In this discussion, we take a close look at the most critical and unstable point in the forehand. From contraction to rotation, the motion that the arm must execute is similar to pulling a rope. However, from acceleration to strike, the motion is closer to a push (not to be confused with the playing style called pushing). These two motions require a delicate transition if they are to work together to produce a controlled high-speed strike. The location of the elbow relative to the body plane can facilitate this transition. A partial to full rotation can also facilitate this transition. For example, Agassi has a partial rotation of about 45 degrees while Roddick has a full rotation that may exceed 90 degrees. Of course both players hit the forehand with partial and full rotations when necessary or useful. They just have tendencies that favor one over the other most of the time.

In the figure to the far left, the player is contracting the racquet forward, and in the figure to the immediate left, she is "pushing" the racquet forward at high speed. In this case, she has already struck the ball, as evidenced by the fact that the racquet is higher than the ball. These two motions are radically different, and transitioning between them can take some getting used to. In the next lesson, we present exercises to develop this transition.

The elbow position may vary depending on the nature of the shot. Defensive shots may start the transition with the elbow behind the body plane, whereas offensive shots usually start the transition with the elbow in front of the body plane. The exact location can vary with the grip. We will go over each grip and elbow position for the transition in future lessons. For now, you should experiment with various positions and explore how they must be executed if you are to have a good straight-line interval at the strike stage.