US TENNIS
April 1995
How To Hit On The Run
By Pete Sampras, Playing Editor
with Alexander McNab
Photography by Dom Furore

Our new playing editor demonstrates and describes
the key to his favorite shot

My eyes open wide when I see a ball coming to my running forehand. I know exactly what I'm going to try to do, and I'm conscious that it is a huge opportunity. I feel I can hit a winner, or if not a winner, then a shot that is going to help me win the point one or two strokes later.

When you have a favorite shot, make your opponent hit to it. I leave the backhand down the line open for my opponents during baseline rallies because I love the running forehand. When I played Andre Agassi at the 1994 Lipton final, for example, he kept trying to surprise me with backhands down the line.

It was a perfect combo for me. I'd get there quickly, hit a running crosscourt forehand and win the point. The running forehand is a shot that's going to either win me the point or lose me the point very quickly. There's no in-between.

The main thing is that I look forward to hitting the shot. A lot of club players just try to get to the ball and hit it back into the court with enough time to recover to the center. That's smart tennis, but you can do more.

The running forehand is a shot I have developed only in the last couple of years as my ground game has improved. It was never a weakness. It was just something that became a strength over time, as I started making it and grew more confident. My advice to you is to work on hitting the shot with controlled aggression. I'll show you how to do that on the following pages.


Take a crossover step

After a short pivot with my right leg (left), I sprint as hard as I can to the ball. The first step -- in which I cross over with my left foot -- is huge. That's when I know if I'm going to make it or not. It's got to be a very quick step. In the back of my mind, I think of getting there as quickly as I can in order to be on balance. You won't make it without that first, fast crossover step.

Coil as you move

As you near the ball, slow down for balance. It's all timing. I don't want to feel rushed, but when I get there, I'm still moving a little bit. If you get there too fast and actually wait for the ball, it can disrupt the timing of your swing.

With each step I take, my racquet goes back more and my upper body coils more (left). It's a timing pattern, with my arm moving comfortably as my body is moving. Don't get there and at the last instant take the racquet back. On the other hand, don't run the whole way with the racquet all the way back.

Smack it

I feel I really can go for the shot when I'm on the baseline (left) or just behind it. When I'm hitting well, I put just enough spin on the ball so it's still a hard shot but I'm able to control it. The actual whipping action of my arm and wrist and racquet at contact is just natural -- I can't explain it.

But when I see the ball coming to my forehand side, I know I'm going to smack it. When I have a bad day, it's often because I'm too far behind the baseline and I'm hitting too flat. If I'm missing a lot, I'll try to hit more topspin. Try to be as aggressive as you can while staying in control.

Be ready to recover

I go crosscourt the majority of the time because of where my right-handed opponent is on the court. He probably has his a backhand down the line, so he's on the left side of the court and the crosscourt is wide open. I aim more wide than deep, between the service line and the baseline. If I feel I can't hit a winner, I'll back off and just try to keep the ball deep. (When my opponent is at the net, my preference is down the line.)

Afterward, I push off my right foot (left) to recover. I run forward toward the center T if I've hit the shot well. If I feel my opponent is going to get there with time, I'll stay back and look to approach on the next shot. Play angles, then be ready to keep playing.