Tennis

Image Galleries

These galleries cover the four basic shots in tennis. They are pictorial essays on each shot, showing the progression and steps for each. Streaming video of each action is available on the Video page.

Forehand

MIT OCW PE.710 Tennis Lecture Notes Chapter 1: Forehand The forehand grip - note that the racket is held flat, like a frying pan. The palm of your hand holds the wider, flat part of the grip. The forehand grip from another angle. Note the angle of the fingers on the racket: the grip is firm, but not overly tight. The ready position. Note that both hands are on the racket, the knees are slightly bent, and attention is focused on the opposite court. Step 1: The shoulders are turned and the racket is brought back, to a position perpendicular to the net. The motion is low and quick. Step 2: A step is taken with the opposite (in this case left) foot. The racket is swung forward and makes contact with the ball in front of you, parallel to the net. Step 3: The swing is completed with the follow-through. The racket ends over the opposite shoulder, and once again attention is focused on the opposite court in anticipation of the next shot. Step 1, Open Stance: In the open stance forehand, no crossover step is taken. Instead, the racket is brought back from the ready position, and swung forward from there. Step 3, Open Stance: Note that the follow-through here is completed across the body, with the racket once again ending up over the opposite shoulder. The ready position, from another angle. Step 1, from another angle. Step 2a, from another angle. Note that the step has been taken, but the racket has not yet been swung forward. Step 2b, from another angle. The racket now comes forward and meets the ball in front of the player. Step 3, from another angle.

Backhand