early and anticipates it well), timing and transfer of weight into the shot (because he is balanced and in the right position with his feet).

Andre Agassi Forehand Grip

Agassi uses a grip that is between an eastern and semi-western grip, though it is probably closer to a semi-western. Roger Federer uses a similar grip but is a little closer to eastern. He is usually close to the baseline or even inside it during rallies, in the proper ready position – with feet apart, knees bent, torso a little forward and racket in front of his body. His clear eyesight and quick reaction time enables him to pick up on kind of incoming ball the moment after it leaves his opponent’s racket. He is very much focused on the ball and only the ball.

Agassi Forehand Preparation

Because he has seen very early what kind of shot he needs to hit, his split step is also done very early. After the split step, the circular backswing commences. Holding the racket with his right hand, he uses his left hand to help push the racket up and back. It goes in a circular path, but it is not an exaggerated loop. In fact, his whole backswing is considered to be compact. Of course, it also depends on the kind of ball that is coming his way. A fast incoming ball necessitates an even more compact swing.

The height of the shot also determines how high or low he takes his racket back. He always remains at the same level as the ball, using his whole body to adjust. Another thing he considers is the type of shot he plans to hit. Agassi usually hits the ball flat with a bit of topspin. He doesn’t usually hit loopy topspin balls, but he can. If he wants to put more spin, he will drop the racket head below the level of the ball more and then brush up and through. But usually, he really goes through the ball. Meanwhile, his left hand has let go of the racket. It starts to extend out in the direction of the incoming ball.

Andre Agassi Forehand Backswing

Because Agassi’s forehand is blessed with great coordination, his timing is absolutely fantastic. With the ball fast approaching, he is now going to do his forward swing. At the end of the backswing and the beginning of the forward swing, his elbow stays low and close to his body. The wrist is fully laid back, keeping the racket head cocked back. As his arm moves forward to meet the ball, the racket head only catches up to the ball moments before impact. The movement of the wrist through and up over the ball gives it the speed and topspin.

Andre Agassi extends forwards in the direction of the ball as his elbow comes up to level with the left shoulder. The racket head finishes over the left shoulder according to what kind of shot he has hit. If he hit his usual flat shot, the follow through is more level with the left shoulder. He does not use the windshield wiper follow through.

Footwork & Balance in the Agassi Forehand

The Andre Agassi forehand is a well-balanced shot, as previously mentioned. He uses a good wide base that makes it easy to shift into any position he needs to comfortably play this shot. This means that he can hit off an open stance, semi-open stance or a closed stance. The first two stances are the ones he most commonly uses, because it allows him to hit aggressive shots even when he has little time to react to the ball. This happens a lot for him due to his position on court which is usually very close or even inside the baseline. Because he is properly balanced, the weight transfer can be achieved with any of these stances.

Use of the Open Stance in the Agassi Forehand

Traditionally, it has been thought that only the closed stance allowed the proper transfer of weight into the shot, and for some players, this is true. Maybe those other players don’t have the sense of balance and good early preparation that Agassi has.

With an open stance, Agassi still has his left foot slightly in front because the weight is on his right foot as he takes the racket back and turns his shoulders. As he uncoils, the weight on his right foot transfers to his left foot which steps forward into the shot. On a more closed stance, the weight transfer is the same, but he also uncoils from the feet up. The weight transfers from the right foot to the left foot as he jumps into the shot. He’ll actually finish with his right foot in front and almost parallel to the net, as if preparing for a backhand. The recovery motion of the Andre Agassi forehand consists of an extra step after the shot. It is like a skipping motion of the feet after he has finished his stroke. In essence, he is again doing a split step to the neutral waiting position. The upper body also recovers to the neutral position and the racket goes back in front of the body. The head remains fixed straight ahead, focusing.

Key Points of the Agassi Forehand

The advantage of this motion is that it is less difficult to time, especially when you factor in things like the wind affecting the ball toss or something like that. The right shoulder drops below the level of the left, as with any good server, as he readies to launch up to the ball. Overall, his shoulders don’t rotate as much as Sampras, again because of the limitation in overall torso rotation discussed above.

Any student of the game should love to learn how to hit the Andre Agassi forehand. Even if they’re not blessed with his eyesight, coordination and sense of balance, they can still learn a few things from this shot. The first is the proper stance when waiting for the ball. Use a wide base, with the feet at least shoulder width apart. The next thing to remember is to focus on the ball. Even if your eyes aren’t as sharp and your hands aren’t as fast as Agassi’s, if you focus on the ball, you will have a far better chance of executing a good shot. The next is early preparation. This can actually be practiced through some drills.

Watch the ball as it comes off the opponent’s racket and tell yourself to make a backswing immediately. As the backswing commences, the ball is already travelling quickly toward you so do not hesitate on your motion. It should be one smooth continuous motion. It is also very important to keep the arm loose and relaxed. Timing comes naturally for Andre, but there are ways for regular players to learn good timing. Constant practice will also, of course, improve your timing. The follow through and weight transfer into the shot are also two things that should never be forgotten. And lastly, keep your feet moving as you make your recovery into the ready position.

With all this in mind, you will be ready to start punishing the ball with your own version of the Andre Agassi forehand.

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The Secrets Behind Roger Federer’s Forehand Technique

Roger Federer’s forehand is actually a very technically sound but yet simple & smooth stroke. Much to the surprise of many, Federer’s forehand is not difficult to model. Even club players and aspiring college and junior players alike can learn from Federer’s forehand to improve their own forehand technique. To begin, we will cover the elements of Federer’s forehand from the grip & preparation to the follow through of the stroke.

Roger Federer Forehand Grip

To begin, Federer’s forehand grip starts out with a conservative Eastern grip. Unlike many players in the modern game who advocate using the Semi-Western or even Full Western (like Rafael Nadal’s forehand), Federer’s forehand grip is actually quite conservative in today’s modern game of tennis. This eastern grip allows Federer to drive through shots more, while still producing adequate topspin for the “heavy ball” effect we will describe later on. This perhaps provides Federer the greatest amount of versatility and a blend of both topspin & power on his forehand.

Federer’s Forehand – Unit Turn

The unit turn in tennis is a key hallmark position behind the forehands of all top pro players on tour in the modern forehand. The “unit turn” as it is commonly called is a unitary body motion where the upper and lower body turns as one unit to initiate the preparation of the stroke. This means the focus is turning (or pivoting) the upper body and hips sideways as one unit, rather than just merely taking the racket back in a backswing independently. The key is all of the elements in Federer’s forehand starts out with him lowering his center of gravity and pivoting his right dominant foot and hips side ways and then allowing his shoulder to turn – which naturally brings the racket back.

This unitary body turn allows Federer to utilize the kinetic chain in his forehand, allowing the larger muscle groups to store passive energy later to be used to uncoil onto his shots. Most club players make the mistake of immediately taking a racket backswing without a proper unit turn. This will lead to a disconnection in the kinetic chain and poor power on the forehand.

Roger Federer’s Forehand Takeback & Backswing

The next key position to notice about Federer’s forehand after the unit turn has taken place is how Federer cradles the throat of his racket with the non-dominant hand and then initiates the takeback with the elbow leading. Federer keeps the racket backswing on the same side of his body, which allows him to take balls on the rise – and rarely gets caught hitting late. In the ATP style forehand, players do not extend the racket backswing behind the plane of their body unlike many WTA players ala Azarenka, Williams Sisters, etc…

This relatively compact swing allows Federer to be versatile in all areas of the court as an all-court player, unlike some less efficient swings where an elongated swing may cause a player to hit late on certain occasions.

Gravity Drop

Once Federer reaches the height of the takeback, he lowers the racket below the level of the incoming ball via gravity. There is no forced or wristy motion here. At this stage of the swing, Federer’s maintains a closed racket face angle which allows him to rapidly brush up behind the ball to create the windshield wiper forehand. Notice here, how Federer does not consciously exert any effort in the lowering of the racket, but gravity alone allows him to lower his racket whilst maintaining the correct hitting arm structure.

Hip Uncoil & Wrist Release

Federer’s forehand involves virtually perfect use of the kinetic chain. After the gravity drop is complete, Federer uncoils & opens his hips which brings his racket and wrist through and forwards into the contact point. Note here, that Federer’s hips are the driving force, causing the wrist to release and correct itself into the hitting arm slot. This motion is like a Nascar driver going from 0-60 MPH. The hips play a huge role as a the driver of the uncoiling motion, like the crack of a whip.

Commentators also note how Federer’s forehand appears “wristy” making him prone to injuries. Although his forehand appears wristy to the outside observer, there is almost no conscious manipulation of the wrist at this point. Federer is clearly fully relaxed and letting his body and racket do all the work in the kinetic chain. He almost never gets injuries, which is a testament to the efficiency of Roger Federer’s forehand.

Contact Point

Roger Federer’s forehand contact point is virtually flawless. Due to his impeccable timing, he is rarely caught off balance. His contact point is comfortably well out in front, with his hitting arm slightly bent or completely straight. Federer often utilizes a straight arm forehand contact point, whereby his elbow and arm is completely straight at contact. Other times, observers can find Federer’s hitting arm structure in the normal double-bend hitting arm position. Both are acceptable hitting arm structures – as long as players are using proper weight transfer and hitting the ball comfortably in front and not caught late or off balance.

Roger Federer’s Forehand Windshield Wiper Follow through

Once the contact point is complete, Federer rapidly brushes the ball in a windshield wiper motion. The windshield wiper follow through motion is synonymous with the modern forehand in tennis. This is a commonality amongst all top pro players in the ATP & WTA. Notice how Federer’s racket face transjectory forms a “rainbow” like arc as he completes the follow through.

The actual motion appears similar to the windshield wiper blades of a car, hence the term windshield wiper forehand. The key here is that Federer’s shoulder and upper arm is powering the windshield wiper forehand follow through, and not just the wrist alone. This is another common mistake some players make, is that they try to “wrist” the follow through artificially creating a weak ball, rather than allowing the upper arm to take control of the entire follow through motion.

Conclusion – Roger Federer’s Forehand Can be a Key Model for Players At All Other Levels of the Game

While many coaches and players often suggest that Federer’s forehand is too dangerous or difficult to emulate for the average player – Roger Federer’s forehand actually contains certain unique commonalities with all other top pro forehands on tour that are easily seen in slow motion. These unique commonalities are the EXACT elements that aspiring players can emulate and model to achieve better results on their forehand. While Federer does possess great natural talent, it is definitely possible for players at all other levels of the game to learn from Federer’s forehand technique

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