Padel Forehand: Technique, Grip & Drills to Build a Reliable Shot

By Gary, founder of RacketRise. Building reliable groundstrokes for UK padel players.

Last Updated: May 2026

Quick Summary

• Compact swing — shorter backswing than tennis, contact in front of the body
• Continental or eastern grip — not the full western used in tennis topspin
• Slice or flat — topspin is difficult and usually counterproductive on solid racket faces
• Side-on stance — weight transfer from back foot to front is your power source
• Aim higher over the net — padel rallies reward consistency over pace

Quick Answer: The padel forehand uses a compact, side-on swing with a continental or eastern grip. Contact the ball in front of your body with a slightly open racket face. Slice or flat technique works better than topspin on solid padel rackets. The swing is shorter than tennis — weight transfer generates power, not a big loop.

The Core Technique

1. Stance and Positioning

Side-on stance: Turn your non-paddle shoulder to face the net as you prepare. This coils your body and sets up weight transfer as the power source.

Feet: Slightly wider than shoulder-width. Bend the knees to lower your centre of gravity — most padel forehands are struck around hip height or lower, and standing upright makes low balls awkward.

Weight: Start with weight on the back foot (right foot for right-handers). Shift to the front foot through contact.

2. Backswing

Keep it short and compact. The padel court is 20m x 20m — you rarely have time for a full tennis backswing. Take the racket back to roughly shoulder height, with the face slightly open (angled upward).

Common mistake: Taking the racket back too high (above shoulder) produces a downward swing that clips the net. Shoulder height is sufficient.

3. Contact Point

Contact the ball in front of your lead hip — not beside or behind your body. This is the most important single element of a consistent padel forehand.

• Ball too far back → swing from behind → racket face closed → net error
• Ball too close to body → cramped swing → loss of control
• Ball in the right zone → racket face naturally opens → consistent depth

Contact height: waist to hip height is ideal. You can play higher or lower, but waist-to-hip gives maximum control.

4. Racket Face Angle

Slightly open at contact (face angled upward maybe 10–15°). This:

• Gets the ball over the net with margin
• Generates natural slice (lower bouncing ball for opponents)
• Gives feel rather than pure flat power

5. Follow-Through

Swing across your body toward the opposite shoulder — a compact follow-through finishing at about chest height. You don't need a full tennis follow-through loop.

The Padel Forehand vs Tennis Forehand

Tennis players transitioning to padel almost always over-swing initially. Muscle memory from a full topspin loop doesn't transfer — you need to actively shorten the swing.

Grip: What Works in Padel

Continental grip (like holding a hammer) is the most versatile:

• Works for forehand, backhand, volley, and serve without grip change
• Naturally produces slice
• Gives control on low balls

Eastern forehand grip (one step from continental toward forehand) works for players who want slightly more power on the forehand wing.

Avoid: Full western or semi-western (standard tennis topspin grips). The solid padel face doesn't support heavy topspin — the ball deflects at contact rather than gripping and spinning, producing erratic results.

Slice vs Flat: When to Use Each

Slice Forehand (Default)

Use slice as your primary forehand in padel:

• Lower bounce — harder for opponents to attack off the back wall
• More control — the open face naturally adds safety margin
• Tactical: slice forehand to the opponent's backhand corner is a foundational padel pattern

Flat Forehand (Aggressive)

Use flat when you have a genuine attacking opportunity:

• Short ball sitting up at mid-court
• Opponent out of position
• Going for a winner down the line

Flat forehands at pace on a padel court often rebound off the back wall and can actually become opportunities for opponents if they don't die immediately — use them selectively.

Three Most Common Forehand Errors (UK Club Level)

Error 1: Hitting Behind the Body

Symptom: Ball goes into the net or off the frame; you feel cramped.
Fix: Watch the ball longer and step forward to meet it earlier. The contact point should be in front of your hip, not beside it.

Error 2: Full Topspin Swing from Tennis Habit

Symptom: Ball either goes over the back fence or sits up too high, inviting an attack.
Fix: Actively shorten your backswing. Practise hitting with a more compact motion and let the slice do the work.

Error 3: Swinging Too Hard

Symptom: Inconsistency — sometimes a winner, often an error.
Fix: Reduce pace by 20-30%. At UK club level, the player who puts 8 out of 10 balls in play wins more than the one who hits 3 winners and 7 errors. Consistency beats power in padel.

Drills to Build Your Forehand

Drill 1: Cross-Court Consistency

Stand at the baseline with a partner. Rally cross-court forehands only. Target: 15 consecutive balls without error. Focus purely on contact point and follow-through.

Drill 2: Deep Forehand Targets

Place a cone near the back corner on the opponent's side. Hit 20 forehands aimed at the cone. This trains depth — shallow forehands sit up for opponents.

Drill 3: Wall Warm-Up

Hit forehand drives against the back wall (alone). This gives immediate feedback on contact — flat contact is quiet, mis-hits vibrate or rattle. 3 minutes before each session.

Drill 4: Forehand Approach

Start mid-court. Coach/partner feeds a short ball. You attack with a forehand and follow into the net. Combines forehand technique with tactical movement.

The Forehand in Padel Patterns

Cross-Court Forehand to Opponent's Backhand

The fundamental baseline exchange pattern in padel: your forehand cross-court lands on the opponent's weaker (typically backhand) side. This forces defensive play and creates the opening to approach the net.

Forehand Down the Line

A change of direction shot — higher risk, higher reward. Best used when you've drawn opponents to the cross-court corner with previous shots, leaving the line open.

Forehand Lob

A defensive forehand played from back court when opponents are dominating the net. Brush upward with the racket face (more open than usual) to send the ball high and deep over opponents. Technically a forehand but tactically a defensive reset.

Related Articles

• Padel Backhand Guide
• Padel Volley Techniques
• Padel Strategy for Beginners
• Padel Beginner Tips
• Best Padel Rackets for Beginners

Frequently Asked Questions