Catch and Swing Forehand Intro
Groundstrokes
Legend
- player
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Introduce the basic forehand swing motion by first catching and throwing the ball before adding the racket.
What you need
- tennis racket
- foam tennis balls
- court
Your focus
Young children understand throwing before they understand hitting; building on this existing motor pattern makes the forehand swing intuitive. Separating the catch from the swing allows each movement to be learned without cognitive overload. Foam balls reduce fear of contact and encourage confident, full swings.
Coach bounces a foam ball to the player's forehand side; player catches it with their non-dominant hand at waist height.
Player then mimics a forehand throwing motion, releasing the ball back toward the coach.
Introduce the racket: coach bounces the ball again and the player swings low-to-high, making contact at waist height.
Celebrate every ball that clears the net, regardless of direction, and repeat for 10 feeds.
Goal
You've got it when you can throw the ball to a target and then swing through the same motion with the racket, the movement feels the same both ways.
Helpful cues
- Swing from low to high like you're throwing
- Turn your shoulder to the ball
- Finish up by your ear
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Use a balloon or beach ball for slower movement and longer reaction time.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a target (hula hoop on the other side) and celebrate when the ball lands inside.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.