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The USTA Newsletter for Tennis Coaches
·
2012
6
HIGH PERFORMANCE COACHING
VOL. 13, NO. 1
THE FOREHAND
SWING PATH
The path of the swing is a loop where the racquet moves in a
fluid manner above the hands as the body rotates to the side.
The racquet head then drops below the ball and accelerates
through the point of contact far enough away from the body
so that the swing can extend comfortably through the ball and
toward the net. The follow-through will finish from between
the waist to over the shoulder.
GRIP
The player should use a grip close to the Eastern forehand grip
when learning the forehand. The non-dominant hand is used to
change the grip from the forehand to the backhand during play.
PREPARATION
Preparation begins with an athletic ready position with the
head and eyes forward, knees slightly flexed and the weight
on the forward part of the feet. The racquet is held in front of
the body with the dominant hand in a forehand grip and the
non-dominant hand supporting the racquet at the throat. The
racquet begins to move back from the ready position as the
hips and shoulders turn to the side (unit turn). The racquet will
continue to stay above the hand as it moves into position.
PREPARATION
UNIT TURN
LOADING
HITTING
CONTACT
EXTENSION
FINISH
EASTERN FOREHAND GRIP
Player finding the Eastern Grip during the unit-turn
using the non-dominant hand
Athletic ready position
Preparation with a square stance
and racket head above the hand
The swing path is a loop starting above the hand, dropping below the ball
and rising through the point of contact to extension