How To Hit A Forehand In Tennis (Beginner’s Guide)

Let’s get real: grip confusion is a problem for new players. Should you go with the popular semi-western? Stick with the easier eastern? What’s with all the bevel talk?

Here’s how I simplify it for my students:

• Eastern Grip – Think of it like shaking hands with your racquet. This grip is the most natural for beginners and makes it easier to hit flatter, more predictable shots. It’s forgiving. It works.
• Semi-Western Grip – This is what you’ll see most modern players use. It lets you generate topspin and control, especially against higher bouncing balls, but it’s tougher to learn and often results in hitting the net early on.

Visual Tip #1: The Pancake Flip – Place your racquet flat on the ground and pick it up with the V of your hand on top. Boom – that’s your semi-western grip.

Visual Tip #2: The Handshake Grip – Shake hands with the racquet handle. That’s your eastern grip, and it’s where most beginners should start.

What If the Semi-Western Grip Feels Awful?

Good. That means you’re human.

It’s completely normal to feel off when trying the semi-western grip for the first time. You’ll likely hit the net a lot. You might even curse my name (please don’t).

Here’s your escape hatch: Start with the eastern grip, then progress toward semi-western once you’re making clean contact. 

Some players take days. Others take weeks. What matters is that you’re building confidence, not frustration.

How to Hold the Racquet the Right Way

Let’s walk it out:

1. Place your racquet flat on the ground.
2. Grab it naturally like you’re picking up a frying pan.
3. Check the “V” between your thumb and index finger this tells you which grip you’re in.
4. The racquet face should feel stable but relaxed.

Final test? Someone should be able to pull the racquet out of your hand. If you’re squeezing it like a crowbar, you’ve got what we call the “death grip” and that kills feel, fluidity, and fun.

Relax. Trust your hand. The racquet’s not going anywhere.

Step 3 – Learn the Forehand Swing Path

Start With the “Pet The Dog” Move

We’ve got a cue that sounds silly, but works like magic for beginners: “Pet the dog.”

Here’s how it goes: After you turn your shoulders and start your swing, your racquet should drop behind you like you’re reaching back to pet a giant dog walking next to you. 

This creates what’s called racquet lag, which is key for generating effortless power and topspin.

Too many beginners try to muscle the ball with a stiff arm. But this “pet the dog” motion keeps your racquet below the ball, allowing you to swing up through contact and brush the ball from low to high. 

That brushing action? That’s how you get spin and lift and stop dumping shots into the net.

The Four Stages of the Swing (Ready → Turn → Swing → Follow Through)

Let’s break the forehand down into four easy checkpoints:

1. Ready – Racquet in front, knees bent, eyes locked in.
2. Turn – Rotate your shoulders and hips together. Racquet swings back with your body, not just your arm.
3. Swing – Drop the racquet (pet the dog), swing low to high, and aim to meet the ball in front of your body around waist or hip height.
4. Follow Through – Your racquet finishes across your body, around shoulder height.

The contact point is critical: you want to strike the ball just in front of your front hip. 

Hitting it too close to your body makes your shot weak and late, like swatting at flies instead of swinging with intent.

What’s a Good Follow-Through for Beginners?

You might watch Nadal finish high over his head or Federer tuck the racquet by his ribs, but for beginners, there’s one go-to move: the windshield wiper.

After contact, let your racquet finish naturally across your body around shoulder height. 

The motion is smooth and horizontal, like wiping a car windshield. If you’re hitting the net? Finish higher. That lift helps the ball clear the net with more safety and spin.

And remember, there’s no “perfect” follow-through for every shot. But for now? Consistent contact and a high, clean finish are your best friends.

Step 4 – Make Consistent Contact (Without Rushing)

Why You Keep Hitting the Net

So you’ve got the grip. You’re doing the “pet the dog” move. But for some reason, the ball keeps slamming into the net like it owes you money.

Here’s what’s probably going wrong:

• Too much grip tension – You’re squeezing the life out of the racquet. That “death grip” kills racquet speed and feel.
• Racquet face is too closed – If your strings are pointing toward the ground at contact, you’re sending the ball straight into the net.
• No follow-through – If you stop your swing after hitting the ball, you’re not giving it the arc or spin it needs to lift over the net.

Fix it with this cue: At contact, your strings should be slightly closed, not totally flat or facing down. Just enough to brush the ball and create topspin, but open enough to get the ball up and over the net.

Clean Contact = Ball in Front + Relaxed Grip

A lot of beginners think swinging harder is the answer. Spoiler alert: it’s not. 

The truth is, clean contact beats fast contact every single time.

Here’s the formula:

• Meet the ball out in front of your body—not jammed into your hip or belly.
• Stay relaxed. A tense swing is a jerky swing, and jerky swings are wildly inconsistent

Imagine swinging a hammer. If you’re stiff and nervous, you miss the nail. But if you’re smooth and confident, bam – you drive it clean. Your forehand works the same way.

Don’t swing harder – swing smoother. That’s how you make the ball listen.