A Visual Cue For Faster Forehands
Tennis dessert, not tennis vegetables.
I don’t spend a lot of time teaching players how to hit the ball harder. Most recreational players would be better served learning how to control the ball, move better, and make smarter decisions.
But there are times when adding pace makes sense.
One of the best visuals my coach ever gave me as a junior was this:
Aim for the net strap and try to hit it on the way up.
Obviously, you aren’t actually trying to hit the strap. The goal is to visualize driving through that part of the court.
This simple cue did 3 things for me:
It helped me contact the ball in my strike zone instead of letting it get too high.
It encouraged a low to high swing path, even when I was trying to drive the ball aggressively.
It helped me control my racket face so it stayed more vertical instead of opening up and sending balls long.
The result?
More pace, more spin, and better control.
I recently filmed a YouTube video demonstrating exactly how this works. Check it out below.
And before anyone says anything... yes, my forehand take back is not “by the book”. Please don’t make fun of it!
P.S. If you're enjoying these emails and want more help with your doubles strategy, positioning, shot selection, and tennis IQ, come join me inside the Stokke Doubles Club. Every week I share coaching lessons, match breakdowns, live Q&A sessions, and personalized video feedback to help recreational players win more matches and enjoy the game more. I’d love the chance to work with you.
I've been devouring your content recently mate. Best YouTube coach by miles in my opinion. Love the emphasis of ball control over technique. I've tried to something similarly with my players by tying a small red ball on top of a golf alignment stick that hangs about 15 cm above the net strap and get them to hit it, but I like this cue of yours better because it still emphasises a low-to-high swing and topspin. Keep up the great work.