Contact Point
Also known as: ideal contact point, contact zone, point of contact, where to make contact, forehand contact point, backhand contact point
On a forehand, meet the ball out in front of your body, at a comfortable distance to the side and around waist height. A one-handed backhand meets the ball even further in front, and a two-handed backhand a little closer to the body. On the serve, hit the ball at full reach, slightly in front.
The contact point is where the racquet meets the ball. Meeting it in front lets the body's turn add speed and lets the racquet face square up to the target. Contact beside or behind the body usually means a late, weak or sprayed shot. Contact too close cramps the arm. Contact too far away makes you reach and lose control.
Grip changes the ideal spot. With an eastern forehand grip, contact is in front and a little lower. Semi-western and western grips meet the ball further in front and higher. One-handed backhands need contact well in front of the front foot. One arm cannot support a late hit. Two-handed backhands can take the ball a little later and closer, with the second arm adding support. Volleys are met in front with a short punch. Serves and overheads are hit at full reach.
Height matters too. For most groundstrokes the comfortable zone is between the knees and the chest, and many players like about waist height. Move your feet to bring the ball into that zone. Step in or back on high balls. Bend the knees for low balls instead of bending at the waist. Footwork, not the arm, sets up a good contact point.
Tips by skill level
Drop-feed balls to yourself and catch each one out in front with your non-hitting hand. Then swing to meet the ball in that same spot.
Learn where your own grip wants contact. Film a few forehands from the side and check that contact stays in the same spot as the pace rises.
Example
Her forehands keep spraying wide. Watching closely, her coach sees contact beside her hip. She starts her turn earlier and meets the ball well out in front, and the shots start going where she aims.
Why it matters
A good contact point is what makes power, spin and direction repeatable. Many errors that look like swing faults start with contact in the wrong place.
Common mistakes
- Letting the ball get beside or behind the body before swinging
- Standing too close and cramping the arm at contact
- Reaching for the ball with the arm instead of moving the feet
- Using the same contact point for every grip and stroke
Frequently asked questions
Where should I make contact on my forehand?
Out in front of your body, at a comfortable distance to the side, usually around waist height. Stronger grips such as semi-western meet the ball a little further in front and higher.
Where should I hit the ball on my backhand?
A one-handed backhand meets the ball well in front of the front foot. A two-handed backhand can make contact slightly closer to the body. Both need the ball out in front, not beside you.
What is the contact point in tennis?
It is where the racquet meets the ball. For most shots it should be out in front of the body. There the body's turn and the racquet face both work toward the target.
Related terms
- Contact Point DriftContact point drift means the contact spot shifts from swing to swing: in front, late, or too close. Even a repeatable swing gives hard-to-predict results.
- Late Contact (Tennis)Late contact means the racquet meets the ball behind the ideal contact point, usually behind the front hip. It costs pace, direction control, and spin.
- Early Contact / Rushing the ShotRushing the shot means starting the forward swing before the body has finished loading. Contact then comes too early and too far in front of a stable base.
- Semi-Western GripThe semi-western (base knuckle on bevel 4) is the most popular modern forehand hold, balancing topspin capability with comfortable contact across a wide range of ball heights.
- One-Handed BackhandA one-handed backhand uses only the dominant hand. It gives more reach and disguise than a two-hander, but less stability against high-bouncing pace.
- Two-Handed BackhandA two-handed backhand places both hands on the grip, with the non-dominant hand providing additional stability, power, and disguise through contact.
Related guides & benchmarks
Work on the cause
Video shows how you move, not the ball itself. Film one swing to find the movement behind this result — free to start.
See a sample Tennis report first