The Windshield-Wiper Forehand, Explained Without the Jargon
Quick answer
The windshield-wiper forehand is not a wrist flick. It is what your arm naturally does at the end of a steep, low-to-high topspin swing: the racket finishes by rotating across your body like a wiper blade. Chase the topspin and the wiper happens. Chase the wiper on its own and you just spray balls.
What the windshield wiper actually is
Watch a pro forehand in slow motion and the racket finishes by rolling over, the hand turning the strings down and across. That is the wiper. It is not a separate move you bolt on. It is the natural release of a fast, brushing, low-to-high swing. The job is the brush up the back of the ball. The wiper is the receipt.
When to use it
Use the wiper on balls you want to hit with heavy topspin and margin: rally balls, high balls, and anything where you want the ball to dip down inside the baseline. On a low, flat ball you want to drive, you take a flatter path and the wiper is much smaller. Match the spin to the situation.
How to feel it
- Swing low to high and brush up the back of the ball, do not hit flat through it.
- Keep the wrist relaxed so the racket can release and roll on its own.
- Let the finish wrap around, do not force the strings over with your wrist before contact.
If your forehand is breaking down in rallies, the wiper is not the first fix. Start with margin and contact point in why your forehand falls apart, then add wiper topspin once the basics hold. Your grip matters too, which is the eastern versus semi-western question.
The short version
The wiper is the finish of a steep topspin swing, not a wrist trick. Brush up with a relaxed wrist and let it roll. Chase spin, not the wipe.
Frequently asked
What is a windshield-wiper forehand?
It is the forehand finish where the racket rolls up and across the body like a wiper blade. It happens naturally at the end of a steep, low-to-high topspin swing and adds heavy spin and margin.
How do I hit a windshield-wiper forehand?
Swing low to high and brush up the back of the ball with a relaxed wrist. Do not force the racket over before contact. The wiper finish comes on its own when the swing path is steep enough.
When should I use the windshield-wiper forehand?
On rally balls, high balls, and anything you want to hit with heavy topspin and margin. On a low ball you want to drive flat, the wiper motion is much smaller.
Sources and further reading
Written by
Bolor Enkhbayar
Tennis coach and founder of CoachesNote
Bolor coaches serious juniors and adult competitors. She builds every weekly plan, reviews the video and match notes, and decides the next job, in person and remotely through CoachesNote.
Keep reading