Roger Federer's forehand, with its remarkable variety, is one of the best in tennis, perhaps one of the greatest forehands ever.  The following analysis is meant to be read while viewing the video clip of Roger's forehand that was provided to us by TennisPlayer.net.  Try to visualize yourself hitting this same forehand.  Use the key points discussed below to check yourself.

Click here for the video.

Federer does a split step just as his opponent strikes the ball.  In the air he determines that the ball is coming to his forehand and begins leaning that way and turning his foot closest to the ball toward the right hand side.

Note how still his hands and racquet are.  As he approaches the ball, he raises his racquet, but the hands are still relatively calm and in front of his body.  As Roger approaches the ball and determines where it will be in his strike zone by the time he gets to it, only then does he begin his backswing.

At the end of his backswing, his shoulders are almost perpendicular to the net, and both his elbow and wrist are bent (what is called the double bend).

Roger will generate power on this stroke mainly by rotating his shoulder back parallel to the net.  This rotation is what is bringing his hitting arm and racquet to the contact point.  His arm is relatively still, as if it were only along for the ride.

Once his racquet makes contact with the ball his arm begins to take a more prominent role. His wrist, however, remains in the same laid back position it assumed at the end of the backswing.  His shoulders don't move much beyond the point where they are again parallel to the net.

The hitting arm now performs a windshield wiper action on the ball as it continues to hit through the ball out toward the target.  From the contact point, Federer's racquet goes straight forward nearly a foot while moving upward and to his left.

Note that you can still see the strings of his racquet throughout the follow-through.

Federer ends his follow-through with his racquet not wrapped around his neck (as is often taught) but somewhere near his left bicep or tricep. This finish, following the windshield wiper motion, is a key common denominator of the modern forehand.

Want to replicate this swing?  Do some shadow stroking while watching the video (careful not to smack your monitor).  Or stand in front of a mirror.  Note the key features of the swing.  Compare these features with points in your own swing.  Next, go out and try to replicate some of the features of Federer's forehand in your practice sessions.  Keep working on it, and soon people will be remarking that your forehand looks just like Roger's.

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