TECH Talk: Karen Khachanov's fiery forehand

CONFESSIONAL CART: Karen Khachanov spills secrets

Standing tall at 6'6", you would assume that Karen Khachanov's serve is his biggest strength. But the Russian knows well enough that to compete against the very best, he needs much more than just a single shot.

Where would Khachanov be without his wicked forehand—his go-to shot during rallies, especially during crucial moments? Let’s just say he wouldn't be in the world's Top 10.

The Shot

Watching Khachanov hit a forehand is like playing Twister and realizing you have more balance than you think. He uses a full western grip, with the hand placement at the bottom of the racquet, coming from underneath the weight as opposed to the side or the top.

The swing is more controlled by the forearm’s supination and pronation than by the whole body’s control over the racquet.

Even though the take-back looks 50 shades of funky, he is naturally generating a lot of topspin given the racquet head’s position.

The Strategy

With the western grip, the closed racquet face on contact makes it easier to deal with higher-bouncing balls. It's no wonder Khachanov is a top contender on clay.

Khachanov is also in a unique position as his height plays a large role in his game. With his towering view over the net, he leverages his serve to generate better positioning for a forehand shot than a backhand, as his backhand is more of a neutral shot than an offensive one.

His most effective tool is his serve, plus-one forehand. Next time you’re watching a Khachanov match, pay attention to how many forehands he hits right after his serve compared to backhands. Better yet? Pay attention to how many of those forehands force the opponent into a defensive, or at the very least uncomfortable, position.

The Lesson

The western grip is extreme for a reason. While the type of ball generated from this grip is tactical and competitive, there are also a lot of disadvantages that come with it.

Without discouraging you entirely from trying out this grip, you might want to consider that lower-bouncing balls will be more difficult to hit; that it will be more challenging to switch between forehand and backhand grips; and that this extreme grip makes you more injury-prone.

At the beginner level, diving into the extremities would be a lot to ask. For junior players looking to add variety to their shot, this isn’t the grip for to try. In fact, it’s actually making one shot very accessible, and everything else much more difficult.

Unless your natural grip leans this way, or your coach advises you to make this adjustment for the betterment of your game, the western grip should be the last solutions you explore to improve your forehand.