How to Hit a Forehand in Padel: Groundstroke Fundamentals

The forehand is the first shot most new padel players reach for — and the one they over-hit first. If you're coming from tennis, your instinct is to load up and drive through the ball. In padel, that same swing sails off the back glass and out, or floats up for an easy smash against you. The good news: a reliable padel forehand is built from a handful of simple, repeatable habits. Once they click, the forehand becomes the steady shot you can lean on under pressure all match long.

Why the Forehand Is Your Foundation

Padel is won by keeping the ball in play and forcing errors, not by blasting winners. The forehand is the rally shot you'll hit more than any other — returning serve, resetting from the back, and trading balls until you can work your way forward to the net. A forehand you trust lets you control the tempo instead of just reacting to it. Build it before you chase flashier shots like the smash or the volley.

Grip & Ready Position

Use a continental grip — the "shake hands with the racket" hold, the same one you'd use to swing a hammer. It keeps the face slightly open, which is exactly what you want for the slices, volleys, and wall play that define padel, and it means you don't have to change grips mid-rally. From the ready position, hold the racket up in front of your chest with your free hand lightly supporting the throat. Stay on the balls of your feet with soft knees. Padel courts are small and the ball arrives quickly, so a low, balanced stance with the racket already up saves you the half-second you'd otherwise waste lifting it. For a full breakdown, see our padel grip guide.

Preparation & a Short Backswing

This is where tennis players leak the most points. A padel forehand uses a compact backswing — take the racket back to about hip height and no further. There's no big loop and no winding the racket behind your back. Turn your shoulders, point your non-hitting shoulder toward the ball, and keep the racket head in your peripheral vision. The court is only 20 meters long and walled, so a long swing generates pace you don't need and timing errors you can't afford. Short preparation means you're ready earlier and make cleaner contact. Think "guide the ball," not "wind up and rip."

Contact Point & Follow-Through

Meet the ball out in front of your body, roughly level with your front hip, as your weight transfers from your back foot to your front foot. Contact out front gives you control over direction and stops the ball from getting behind you — the source of most shanked forehands. Keep the follow-through controlled: finish out toward your target rather than wrapping the racket all the way around your shoulder. A short, deliberate finish keeps the ball low and deep, which pushes opponents back and buys you time to move up to the net.

The Forehand Off the Back Glass

The back-wall forehand is the shot that separates padel from every other racket sport. When a ball sails past you toward the back glass, don't panic and don't swing early — let it strike the wall and rebound back into the court. Position yourself so the ball drops into your strike zone out in front, around hip height, after it comes off the glass. The key is spacing: give yourself room. Beginners crowd the wall, get jammed, and have no swing left. As the ball passes, step back toward the glass, then move forward with the rebound so you're stepping into the shot. Patience is everything — wait for the ball to come to you. Our guide on using the glass walls covers reading rebounds in depth.

Flat vs Topspin Forehand

Most of your forehands should be relatively flat with a touch of slice — controlled, low, and deep. That's your bread-and-butter rally ball. Reach for topspin when you want to lift the ball over the net and have it dip quickly, or to drive a passing shot by an opponent at the net: brush up the back of the ball with a low-to-high swing path. Topspin is a useful tool, not a default — leaning on it too hard shrinks your margin for error. When in doubt, hit flat and deep.

Common Mistakes

• Over-swinging. The number-one error, especially for tennis converts. Shorten everything.
• Late preparation. Get the racket back early; the ball is on you faster than you expect.
• Crowding the back glass. Stand too close and you'll get jammed on the rebound. Give yourself space.
• Hitting with the wrist. Power comes from your shoulder turn and weight transfer, not a flick of the wrist.
• Looking up too soon. Keep your eyes on the contact point through the strike instead of watching where you're aiming.

Drills to Groove It

Repetition is what turns the forehand into a shot you can hit without thinking:

• Shadow swings. Rehearse the compact backswing-to-controlled-finish motion without a ball — 20 reps before you play.
• Back-glass feeds. Hit against the back wall solo, feeding yourself rebounds to train spacing and timing.
• Cross-court rallies. With a partner, trade forehands cross-court for five minutes, prioritizing depth and consistency over power.

For a full session plan, see our solo and partner drills guide. Then put it to work — find a court near you and rally until the swing feels automatic.