6 Tennis Pro Tips For Hitting Forehand Winners

If you’re looking for an edge on the court, a powerful and accurate forehand can be your secret weapon. Everyone wants to hit it like a pro, but how do you get there? We’ve got 6 tips to help you take your forehand to the next level and start hitting winners like never before.

Keep Your Wrist Flexible

A key aspect of a great forehand is flexibility in the wrist. Keeping your wrist loose and relaxed will give you more power and spin. This is because, with a relaxed wrist, you'll be able to accelerate the racket head as you swing at the ball and generate a whip-like motion upon contact. 

Extend Your Arm In The Backswing

One of the most common mistakes when going for a forehand winner is having too short a backswing. You want to make sure you get a full arm extension during your backswing so that when you bring it forward, you have maximum power and speed behind the shot. See What Makes Carlos Alcaraz’s Forehand So Powerful.

Use Your Core

Many players make the mistake of using only their arms when they hit their forehand, which can lead to weak shots that don’t have enough power behind them. For more power over the ball, make sure that you’re engaging your core muscles as well. To do this, you'll need to rotate your hips along with your forehand stroke. The goal here is to use the momentum from rotating your hips into the shot instead of relying solely on arm strength alone. This will allow you to hit harder shots without sacrificing any control or accuracy.

Use A Wider Stance

A wider stance gives you more stability with your forehand. With both feet firmly planted on the ground in an open or semi-open stance,  you'll be able to generate more power and accuracy with your shot.

Focus On Weight Transfer 

As you go for that forehand winner make sure to shift your weight from the back foot (right leg if you are a right-hander) to your front foot (left leg if you are a right-hander) as you swing through the ball. This will give you the added power to hit through the ball for a winner.

Keep Your Head Down  

Keeping your head down simply means keeping your eye on the point of contact with the ball (and your racket) and not trying to look up too early to see the path of your ball. This may sound simple but keeping your head down during your swing can have a big impact on how well you play tennis. Keeping your head steady throughout the stroke will give you better control over where the ball goes and also help improve accuracy when you aim for the corners of the court. Plus, it will ensure that you stay balanced throughout each shot which will result in smoother swings and fewer unforced errors. 

With these six tips, you will be well on your way to hitting forehand winners. By keeping a relaxed wrist, extending your backswing fully, utilising core muscles for power, widening your stance for stability, transferring weight from your back foot to your front foot with each shot and focusing on keeping your head down throughout the stroke – you'll be able to develop your forehand into a weapon!

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