Tennis - Ground Strokes & Stances

Ground strokes are shots hit from baseline to baseline from either the forehand or backhand side. Executing a good ground stroke comes from how a player approaches the ball. In the past just one hand was used to hold the racket and return the ball.

Then a two-handed backhand was developed to give extra power on the ground strokes, but now some players have reverted to using both hands on forehand and backhand shots.

When hitting a tennis ball players use just about every part of the body, and each component must be positioned and moved correctly to execute a successful shot. If players so much as lift the head before striking the ball it is more than likely that the ball will follow the path of the head and go out of the back of the court. There are so many factors that can help decide whether a ground stroke is successful or not.

Using the best stance, moving the feet, and stepping into the ball are the first points to remember when attempting ground strokes. The best stance for each shot is different and depends on many factors, including, a player's position on the court, the grip, and the angle and pace of the ball coming towards the player.

4 different stances are used in the game today, these include the open, semi-open, neutral, and closed stances. Just like the grip, stances have also changed since the 70's and 80's where the open stance would only be used in an emergency, but along with the semi-open the open stance is now an essential part of tennis today. The closed stance of those years would be all but impossible to use against balls travelling at over 100mph.

The combination of the semi-open and open stances along with the semi-western and western grips, has allowed players to gain more racket power and speed, contributing to the fast pace and power of the game today.

Other Ground Strokes and Techniques: