The Art of War: Striking the Sword to the Shield – TAG Coach Jeremy Maniago teaches how to strike and apply the Inside Out Forehand

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The inside out forehand (or run around forehand)

The inside out forehand has become a major weapon in modern tennis. It lets a player generate great power and sting the opponent’s backhand. When well set up, it offers plenty of disguise. The setup looks identical to the inside-in forehand up the line.

In your tennis playbook, make this a bread-and-butter shot. Hit it often instead of your backhand—even if you have a decent backhand. Watch the best players and you will see that they stand towards the backhand side of the court. This gives them more chances to hit the run-around forehand.

TAG Coach Jeremy Maniago reveals his 6 keys to a dangerous inside out forehand:

  • Work hard to get the inside out forehand or run-around forehand shot;
  • Get into position with good footwork as quickly as possible;
  • Use a semi-open to neutral stance to wind up and separate the shoulder from the hip;
  • Consciously try to freeze your opponent with your setup;
  • Throw your weight into the shot rather than falling off sideways; and
  • Be on the hunt for whether you can close the net for an easy volley.

1. Work Hard to Get the Inside Out Forehand Shot

The inside out forehand opportunity usually comes from three situations:

  • From a deuce court serve to any of the three targets against a right-handed player;
  • From a body serve or wide serve in the advantage court; and
  • From a well-struck backhand crosscourt that is likely to come back crosscourt.

Focus your mindset on “hunting” for run-around forehand opportunities from these three situations.

2. Get into Position with Good Footwork as Quickly as Possible

Good spacing is extremely important for this shot. If you don’t move far enough left, the ball will jam you. You won’t be able to impart maximum force into the shot.

Use backward crossover “jumps” and “gallops” to get your back leg around. Use as few steps as possible to create as much space as possible. Then take a few adjustment steps into the perfect semi-open or neutral position. This is the quickest way to set up. It also helps you achieve a good knee bend and store energy from the torque in your hips and shoulders. This energy then releases as rotational and linear momentum into the ball at impact.

If the ball jams you, you will lose power and struggle to hit on an inside-out path.

3. Use a Semi-Open to Neutral Stance to Wind Up and Separate the Shoulder from the Hip

Once you recognise a ball you can hit as an inside out forehand, turn your shoulders. Your racquet will go back at the same time, and you will begin to engage your hip turn as well. The deeper your knee bend and the more torque you store in your core, the more ferocious rotational and linear momentum you can release into the ball at impact.

4. Consciously Try to Freeze Your Opponent with Your Setup

Set up identically for both the inside out and inside in forehand. Give your opponent no “tell.” The more consistent your setup, the more your opponent stays rooted to the centre and unable to anticipate your shot direction. Whether you go inside out or inside in should just be a final turn of the hip and an adjustment to the impact angle. Your opponent should never know until it is too late.

5. Throw Your Weight into the Shot Rather Than Falling Off Sideways

As you uncoil your kinetic chain into the ball, transfer your body weight to the left side from the rotation into impact. Add forward momentum at the same time to hit a straight, powerful, and heavy ball. Your tactical intention must be aggressive. A weak inside out forehand is vulnerable to an opponent with a stable backhand down the line.

Hit the inside out forehand with a relaxed, loose wrist to snap at the ball. On the follow-through, your racquet should swing around to your shoulder from the powerful forces you applied at impact.

6. Be on the Hunt for Whether You Can Close the Net for an Easy Volley

If you follow the advice above, your opponent will often get pushed back and stretched wide. Moreover, your weight and court position should already be moving into the court. If your opponent cannot get fully behind your shot to counter it effectively, a reset, safety shot, or floating ball is likely coming your way. Be on the “hunt” and close into the net for an easy putaway volley when the opportunity arises.

Wrap Up: The Run-Around Forehand

The inside out forehand is one of the hardest styles of tennis to beat at almost any level. It is a highly effective style of play. However, it requires a lot of hard work and practice. Mastering it requires instruction, repetition, and deliberate practice.

Master this style with TAG Coach Jeremy Maniago from TAG International Tennis Academy by taking private tennis lessons. Contact us at +6598395232 or reach us HERE.

We hope you found this article informative and helpful. This article is part of the TAG Definitive Guide Series, which covers the best tennis tips available online. If you enjoyed this article, you may also like: