A tennis player performs a forehand drive to return the ball across the court. (a) Name the muscle in the chest that helps to bring the arm across the body ...

Muscles used during a tennis forehand drive

(a) The muscle in the chest that helps bring the arm across the body during the forehand drive is the pectorals (pectoralis major). This large fan-shaped muscle connects the chest to the upper arm and contracts to pull the arm horizontally across the body, driving the racket through the hitting zone. [1]

(b) The muscle at the back of the upper arm that straightens the elbow as the racket moves forward is the triceps. The triceps contracts to extend the elbow joint, adding reach and snap to the stroke at the point of contact with the ball. [1]

(c) Role of the deltoid

The deltoid is the cap-shaped muscle covering the shoulder joint. During the forehand drive, the deltoid raises and stabilises the arm at the shoulder, keeping it at the correct height throughout the swing. [1] It also helps control the forward movement of the arm, working with the pectorals to guide the racket through a consistent arc toward the ball. [1]

(d) Importance of strong abdominal muscles

Strong abdominal muscles (the core) allow the tennis player to rotate the trunk powerfully during the forehand. This trunk rotation transfers force generated by the legs and hips up through the body and into the arm, significantly increasing shot power. [1] Strong abdominals also help maintain balance and stability during the stroke, preventing the player from over-rotating or losing their base of support when stretching for wide balls. [1]