Shots & strokes · Defence & drives · Beginner · ~5 min
Forehand drive
A flat, fast shot at about net height, passing close to the net into the opponent's midcourt or rear.
▶ Forehand Drive Tutorial - Improve Your POWER And Timing! — Badminton Insight (YouTube)
More videos: How To IMPROVE The Forehand in Badminton (Basicfeather) · SIWEI Badminton Diary——How to Hit a Forehand Drive from Midcourt to the Backcourt（正手中半场抽底线） (Zheng Siwei)
Prescription4 × 45 s · rest 45 s
EquipmentRacket, Shuttles, Badminton court
ImpactLow
FormatNeeds feeder
Tactical use & trade-offs
Keeps the shuttle flat and denies the opponent time. Popular in doubles. If it rises, the opponent can attack it.
Technique
| Grip | Forehand grip: shake hands with the handle, the V between thumb and index finger on the top-left bevel, fingers relaxed and slightly spread. (or a slightly shorter panhandle grip for fast exchanges). |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Racket up in front, step to the side with the racket foot. |
| Contact point | To the side and in front, around shoulder to net height. |
| Racket face | Flat, square to the target. |
| Swing | Compact swing using forearm rotation and fingers; no big backswing. |
| Body & footwork | Side step with the right foot; small rotation. |
| Follow-through | Short; racket back up immediately. |
Coaching cues
- Flat and fast
- Short swing, racket up
Common errors
- Big backswing
- Hitting upward (shuttle rises)
Practice
On your own: Wall rally: forehand drives against a solid wall (3 × 60 s).
With a partner: Drive rally across midcourt: both players drive flat; count rallies without lifting.
Volume: 3–4 × 30–60 s rallies.
Safety
- Stop if you feel sharp pain, dizziness, chest pain or unusual breathlessness.