| LIFE IN SOLERA | JULY 2023 | 43
Intermediate Players: Improving Your Forehand
Your swing should now incorporate more parts of your
body, and it should be getting a little bit longer and a little
bit faster. At this point, players should be experimenting
and getting comfortable with the different spins they can put
on the ball – underspin and topspin – and understanding the
different racquet-face angles that produce each of those spins.
For topspin, you're going to be brushing the ball from lower to higher –
essentially 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock on a path of the racquet face. And then
with underspin, it's more the opposite – 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock.
Master the Forehand: Advanced Players
At the advanced level, a player should be able to identify both their
favorite shot and also the shot that their opponent doesn't like to hit,
and it should be their game plan to try to hit their favorite shot to their
opponent's least favorite shot as much as possible. The more advanced
you become, the more you start to actually game plan your strengths and
how they match up with your opponent's weaknesses.
Also at this level, you should be proficient with the spins and be able to
win points off your racquet, rather than waiting for an error from your
opponent. Don't be afraid to go for your shots – the more you play
and progress, the more confidence you'll have in your forehand to
win points in the big moments. ~ Shirley Ferguson
TENNIS TITANS TENNIS 101: THE FOREHAND PART II
