The forehand is the most important shot in tennis when it comes to dominating rallies and winning matches. This is why coach Adri will give us a few key ideas to Master Your Forehand.
Coach Adri is an ATP coach whose smooth, effective forehand has been likened to Federer’s—breaks down the essentials for building a consistent, powerful, and beautiful forehand. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your technique, this is your step-by-step guide.
You can also watch the video below.
The Forehand Foundation: Grip & Philosophy
“There’s no wrong way, no right way—but there’s always a better way.”
Start With the Grip
The grip influences everything—contact point, spin, power. Adri recommends a semi-western grip, the current standard among pros. It allows for both topspin and flat shots, making it ideal for all court situations.
How to find it:
Place the racket face-down on the ground, then grab the handle with your palm naturally. That’s your semi-western grip.
If you’re already using a more extreme western grip, don’t force a straight-arm forehand. Instead, understand your contact point and adjust accordingly.
Step-by-Step Forehand Breakdown
1. Split Step and Unit Turn
The moment your opponent makes contact, you should split step—a small jump to get your feet moving. From there, initiate a unit turn, turning your shoulders while keeping the racket in your field of vision.
“Don’t take the racket back with your hitting arm. Let the unit turn do the work.”
2. Use the Non-Hitting Arm
Your left arm (for righties) is crucial for spacing and preparation. Extend it straight as you take the racket back—this helps guide your swing path and ensures proper contact out in front.
Tip: If you’re consistently hitting the ball too close to your body, check your left arm position.
3. The Racket Drop and Lag
Adri favors the “pat the dog” position, where the strings point downward in the drop. This creates lag, allowing for whip-like acceleration through the contact zone.
More lag = more acceleration = more power and spin.
But this isn’t mandatory. A more compact, windshield-wiper takeback can work too—just expect slightly less acceleration.
Contact Point: The Key to Clean Shots
“The ball will go wherever the strings are pointing.”
Your goal is to make contact in front of your body, ideally with a relaxed, flat racket face.
- Flat contact allows flexibility: go flat for power or brush up for topspin.
- Western grip? Expect a bent elbow and a closer contact point.
- Eastern/semi-western? You can achieve a straight-arm contact more naturally.
Common mistake: Trying to create topspin by angling the strings downward at contact. This reduces sweet spot usage and leads to mishits. Instead, let the racket brush up after contact to create spin.
Follow Through: Finish What You Started
Think of a giant circle with your racket after hitting the ball. The forehand doesn’t end at contact—it’s a continuous motion.
“If you stop halfway, the ball will stop halfway. If you finish all the way, the ball travels all the way.”
Let your arm flow naturally, with your left hand lifting to encourage balance and upper-body control. Whether you finish over the shoulder or behind the head doesn’t matter—as long as it’s complete and fluid.
The Engine of the Shot: Footwork
“Upper body hits the ball. Legs get you to the ball. Without footwork, nothing else matters.”
Footwork is often overlooked but essential. Adri breaks it down using a three-ball drill:
- Ball 1 (center): Split ? Right ? Left ? Hit ? Recover.
- Ball 2 (medium-wide): Split ? Left ? Right ? Hit ? Recover.
- Ball 3 (very wide): Add extra steps, possibly hitting open stance or even semi-open if time allows.
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Stances Explained
- Open Stance: Used in fast rallies, gives balance and quick recovery.
- Closed Stance: Offers more linear power, ideal when you have time.
- Semi-Open Stance: The modern power stance. Allows you to rotate explosively on your axis (like Casper Ruud and Fonseca). Great for high balls.
Bonus Tips from Coach Adri
Chest Control
Keep your chest facing your target at contact. Over-rotating often leads to mishits or loss of control. Instead of muscling through with a body twist, generate power through the pull of the non-dominant arm and a solid kinetic chain.
Timing & Preparation
Prepare early by split stepping on your opponent’s impact. That tiny detail gives you the time to execute every step described above.
Final Thoughts
Coach Adri’s forehand advice is rooted in simplicity and biomechanical logic. Whether you’re modeling your game after Federer, Nadal, or Sinner, the principles remain the same:
- Prepare early
- Contact in front
- Relax and flow
- Use your legs
- Finish fully
Try implementing one step at a time. It may feel awkward at first, but stay patient, building new muscle memory is a process.
“It might make your shots worse for a few days, but then your level will rise far beyond.”
Adri is playing with a Nordicdots Model 100 strung with their CS string. You can get 15% off using the code TENNISNERD15 on their official website.
