Common ElementsAcross the Grip Styles

What are the commonalities in the modern forehand—if any?

Before we talk about building the modern forehand we should probably ask the question: is there even such a thing as “the” modern forehand? 

When players and coaches who grew up with classic strokes look at professional tennis they see chaos and confusion. Grips range from the old fashion eastern of Tim Henman to the extreme semi-western of Gustavo Kuerten or Andy Roddick, and everything in between. 

The backswings vary drastically in size and shape. The range of followthroughs is equally extreme. The racquet can finish wrapped around the player’s neck, all the way across the body at waist level, or behind the head on the right side of the body.

The open stance is dominant, even for players with classic grip styles. But there are several open stance variations. The vast majority of balls are hit open, but at times even players with the most extreme grips hit closed. In fact some extreme players hit more closed stance forehands than Pete Sampras.  

Ball contact height ranges from knee level to shoulder level and above. On the vast majority of balls, players make contact with one or both feet in the…