Forehand and Backhand

The forehand drive is the beginning of every strike in tennis, and, as such, should be more fully gone into. There are fixed rules of footwork that apply to all shots. To get a ball that is a short distance away, move the foot that is away from the shot and swing into position to hit.

If a ball is too near to the body, draw back the foot nearest to the shot and drop the weight back on it, again, being in place for the stroke. When hurried, and it is not possible to shift the foot position, throw the weight on the foot nearest to the ball.

The receiver should every time wait for the service facing the net. Once the serve is started on the way to court, the receiver should at once reach the position to receive it with the body at right angles to the net.

The forehand drive is made up of one unbroken swing of the racket.

All drives should be topped. The slice shot is an entirely different stroke.

The hitting plane for all ground strokes should be in the middle of the knees and shoulders. The most positive plane is on a line with the waist.

In driving across the court from the right (or No. 1) court, proceed the L or front foot a bit towards the side-line and move the weight a little sooner.

As the weight shifts, pivot slightly on the L foot and drive flat, diagonally, across the court. Do not "pull" your cross-court drive, unless with the express purpose of passing the net person and using that method to disguise your shot.

The forehand drive from the No. 2 (or left) court is the same for the straight shot down your opponent's forehand. For the cross drive to the backhand line up your body along your shot and make your normal drive. Do not try to "spoon" the ball over with a delayed wrist movement, as it tends to slide the ball off your racket.

The backhand drive follows closely the standards of the forehand, except that the weight shifts an instant sooner, and the R or front foot should always be advanced closer to the side-line than the L so as to bring the body clear of the swing.

The ball should be met in front of the right leg, rather than belt buckle, as the tendency in backhand shots is to slice them out of the side-line, and this will pull the ball cross court, preventing this fault.

The racket head must be a shade in front of the hand to help bring the ball in the court. Do not attempt for too much top spin on your backhand.

Try to develop both forehand and backhand, and do not "run around" your backhand, particularly in return of service. This would just open your court. If you should do so, strive to ace your returns.

Bear in mind that the fast shot is the straight shot. The cross drive must be slow, for it has not the room owing to the increased angle and height of the net. Go down the line with your drive, but open the court with your cross-court shot.

Drive deep against a baseliner, but short against a net player.

Play your drive:

1. With the body sideways to the net.

2. The swing flat, with long follow through.

3. The weight shifting just as the ball is hit.

Do not attempt great speed in the beginning. The most vital thing about a drive is to put the ball in play.

Put the ball over the net into the other court. Accuracy first, and then put on your speed, for if your shot is flawless you can then learn to hit hard.