KS2 · Physical education · Year 5
Forehand (underarm shots) using rackets
Net and wall games: tactics to overcome an opponent through tennis
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/10
Your learning goal
I can play forehand shots with control and can hit the ball into the channels to create space and win points.
1 of 10
Forehand (underarm shots) using rackets: slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.
What you’ll learn
I can play forehand shots with control and can hit the ball into the channels to create space and win points.
Key learning points
- Move: to play a controlled shot, our dominant hand should be at the bottom of the grip.
- Move: tracking the ball and moving our feet so the ball lands on our forehand side improves the accuracy of shots.
- Think: evaluating our own/partners forehand performance will help improve our control and accuracy.
- Feel: continuing to try and improve our performance throughout the lesson demonstrates self motivation.
- Connect: working together with our opponents and listening to others shows we understand the importance of respect.
Words to know
- forehand
- a shot in which the palm of your hand faces the direction in which you are hitting the ball
- backhand
- when you hit a ball with a racket with your arm across your body and the back of your hand facing the ball
- accuracy
- the ability to control where we hit an object
Common mistakes
Pupils hit their shots too hard and the ball travels out of court. Pupils do not return to the ready position after every shot. Pupils struggle to rally when the ball can only bounce once.
Encourage pupils to follow through on their swing to develop more control over the shot. Remind pupils to return to the middle and be in the ready position after every shot. Allow pupils to continue to rally even when the ball bounces twice.
For parents, carers and teachers
- It is always useful to have different size rackets/bats/paddles (short handles) and different sized balls as many pupils struggle to control their shots with a racket and tennis ball. If pupils cannot rally cooperatively, ask one pupil to throw the ball instead of both pupils using a racket.