The forehand is a key weapon in tennis. To gain more precision, power, and consistency, here are 5 simple steps to follow.Adopt a good ready position Even before hitting, everything starts with your base position. Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, racquet held in front of you, body weight leaning forward: you’re ready to react quickly to any ball.Prepare your stroke early A good forehand begins with quick and smooth preparation. As soon as you identify the ball coming to your forehand side, turn your shoulders perpendicular to the net, bring the racquet back, and slightly tilt

Born in an American backyard, pickleball is now one of the fastest-growing racket sports in the world. This blend of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong attracts players with its friendliness, simplicity, and strategic play. But where did this uniquely named game come from? Let’s trace the history of pickleball.The Origins: A Family-Inspired InventionPickleball was created in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington, by three friends: Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. Looking to entertain their children, they improvised a game using ping-pong paddles, a badminton net, and

Discover the leading squash nations, from historic countries to new powerhouses. A world tour of the strongholds of this fascinating sport.Egypt: the new squash superpowerSince the early 2000s, Egypt has dominated the global squash scene. With legends such as Amr Shabana, Ramy Ashour, Nour El Sherbini and Ali Farag, the country has accumulated world titles in both men's and women's competitions. This supremacy is due to a strong squash culture, a well-developed club network, effective training programs, and media enthusiasm that has popularised the sport on a large scale. Today, several major

Discover how ping pong, born in English parlours, became an Olympic sport played by millions of enthusiasts around the world.The origins of table tennis: an aristocratic parlour gameTable tennis emerged in late 19th-century England as a miniature version of classical tennis. British aristocrats, looking for indoor entertainment during rainy evenings, improvised the game using a dining table, books as a net, and champagne corks or cork balls as balls. The term "ping-pong" appeared in 1901, derived from the onomatopoeia mimicking the sound of the ball being struck. The game quickly gained popul

Tennis, badminton, squash, padel, ping pong, pickleball… Which racket sports offer the highest earnings for professional and semi-professional players? I’ve investigated.Tennis, the king of financial earningsUnsurprisingly, tennis remains the most lucrative racket sport in the world. With huge prize money in Grand Slam tournaments, a player can pocket between €2 and €3 million for a win. Even the world’s top 100 secure comfortable earnings, between €500,000 and several million per year, not including sponsorship deals.Key figures: – Novak Djokovic has surpassed $180 million in career prize m

Born in the 1960s, padel is now one of the trendiest racket sports. Its global rise has sparked great curiosity about its roots. Here is its story, from creation to international boom.Padel's origins in Mexico Contrary to popular belief, padel did not originate in Spain, but in Mexico, specifically in the city of Acapulco. In 1969, Enrique Corcuera, a sports enthusiast and businessman, built a small tennis court at home due to lack of space. He then enclosed the court with walls to stop the balls from escaping, creating the very first padel court.Growth in Spain and Argentina It was in Spain

Badminton, a sport of speed and precision, requires excellent shot control to make the difference in a match. Among the most decisive strokes: the smash, to finish a rally with power, and the drop shot, to destabilise the opponent with finesse. Here are some concrete tips to improve these two key shots.💥 The smash: power, placement and timing The smash is badminton’s ultimate weapon. To make it truly effective, focus on three elements: Shot preparation: Your arm should be fully drawn back, body slightly sideways, with a solid push-off from the back leg. Speed and precision: Aim for a

Tennis, badminton, pickleball, squash, padel or table tennis… Racket sports are winning over an ever-growing audience. And with good reason: they offer a wide range of physical and mental benefits, suitable for all ages. Here’s why these sports might be the perfect choice for both your body and mind.💪 A full-body workout Racket sports engage many muscle groups. Thanks to quick movements, changes of direction, varied strokes and defensive stances, they help: Strengthen the cardiovascular system, through high-intensity and repeated exchanges. Develop endurance and explosiveness, especia