Myths About Low to High on the Pro Forehand

Can pro players actually hit topspin if the hand moves forward from above the ball? There is no more sacred belief about the forehand than “swing low to high for topspin.” Sacred, yes. But what does “low to high” really mean? You hear experts advise that the forward swing should start one or two feet or even further below the ball. What does the high speed video show? That the idea of starting two feet below the ball is a myth. And that in the new era of the windshield wiper forehand, the actual height can vary slightly but in a startlingly way. The two key reference points for understanding the height of the swing are the racket hand and the racket head. The definition of high to low can be very different depending on which one you look at. Most people think of the “low to high” path as something that is controlled by the hand. But the reality is, as we have seen in past articles, the hand itself is at most a few inches below the ball at the start the forward swing.. The High Speed Archives show this, with many, many forehand examples with the hand…