Tennis
Tennis backhand vs. forehand: Techniques, strengths, and when to use them
You may be stronger in forehand than backhand or vice versa, but you’ll find a need for both in most matches.
Whether you’re playing tennis casually or you're a pro like in Red Bull’s Bassline tournament, there’s no rush quite like making contact with the ball. But when you do strike that little yellow ball, which way are you hitting? In tennis, you’ll use either a backhand or forehand stroke to score your next point. Read ahead for a complete guide to tennis backhand vs. forehand strokes and why both are essential for every type of tennis player.
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Backhand stroke
Feliciano López at the Red Bull Bassline in Madrid, Spain
© Charly López / Red Bull Content Pool
With a backhand stroke, you lead with the back of your hand. It involves swinging the racket around your body so the back of your hand faces forward.
When discussing backhand strokes, tennis experts are usually referring to groundstrokes — hitting the ball following a single bounce on the court. You’ll find backhand volleys too, though, where the ball is returned before any bounce happens.
There are both one and two-handed grips for a backhand stroke, and the latter is usually best for beginners. They give you a little extra oomph, and you need all the power you can get when you’re starting out. Once you’re ready to try a one-handed grip, it’ll make your backhand slices easier when you want to add backspin — and your topspin shots too.
02
Forehand stroke
Dominic Thiem
© Samo Vidic / Red Bull Content Pool
With a forehand stroke, the palm of your dominant hand is facing forward as you follow through with each shot. You’ll swing across your body with your racket traveling in the direction in which you want to move the ball. If you want to add some extra topspin, forehand strokes are the way to go.
Whichever type of tennis grip you use, you want to avoid a fully closed tight grip on a forehand stroke. Forehand strokes need to be nice and loose so you can easily bend your elbow and get a good wrist rotation. Since you’ll have more range of motion with your wrist, forehand strokes offer the most acceleration.
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Comparing backhand and forehand
It’s not just the direction your palm is facing. There are several key differences between your backhand and forehand stroke, including form and getting the most power out of a shot.
Reilly Opelka
© Matthias Heschl/Red Bull Content Pool
- Back vs. front muscles. The forehand stroke activates your chest muscles, while the backhand stroke targets your back muscles, especially your shoulder blades. It’s common for players who favor forehand strokes to engage their chest muscles on their backhand, but that’s an almost guaranteed way to lose control.
- Versatility vs. consistency. The forehand stroke’s looser grip means more variability in your shots. If you want to keep your shots steady, the minimal rotation of a backhand stroke will help you maintain a strong, consistent swing.
- Easy vs. challenging striking distance. Finding the right point to hit the ball is a little bit of a Goldilocks situation. You can’t be too far away or too close — it has to be just right, about the distance of reaching for a doorknob. With a forehand stroke, it’s much easier to miscalculate this distance.
- Offense vs. defense. Forehand strokes are great for scoring points and making your opponent miss the return shot. You can still score points with a backhand stroke, but it’s more commonly used for defensive shots.
- High vs. low bounces. Forehand strokes are better for a high-bouncing ball. If you’ve encountered a high bounce on a backhand stroke, you’ll need to hit at a higher angle.
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Tips for improving backhand and forehand
Advice for improving your backhand stroke
Karen Khachanov at Red Bull BassLine on October 21, 2022 in Vienna, Austria
© Matthias Heschl / Red Bull Content Pool
If you want to boost your backhand stroke, full body posture is going to make a big difference. With a one-handed grip, squeezing your shoulder blades together keeps everything in the right place. It’s not just your upper body that plays a role here, either — light footwork is essential to keeping your reaction time quick. An open stance can also give you more flexibility in your knees, which is important for getting a good rotation on the ball.
A great drill for improving backhand stroke footwork is a balancing act known as the stork drill. You’ll stand on only your front leg and hit backhand after backhand.
If you’re not afraid of a challenge and you really want to up your game, try a backhand stroke with your non-dominant hand. Serena Williams, for example, practiced backhands with her left hand when she wanted to improve consistency.
Advice for improving your forehand stroke
Dominic Thiem during the Generali Open in Kitzbühel, Austria
© Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool
Similarly, an open-stance body position gives you better flexibility in your forehand stroke. In fact, some players find the open stance significantly more comfortable for forehand than backhand. Good leg movement is essential for getting the most powerful shot, so again, strive for a generous bend in your knees. If you opt for a closed stance — which does have its advantages for short hits — try to keep your weight mostly on your front foot.
Since forehand strokes are better for hitting high bounces, it’s helpful to refine your lower forehand strokes. A great way to enhance your forehand strokes from any angle is to practice drills where you alternate hitting a high and low shot. Then, you’ll be ready for any surprises your opponent might throw at you.
Backhand vs. forehand: you need both to be the best
You may be stronger in forehand than backhand or vice versa, but you’ll find a need for both in most matches. Regularly practicing both strokes is key for consistent games whether you prefer baseline play or sticking by the net. If you work on both your backhand and forehand strokes, there’ll be no stopping you on the court.