The Two Handed Forehand: Past, Present, Future

Recognize these two-handed forehand players?

If you are a tennis aficionado of a certain age you may recognize some or all of these names: Pancho Segura, Frew McMillan, Gene Mayer, Jim Pugh, Greg Holmes, and Jan-Michael Gambil. For those of you who are a bit younger, the names Monica Seles and Fabrice Santoro may ring a more familiar bell.

If so, you are probably cognizant of the fact that they share something unusual and special. They are among the few who have climbed to the upper echelons of the game by employing the two-handed forehand ground stroke.

What makes the two-handed forehand special? If you asked these players, I believe most would tell you that their two-handed forehand was their preferred shot and their biggest "weapon," at least off of the ground. The exception would probably be Santoro who hits his two-handed forehand mainly with slice, a unique weapon in the game of a unique player. But for the others, the pace and aggressiveness of the two-handed forehand are its predominant and defining characteristics.

Tthe two-handed forehand is currently making a significant resurgence in the modern women’s game, with three players in the top 50, including Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli…