The windshield wiper forehand is a much discussed subject these days and I believe there are a lot of misconceptions about this shot. In this video I talk about what a windshield wiper forehand is, when you should use it, and also when you should not use it!
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Video Summary
Many recreational players try to copy the professional players and seem to try to hit as many windshield wiper forehands as possible. The term windshield wiper is a reference to the way the racket moves in this particular shot. Basically the racket moves from low to high and goes across the body rather early. What are the consequences from this kind of movement ? The racket moves upward a lot around contact and a lot of topspin will be added to the ball. It is often used when players need a lot of topspin for short angles or to deal with low balls.
The reason it is used so often in professional tennis is the speed of the game. At the pro level balls are coming so fast that players are more concerned with controlling the ball and they do that by adding more topspin with more of a windshield wiper motion. The mechanics involved at your level of play are quite different though. With less racket speed it is much more important to swing through the shot in order to get enough depth on your shots!
To recap: The windshield wiper will increase the upward angle of your swing and result in more topspin. This can be important in certain situations but in most situations you will be better off by focusing on extension out to the target!
