Semi Open Stance Tennis? The 80 Top Answers

The modern game of tennis is often associated with open stance forehands (and backhands) as they allow for more power and take less time to execute.

But that doesn’t mean that neutral forehands — or kicking the ball — are obsolete and that you shouldn’t use them in your tennis game.

So when should you use an open forehand and when should you use a neutral forehand? As you will see, the answer is, “It depends.”

When to use a forehand with an open stance

The open stance forehand is best for:

fast incoming balls,

high balls,

and balls to the side.

1. Handling Fast Balls

An open forehand is good for handling fast-coming balls because it takes little preparation time (you just twist your torso without moving your feet — or you just do a quick, short shuffle) and because you don’t have to get any closer to the get on the ball which would give you less time.

If you played neutral on the same incoming ball, you would walk towards the ball, thereby closing the distance to it and having less time to execute the shot.

While sometimes we’ll still instinctively step into a fast incoming ball to get a good weight shift into the shot, we’ll have more and more time to just stay in an open stance.

2. Handling high balls

Playing a high ball with the forehand or two-handed backhand is always easier in an open stance than in a neutral stance.

That’s because we swing more over the ball when it’s high and it’s more comfortable when we’re in an open position. Only one-handed backhands, where we can’t rotate the body much, are even better played in a neutral stance.

I’ve already explained how to deal with high balls in more detail, so just follow the link to learn more.

3. Handling balls to the side

If we happen to get a ball to the side and run towards it and land in a neutral stance, then the momentum of the movement will take us another step to the side after hitting the ball.

Then we also need a recovery step to initiate the movement back to center.

But if we were to play that ball in an open stance (assuming we can reach it with an open stance) then we can resist the momentum and start bouncing back to center immediately after hitting the ball.

So we move less and recover faster compared to a neutral forehand on a wide ball.

If the ball is too far to reach with an open stance, all you have to do is hit a forehand on the run and recover later.

When to use a neutral forehand

The neutral forehand is best used for:

short balls,

approach shots,

and warming up for a session or match.

1. Play short balls

A neutral forehand is best used on slightly shorter balls when it is most natural to approach them.

Forcing an open stance on a short ball prevents us from rotating our body into the shot because this step forward also pushes our hips forward and we have no body rotation left.

And if we can’t turn into shot, we lose power.

But kicking the ball with the left foot (for righties) still allows for hip and body rotation, and that gives us more power for the forehand.

2. Approach to the network

Hitting an approach shot with an open forehand is possible, but the transition to moving towards the net will always be a bit slow.

You will be much more efficient and faster if you step into a short ball and naturally move towards the net after the shot.

An exception to this rule might be a really high but short ball, which is easier to attack with an open forehand.

3. Warm up

I recommend that you intentionally play a more neutral forehand and backhand stance when warming up, as this is the most fundamental body movement for any groundstroke in tennis.

It allows us to feel a good transfer of weight into the ball and relax the arm into a swing that generates power effortlessly.

Note that Grigor Dimitrov plays most shots in a neutral stance when warming up. You can search YouTube for other pros like Federer and Djokovic and you will see the same approach.

This is especially important when you’re about to go into a match, as you may feel some pressure as you warm up and your body tends to tense up.

So your goal should be to counteract this tendency and work towards relaxing your arm. Hitting in a neutral stance usually relaxes the arm more than playing in an open stance.

Open or neutral forehand?

As you can see, the answer is, “It depends.”

Don’t force yourself to adopt a certain attitude just because someone says it’s fashionable now.

If you start watching the pros closely, you’ll see that they’re constantly switching between different poses depending on the situation.

Of course, there are other postures besides the open and neutral postures (like closed and half-open), but these two are the most common. The variety of stances is often a source of confusion for players, unsure which to use.

You can be in any pose you want, just for the record.

You find the right stance in the game by focusing on comfort and time.

Try to feel which posture feels better in a certain situation. Play a few times in a neutral stance and a few times in an open stance and compare which one feels more comfortable.

Also compare which gives you more time to hit.

As you do this more and more often, you’ll quickly discover which pose works better in a given situation.

Of course, you can only track all this if you don’t play any points.

When you’re playing a match, you’re so stressed and so focused on tactics and possibly your opponent that you don’t know which stance feels better in which situation, even though your mind and body are telling you so. You just won’t hear it.

The best way to start stances is to test yourself to see if you actually feel equally comfortable hitting a neutral and an open stance forehand under very simple conditions – e.g.

In my experience, most players are not equally comfortable in both stances, but they need to be comfortable if they want to handle situations well on the pitch.

So, start with the various stance exercises I’ve shown earlier to get your body and legs used especially to the forehand with open and neutral stance.

Then it will be much easier to find the right attitude in terms of comfort and time in a live rally and eventually in real games.

Traditional footwork consisted of hitting the tennis ball squarely using the closed stance. An extra step was required to hit the ball and a much longer recovery distance developed. With the advancement of tennis racquet technology, the point (tempo) became faster and the recovery time played a big part in the development of tennis.

Getting out was the solution. When facing the net, kick out with the foot closest to the ball. In order for a right-handed player to hit a forehand, you need to move your right foot. It’s important to have your right leg off the ball when you hit it. In this way you can enter the playing field by slewing towards the center of the game (“center of the playing field”). This is known as the “Load and Explode” method. If you have time, you can throw the punch in a more edgy and classic way. But if you don’t have time, you can hit the ball in an open stance.

Footwork with an open stance used to not exist because you often hit the ball wrong. Björn Borg was the first player to use the open stance with his phenomenal timing.

On the return of serve, stepping out is key. You can often take a step. In a wider ball, you can perform a three-step move. On the baseline, you can get to any ball in three steps. If the ball is placed too short, you have to take five steps.

It’s the same on the left. You kick with your left leg (1), then load your right leg (2) and left leg (3) and explode. Always rotate the unit. Don’t just bring back your racquet. Rotate your shoulders and return to starting position to begin your swing.

Working on your step out technique will improve your movement on a tennis court and help you recover more easily. Give it a try next time you practice your game.

Serena Williams is undoubtedly one of the greatest tennis players of all time, male or female. A dominant force for 20 years, she is now the record holder for most Grand Slam tournament wins in the Open era, having defeated her sister Venus Williams and claiming her 23rd Grand Slam victory at this year’s Australian Open . The win also returned her to number one on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. A place she has now held for 309 weeks of her career (third on the all-time list for women). She has also won 14 doubles and 2 mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, making her the most decorated Grand Slam player of the Open era. Just another stat that highlights her overall versatility as a tennis player. But what about the techniques and tactics Serena Williams employs has made her so dominant as a professional tennis player? There are many aspects of her game, techniques and tactics that make her a great player, but today we’re going to look at the four key strengths that helped her dominate and reshape the game of women’s tennis forever.

The serve

There are two words every opponent dreads hearing from Serena Williams. “Service Williams” Serena’s serve has been an important weapon for her throughout her career. And she’s one of the first players to truly evolve it into a tool that can completely dominate a game. For example, in her 2012 Wimbledon campaign, she hit 85 aces on her way to the final. This is pure dominance and allows her to win so many free points on serve, which often leaves opponents discouraged and hopeless. But what makes her serve so great? Of course we have to look at the performance. Serena is blessed with a naturally strong physique which gives her a clear advantage over any female player she faces in this area. (She is currently third at 206.9 km/h for the fastest woman’s serve ever). But it’s not just the power of her serve that makes her so strong. Serena serves with great precision. Williams’ ability to accurately time her serves makes her three times more likely to serve an ace than the average professional player, and a big factor in this ability to serve with such accuracy is her easy ball throw. Serena’s ball throw is mechanical and looks exactly the same no matter where she chooses to place her serve. Not only does this help her hit accurate serves, but it also disguises whether she’s hitting with her forehand, backhand, or even her opponent’s body. You never know until the ball is already on the way. All of these elements combine to make Serena Williams deliver the most powerful punch in women’s football.

forehand

In this day and age of heavy topspin and more radical forehand grips, Serena Williams has stuck with a more traditional grip that seems to be working very well for her. Serena’s classic forehand swing generally starts low, hitting hard through the ball and ending after the hit with her racket arm over her opposite shoulder. This traditional forehand grip and swing is where Serena draws most of her power, allowing her to hit deep returns that put opponents on either side of the court wide of position.

backhand

When it comes to the backhand, Serena takes the modern approach used by many of today’s professional male players. This approach begins with an open stance, where her shoulders are parallel to the net, and she uses two hands to swing through the ball. Although this shot is used fairly frequently on the men’s tour, Serena is one of the few women to use this shot effectively due to her ability to generate a lot of power through her trunk rotation. This unique stance also allows Serena to open up the court and hit inside-out backhand shots, where the ball goes to the same side of the opponent’s court that she originally hit the ball from. This gives her a huge advantage and really helps her to camouflage her backhand on the backswing.

competitive fight

Serena’s three previous strengths that we’ve touched on were all technical in nature, but this final and probably most important strength focuses on the mental aspect of her game and that’s why she’s been at the top of women’s tennis for the past two years could claim decades. Serena is a fierce competitor. She never gives up and even when players think they’ve got her shot, she’s ready to pounce if they let go of their guard for a second. And watching Serena grow in confidence on the other side of the net is certainly an intimidating place for any opponent. While some players are born with this natural aggression and competitive spirit, it is still a skill like any other and can be learned by any player with determination and dedication to improve their game. We were blessed to see such a great player in her prime and we can only hope there is more to come from the greatest tennis player of all time.

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Tennis Footwork: Various Stances Explained

Tennis footwork is an important part of your game. You need to get your stances right intuitively because they have so much to do with balance and shifting your weight in the right direction to hit your best shots. With sharp, clean foot movements you get to the ball early and prepare yourself well for the shot. Before we take a look at the key hitting stances and how they can improve your game, I have some very solid advice for you. It’s a golden rule in tennis. Promise me you’ll never stand on your heels on the tennis court. Don’t stay rooted to the dish. Be on the go at all times. I have it? Well! Today’s modern basic stroke game involves some footwork stances. These poses described below are intended to illustrate how you stand during the shot. Open Stance This tennis footwork has become very popular lately thanks to tennis stars like Venus and Serena Williams. Venus especially loves the open stance of two-handed backhands. Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal are also famous for their open attitude. To do this, you wrap your upper body sideways to the ball. However, your lower body still faces the net. This coil between the upper and lower body creates a torque that can be used as additional energy to hit the ball. Similar to a wound spring, the upper body literally jumps up. When done correctly, this energy is transferred to the racquet when the ball is hit. This tennis footwork has become very popular lately thanks to tennis stars like Venus and Serena Williams. Venus especially loves the open stance of two-handed backhands. Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal are also famous for their open attitude. To do this, you wrap your upper body sideways to the ball. However, your lower body still faces the net. This coil between the upper and lower body creates a torque that can be used as additional energy to hit the ball. Similar to a wound spring, the upper body literally jumps up. When done correctly, this energy is transferred to the racquet when the ball is hit. Neutral Stance This step is also known as a square stance—possibly because your feet form a fairly exact 90-degree angle to the baseline, forming a T-square with the baseline. You stand in the center of the court on your baseline and move your left foot forward slightly when you hit the ball, then your right foot moves up to help you recover and return to the ready position. It’s not a big step, but it’s a very effective one. This step is also known as a square stance – possibly because your feet form a fairly exact 90-degree angle to the baseline, forming a T-square with the baseline. You stand in the center of the court on your baseline and move your left foot forward slightly when you hit the ball, then your right foot moves up to help you recover and return to the ready position. It’s not a big step, but it’s a very effective one. Semi Open Stance You are halfway between Open Stance and Square Stance. Since the open stance faces the net – say 0 degrees to the baseline – and the square stance is at 90 degrees to the baseline, the half-open stance is best described as 45 degrees to the baseline. Your body is angled, most likely pointing towards one of the net posts. This is a very flexible pose.

Closed Stance The closed stance can be used for both forehand and backhand shots. Many coaches don’t like the closed forehand and advise their students against it. The reasons for this are that the stance throws you off balance when moving into a forehand shot and is counterproductive for players looking to generate power. You wouldn’t want tennis footwork that’s counterproductive, would you? In the closed stance, your feet are both pointing to the right or left of the court and your front foot (opposite your racquet-holding hand) crosses your back foot at a sufficient angle to shut your body off the court. Additional steps are required to open up again for the next shot. The one-handed backhand is probably the best time to get into a closed stance, as you’ll need to get into a sideways position to complete the shot. You are halfway between open stance and square stance. Since the open stance faces the net – say 0 degrees to the baseline – and the square stance is at 90 degrees to the baseline, the half-open stance is best described as 45 degrees to the baseline. Your body is angled, most likely pointing towards one of the net posts. This is a very flexible pose. The closed stance can be used for both forehand and backhand shots. Many coaches don’t like the closed forehand and advise their students against it. The reasons for this are that the stance throws you off balance when moving into a forehand shot and is counterproductive for players looking to generate power. You wouldn’t want tennis footwork that’s counterproductive, would you? In the closed stance, your feet are both pointing to the right or left of the court and your front foot (opposite your racquet-holding hand) crosses your back foot at a sufficient angle to shut your body off the court. Additional steps are required to open up again for the next shot. The one-handed backhand is probably the best time to get into a closed stance, as you’ll need to get into a sideways position to complete the shot. I advise you to develop fluid tennis footwork. It is possible to use all stances while playing, even if you have a personal favourite. It will amaze your opponent when you can effortlessly move all over the court in a matter of seconds. Last but not least, I have a quick tip for you when watching videos of professional players. Many of us tend to watch them hit the ball and admire their beautiful shots. Next time you watch, spend about 5 points watching them move instead, ie. H. look at their legs and learn how they move. I’m sure you’ll take away some learning points from their excellent footwork.

From Tennis Footwork: Different Stances Explained to How to Play Tennis Efficiently and Become a Better Player

Learn about techniques used in playing tennis.

The open-stance and closed-stance groundstroke debate has raged for more than a decade. Now that the dust has settled, experts agree that players have an advantage if they can use all the variations and stances depending on the situation.

closed stance

A player’s ability to develop both an open and closed stance begins with footwork. The traditional closed stance forehand is struck after a player’s non-dominant or leading foot has kicked towards the net. If the player were standing on a clock face, the back foot would be positioned at 6 o’clock and the front foot at almost 12 o’clock. The player’s feet are almost perpendicular to the net. For a closed backhand, the feet are reversed.

More: Move like Federer with this 5-step footwork exercise

The closed forehand should not be confused with a crossover step forehand, an emergency stance in which the front foot crosses completely in front of the body and points toward the side fence. This footwork locks the hips, which inhibits core rotation and can cause balance issues. The stance should only be used in extreme defensive situations when the player is on a dead run and doesn’t have time to apply a more desirable stance.

More: 4 game-changing defensive tips

open attitude

The open forehand is struck after the player steps aside to line up the incoming ball with the dominant leg. To use the clock analogy again, a right-handed person has their dominant foot at 3 o’clock and their non-dominant foot at about 9 o’clock (reversed positions for a left-handed person). In this stance, the player’s feet are nearly parallel to the net. In an open backhand, a player lines up the incoming ball with the non-dominant leg.

More: How to choose the right shot

Today we are going to discuss the difference between the open stance and the neutral stance and the situations in which you can use this tennis technique.

The neutral stance uses the forward swing, which shifts the weight to the pitch (toward the net) with a step forward. Conversely, in an open stance, momentum is applied from right to left (right-handed forehand) in a pushing motion and without a step. Both stances are used when playing tennis, but knowing when to use the correct one is key. Follow these general guidelines when deciding which pose to use.

Tennis Technique Tips for Open Stance & Neutral Stance:

If you receive a ball at low speed or inside the field, adopt a neutral stance.

If you get a ball that’s faster and forces you to the sideline, adopt an open stance.

Both the neutral stance and open stance use weight shifting in the form of momentum, but choosing the right stance for a given situation is key to deciding which to use.

Written by Dustin Blackburn, Certified Tennis Pro with Elite Sports Club-West Brookfield