Carlos Moya uses a huge backswing and excellent body rotation to power his open-stance forehand. PREPARATION RACQUET: Moya brings his racquet back above head level. Starting his swing from this point will enable him to generate plenty of racquethead speed. In order to take such a large swing you need time to measure the ball. [...]

Andy Roddick has one of the biggest forehands in men’s tennis. You may never hit as hard as he does, but by applying some of the technique that Andy uses, you can make your forehand a go-to shot. Over the past 20 years, the technique used for hitting a forehand has evolved. Advances in racquet technology [...]

Exceptional preparation, great extension, and big-time upper-body rotation are key elements of the Spaniard’s much-feared weapon. At the age of 20, Rafael Nadal, a two-time champion at Roland Garros, has already etched his name near the top of the list of the best clay-court players the game has ever seen. But thanks to his monster [...]

The Russian’s early preparation and explosive swing have proven to be a winning combination. When facing Dinara Safina, you have to pick your poison. Like her older brother, Marat Safin, Safina’s ground strokes are lethal on both sides. Her goal is to take charge of the point and punish any shot she can. She’s so [...]

A full shoulder turn, good balance, and tremendous racquet-head speed make this a much-feared weapon. On the list of all-time great forehands, Roger Federer’s should be near the top. It’s struck powerfully and has remarkable variety and adaptability. Of all the shots in his arsenal, it’s his forehand that he relies on most to win [...]

Early preparation and an attacking mind-set have helped the Russian turn this shot into a world-class weapon. When Maria Sharapova stunned tennis fans by winning Wimbledon in 2004, her serve and backhand were her biggest assets. But in the last year, she has molded her forehand into a weapon as well. She’s more aggressive off [...]

Perfect balance makes this powerful shot a winner. At times in the past, Venus Williams’ forehand has failed her, but in this sequence she’s at her best. The four-time Wimbledon champion uses great footwork, superb balance, a good shoulder turn, and a long follow-through to confidently put away this short ball. 1. Williams is in [...]

Perfect preparation and balance are the keys to this solid stroke. 1. Ivanovic’s preparation is exactly how I like to see it. Her stance is perpendicular to the net, which promotes good footwork and gets her hips turned. (If Ivanovic had started in a wide-open stance, which I don’t recommend, she would still need to [...]

Great shoulder rotation, full weight transfer, and a huge swing turns this sitter into a winner. 1. As Clijsters gets into position for this forehand, she’s preparing to hit from an open stance. Many club players think this means the entire body is open and facing the net. But as you can see here, the [...]