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Topspin Forehand Lesson (Intro and Grips)

Click here for Topspin Forehand - Introduction & Grips
Click here for Topspin Forehand - Hitting Stances
Click here for Topspin Forehand - Preparation
Click here for Topspin Forehand - Contact
Click here for Topspin Forehand - Follow-through
Click here for Topspin Forehand - Spin Drill
Click here for Topspin Forehand - Slo-motion Demonstration

Grip
- Eastern or Semi-Western

Eastern grip: place the palm on the second bevel (first bevel being the one that continues the edge of the racquet, second bevel is the one at a 45 degree angle ). Semi-Western grip: place the palm on the third bevel (the one that is parallel with the strings, it is also the widest one too).
Both grips will have the palm pointing in about the same direction with the strings. If one would take the racquet out of your hand, you should be swinging at the ball with the palm facing forward.
The Eastern Grip favors more of a flat type of stroke, the semi-western imparts more top spin on the ball. You can achieve good top spin with the eastern grip but not as easily as with the semi-western.

Hitting Stances
For a detailed description of the hitting stances, please click here.
The hitting stance refers to the position of your feet at the moment you strike the ball.
In tennis, we have 4 main stances:
- closed,
- square,
- semi-open
- open.
The choice of stance depends of the speed of the ball, depth, and your position on the court. For example: if the ball is short, then a square stance is more appropriate. If the ball is wide, an open stance is usually required.
Since this lesson addresses beginning players, I prefer to teach the square stance to start with so that the players will learn to move to and attack the ball.

Preparation / Unit Turn
I strongly emphasize that the first move you make in preparing for the ball (as soon as you see it coming off of your opponent's racquet) should be the upper body turn and pivoting on the outside foot.
The so called "take your racquet back" term that some coaches use should refer to the turning the shoulders away from the net. That automatically includes the racquet going behind the incoming ball.
I want to stress the fact that the racquet should not go behind the player's back, instead it should be far enough to have the strings somewhat behind the path of the incoming ball. So... short back swing. This will help the player tremendously in handling power players, returning serve, and with their timing to catch the ball out in front.
I am not a big fan of the split step in the sense that one should hop as soon as they see the ball. Instead I prefer to get low and adopt a wide base of support.
So the initial step in preparing for the ball should be: get low, pivot on the outside foot and turn shoulders.
Racquet should be going up initially with the strings at least at eye level, line of the racquet about 45 degrees pointed towards the sky, hitting side (strings) should be facing downward.
Dominant elbow should be slightly bent, non-dominant arm helps in taking the racquet back up to the point where the shoulders are sideways to the net. From there on, the non-dominant arm stays almost extended, parallel with the net.
The body weight should be on the outside foot (right for right handed players). Inside foot should have the heel off the ground.
This preparation phase should be done before the ball bounces on the player's side and the movement towards the ball should be done with small steps as you keep the body sideways.

Swing and Contact
As the ball bounces off the ground, the player approaches the ball with little steps keeping the body sideways and the racquet behind the incoming ball.
Before contacting the ball the player lowers the body by bending the knees. Try to get the head closer to the ball by bending at the knees and not from the waist.
The racquet also lowers below the path of the ball, the tip of the racquet should be pointed towards the back fence, bottom of it pointed towards the incoming ball.
Left arm which up to now was between the racquet and the path of the ball, begins to move horizontally to the left facilitating the shoulders and hips rotation.
Racquet arm stays slightly bent throughout the swing, wrist locked but the hand should have a loose grip on the handle.
The racquet should contact the ball in a low to high trajectory out in front of the front foot (if square stance is used) or in front of the outside foot if open stance is required.
Racquet face should be facing forward or slightly closed at contact with the ball.
The body weight is now transferred to the front foot (square stance) or outside foot (open stance).
Keep your head still and eyes on the ball all times.
For a more powerful, flat, penetrating stroke the strings should push through the ball, forward and slightly up.
I like to recommend to my students that they should swing through three balls lined up towards the net instead of only one. In this way, the contact is extended forward through the ball resulting in less spin and faster velocity of the ball.
For more spin imparted on the ball, the player should swing up on the back of it, keeping the racquet face slightly closed. The spin will help the player be more consistent because the air pressure will bring the ball down in the court a lot earlier. A very effective cue to teach my students how to hit with more spin is to tell them to swing "up and over" on the ball. This will avoid having an open racquet face at contact and hitting the balls too long.
As you keep reading, I'll suggest a very easy drill to teach your students on how to hit the ball with a lot of topspin.

The Follow-Through / Finish
Right after contact with the ball, the racquet continues to move towards the target and crosses in front of the chest, the hips and shoulders continue to rotate and the body weight is totally on the front foot (square stance) or inside foot (open stance). Shoulders should be about 180 degrees rotated at the end of the swing compared to their position during the preparation phase.
Racquet arm comes across in front of the body and the finishing position depends on the amount of spin imparted, where contact is made and position on the court.
It is as follows:
1. over the left shoulder (for right handed players) if the contact was made out in front and the spin imparted on the ball was little. You see this kind of finish when the pro players warm-up and they don't hit with too much power and spin.
2. around the left elbow (for right handed players) if more spin was imparted on the ball. 3. down by the left hip when the player tries to achieve a high amount of power and spin. As an example of this kind of finish is when the player executes a forehand at mid court or short ball, closer to the net. These short balls require a big amount of spin (especially if the contact with the ball is below the net level) in order to keep it in play.
4. over the dominant shoulder when the contact with the ball was made late. Example: The player chases a wide ball, late contact or wants to disguise a lob.

Drill for creating topspin on the forehand ground-stroke:
Stand about half way between the net and service line with a bunch of balls ready.
Turn sideways and have the racquet taken back. With the non-dominant hand, hold a ball out in front of your front foot.
Let the ball bounce and swing low to high through the ball trying to make it go over the net and land inside the opposite court.
In the beginning you might find yourself hitting the balls either too deep or into the net.
To fix the hitting the net problem, bend your knees - get under the ball!
To fix the hitting the ball long, hit with more spin by going up and over the ball.
As you practice this drill longer you will find yourself hitting it with more and more spin and the follow-through will be a "windshield wiper" motion only because of the tremendous spin and power combined.