Tennis Forehand Tips

After watching a few tennis instructional videos on YouTube (MyTennisHQ), I have listed tips to improve my tennis skills.

And here's another GoPro Hero4 video of my ball machine training session.

 Forehand Drive Issues to work on:

1. Keep the head still, looking through the racquet's strings to see the incoming ball
   
2. Accelerate the racquet through the swing (not constant velocity) and push through the ball
   
3. Left-arm should be moving upwards (not downwards) during the forehand drive and synchronized with the hitting arm
4. Use your hips to initiate the racquet swing 
   
5. Keep the right-hand shoulder high when taking the racquet back
   
6. Keeping both arms on the racquet (with more coil) before starting the swing
7. Bending knees more during the forehand swing 
   
8. Split-step when the opponent hits the ball and moves to intercept the ball
   
9. Transfer weight from right foot to left foot  during the swing
   
10. Keep the arm swing motion longer for additional power
    
11. Wherever the arm goes, the ball goes 
12. During contact, the right elbow should be straight
13. The wrist should be loose but can be used for extra spin
    
14. When the ball bounces, stroke preparation should be complete. Attack the ball - don't wait for it to get to you.
    
15. Do not move when hitting the ball. You cannot aim when moving. The body should be quiet.
    
16. On Fastballs, use shortened backswing (serve returns)
    
17. On Slow balls, use full backswing (more power)
    
18. Controlling the racquet face:
• Long drive, more open
• A short drive, more closed

Contact Point

• The contact ball is correct when one can see the ball through the strings of the racquet.
  

Forehand

• Open vs Closed Stance
  
• Use neutral and closed-stance for low balls
  
• Use an open stance for high balls
• Forehand Technique
• Elbows up and high in starting position, ready to split-step (when the opponent hits the ball)
  
• Unit turn and keep elbows high with both hands on the racquet  (strings facing off to my right), chin on the right shoulder.
  
• Release left hand and sit down, with the racquet strings pointing down 
• Contact the ball (head is still and looking at the ball), the left hand is above the right hand
  
• Swing upwards and with chin on the left shoulder
• Catch the racquet with the left-hand
• Forehand Power 
• Use more shoulder coiling, using both hands on the racquet to pre-coil
  
• In Open Stance, press down with your legs to transfer power
• You should be done popping up before hitting the ball
• The non-hitting hand should be rising before hitting the ball
  

Return of Serve

Step forward

• The body must face the server (not just the head) and bisect the two corners where the ball could land. 
• As the server tosses the ball, I should pre-move forward and split-step
• Turn, avoiding a long backswing (shoulder turn is all the backswing you need)
• Hit the ball
  

•  Basics of Return of Serve