Tennis Tech and Training
Strong forearm muscles are essential for tennis racquet head control. That translates very directly into shot consistency. A player without adequate forearm strength will be unable to effectively move the racquet through the proper contact point.
Paradoxically, the forearm muscles are perhaps the most neglected muscles in tennis training. The exercises that benefit the forearm muscles tend to get lumped in with “wrist” and “elbow” work. If you want to specifically work the forearm muscles, then one of the best devices is a forearm blaster.
The forearm muscles are also a factor in injury prevention. Often injuries to the elbow and wrist are a result of the those muscles compensating for weak forearms. Consequently, stabilizing the forearm muscles may prevent tennis elbow and wrist injuries.
A forearm “blaster” is essentially a bar, a cord, and a small weight plate. The exercise consists of extending the arms and rolling the weight plate up and down. This exercise should be performed with both the overhand and underhand grips. Two or three sets of 5 done a couple of times a week should be enough for most players. I included a short video at the end of this post demonstrating the technique. It is harder than it looks.
If you are struggling with your shot control, consider paying a little attention to your forearm muscles. That work is pretty low cost in terms of equipment and time. The return on the investment could be significant.
