The open stance forehand is the dominant forehand stance on the professional tour. It generates explosive topspin and allows rapid court recovery after wide balls. This guide covers every phase: grip selection, preparation, setup, swing mechanics and follow through — written by Randy Reynolds, certified tennis instructor and director of Tennis Nation at Reno Tennis Center.
In the prior forehand post I discussed the two main types of forehands — the open stance forehand and the neutral stance forehand. I highly recommend reading that post first to understand which stance is best in each court situation, along with the different perspectives coaches have on both.
Open Stance Forehand: Grip Selection
There are 3 main forehand grips to choose from:
- Eastern grip — easiest to learn, great for beginners and attacking players
- Semi-western grip — most popular on tour, ideal topspin and flat balance
- Western grip — extreme topspin, favored by clay-court specialists
On tour, most professionals use the semi-western grip because the pace and power of modern tennis demands more spin. To find it: lay your racquet flat on the ground and place your palm face-down on the grip — that’s it.
For the complete breakdown of every grip position, visit the Ultimate Tennis Grip Guide.
Open Stance Forehand: Preparation and Footwork
Preparation is the foundation of every stroke in tennis — and the open stance forehand is no different. The key elements are:
- Eyes on the ball — track your opponent’s racquet to anticipate contact
- Split step timing — a small hop timed to land as your opponent strikes the ball
- Hip and shoulder rotation — begins as you react, allowing the racquet to naturally come back
Once you’ve reacted and are moving toward the ball, focus on two things: distance from the ball and ball height. You want the ball to rise or drop to your comfort zone — generally around waist high — before you set your feet.
Open Stance Forehand: Foot Position and Setup
With the ball in your comfort zone, set your feet for the open stance:
- Place your right foot (right-handed players) between a 45-degree angle and parallel to the baseline
- Load your body weight onto your right foot
- Shoulders turned, hips loaded — your opponent should see your left shoulder and left hip
Your foot will land closer to parallel the further you are stretched off the court — this is normal and expected on wide running forehands.
Pro Tip: Loading the Back Foot
Bend your right knee slightly as if beginning to sit down. This small adjustment loads your weight correctly and sets up an explosive weight transfer into the ball.
Open Stance Forehand: Swing Mechanics
As your shoulders and hips rotate to load, the racquet begins its takeback simultaneously. Key checkpoints for the swing:
- Hitting elbow rises slightly up and away from the body on the backswing
- Non-hitting hand extends out at chest-to-shoulder height to close the left shoulder
- Racquet head drops below the ball — palm facing down, butt cap pointing toward the net
- Low to high swing path — the racquet approaches from below to generate topspin
- Hand stays loose throughout — tension kills racquet head speed
As the racquet accelerates toward the ball, your non-hitting hand moves with your shoulders and hips as they open and unload into the shot.
Pro Tip: The Medicine Ball Analogy
Loading your shoulders and hips on the forehand is like loading up to toss a medicine ball — arms extended, back straight, tossing with the full rotation of your shoulders and hips rather than just your arms.
Open Stance Forehand: Contact Point and Follow Through
The goal of every phase — preparation, setup and swing — is one thing: solid contact with full weight transfer.
- Contact point: slightly in front of your right hip (right-handed players)
- Sensation at contact: the ball should feel light and travel cleanly toward your target
- Follow through: hitting hand finishes over the left shoulder at around shoulder height
- Hand stays loose at contact — this is what allows the racquet to accelerate through naturally
I hope you enjoyed the article and took away some key points to bring to the practice court. For more free technique guides visit our tennis technique library.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Open Stance Forehand
When should I use the open stance forehand instead of the neutral stance?
The open stance forehand is most effective when pulled wide off the court or when you need to recover quickly after the shot. Because your feet stay closer to parallel with the baseline, you can rotate your hips explosively and push back to the center faster than with the neutral stance. The neutral stance is better suited for balls in the center of the court where you have time to step in.
What grip should I use for the open stance forehand?
Most professional players use the semi-western grip for the open stance forehand because it naturally generates topspin and handles high balls well. It is the most versatile grip for modern baseline play. If you are a beginner, the eastern grip is a good starting point — it is easier to learn and transitions quickly to other shots.
Why does my open stance forehand lack power?
The most common cause is incomplete hip and shoulder rotation. Power in the open stance forehand comes from loading your weight onto your back foot and then explosively rotating your hips and shoulders through the ball. If your hips are not fully loaded before you swing, the power chain breaks and the shot loses both pace and depth.
I want to build a tour-level forehand.
Reading about technique is one thing — feeling it on court is another. Work with Randy at Reno Tennis Center and get personalized feedback on your forehand from your very first lesson.
Leave a Reply