The forehand is the most common shot in tennis. It is often the foundation of a player’s offensive game, allowing them to control rallies and dictate play. Teaching young tennis players the proper technique will set them up for success with a strong foundation to build upon.
With the help of former tennis pro, and collegiate tennis coach Mike Metz, this guide will break down the key elements of a great forehand and provide drills to reinforce proper techniques from Mikes course ‘Kids Tennis Tips & Drills’.
Forehand Fundamentals
1. Grip
How the player grips the tennis racquet can make a huge difference in their forehand shot. The most commonly used grip is the semi-western grip. This grip should help provide good control, spin and velocity for the forehand.
Teaching the semi-western grip is easy. Hold out the racquet to your player, and have them shake hands with the grip. You can also place the racquet on the ground and have your player pick it up. Both methods create the perfect grip for young tennis players.
2. Stance and Footwork
Footwork is the foundations for any good forehand shot. Players should stand in a comfortable position with their feet slightly apart, knees bent, and weight balanced.
The 2 most common stances are the neutral stance, and open stance. The neutural stance is used more for stationary shots with the players feet parallel to the baseline, while the open stance has players stepping right/left toward the ball on the run.
To reinforce proper movement, have players practice shifting into an open stance by stepping out with their dominant leg while keeping their balance. A great drill is to toss a ball to the player and have them kick their right leg out, catch the ball, and toss it back. This simulates the weight transfer and loading phase of an open stance forehand.
3. Backswing, Contact, and Follow-Through
A smooth backswing sets the stage for a powerful shot. Players should keep their elbows tucked close to their body as they bring the racket back, starting the backswing. Instruct your players to keep their wrist relaxed, not holding it in a fixed position during the swing.
To help generate more power, instruct your players to focus on rotating their shoulders and finishing high over their opposite shoulder.
The ideal contact point is in front of the player’s body, around waist height. Players should start low, and finish high over their opposite shoulder.
A good visual cue for kids is to pretend they are emptying a cup of water over their shoulder.
Forehand Drills for Coaches
Coach Mike Metz’s course ‘Kids Tennis Tips & Drills’ is filled with tennis drills and instructional videos on how to properly teach tennis to kids and beginners. Here is a video teaching how to properly use the open stance and hit the ball on the move.
Coaching Tips for Teaching Kids
When teaching young athletes, it is important to use visual cues and fun examples to help reinforce what you are teaching. Throwing water over the shoulder, and hitting the ball like a windshield wiper are 2 good examples that Mike Metz uses to teach his beginner tennis players.
Another important thing to remember when teaching young athletes is that learning new skills can be very difficult to do. Try breaking down different techniques into simpler parts instead of trying to teach an entire skill in one drill. Not only will your players learn new skills faster, but theyll also have a better understanding of technique and fine details of their swing.
Last but not least, make sure you are giving your athletes plenty of repetitions and time to practice their new skills. Try to get each athlete to practice at least 6-8 repetitions per drill, with multiple chances to complete the drill.
