The serve and the forehand are generally the two biggest weapons in a player’s arsenal. And just as you have a first and second serve, you need to be able to hit your forehand a variety of ways. When engaged in a neutral baseline exchange, you want to keep your forehands deep with plenty of margin for error in order to stay in the rally and back your opponent up. Think of it as your “second serve” forehand—dependable and hard to attack. But when given a midcourt ball and plenty of time to set up, you have to step into the forehand try to hurt your opponent with a winner. That’s your “first serve” forehand. Here are a few pointers for each shot:
Use plenty of topspin on your rally forehand: If you’re just trying to be consistent with the forehand, remember to hit high over the net and aim several feet from the lines. Brushing up the ball to apply topspin to the ball will allow you to take the net out of the equation while still keeping the shot safely inside the court. You’re trying to soften up your opponent with this forehand rather than win the point.
Move inside the court when going for your big forehand: Flattening out your forehand and aiming just a few feet above the net will help your ball penetrate and move quicker through the court. That’s important when going for a winning shot. Another beneficial tactic is moving up inside the baseline to contact the ball sooner. This lessens your opponent’s recovery time. Instead of trying to hit the ball harder, which can cause errors, you increase the effectiveness of the shot by hitting it earlier, robbing your opponent of precious time to scramble. Use a relaxed and full swing, get your body weight through the shot, and aim for an open piece of court.