The 4 Pillars of the Type III ATP Forehand

What are the key components not in some so-called ATP forehands, but in the Type III swing? My recent articles have questioned the assertion that females can’t hit an "ATP Forehand". (Click Here.) But what is an ATP forehand? Good question. It is not clear when the predominant forehand style on the men’s tour received the official designation of the "ATP Forehand". What is clear is that it is common terminology in tennis these days and the subject of much discussion and disagreement. There is no consensus definition that I’m aware of. It seems to mean different things to different people, as not all ATP players use the exact same swing. Background I began investigating the swing types about two decades ago. Using various motion quantification systems to assess the technique of many players in terms of the biomechanics, I began to formulate a definition of the basic components of what I myself defined as the "ATP Forehand". Noting that significant variability existed, I proposed what I called the Type III forehand – an optimized gender-neutral model based on my research, neuromuscular theory and my work on the court. While the terms have been used interchangeably, the Type III is...