What Are The Kinds Of Groundstrokes Tennis Players Use?
Groundstrokes
Groundstrokes include both forehand and backhand strokes for the player at the baseline after a serve. Depending on the return of the ball, the returner will use either their forehand or backhand to return a serve and continue a rally for a point.
Types of Groundstrokes
- Forehand
- Backhand
- Slice forehand
- Slice backhand
- Topspin forehand
- Topspin backhand
- Chips
Other Types of Strokes
- Drop shots
- Volleys
- Overheads
- Returns
Backspin
Backspin is when the tennis ball spins backwards after a player hits from high to low on the bottom half of the ball.
Topspin
When the tennis ball spins forward after a player hits from low to high on the top half of the ball. Generally, a 30 to 40-degree angle swing is used to generate this spin.
The Forehand
A forehand stroke is when a player uses their dominant hand and swings across their body. A right-handed player hits with their right hand and vice versa for a left-handed player. The tennis racquet and the player's hand is open faced to the court.
The Backhand
There are two different types of backhand strokes: the 1-handed and 2-handed. This is done with the back face of a tennis racquet. The backhand is when the player uses their opposite hand and swings in the opposite direction of their forehand. A 1-handed stroke extends the player's reach and control over the ball. While a 2-handed stroke generates more power but less reach for a player.
The Slice
A slice is a groundstroke where backspin is applied to either a forehand or backhand shot. Slices are used to change the speed of the ball or to give a player more time to recover if he is out of position on the court. A slice shot should be in every tennis player's arsenal.