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Forehand drive

Table tennis / Popular

Build the basic forehand drive with body rotation and a compact swing.

What coaches agree on

  • Set up in a shoulder-width-or-wider stance with your knees bent and your dominant-side foot slightly back.
  • Make contact with the ball at the top of its bounce, right as it reaches its highest point.
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  • Keep your elbow down and close to your body, controlled rather than swinging freely or flying up.
  • Drive through the ball with a flat, level contact for speed and control, rather than brushing upward for heavy spin like a loop.

Common mistakes

  • Swinging with just the arm or shoulder instead of rotating the legs, waist and core into the shot.
  • Taking too big a swing — a large backswing or a follow-through that crosses the body — instead of keeping the drive compact and finishing in front of the body.