Individuals learning the sport of tennis have several unique shots to master. The basic shots in tennis include the forehand, backhand, and serve. More specialized shots include lobs and drop shots, to name only a few.
The vast majority of tennis rallies involve players exchanging groundstrokes, the collective term for the forehand and backhand. The mechanics for groundstrokes can vary considerably from one player to the next. The type of grip a player uses plays a key role in the manner in which they hit groundstrokes. An eastern forehand grip, for example, helps players hit flatter shots, while the semi-western grip is ideal for players trying to add more topspin to their games.
Both the forehand and backhand can be hit with either one or two hands. The one-handed backhand has become increasingly sparse among professional players, though all-time great Roger Federer uses a one-handed backhand, as do up and coming talents such as Stefanos Tsitsipas and Denis Shapovalov. The two-handed forehand, meanwhile, is completely absent from the highest levels of tennis, though grand slam champions of the past like Monica Seles and Marion Bartoli have made use of the technique.
Similarly, groundstrokes can be modified with several types of spin. Topspin shots bounce high off the court, pushing opponents back and providing players with a larger margin for error. Slice shots, on the other hand, move slowly through the air and stay low to the ground, functioning as effective defensive shots. Flat shots are groundstrokes hit with little to no spin. They are dangerous offensive weapons but can be difficult to control.
Forehands and backhands can both be used to hit specific types of groundstrokes, such as passing shots. There is no specific strategy or technique for hitting a passing shot. Instead, players are forced to come up with a passing shot when an opponent positions themselves at the net, leaving players only a small window of opportunity to get the ball by.
The serve can be viewed as the single most important shot in tennis. A player’s service motion represents the only time in a match when the player can hold the ball in hand and take a moment to think about exactly how and where they would like to place the ball on the court.
As is the case with groundstrokes, serves can be hit with different kinds of spin. Topspin serves, or kick serves, can be directed into an opponent’s body, making it difficult to respond with a complete stroke. Slice serves, meanwhile, can be used to draw opponents off the court, setting up a quick one-two punch. A far less common type of serve is the underhand serve. Often considered a “cheap tactic,” Michael Chang famously used an underhand serve against Ivan Lendl on his way to the 1989 French Open championship.
Lastly, drop shots and lobs function as the most commonly implemented specialty shots in the sport of tennis. Players use spin and deft touch to place drop shots just over the net, forcing opponents to dash into the court. Lobs, by contrast, are hit high overhead, driving opponents deep into the court. Lobs are great defensive shots, but topspin lobs serve as an effective offensive tactic after a drop shot has drawn an opponent in.
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