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Tips for Improving the Tennis Forehand

Douglas Grant, Teacher

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Douglas “Doug” Grant, a teacher with over 20 years of experience at the middle school level, pursues a broad range of individual and team sports in his free time. Since his own days in the fourth grade, teacher Douglas Grant has been an avid tennis player.

For the tennis player, improving forehand accuracy and power can serve as a distinct advantage. Strength comes largely from the ability to make full use of the body as well as rotate the body, which requires the player to develop rotation of the torso. When a player learns to rotate the hips and shoulders forward before reaching through with the hand, that energy translates into power.

Use of the body also helps the tennis player to achieve the desired topspin on the ball. The ability of the knees to bend and straighten can help the player to create lift, while the ability to choose a strong stance translates directly into stability. Similarly, a player who has good command over footwork and lower body coordination can incorporate positioning and balance in a way that enhances that stability.

With this strong base, the player can use the shoulder, arm, and wrist to create forward momentum. By bringing the arm toward the net and up, while visualizing the desired result, the player can make the most of the underlying stroke and refine it. With good follow-through, over the shoulder, the player can have a sound, complete stroke from beginning to end.