The Spanish Forehand: Stroke Shaping and Hand Feeding

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In the first article in this series, I outlined the theoretical framework I have developed for building the Spanish forehand, including what I believe are the distinguishing technical characteristics of the shot. (Click Here.)

These include: the shoulder turn and the coiling of the legs, extreme body rotation through the forward swing, parabolic swing shapes, the explosion into the air, and precise balance throughout, especially on the landing.

Mastering these factors leads to the creation of maximum racket speed, the holy grail of the Spanish forehand. Racket speed is what allows players to produce a heavy ball combining velocity and spin in various balances.

Now let’s look at some of the drills and exercises I use with my students. These are based on what I have learned in my studies with some of the great Spanish coaches, taken from other famous coaches, and also, what I have developed and evolved through my own teaching experience. In this article we’ll look at what I call Shaping Exercises and Hand Fed Ball Drills. Then we’ll move on to Racket Fed Drills and Power Building Drills. We’ll also address common problems that emerge…