Prodigy Maker Show EP 118
A replay of one of our popular shows
Building the Modern Forehand
Toni 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 forehand
The key technical reference points of the modern forehand
Whether kids should begin with a closed or open stance
Eastern vs. semi-western grip
When to teach the kick serve to children, and how to teach it safely
The biggest safety concerns for young players learning the kick serve
How legendary coaches like Robert Lansdorp, Rick Macci, Luis Bruguera, Pato Alvarez, Emilio Sanchez, Toni Nadal, and others teach the forehand
Important terms Chris uses, including extension, parabolic shape, open stance, inverted finish, and drift
Spanish terminology and theory for forehand development
Why the speed at which a coach develops a player matters
Why the best coaches are often faster and more efficient, and why that affects what they can charge
Technical trends from the last 40 years on the pro tour
The dramatic evolution of backhand technique, and where Chris believes forehand training is headed next
Why it’s important to challenge long-held beliefs in the coaching world
Why calculated risks are sometimes necessary to develop better training methods
Why Chris is shocked that Toni Nadal still teaches an old-school forehand model to young players
Check 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/whip
0:00 Intro + Sammy the Tennis Dog
1:20 Why the show exists
3:51 Forehand topic overview
6:17 Why Chris questioned traditional forehand teaching
10:45 Building a modern forehand safely
13:37 Q&A: Eastern backhand grip for kick serve
17:26 Why the “classic” forehand is outdated
20:35 Teaching open stance first
24:14 Circular swing shape and inverted finish
27:19 Hands-on teaching method and feel
28:11 Grip choice: semi-western and low finish
30:38 “Drift,” figure-eight patterns, and modern forehand terms
34:14 Demo: inverted forehand finish
40:47 Why topspin is essential from the start
43:29 How Spanish coaches teach the forehand
46:19 Q&A: String position on the backswing
48:23 Why speed of development matters
51:26 Extension vs. cutting the swing short
56:15 Why many coaches still teach an old model
1:01:06 Comparison to the evolution of the two-handed backhand
1:06:19 Why coaches “correct” naturally modern swings
1:09:18 Forehand finish variations
1:11:44 The Spanish development path
1:16:03 “Marathon vs sprint” in junior development
1:20:12 Final thoughts on faster, safer player development
1:24:15 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.
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