🎾 The 7 Forehand Mistakes Holding You Back — And How to Fix Them Like the Pros
By Coach Cedde – Professional Tennis Coach & Video Analysis Expert
The forehand is the foundation of modern tennis. It’s the shot that wins points, builds confidence, and often separates strong club players from true competitors. Yet, despite hitting thousands of forehands every season, most recreational and intermediate players still make the same fundamental mistakes — mistakes that silently hold them back from reaching their potential.
The good news? Every single one of these mistakes is fixable. In fact, once you understand why they happen and how the pros avoid them, you can dramatically improve your forehand in just a few weeks.
In this guide, we’ll break down the 7 most common forehand mistakes I see on court and in the hundreds of video analyses I review every year — and more importantly, how to fix them fast.
1. Relying Only on Your Arm — Not the Kinetic Chain
🎯 The mistake: Most recreational players swing mainly with their arm, thinking power comes from muscle. They arm-swing the ball with little help from their legs, hips, or core.
❌ Why it matters: Tennis is a sport of kinetic chains — a sequence of energy transfer from the ground up. When you isolate the arm, you cut off the biggest power sources in your body. The result is a weak, inconsistent forehand that breaks down under pressure.
✅ How to fix it:
Start from the ground: Push off your back leg to initiate the shot. That upward and forward force is what fuels the swing.
Rotate before you swing: Your hips and shoulders should begin rotating before the racket moves forward. The arm then follows naturally.
Drill – “Ground Up Power”
Stand in an open stance. Shadow swing without a ball, focusing on pushing off your legs first, then hips, then arm.
Add a ball feed and feel how the swing “flows” rather than “forces.”
🎾 Pro example: Watch Rafael Nadal’s forehand in slow motion. Notice how his legs load, his hips rotate explosively, and the arm is the last part to move. That’s why he generates massive spin and pace with seemingly little effort.
2. Making Contact Too Close to the Body
🎯 The mistake: Many players crowd the ball and hit it too close to their torso, leaving no room for extension.
❌ Why it matters: This kills leverage, limits spin, and shortens your swing path. It also makes you feel “jammed,” especially on fast balls.
✅ How to fix it:
Space is power: Aim to contact the ball about 30–45 cm (12–18 inches) in front of your body.
Drill – “Freeze at Contact”
Shadow swing your forehand and stop at contact. Check: is your arm extended and comfortably away from your body?
Repeat with live balls, focusing on spacing — even exaggerate distance at first.
🎾 Pro example: Look at Roger Federer’s forehand. He consistently strikes the ball far out in front, which allows his racket to accelerate through a long path and generate effortless depth.
3. Preparing Too Late
🎯 The mistake: Players often wait until the ball is close before starting their backswing.
❌ Why it matters: Late preparation leads to rushed swings, mistimed contact, and inconsistent results. Even technically good forehands fall apart without proper timing.
✅ How to fix it:
Early unit turn: As soon as you see the ball headed to your forehand, turn your shoulders and hips immediately.
Keep your non-dominant hand on the racket throat during the turn — it helps synchronize the upper body.
Drill – “See, Turn, Hit”
Have a partner call “turn” the instant they feed the ball. This trains quick preparation.
Film yourself and check if your racket is back before the bounce — that’s the goal.
🎾 Pro example: Novak Djokovic’s preparation is textbook. His shoulders are turned and racket back almost instantly after the ball leaves the opponent’s strings. That’s why he handles even the fastest rallies with ease.
4. Over-Rotating the Upper Body
🎯 The mistake: Some players over-rotate in search of power, spinning their shoulders and hips too far forward.
❌ Why it matters: Over-rotation makes it hard to control the swing path and timing. It also throws off your balance, leading to errors and reduced shot quality.
✅ How to fix it:
Control your finish: At contact, your chest should be slightly angled to the side — not square to the net.
Check your belly button: It should point slightly sideways (right for right-handers) at contact, not straight ahead.
Drill – “Half Rotation Control”
Shadow swing with a limited shoulder turn — aim for a controlled follow-through where your chest faces diagonally forward.
Gradually add speed without losing control.
🎾 Pro example: Carlos Alcaraz generates tremendous power with compact, controlled rotation. He never over-rotates, which allows him to accelerate through the ball while staying balanced.
5. Cutting the Follow-Through Short
🎯 The mistake: Many club players stop their swing too soon or “punch” the ball instead of finishing the motion.
❌ Why it matters: A short follow-through kills spin, depth, and rhythm. It also adds tension to the shot, increasing mishits and errors.
✅ How to fix it:
Think THROUGH, not AT: Your racket should continue moving toward your target even after contact.
Checkpoint: Finish high, with the racket over your opposite shoulder.
Drill – “Finish and Freeze”
Hit 20 forehands focusing only on a complete follow-through. Freeze your finish position and check that it’s high and relaxed.
🎾 Pro example: Observe Iga Świątek’s forehand finish — long, high, and fluid. That smooth follow-through is key to her heavy topspin and control.
6. Using the Wrong Grip for Your Game
🎯 The mistake: Many players stick to a grip they learned early on, even if it doesn’t suit their style or modern tennis demands.
❌ Why it matters: The grip influences your spin, control, and contact point. A too-flat Eastern grip can struggle with topspin, while a too-extreme Western grip can struggle with low balls.
✅ How to fix it:
Find the middle ground: Most modern players benefit from a semi-western grip — excellent for topspin, comfort, and versatility.
If balls are sailing long, rotate your hand slightly more underneath the handle.
If low balls are tough, move slightly toward Eastern.
Drill – “Grip Check Rally”
Rally focusing only on how the ball reacts to slight grip changes. Notice spin, depth, and height differences.
🎾 Pro example: Most top players, including Daniil Medvedev and Simona Halep, use variations of the semi-western grip — a perfect balance of offense and control.
7. Ignoring the Non-Dominant Arm
🎯 The mistake: Many players let the non-dominant arm hang uselessly at their side.
❌ Why it matters: The non-dominant arm is crucial for balance, timing, and body coordination. Without it, your swing becomes unstable and mistimed.
✅ How to fix it:
Guide the ball: Use your non-dominant arm to point toward the incoming ball during preparation.
As you swing, let it pull naturally back behind you — this counterbalance stabilizes your body.
Drill – “Balance Arm Awareness”
Shadow swing focusing only on active use of the non-dominant arm. Then add slow rallying with the same intention.
🎾 Pro example: Look at Dominic Thiem’s left arm — always active, guiding the shot and maintaining posture. That’s part of why his forehand is both powerful and balanced.
📸 Bonus: Use Video Analysis Like the Pros
Even with the best intentions, many players can’t feel these mistakes — but they can see them. That’s why every professional player uses video analysis to refine their technique.
By slowing down your swing and reviewing key checkpoints (stance, contact point, follow-through), you’ll notice flaws you never felt before.
🎯 Pro tip: Record from two angles — behind the baseline and from the side — to capture both swing path and timing.
📩 And if you want expert feedback, send your video to Coach Cedde. I’ll break down your forehand, show you exactly which of these mistakes is limiting you, and give you step-by-step corrections and drills tailored to your game.
🧠 Final Thoughts: Build a Forehand That Wins Matches
The forehand isn’t just another stroke — it’s your main weapon. It builds points, applies pressure, and wins matches. But to become that weapon, it must be built on solid fundamentals.
By fixing these seven mistakes — from engaging the kinetic chain to mastering contact spacing, preparation, and follow-through — you’ll notice immediate improvements in power, spin, and confidence.
And remember my coaching philosophy:
Perfection is born from pleasure — but there is no pleasure without hard work.
The players who put in the effort to fix small technical details are the ones who unlock the biggest gains.
📩 Ready to transform your forehand?
Send your match or practice video to Coach Cedde today. I’ll analyze your technique, identify exactly what’s holding you back, and show you how to build a forehand that wins more points — and more matches.
