A drive is a shot to send a fastball at your opponents and is similar to a drive in the sport of tennis. Like most other shots in pickleball, a drive is usually more consistent and hit with more power as a forehand shot (rather than as a backhand shot). To hit a forehand drive:

1. Start from Tennis Ready at the Baseline – Assume you are at the baseline. Remember, at the baseline, your ready position should be Tennis Ready because you generally want to hit forehands and Tennis Ready will be the most effective starting point. So, start in Tennis Ready, with your paddle out front at 12 o’clock, your knees bent, and your weight on the balls of your feet.

2. Rotate Body and Pull Paddle Back Together – Start preparing for the forehand drive by doing the following in unison: (i) rotate your body slightly toward your paddle side; and (ii) pull your paddle head back with your wrist laid back. Make sure you do not over-rotate or take too big of a backswing, as this will cause the pickleball to get behind you and lead to a poor shot. Also, use your non-paddle hand for balance.

3. Move Your Feet – Move your feet so that you are in a position to strike the pickleball in a consistent contact point. Your contact point will be out in front of your body toward your paddle side. Do not be lazy with your feet. Move your feet so that the pickleball is off to your paddle side slightly, such that you will be able to hit the pickleball out in front of you. Remember, as you move your feet, stay in the same rotated body position with your paddle pulled back.

4. Unload and Strike Pickleball Out in Front – When you are ready to strike the pickleball out in front of you, unload and uncoil your body. Generate power from your legs and your core. Remember to stay in an athletic stance with your legs and core engaged all the way through the shot.

5. Hit Forward and Through the Pickleball and Finish with a Little Lift – Upon contact, hit forward and through the pickleball. Once you hit through the pickleball, finish your drive with a little lift, so that your paddle finishes out in front of your face. It is imperative that you drive through the pickleball with only a small lift in order to keep your forehand drives low. If you finish with too much lift, you will be able to tell in your forehand drives, as they will be hit with too much height.

One rule of thumb is to hit your forehand drives with only 70-80% of your power. If you hit with too much power, you will lose your consistency and ability to place the pickleball on the court and in play. To generate more power, however, try increasing your paddle speed through the pickleball. Keep your other mechanics the same—for instance, your short backswing, drive forward and through the pickleball, and strong finish—but generate more paddle speed.

Key Takeaways:

1. To hit a basic forehand drive:
a. Start in Tennis Ready;
b. Rotate your body and pull your paddle back, together;
c. Move your feet to position yourself behind the pickleball;
d. Unload and strike the pickleball out in front of your body; and
e. Hit forward and through the pickleball and finish with a little lift.
2. To improve your control, hit your basic forehand drives with only 70-80% of your power. To improve your power, increase your paddle speed, but keep the rest of your mechanics the same (including your short backswing).