Basic Skills: Forehand

Basic Skills: Forehand

Prepare Position

Get in proper position to play the ball. Proper positioning enables you to move quickly on the ball and then return to a comfortable position during the intervals between shots. As you get ready to return your opponent's shot, your initial movement should be a split step. The split step is performed by jumping an inch or 2 as your opponent prepares to make his shot, and landing on your toes. This keeps you off your heels and able to make an explosive movement to the ball. After making your shot, move to an advantageous spot on the court and return to the proper ready stance.

·      Bend slightly at the knees with your feet shoulder width apart.

·      Lean forward slightly with your weight on the pads of your feet.

·      Hold your paddle out in front so you can return shots on either side of your body.

·      Keep your head straight and your shoulders parallel to the net.

·      Now turn your shoulders, pointing with the non-dominant hand the bounce of the ball, put the paddle up. The top of the paddle pointing to the back wall.

Impact

·      After being in the ready position, we need to transfer the balance from the back leg to the front leg and hit the ball in front of your body, just in an imaginary in front of your left waist (the face of the paddle will tell you the direction of the ball).

Termination

·      You need to finish the stroke with the paddle in the same high as the opposite shoulder, pointing with the paddle border to the net.

Most comment mistakes

1.   Not hitting the ball sideways.

If we hit the ball facing the net, we wont control the contact point, and the ball will go higher, making an easy return to the opponent.

2.   Having an extreme finishing. If you are sideways now is important to finish holding the paddle with the left hand in front of your eyes. If there’s an extreme finishing of the stroke, is going to generate a deep stroke and high that is going to make it easier for your opponent.

3.   Finishing with your elbow higher.

4.   Don’t stop before you hit the ball.

5.   No bending your legs.

6.   Contact point to far or to far back.

7.   Hit the ball too low or too high.

8.   Have your wrist too lose.