Table Tennis Forehand Drive
A controlled attacking stroke in table tennis, played on the forehand side with a compact swing and light topspin.
Overview
The forehand drive is a foundational table tennis stroke used to attack with control. The player rotates the waist and forearm to brush up and forward through the ball, adding a little topspin so the ball clears the net and drops onto the table.
A compact swing driven by body rotation, rather than a big arm movement, keeps the drive fast, accurate and easy to recover from.
How to do it
- 1Stand side-on with your knees slightly bent and bat ready.
- 2Rotate your waist back and take the bat back to about hip height.
- 3Swing forward by rotating your waist and forearm together.
- 4Contact the ball in front of you, brushing up and forward.
- 5Finish with the bat up toward your head and reset your stance.
Key points
- Rotate from the waist so the whole body drives the stroke.
- Contact the ball in front of your body as it rises off the bounce.
- Brush slightly up and forward to add light topspin.
Where it’s used
Sports that use table tennis forehand drive:
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Movement patterns
- RotationRotating the trunk to generate and transfer power through the body's kinetic chain, plus anti-rotation — resisting unwanted twist to keep the trunk stable.
- StrikeA ballistic, whole-body hitting action that channels ground-generated force through a proximal-to-distal kinetic chain to deliver momentum to a target via the hand, an implement or a body part at the moment of contact.
- SlideA slide is a controlled, low-friction skid of the body or foot along a surface, used to brake, extend reach, or hold a line, where managed friction and a lowered centre of gravity govern the movement.
Skills
- RallyingThe skill of exchanging shots back and forth to build and win a point.
- SprintingThe skill of running or riding at maximum controlled speed over a short distance.
- SpikingThe volleyball skill of jumping and striking the ball forcefully down into the opponent’s court.
- BreaststrokeA swimming stroke using a symmetrical arm sweep and a frog-like kick, with the head lifting to breathe.
- Front crawlThe fastest swimming stroke, using alternating arm pulls and a flutter kick while face-down.
Equipment
- Table tennis batA small wooden blade covered with rubber used to hit the ball in table tennis.
- Tennis racquetA strung frame with a handle used to hit the ball in tennis.
- Padel racketA solid, stringless perforated racket used to play padel.
- Badminton racketA lightweight strung racket used to hit the shuttlecock in badminton.
- Pickleball paddleA solid, flat paddle used to hit the perforated plastic ball in pickleball.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Technique
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-07-09
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