USTA Forehand & Backhand Biomechanics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The 'windshield wiper' finish on a modern topspin forehand causes the racket to travel in what direction post-contact?
- Upward and across the body toward the opposite shoulder
- Outward toward the target and then downward across the body (Correct answer)
- Straight up toward the sky
- Backward over the hitting shoulder
Correct answer: Outward toward the target and then downward across the body
The windshield-wiper finish has the racket accelerate outward toward the target and then arc downward across the body, increasing topspin and deceleration safety.
Question 2: During a two-handed backhand, which segment initiates movement in the kinetic chain?
- Shoulders
- Wrists
- Hips and legs (Correct answer)
- Dominant forearm
Correct answer: Hips and legs
Like all groundstrokes, the two-handed backhand's kinetic chain begins with hip and leg drive, transferring energy up through the trunk and arms.
Question 3: What is the primary biomechanical advantage of a semi-western grip on the forehand compared to an eastern grip?
- It naturally produces a more open racket face at contact, aiding slice
- It positions the wrist for greater internal rotation and higher natural contact point (Correct answer)
- It reduces wrist pronation, lowering injury risk
- It increases backswing length for more power
Correct answer: It positions the wrist for greater internal rotation and higher natural contact point
A semi-western grip rotates the hand further under the handle, promoting internal wrist rotation and making it easier to contact the ball at waist-to-shoulder height with topspin.
Question 4: A tennis coach observes a player's elbow 'chickenwinging' (abducting away from the body) on the forehand follow-through. This typically indicates what?
- Excessive wrist pronation
- Insufficient internal shoulder rotation and improper forearm path (Correct answer)
- Too much topspin
- Correct swing mechanics for an advanced topspin forehand
Correct answer: Insufficient internal shoulder rotation and improper forearm path
Elbow flaring (chicken-wing) usually signals that internal shoulder rotation is insufficient, causing the player to compensate with elbow abduction to bring the racket around.
Question 5: On the one-handed backhand, the grip continental or eastern backhand places the palm of the hand in what position relative to the racket face?
- Behind the handle (same side as strings) (Correct answer)
- On top of the handle
- On the side of the handle (bevel 1)
- Under the handle (same side as strings facing up)
Correct answer: Behind the handle (same side as strings)
An eastern backhand grip places the palm behind the handle on the same panel as the string face, which naturally opens or squares the face for backhand contact.
Question 6: Which biomechanical concept explains why longer follow-throughs improve consistency on groundstrokes?
- They reduce ball dwell time on the strings
- They allow the swing to be well-established before the racket decelerates, reducing contact-point sensitivity (Correct answer)
- They increase the racket face angle at contact
- They shift the point of contact closer to the body
Correct answer: They allow the swing to be well-established before the racket decelerates, reducing contact-point sensitivity
A long follow-through ensures the racket is still accelerating or at peak speed at contact, so small timing errors have less effect on the shot outcome.
Question 7: During a forehand groundstroke, shoulder external rotation in the backswing stores energy in which structure?
- Biceps tendon
- Anterior capsule and internal rotator muscles of the shoulder in a stretched position (Correct answer)
- Lateral epicondyle
- Supraspinatus tendon only
Correct answer: Anterior capsule and internal rotator muscles of the shoulder in a stretched position
External rotation in the backswing stretches the anterior capsule and pre-loads the internal rotators (pec major, subscapularis), storing elastic energy for the forward swing.
USTA Forehand & Backhand Biomechanics 3
The 'windshield wiper' finish on a modern topspin forehand causes the racket to travel in what direction post-contact?