The forehand is a devastating weapon if executed correctly. Massive forehands have been the main weapon of choice for tennis greats throughout history, from Rod Laver and his left-hand forehand to current aces Roger Federer and Rafeal Nadal. The forehand has evolved somewhat in recent years, from the the classic stroke "through" the ball to the more modern forehand, sometimes called the windshield wiper forehand in which you swing "up" into the ball. That imparts more topspin and results in a deeper shot with higher ball flight. The basic techniques for both types of forehand is the same, except for the plane of the swing.
Step 1
Assume the ready position, crouched and ready to move in either direction. As the ball comes to your forehand side, drive off from the legs to get to the ball quickly. Turn both hands toward the ball, which rotates your shoulders and upper body away from the ball and leaves your body sideways to the net.
Step 2
Bring the racket back, taking both hands off of it after making your shoulder turn. Loop it back in a circular motion, lifting the racket higher as you bring it back and then dropping it lower as you start your swing into the ball.
Step 3
Fire your whole body into the shot, starting with the leg muscles, followed by the hips, shoulders, arm and then the wrist. The idea is to generate as much racket speed as possible.
Step 4
Contact the ball around waist-high. For more power, try to meet the ball when it is slightly above waist level, which can give you more power and drive the ball deeper into the opponent's side of the net.
Step 5
Follow through the shot, ending with your wrist in a position that enables you to read your watch. This means you have imparted a considerable amount of topspin to the shot.
Tips and Warnings
- To practice a windshield wiper forehand, stand close enough to a wall that your racket just hits the wall on your conventional follow through. If you execute the windshield wiper shot properly, your swing should be in a sharp enough arc that the racket doesn't reach the wall on your follow through.
- A windshield wiper forehand might stress your forearm and wrist more than a conventional forehand.
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