The
forehand in
tennis and other
racket sports such as
table tennis,
squash and
badminton is a shot made by swinging the racket across one's body with the hand moving palm-first. In tennis, except in the context of the phrase
forehand volley, the term refers to a type of
groundstroke—a stroke in which the ball has bounced before it is struck. It contrasts with the
backhand, the other type of groundstroke. For a right-handed player, the forehand is a stroke that begins on the right side of his body, continues across his body as contact is made with the ball, and ends on the left side of his body. It is considered the easiest shot to master, perhaps because it is the most natural stroke. Beginners and advanced players often have better forehands than any other shots and use it as a weapon.