Beating an Opponent With a Stronger Forehand
Match Play
6 min read
A dominant forehand is only dominant when it's allowed to run. Here's how to deny it time, space, and the right ball to attack.
When your opponent's forehand is significantly better than yours, the temptation is to either avoid it entirely or hope they miss. Neither is a reliable strategy. This article gives you a tactical framework for neutralizing a dominant forehand.
Why a dominant forehand is hard to neutralize
A player with a weapon forehand knows their shot. They've built patterns around it: run-around forehands, inside-out to the backhand corner, inside-in to the forehand corner. At UTR 8 and above, this becomes a sophisticated tactical weapon, not just a powerful stroke.
Your job is to prevent them from loading it.
1. Attack the backhand relentlessly
The obvious tactic — keep the ball away from the dominant forehand by hitting to the backhand — is obvious because it works. But it needs to be executed with specific intent: go to the backhand early, go there consistently, and go there on break points.
Hitting to the backhand isn't about being passive. It's about preventing them from dictating with their best weapon.
2. Don't let them run around to the forehand
Players with dominant forehands often cheat by standing near the center mark, ready to run around any ball near the middle. Counter this by hitting behind them — down the line to their forehand side if they're positioned left, or with an angled crosscourt if they've moved too far off court.
3. Keep the ball low
A dominant forehand loaded from a high ball is at its most dangerous. A low ball — slice, drop shot, or a topspin ball that skids — forces them to swing upward, reducing control and pace on their attack.
Use slice to the backhand specifically: it stays low, pushes them back, and doesn't give them the high ball they want to run around.
4. Approach net to neutralize the pattern
When you come to the net, you remove the time they need to run around to their forehand. A well-timed net approach after a deep ball to their backhand forces them to hit a passing shot, not a forehand setup.
5. Use their forehand against them
If they're standing very far behind the baseline to load their forehand, use the drop shot. A short ball forces them to sprint forward — not the position from which they want to hit a dominant forehand. Even if they get there, they're off balance.
Summary
Situation | Strategy |
|---|---|
Baseline rally | Attack the backhand consistently |
They run around | Hit behind them — down the line or angled crosscourt |
High balls | Keep it low with slice — deny the loaded swing |
Net approach | Come in off the backhand to neutralize pattern |
They sit deep | Use drop shot to disrupt positioning |
A dominant forehand is only dominant when it's allowed to run. Apply pressure to the backhand, deny them time to set up, and the forehand becomes just another shot.