Why Most Coaches Still Teach the Forehand Wrong!

Prodigy Maker Show EP 118 A replay of one of our popular showsBuilding the Modern ForehandToni Nadal says the forehand is the most important shot in tennis. Chris may not fully agree, but he understands why Toni sees it that way.In this replay of Episode 118, Chris breaks down the secrets of the modern Spanish forehand and explains how he teaches players to build it from the ground up.This was a lively episode with great audience questions, strong debate, and a special cameo from Chris’s sidekick and cohost, Sammie the Tennis Dog.In this episode, Chris discusses:Why he broke away from teaching the traditional old-school forehandThe key technical reference points of the modern forehandWhether kids should begin with a closed or open stanceEastern vs. semi-western gripWhen to teach the kick serve to children, and how to teach it safelyThe biggest safety concerns for young players learning the kick serveHow legendary coaches like Robert Lansdorp, Rick Macci, Luis Bruguera, Pato Alvarez, Emilio Sanchez, Toni Nadal, and others teach the forehandImportant terms Chris uses, including extension, parabolic shape, open stance, inverted finish, and driftSpanish terminology and theory for forehand developmentWhy the speed at which a coach develops a player mattersWhy the best coaches are often faster and more efficient, and why that affects what they can chargeTechnical trends from the last 40 years on the pro tourThe dramatic evolution of backhand technique, and where Chris believes forehand training is headed nextWhy it’s important to challenge long-held beliefs in the coaching worldWhy calculated risks are sometimes necessary to develop better training methodsWhy Chris is shocked that Toni Nadal still teaches an old-school forehand model to young playersCheck out Chris’s YouTube channel for more videos and drills used in Spain to help build the Spanish forehand.Spanish Forehand Course:https://clta.teachable.com/p/whip0:00 Intro + Sammy the Tennis Dog1:20 Why the show exists3:51 Forehand topic overview6:17 Why Chris questioned traditional forehand teaching10:45 Building a modern forehand safely13:37 Q&A: Eastern backhand grip for kick serve17:26 Why the “classic” forehand is outdated20:35 Teaching open stance first24:14 Circular swing shape and inverted finish27:19 Hands-on teaching method and feel28:11 Grip choice: semi-western and low finish30:38 “Drift,” figure-eight patterns, and modern forehand terms34:14 Demo: inverted forehand finish40:47 Why topspin is essential from the start43:29 How Spanish coaches teach the forehand46:19 Q&A: String position on the backswing48:23 Why speed of development matters51:26 Extension vs. cutting the swing short56:15 Why many coaches still teach an old model1:01:06 Comparison to the evolution of the two-handed backhand1:06:19 Why coaches “correct” naturally modern swings1:09:18 Forehand finish variations1:11:44 The Spanish development path1:16:03 “Marathon vs sprint” in junior development1:20:12 Final thoughts on faster, safer player development1:24:15 Outro + where to follow/listen🎾 The Prodigy Maker Tennis Show (PMTS) explores the intersection of junior tennis development, cutting-edge sport science, fitness, health, and human performance. Hosted by world-renowned coach Chris Lewit — author of The Secrets of Spanish Tennis and Winning Pretty, and developer of numerous No. 1 juniors in the U.S. — PMTS brings together coaching wisdom, research, and technology to shape the future of tennis and human performance.👉 Subscribe and listen onhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-prodigy-maker-tennis-show/id1456148452https://open.spotify.com/show/3Wu0PXf9IXneu0ogrzujZNhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR2QscfBfEs9dtttR6XNhduNlWYmZIfy-🌐 https://shows.acast.com/the-prodigy-maker-tennis-show/about📖 Books: The Secrets of Spanish Tennis | Winning Pretty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.