Pronunciation: [fˈɔːhand] (IPA) 
The word "forehand" is typically pronounced as /ˈfɔrˌhænd/. This word refers to a stroke in tennis where the racket is held in a horizontal position and strikes the ball in front of the body. The spelling of this word makes sense when broken down phonetically, with "fore" starting with the sound /fɔr/ and "hand" with the sound /hænd/. The word is commonly used in the tennis world and is a crucial skill for any player on the court.
Forehand is a term commonly used in various sporting disciplines, predominantly tennis and table tennis, encompassing different meanings within each context. In tennis, the forehand refers to a stroke executed with the racket in the dominant hand, usually the right hand for right-handed players, and vice versa for left-handed players. It is performed by swinging the racket forward with a flat or slightly topspin trajectory to strike the ball before it bounces on the player's side of the court. The forehand stroke is a fundamental shot used to hit both power and controlled shots from the baseline or while approaching the net.
In table tennis, the forehand also pertains to a stroke performed with the racket held in the dominant hand, usually involving a forward and downward swing to strike the ball on the forehand side of the body. This shot is executed to initiate an offensive attack or counter the opponent's shots.
Outside of sports, the term “forehand” can be used figuratively to describe a proactive or preemptive action taken in advance of a situation. It implies an advantageous move or approach made before an event or circumstance occurs, often to gain an upper hand or control over the situation. This usage can be found in various contexts, such as business, negotiations, or decision-making processes. Overall, the term "forehand" encompasses a range of meanings within different domains, highlighting its versatility and significance across multiple fields.
• Done sooner than is regular.
• The part of a horse before the rider.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "forehand" originated in the late 15th century and is a combination of two Middle English words: "fore" meaning "in front" or "before", and "hand" referring to the human hand. The term was initially used in the context of horseback riding to describe the position of the rider's hand on the horse's neck or mane. Over time, the term gained more specific usage in sports such as tennis and racquetball, referring to a specific stroke or shot made with the hand or racket in front of the body.
