Approach Shots: Forehand and Backhand

Q. How do you hit it a forehand and two-handed backhand approach shot while moving forward to the ball at the service line (and making contact just below the net)? Do you slow down and twist? What stance is best? A. In a perfect world, you don’t want to be moving. You want to be stable. If you are moving, try to have a solid foundation and be as still as possible. This is a key to making good contact. For the forehand, good racquet preparation, combined with good footwork, will give you the best chance to execute properly. Since the ball is below the level of the net—soft hands and good racquet head speed are keys to generate topspin. Accelerate the racquet head up-and-out, use bold or italics for emphasis] but focus on the contact, not the forward movement afterwards. Your stance is a personal preference, but it should emulate your forehand from the baseline as much as possible. The backhand side is trickier. Moving forward and hitting a two-handed backhand can be tough. Again, try to stabilize your foundation as much as possible and let the off-hand help accelerate through the ball. This will add heavy topspin, increasing the safety of your shot. Hit the shot aggressively, and make sure to use your other hand to help create an offensive and safe approach.