Melbourne, Australia, 26 March 2013 | tennis.com.au

For tennis players, a good forehand is crucial – being one of the most commonly-hit strokes in the game, it needs to be dependable, and also have the ability to finish off points.

Today in our “tennis tips” series, we take a look at how you can get the most out of your forehand, and turn it into a major weapon.

Tennis Australia’s developmental tennis manager Scott Draper takes you through the most important steps, including:

1. Using a semi-western or eastern grip

2. Turning your shoulders fully so they are facing down the court

3. Using a circular swing, coming under the ball to generate topspin

4. Focusing your eyes and head on the ball all the way through impact

5. Completing the stroke with a nice full follow-through

And for further reference, you can take a look at how former world No.1’s Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki approach their forehands, to see how the pros do it.