Today's bigger, more powerful, forehand stroke has a different follow-through than the classic forehand of only a decade ago.  The major reason for the difference is the change in the grip from an Eastern Forehand Grip to a more Semi-Western Grip, which more players are adopting.  This grip change places the hand farther under the racquet handle and pushes the contact point farther in front of the body.  The result is a more open stance, with more shoulder and forearm rotation, and a follow-through that finishes closer to the non-hitting side of the body, and also lower.

The classic forehand is generally associated with a neutral or closed stance, where the front foot steps in toward the net. The forward weight shift of the body supplies much of the power in this stroke.  The emphasis in the older forehand was on driving through the ball, with the racquet remaining parallel to the net and going forward toward the target as much as possible.  This approach is best summed up by the reminder tips to "pretend you are hitting through several balls" and "try catching your racquet hand out in front of you."   The follow-through on the classic forehand usually ends around shoulder level, and the shoulders themselves have rotated forward only to a position about parallel to the net.

Players using semi-western grips almost always hit from an open stance, which allows them to hit the ball more efficiently given the shift in the contact to a point farther in front of their body.  These players also gain power and topspin from the vertical propulsion of the bent outer knee (the contraction of the powerful quadricep muscle).

Hand and forearm rotation is more prominent with these semi-Western grips, and this results in a different action on the ball.  As the racquet makes contact with the ball, the forearm contracts severely and causes the racquet to brush up the ball in a windshield wiper fashion, from the lower right to the upper left hand part of the ball.  In effect, the racquet is "turning" the ball back across the net.

At the same time, the racquet is being driven through the ball by the rotating shoulder, which began facing the back fence and ends generally pointing toward the net, or sometimes even farther around.  In general, the more extreme the grip, the greater the rotation of the upper body and the hand and forearm.

With the semi-Western grips, the forearm stays relatively horizontal through the course of the shot, from contact to the slowing down of the swing at the end of the follow-through.  This achieves the same objective as the older follow-through, keeping the racquet lined-up and on the ball as long as possible. The difference is that the classic vertical brushing of the ball to create topspin has been replaced in the modern forehand with a windshield wiper turning of the ball, but still from low to high.  This generally results in more topspin with the semi-Western grips, and with a follow-through that frequently ends somewhere between the upper shoulder and elbow of the non-hitting arm.

The rotation of the forearm, beginning at the start of the foreward swing and finishing at the end of the wrap, is proportionately more pronounced as players adopt a more extreme semi-western grip.  The more extreme grips cause the forearm to start the forward swing from a position farther under the handle and this causes the follow-through to end farther to the side and lower. 

Look at photos of the top stars of the modern forehand (from conservative to more extreme semi-western grips): Federer , Agassi , Blake, Coria, Robredo, and Roddick .  Their follow-throughs end somewhere around the bicep/tricep area of their non-hitting arm, or even lower if they are trying to put excessive topspin on the ball.

Unfortunately, many teaching pros mistakenly advocate a finish above and around the shoulder (the so-called "wrap").  Pro players with Eastern grips (Lendl, Becker, et al) seldom followed through by wrapping the racquet over their shoulders or around their necks, and even Borg with a semi-Western grip, who might be the source for this myth, didn’t always finish that way.

For players using a semi-Western grip, wrapping the racquet around the opposite shoulder prevents the hitting shoulder and upper torso from participating fully in the stroke.   The swing becomes more arm than shoulder.  Further, by pulling up over the shoulder the windshield wiper effect is reduced and the racquet does not stay on the ball as long. It is a less efficient and thus less consistent stroke.

You can incorporate the swing and follow-through of the modern forehand into your game, even if you use an Eastern grip.  Start with the open stance and contact the ball a little closer in than you normally do.  Hit through the ball in your usual way.  Make sure you have a full rotation of the upper torso and use a good bend on your back knee to compensate for the slight loss of power that will result from not stepping into your shot.

Next, add the windshield-wiper- producing forearm rotation.  This rotation plus the upward thrust of the straightening back knee will give you a big boost in topspin, allowing you to force your opponent back on groundstroke exchanges, as well as letting you create sharp angles.

Finally, finish your follow-through around the bicep area of the non-hitting shoulder.  Initially, try to end the follow-through in the same way every time; I use the top of my hitting hand thumb on my left tricep as my cue.  Later you can vary the exact ending, lowering it in order to create more topspin or raising it to flatten the shot out.

You'll see positive results right away by adding this new forearm rotation and follow-through to your game.  Your power and topspin will increase dramatically, and you’ll be able to complete a successful shot, even when you are overpowered or off-balance, like on a return of serve. 

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