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Road To 5.0

How To Generate More Power On Your Forehand Drive

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By Coach Tyler Stroyek

Meet Coach Tyler

Former D1 tennis player turned pickleball instructor, Coach Tyler is Cypher Pickleball's resident expert for improving your game.

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The Common Mistake

Many players approach their forehand drive by stepping forward immediately with their front foot.

The problem?

When you move straight forward without looking first, you're not building any stored energy in your body. That means your swing is relying mostly on arm motion rather than your legs and hips...which is where the REAL power comes from.

The Key? Load First, Then Drive

The real power in a forehand drive comes from loading your outside leg first. Think of it as a two-step sequence.

1. Load on your outside leg

2. Transfer your weight forward onto your front foot

This loading phase stores energy in your legs and hips. When you shift forward that stored energy releases through your body and into the paddle.

The result? A much more powerful and controlled shot.

Think - Load & Step

A helpful way to visualize the movement is:

Load -> Transfer -> Drive

Not simply stepping forward. When you load on your outside leg first, your body is able to generate momentum and rotation that naturally carries into the shot.

That's what creates a true forehand drive instead of a "push" shot.

Meet
Coach Tyler

Former D1 tennis player turned pickleball instructor, Coach Tyler is Cypher Pickleball's resident expert for improving your game.

For more, follow Cypher Pickleball

2025 Content Creator & Coach of the Year

Owner at Universal Rackets

Calls South Florida Home

The Common Mistake

Many players approach their forehand drive by stepping forward immediately with their front foot.

The problem?

When you move straight forward without looking first, you're not building any stored energy in your body. That means your swing is relying mostly on arm motion rather than your legs and hips...which is where the REAL power comes from.

The KEY? LOAD FIRST, THEN DRIVE

The real power in a forehand drive comes from loading your outside leg first. Think of it as a two-step sequence.

1. Load on your outside leg

2. Transfer your weight forward onto your front foot

This loading phase stores energy in your legs and hips. When you shift forward that stored energy releases through your body and into the paddle.

The result? A much more powerful and controlled shot.

Think LOAD & STEP

A helpful way to visualize the movement is:

Load -> Transfer -> Drive

Not simply stepping forward. When you load on your outside leg first, your body is able to generate momentum and rotation that naturally carries into the shot.

That's what creates a true forehand drive instead of a "push" shot.

Don't Work On Your Footwork
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