Technique & training
Tennis technique: five things that actually help
Most club players do not need a new forehand. They need to fix one of these five things, and it usually takes a week.
Tennis technique advice is usually either too vague to use or too detailed to remember. Here are five specific changes that produce a visible difference within a couple of sessions.
1. Get the grips right, once
| Shot | Grip | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Forehand | Semi-western or eastern | Lets you brush up the back of the ball for topspin |
| Backhand (two-handed) | Left hand semi-western on top | The top hand drives the shot, not the bottom one |
| Serve and volley | Continental | One grip for both, and it is non-negotiable |
If you serve with a forehand grip you will never serve well, no matter how much you practise. Change it, accept a bad fortnight, and then enjoy the next twenty years.
2. Prepare earlier, not faster
Almost every late shot in club tennis is a preparation problem, not a speed problem. Turn your shoulders as the ball leaves your opponent's racket, not as it crosses the net. You will feel like you have twice as long.
3. Finish the swing
Most mishit forehands stop at contact. The racket should carry through and end over your opposite shoulder. A full finish is not decoration — it is what produces the topspin that brings the ball down into the court.
4. Serve: toss first, everything else second
An inconsistent serve is nearly always an inconsistent toss. Place the ball slightly in front and slightly to your racket side, at the height you can reach with a fully stretched arm. If the toss is wrong, catch it and start again. Nobody is judging you.
5. Play higher over the net
Club players aim too close to the net and pay for it in errors. Aim a metre above the tape with topspin. You will lose almost no winners and cut your unforced errors dramatically.
The doubles habit worth more than any stroke
Move with your partner. When one of you is pulled wide, the other slides across to cover the middle. Two players moving as one unit beat two better individuals more often than they should — the same principle that runs padel, covered in padel positioning and strategy.
Frequently asked questions
What grip should I use to serve?
Continental, always. It feels awkward at first if you serve with a forehand grip, but it is the only grip that lets you generate spin and pronate properly.
How do I stop hitting the ball late?
Prepare earlier rather than swinging faster. Turn your shoulders as the ball leaves your opponent's racket, and add a split step every time they strike it.
Why do I make so many unforced errors?
Usually because you are aiming too close to the net and too close to the lines. Aim a metre over the net with topspin and two metres inside the lines.