Non-Hitting Arm
Also known as: non hitting arm, off arm, free arm, tossing arm, non-dominant arm, left arm on the forehand, left arm on my forehand, left arm on the serve, dropping the tossing arm, tossing arm drops early
Your non-hitting arm guides the turn and your balance. On the forehand it reaches across in front during the unit turn, then folds in toward your chest as you swing. On the serve the tossing arm lifts straight up and stays up after the release. It pulls down into your body as the racquet swings up.
On a forehand, the free hand starts on the throat of the racquet and helps turn the shoulders. As you turn, it extends across in front of the body, roughly parallel to the baseline. Many players point it toward the incoming ball. This keeps the shoulders turned, helps you judge spacing and stores rotation. As the forward swing starts, the arm bends and pulls in toward the chest. That helps the torso rotate. Many players finish with the free hand near the hitting arm or catching the racquet over the shoulder.
On the serve, the tossing arm lifts the ball with a straight arm and stays up after the release, pointing at the ball. This keeps the front shoulder high and the chest up in the trophy position. As the hitting arm swings up, the tossing arm pulls down and in, close to the stomach. Dropping it too early is a common fault. The shoulders level out, the head drops and the serve can end up in the net.
On a one-handed backhand, the free hand supports the racquet throat during the take-back, then lets go. The two arms then move apart, the free arm back and the hitting arm forward. That keeps the chest sideways. On a two-handed backhand the non-dominant arm does much of the work. Many coaches describe it as a forehand hit with the other hand.
Tips by skill level
On forehands, point your free hand at the incoming ball as you turn. On serves, hold your tossing arm up for a moment after the release before you swing.
Use the free arm to control rotation speed. Tucking it into the body faster speeds up the torso turn. A slower tuck suits touch shots.
Example
Her serve keeps clipping the net tape. On video she sees her tossing arm drop to her side as soon as the ball leaves her hand. She keeps it pointing up at the ball until the racquet starts up, and her serve gains height.
Why it matters
The non-hitting arm controls shoulder turn and balance. A lazy free arm often shows up as late contact, poor spacing or a serve that drops into the net.
Common mistakes
- Letting the free arm hang at your side on the forehand
- Dropping the tossing arm as soon as the ball is released
- Swinging the free arm wildly instead of pulling it in to the body
- Keeping the free hand on the racquet too long on a one-handed backhand
Frequently asked questions
What should my left arm do on my forehand?
For a right-hander, the left arm reaches across in front of you during the turn, roughly parallel to the baseline. As you swing, it folds in toward your chest to help the body rotate. Left-handers do the same with the right arm.
What should my tossing arm do on the serve?
Lift the ball with a straight arm and keep the arm up, pointing at the ball, after you let go. As the racquet swings up, pull the tossing arm down and in toward your stomach.
Why does my tossing arm drop early?
It often comes from rushing the swing. Dropping it early levels the shoulders and pulls the head down. Pause with the arm up at the trophy position, then let it pull in only as the racquet swings up.
Related terms
- Unit TurnA unit turn is rotating the hips and shoulders together as one unit to prepare for a groundstroke. The arm does not take the racquet back on its own.
- Trophy PositionThe trophy position is the serve checkpoint at the toss's peak: hitting arm up, body arched, tossing arm raised. The kinetic chain is fully loaded to fire.
- Serve Toss PlacementServe toss placement is where the ball is released relative to the body. It determines which serve types are physically possible to hit from that toss.
- Core Rotation in StrokesCore rotation is the turning of the torso (between hips and shoulders) in a stroke. It passes energy from the legs and hips up to the arm and racquet.
- 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
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