Picking up a racquet for the first time, be it tennis, squash or badminton, our natural instinct is to hit the ball using a forehand swing. So for the majority of people, this is the easiest action to master and is therefore the strongest and preferred stroke. But if you’re finding your forehand tends to fall short too often, here are a few tips to help you get more depth on your forehand.


Learn the Technique

Whether you like hitting top spin or flat, learning to hit deep balls requires practice. But first you need to concentrate on your technique. When positioning yourself for hitting a deep forehand, your timing, swing and follow through are crucial to maximizing the depth of your shot.

Before any stroke can be truly effective, you need to be in position. So make sure you’re always prepared. Keep on your toes and get to the ball early. By hitting the ball on the rise you’ll be able to harness some of that incoming power and use it to help drive the ball deeper into your opponent’s court.

Your racquet swing and follow through will make all the difference to the depth of your shots. If you don’t swing your racquet back far enough, the ball will fall short. Swing it too far and you’ll lose control.

For a more efficient, fast-paced and deep forehand shot, practice swinging your racquet back to the position where the butt cap is pointing directly at the incoming ball and the racquet head is facing the fence behind you. Your racquet is now in the optimum backswing position.

Your follow through technique is what drives the ball deep. When hitting the ball, make sure you follow the swing through completely so your racquet crosses your body to the opposite side. It you cut your swing short you simply won’t derive enough power to achieve the depth you’re after.

Once you’ve understood the techniques necessary for obtaining good depth on your forehand, it’s time to practice. Try out some of the following drills the next time you’re practicing your tennis.

Forehand Drills for Depth Practice

Perfecting your tennis shots requires practice. But if you’re trying to improve one particular area, such as the depth of your forehand, set up dedicated practice sessions where you’re concentrating solely on this area of your game.

One great method for practicing certain shots is to have a competition where you can only hit the shot you’re working on. So for instance, you and your partner have a game whereby the only balls that count are those landing in the back half of the court. Both of you stand near to the baseline and any return strokes landing within the service box are called out. By trading baseline shots with each other in this way you’ll be forced to focus on your placement accuracy while concentrating on making the ball land deep.

Alternatively, for help with your approach shots, stand on the baseline while your partner hits all their balls into the service boxes on your side. You still have to aim for the back half of the court when returning and anything landing in the service box is called out. This gives you practice with the deep approach shot, which is particularly beneficial for driving your opponent on the defensive and setting you up for the winning volley.

The deep forehand is an extremely effective stroke when hit properly. If you’re facing a good serve and volley player, it’ll help keep them away from the net. Executed efficiently, it forces the receiver into a defensive position giving you a greater command of the court. If you can learn to consistently hit with greater depth, your forehand will become a truly formidable weapon.