The Modern Tennis Forehand 2.0

The Elements of the New Modern Forehand and what you need to know

It is very common to hear terms like open stance, windshield wiper, kinetic chain, jumping pivot when describing the modern tennis forehand. While these terms may play a role in the modern forehand, they are more appropriately describing what I call the modern forehand 1.0. When we went from linear swings to modern swings, there was a misconception that you the swing became exclusively rotational and the racquet head speed was created from a kinetic chain of biomechanical forces, led from a squat and lift and rotation of the torso.

These elements, including jumping are used in situations, however the biomechanics that contribute mostly to the transfer of energy and racquet head speed is not from the leg drive. The most simple anecdotal evidence of this is watching any top player rip a clean winner forehand on the dead run. In those cases, there is no squatting, no lifting and limited rotation from the torso. The mechanics of the running forehand apply to most all forehand strokes, including neutral ball rally’s.

I don’t want to confuse you, there is certainly rotational forces and shoulder turn and leg drive, just less emphasized than what many coaches realize. We have an amazing tool in the modern tennis racquet, and we need to use this tool and have it do as much of the work as possible. The top players have figured this out. They look effortless for a reason. The modern tennis strokes are more effortless because the biomechanics are more efficient than what most coaches are teaching.

The modern forehand 2.0 is more of an independent arm action that loads the forearm and wrist allowing it to release the racquet head during the impact zone creating extra racquet head speed without jumping or excessively squatting/loading the legs. This technique is more efficient and provides better and quicker recovery and frankly has more racquet head speed, control and hits a heavier ball than the jumping two foot pivot technique. Keys of this technique:

• Unit turn / coil while keeping the elbow from getting too far behind your back
• The hips and shoulders initiate the forward swing which create the racquet head lag and the 45 degree runway angle of the elbow
• As the elbow starts to reach its’ full extension, the shoulders should decelerate allowing the elbow to switch from a linear plane to an angular plane releasing the racquet head with forearm pronation and wrist radial deviation