Controlling the Forehand Drive

A controlled forehand drive can make you a much harder opponent to play against, even if you never hit the fastest ball on court. In padel, extra pace is only useful when you can direct it and stay balanced afterwards. Often, taking something off your shot helps you find a lower trajectory, make opponents volley upwards and create an easier next ball. Less power does not automatically produce an outright winner; it usually helps you build a winning point. Here is how to make your forehand drive more reliable and more effective.

Shorten your swing, not your preparation

A compact swing gives you fewer moving parts to manage, particularly when the ball arrives quickly. As you recognise a forehand, turn your shoulders and hips slightly, taking the racket back with your body rather than pulling your arm far behind you. Keep the preparation comfortable and contained. You still need a smooth forward swing, but not a big wind-up that leaves you rushing to find the contact point.

Meet the ball slightly in front of your body, with enough space between your elbow and torso to swing freely. Keep your wrist relatively quiet and let the racket continue naturally towards your target before finishing across your body. A shorter swing helps you control the racket face, but it does not keep the ball low on its own: contact height, face angle and swing direction matter too. Start with a mostly flat drive rather than forcing heavy spin or chopping down at the ball.

Aim for the feet, with room for error

When your opponents are at the net, a drive that reaches them below net height makes an attacking volley more difficult. They must lift the ball to clear the net, which can give you a less threatening next shot. Think about sending the ball towards the space around their feet, rather than trying to hit through them. Watch their position: a player standing farther from the net gives you more court in which to make the ball dip.

Choose a target with a sensible margin. Driving through the middle can reduce the angles available for the reply and sometimes create uncertainty between the opponents. A cross-court target offers more distance for the ball to travel and drop, although an alert net player may intercept it. Avoid treating the sideline as your default target. A controlled ball comfortably inside the court is more useful than a spectacular attempt that clips the fence before bouncing or flies out.

Use your legs to organise the shot

Good leg work starts before you swing. Make a small split step as your opponent strikes, then use adjustment steps to get the right distance from the ball. Lower your hips by bending your knees rather than folding forwards at the waist. This helps you stay balanced and bring the racket to the height of a low ball without scooping it with your wrist. Keep your head steady through contact.

From that stable base, let your legs and body rotation support the forward swing. You are looking for coordinated movement, not an explosive push that sends the ball long. When you have time, transfer your weight smoothly towards the shot; when stretched or defending, prioritise balance over stepping forwards. After contact, recover promptly with your partner. A well-hit drive loses value if you remain planted and leave a gap for the next volley.

Pick the moment rather than forcing the drive

Your best driving opportunities usually come when you have space, balance and a ball at a comfortable contact height. A ball around waist height can let you play forwards with confidence, whereas one close to your shoes demands a more upward trajectory simply to clear the net. Do not confuse a ball you can reach with a ball you can attack. If you are late, cramped or moving backwards, reduce your ambition.

A lob is often a better choice when you need to move opponents away from the net and regain time. However, a low or awkward ball does not automatically make a lob easy. You still need enough control to give it height and depth. Under heavy pressure, a softer, low defensive ball may be safer than either a forced drive or a short lob. When a deep ball is going to rebound usefully from the back glass, letting it come off the glass can also give you a more comfortable contact.

Practise control before adding pace

Start with cooperative forehands from the back of the court. Choose a broad target area safely inside the opposite service box and use a pace at which you can repeat the same balanced contact. Count how many balls reach the area without your swing becoming bigger or your finish becoming rushed. Once you can repeat the shot, increase the pace slightly while keeping the target unchanged. If accuracy disappears, ease back.

Next, ask a partner to volley from a normal net position while you practise sending controlled drives below their comfortable volleying height. Begin gently and agree the intensity beforehand; aim low, never at their face. Alternate driving with lobbing when the feed allows, so you practise choosing rather than hitting automatically. At an NPN session, you could agree one simple focus with your partner: build pressure with placement before trying to finish.

Make control your default

Your forehand drive does not need to win the point immediately. Its job may be to produce an upward volley, prevent an easy attack or set up your next shot. Judge it by the reply it creates, not just by how powerful it feels.

Prepare early, keep the swing compact and use your legs to find a balanced contact. Choose a realistic target and drive only when the ball allows it. As those habits become reliable, you can add pace without sacrificing the control that makes the shot useful.