Practice with Rhino
Rhino 5
Improve Your Forehand Control in Just 5 Minutes
Want to hit more accurate forehands? Try this simple Rhino 5 challenge you can do on your own!
- 5 minutes
- Solo practice
- 10-tap goal
Have you ever tried to hit a forehand gently, only to send the ball flying in the wrong direction?
Or perhaps you've tried to hit harder, but the ball keeps going too far?
Don't worry. Learning to control your forehand takes practice — and you don't need to hit the ball hard to get better.
Today, we're going to work on three things:
- Watching the ball
- Controlling your racket
- Hitting towards a target
Ready? Grab your racket and let's get started!
What you'll need
🎾 Your tennis racket
🎾 A soft, low-compression tennis ball suitable for your level
🎯 A flat target marker, optional
⏱ Five minutes
📍 A safe, clear playing space
You don't need a tennis court or a partner.
For younger players, ask an adult to help choose a safe practice area, away from roads, windows and other people. Make sure you have enough space to swing your racket without hitting anyone or anything.
Younger players need appropriate adult supervision. Keep practice controlled and stop if you feel discomfort.
Your 5-minute forehand challenge
The upward taps are a self-rally control activity. They are different from a conventional forehand sent across a tennis court.
Minute 1: Find your control
Start with your racket in your playing hand.
Gently tap the ball upwards using the racket strings.
Let the ball bounce once on the ground, then tap it upwards again.
Try five controlled taps.
Your mission: Keep the ball at a comfortable height instead of sending it high into the air.
Don't worry about perfect technique. Focus on making gentle, controlled contact.
Minute 2: Get ready for your forehand
Now let's practise your forehand movement.
Stand with your feet comfortably apart and your knees slightly bent.
Turn your shoulders towards your forehand side.
Without hitting a ball, practise swinging your racket forward smoothly and finishing in a comfortable position.
Try five slow practice swings.
Remember: Keep your movement relaxed. You don't need a huge swing.
Minute 3: Bounce, hit and catch
Now it's time to bring the ball back.
- Drop the ball and let it bounce once.
- Turn towards your forehand side.
- Gently hit the ball upwards and slightly in front of you.
- Let it bounce again, then catch it with your free hand.
Repeat five times.
Try to make each hit as controlled as the last.
Rhino Challenge: Can you complete five successful forehand hits without chasing the ball?
Minute 4: Keep your forehand rally going
Let's make things a little harder!
This time, try to keep the ball going using your racket.
- Let the ball bounce once.
- Tap it upwards with a gentle forehand.
- Move your feet to get into position.
- Repeat.
Count how many controlled forehand taps you can complete in a row.
Start with three, then aim for five.
If the ball gets away from you, simply reset and try again.
Your goal is control, not speed.
Minute 5: Beat your personal best
For the final minute, choose a comfortable target height.
Try to keep your forehand taps reaching approximately the same height each time.
Count your longest run of controlled hits.
Can you improve on your previous attempt?
Even one extra controlled hit is progress worth celebrating.
Rhino Coach's Tip: Control before power
A good forehand isn't always the hardest forehand.
Try these three simple reminders:
Watch the ball. Follow it with your eyes as it approaches your racket.
Give yourself space. Move your feet so the ball isn't too close to your body.
Swing smoothly. Aim for a comfortable, controlled movement rather than hitting as hard as possible.
Once you can control your forehand consistently, you can gradually work on hitting with more speed.
Level Up! Choose your challenge
Level 1 — Rookie
Complete three controlled forehand taps in a row, allowing one bounce between each tap.
Level 2 — Challenger
Complete five controlled forehand taps in a row.
Level 3 — Rhino Pro
Complete ten controlled forehand taps in a row while keeping the ball at a similar height.
Bonus Challenge — Target Control
Place a flat marker on the ground in a clear area.
Now try a gentle drop-feed forehand towards the marker. Allow the ball to land on the ground; don't try to catch it.
Can you get three out of five shots to land near your target?
Choose a comfortable distance and use a soft ball.
Track your progress
How many controlled forehand taps can you make without stopping?
Copy the table onto paper if you want to compare attempts. No scores are saved on this website.
| Practice | Longest run |
|---|---|
| First try | ___ taps |
| Second try | ___ taps |
| Third try | ___ taps |
Try the same challenge another day.
You don't have to beat someone else's score. Just see how your own control improves with practice.
Why practise your forehand?
Your forehand is one of the shots you'll use regularly during tennis rallies.
Practising gentle, controlled contact can help you become more comfortable with your racket, judge the ball better and prepare for more consistent shots.
And the more comfortable you feel controlling the ball, the more enjoyable rallies can become.
Remember: Five minutes of focused practice is a small activity you can fit into your day — not a replacement for lessons, match play or rest.
Keep improving with Rhino!
Enjoyed this challenge?
Try another Rhino 5 exercise:
The 20-Ball Wall Challenge — practise keeping a rally going and beating your personal best.
Want to develop your forehand, backhand and other tennis skills with a coach?
Discover Kids Tennis at Rhino Tennis Academy in Estepona, where players can learn, practise and enjoy the game.
Keep practising, keep improving and have fun on court!