Correcting Your Forehand: Stop Bending, Start Pushing

Sep 11

3 min read

Let's talk about a problem I see constantly in lessons and low-goal games. You're going for the forehand, you've got your line, you're tracking the ball, and then... you bend the elbow and stiffen up. The swing dies. The power evaporates. You end up slapping at the ball instead of driving through it. Here's what's happening and how to fix it.

The Bent Elbow Problem

When you bend your elbow during the forehand, you're effectively shortening your swing radius mid-motion. Your mallet head slows down at the exact moment it should be accelerating. Worse, bending the elbow usually means you're trying to muscle the ball with your arm instead of using your body. Your swing should be a rocking movement between shoulders and hips . The power comes from rotation, not from your bicep.

Jane (-2 goal) and her bent elbow being chased by Scott Anderson aka The Polo Pirate

The Stiffness Trap

Stiffening up is your body's way of saying it doesn't trust the swing. You're gripping too tight, your shoulder locks, and everything becomes mechanical. Muscle tension is the direct enemy of the sports gesture. When you're stiff, you lose the fluid motion that makes a good swing repeatable under pressure. I had this problem recently, I'd been working in the gym to hard and that caused my shoulder to stiffen and my elbow to bend...arghhh!

The Shoulder Fix - Correcting Your Forehand

This is the key. Drop your right shoulder over the line of the ball and lock it in . Keep that shoulder engaged throughout the shot. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the shoulder is so important. Place it well, keep it engaged, and your swing will be straighter and easier to control through the ball. When your shoulder is properly positioned, your elbow has no choice but to stay extended. You can't bend what's already locked into place.

The Push Through

Stop thinking about hitting the ball, when correcting your forehand. Start thinking about pushing through it. The follow-through isn't just a formality. It's proof that you committed to the shot. If you're stopping at impact or pulling up short, you're leaving power on the table. Let the mallet swing through the ball like it's not even there. Your hips and shoulders should rotate counterclockwise with the spine as the axis . That's where the torque comes from.

Drill It

Set up on a chair, mounting block or just do swings with a tennis ball. Focus on three things:

Right shoulder dropped and locked over the ball line
Elbow extended — feel the stretch, don't let it collapse
Push through — swing past the point of contact

Repetition is key . You're building muscle memory. Do it right slowly before you do it fast.

The Bottom Line

Bending your elbow and stiffening up is a confidence problem disguised as a technique problem. You don't trust the swing, so you try to control it with your arm. That's backwards. Drop the shoulder. Keep it engaged. Push through. Let your body do what it's supposed to do.