ground stroke

tennis shot

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

A ground stroke in tennis is a shot made after the ball has bounced on the ground. This is in contrast to a volley, which is hit before the ball bounces. Ground strokes are typically played from the back of the court, and players often use topspin to loop the ball over the net so it bounces high. While a powerful serve and net play are advantageous, strong ground strokes are crucial for maneuvering opponents into vulnerable positions for winning shots or forcing errors. Ground strokes can be played on either the forehand or backhand side.12

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tennis
Strategy and technique
…players whose strength is their ground stroke, the priority is to maneuver the opponent into a vulnerable position for a winning passing shot, placement, or drive that forces an error. All shots after the serve—volley or ground stroke—can be played on either the forehand (where, if the racket were viewed…
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…players whose strength is their ground stroke, the priority is to maneuver the opponent into a vulnerable position for a winning passing shot, placement, or drive that forces an error. All shots after the serve—volley or ground stroke—can be played on either the forehand (where, if the racket were viewed…
Read More