Here are 5 tips for learning or improving your forehand at any level. However be sure, that when you are practicing, you are applying your forehand technique into a tactic as your technique will constantly change depending on the situation, and a one size fits a simply doesn’t work. Technique can be isolated without tactical scenarios if learning a particular skill.

Rhythm 1

When we talk about rhythm we are referring to the change in racket speed point. As you can see in the video below, he is speeding up “as he touches” the ball in order to have greater accuracy and control. This is called speed on contact.

Rhythm 2

To give you another idea of rhythm here is another example that’s slightly similar, but different! Because the player is generating a lot more force than the previous video, the player is speeding up the racket a little bit further away from contact. Although useful for power, controlling the ball and timing it well can become slightly more challenging.

Timing Timing isn’t just striking the ball out of the middle of the strings. Timing refers to the “plane” in which the racket makes contact with the ball. There are 3 planes: 1. In front/Behind 2. Up/Down 3. Left/Right. In the video below, the player is mainly striking in the “up” and “in front” plane. The player will change the timing planes depending on where he wants to direct the ball and from the ball he receives.

Momentum

Momentum is the change of body speed at contact. This is one of the hardest to spot and to practice. As you can see below, the player has a big change in his body speed. The slow to fast change creates more energy and power on the impact. The best players do this to help bring the fast “spark” more efficiently and easily.