Question: When should I use topspin on my forehand?
Answer: Topspin makes the ball drop faster as it flies and decelerate less and kick higher when it bounces, creating many tactical advantages, such as allowing you to hit harder and higher over the net or to make the ball dip at an oncoming net-rusher's feet.
Most players can hit topspin at any point of contact from the knees up to the shoulders, with the more Eastern grips doing better on the lower balls, and the more Western grips doing better on the higher ones. The forehand is a major power weapon for many players, and powerful shots have a much better chance of landing in when they're hit with topspin. Given the relative ease of generating topspin on the forehand side and its many advantages, it's no surprise that most advanced players hit the vast majority of their forehands with at least some topspin. Some players hit so much topspin on their forehands that their spin is more troublesome to their opponents than their power.
