Padel technique · 9 minutes
Improve your padel forehand: control beats pace
The forehand is the most played groundstroke in padel – and the shot responsible for most pace-related errors. A good forehand relies on compact preparation, a contact point in front of the body line and the discipline to put depth before power.
PadelLens.AI editorial team
Published 27 July 2026
Training guidance for recreational players. Not a substitute for individual coaching.
The essentials in 20 seconds
- • Prepare compactly at hip to chest height – no tennis loop
- • Side-on stance, contact in front of the front hip
- • Flat or with light slice, deep into the opponents’ half
- • Add pace only once depth and direction are stable
Groundstroke
What should a good padel forehand really achieve?
The forehand keeps the rally alive and prepares your way to the net. A deep, controlled ball pushes the opponents back and opens the lob or the approach. Forcing winners from the baseline usually gives the point away in padel – the walls rarely forgive hard, high pace.
Unlike tennis, many balls should only be played after the back glass. Even then the contact point stays in front of the body line, and a light slice keeps trajectory and bounce low.
| Variant | Best for | Risk | Technical focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat forehand | mid-height balls in front of the body | medium | compact path, contact in front |
| Forehand slice | control and a low bounce | low | slightly open face, long path to the target |
| Forehand off the back glass | fast balls into the back wall | medium | wait until the ball comes off the glass |
Technique
The padel forehand in five steps
- 1
Read early and turn
Split step as your opponent hits. As soon as the ball comes to your forehand side, shoulders and hips turn and the racket goes back compactly at hip to chest height.
- 2
Get side-on with spacing
Stand sideways and keep the ball to the side and in front of you with small adjustment steps. The spacing decides whether the arm can work freely through the ball.
- 3
Stay compact
The backswing stays short, the free hand points at the ball and keeps the balance. A big loop wins no points in padel – it creates timing errors.
- 4
Hit in front of the body line
Contact the ball at roughly hip height in front of the front hip. The face is stable and the wrist quiet; for slice the face opens only slightly.
- 5
Swing to the target and recover
Let the movement finish flat towards the target with the weight on the front foot, then return straight to a neutral ready position.
Movement sequence
Turn, hit in front, hold the middle
- 01
Turn early
Take shoulders and racket back together, keep the ball to the side.
- 02
Hit in front
Contact in front of the front hip with a stable face.
- 03
Find the middle
Finish towards the target and return to ready.
Contact point
IN FRONT + HIP HIGH
To your right and in front – with room between ball and body
For right-handers the contact point sits to the right of and in front of the front hip, at roughly hip height. From there the racket can work flat through the ball towards the target without the elbow jamming against the body.
- Free hand points at the ball and stabilises the turn
- Stable face, only slightly open for slice
- Weight moves onto the front foot at contact
Self-diagnosis
Five common forehand mistakes
You swing like in tennis
The big loop makes you late against pace and after the wall, and scatters your direction.
Correction: Shorten the preparation to hip–chest height and start it earlier.
You try to accelerate every ball
Hard mid-height balls rebound comfortably off glass and fence – the pressure evaporates.
Correction: Play deep at 60 to 70 percent pace and wait for the genuinely short ball.
Contact slips beside or behind you
The elbow jams, the face opens uncontrolled and the ball drops short.
Correction: Move your feet earlier and hit clearly in front of the front hip.
You face the net square-on
Without a shoulder turn the shot lacks length and weight, and the wrist has to compensate.
Correction: Turn shoulders and hips side-on before the ball bounces.
You take the ball before the back wall when it is going in
The rushed contact behind the body costs control and time.
Correction: Let the ball reach the glass, turn with it and hit it after the rebound, in front of the body line.
Training
Three drills for a stable forehand
Depth corridor
Play forehands into a two-metre zone in front of the opposite back wall. Keep pace at 60 percent; only depth counts.
Read the back wall
A partner feeds with pace into the back wall on your forehand side. Let every ball reach the glass and hit it after the rebound, in front of the body line.
Deep or attack
Your partner varies length and height. Attack short high balls under control, play everything else back deep – the decision is scored, not the point.
Video analysis
How to film your forehand
A side view level with your hitting side shows the swing path, the contact point and the weight transfer. For balls off the back wall, the glass behind you must also be in frame so the rebound timing is visible.
Position
Side-on, level with the hitting side, safely outside the glass.
Height
Between hip and chest so contact height and racket face stay readable.
Frame
Full body, the bounce point and the back wall; keep the camera still.
FAQ
Common questions about the padel forehand
Which grip should I use for the forehand?
The continental grip is the standard recommendation: it works for forehand, backhand, volley and slice without regripping. Extreme tennis grips make the flat padel game harder.
Should I hit the forehand with topspin?
Sparingly. Flat or with a light slice is the padel default, because the ball should stay low. Heavy topspin makes the ball sit up and easier to play off the walls.
Why do my forehands fly long or high?
Usually too much pace with an open face or an active wrist. Take pace off, lengthen the movement flat towards the target and keep the face stable.
How do I play the forehand off the back glass?
Turn early with the ball, move towards the glass with it and wait for the rebound. The contact stays in front of the body line – better to hit later and controlled than early and rushed.
At what height is the ideal contact point?
At roughly hip height, slightly in front of the front hip. Play lower balls with more knee bend and slice instead of letting the contact drift backwards.
Sources and technical note
The FIP syllabus and PadelMBA underpin the technique and training logic of this guide. Grip, swing length and footwork adapt to body type, level and ball speed.