Inside-Out Forehand in Pickleball: Footwork, Targets & When to Use It

An inside-out forehand in pickleball is a forehand hit from around your backhand side that travels across your body toward the opposite side of the court. For a right-handed player, that usually means moving left to create a forehand and sending the ball toward the opponent’s right side. For a left-handed player, the pattern is reversed.

The shot can be useful because it lets you use a stronger forehand from a ball that might otherwise become a backhand. But it only helps when your feet create enough space. Running around every backhand usually makes you late, opens court behind you and turns a strength into a positioning problem.

What “inside-out forehand” means

“Inside-out” describes the relationship between your court position and the direction of the shot. You move around the ball so you can hit a forehand from the backhand side of your body, then send that forehand crosscourt.

Player	Run-around side	Typical inside-out target
Right-handed	Move left around a backhand-side ball	Opponent’s right half / your crosscourt forehand lane
Left-handed	Move right around a backhand-side ball	Opponent’s left half / your crosscourt forehand lane

The important part is not the label. It is whether moving around the ball improves the contact without damaging your recovery.

Why players run around the backhand

USA Pickleball notes that many players naturally prefer the forehand and often generate more power and control from that side. Its current return guidance also makes an important qualification: move your feet to use the forehand when possible, but do not force it if the ball is already on your backhand side and the run-around would reduce control.

That is the right framework for the inside-out forehand. Use it when the forehand gives you a meaningfully better ball, not merely because you dislike hitting backhands.

When the inside-out forehand makes sense

1. The ball gives you time to move around it

A slower, deeper ball with predictable bounce gives you time to adjust your feet. A fast ball into the body usually does not.

2. Your forehand creates a stronger next ball

The run-around should buy something: more pace, more spin, better depth, a stronger third-shot drive or a safer directional pattern. If your backhand would produce the same quality with less movement, use the backhand.

3. You can recover after contact

Moving around the backhand shifts your body away from part of the court. You need enough balance after contact to recover toward your normal position before the opponent uses the space you just vacated.

4. Your partner understands the movement

In doubles, a large run-around changes team geometry. If you move far enough into the middle or toward your partner’s side, your partner may need to adjust temporarily. This is one reason advanced footwork and partner awareness matter more than simply owning a strong forehand.

When you should not run around the backhand

• The ball is already past your ideal contact point. Extra movement makes you later.
• You have to reach or lean after running around it. The purpose of the movement was to improve balance, not lose it.
• Your backhand is the simpler shot. A reliable backhand often beats a rushed forehand.
• You would expose too much open court. Opponents can attack the space you leave.
• You are at the Kitchen in a fast exchange. Reaction time is usually too short for a large run-around.

USA Pickleball’s return-of-serve guidance makes this point directly in practical terms: most players may prefer the forehand, but if the serve reaches the backhand and you cannot move cleanly, hit the backhand rather than stretching or forcing the run-around.

Footwork: create space before you swing

The shot usually fails because of footwork, not because the forehand swing itself is unusual.

1. Read early. Decide as soon as the ball’s direction and depth are clear.
2. Move your feet around the ball. Do not simply twist your upper body and hope the forehand appears.
3. Create lateral space. Give your dominant arm room to swing without being jammed against your torso.
4. Set before contact. Try to finish the major movement before the ball reaches your strike zone.
5. Contact in front. The run-around only helps if you still meet the ball from a strong position.
6. Recover immediately. Your first move after the shot should restore court position rather than admire the forehand.

This fits the broader footwork principle in our pickleball agility guide: move the lower body first, brake under control and arrive balanced enough to hit the next ball.

Inside-out vs inside-in forehand

Once you have run around the backhand, you can send the forehand in two main directions.

Shot	Direction	Typical use
Inside-out forehand	Across your body / crosscourt	More margin, move opponent wide, attack a backhand-side matchup
Inside-in forehand	Down the line from the same run-around position	Change direction, punish an opponent leaning crosscourt, attack open space

The inside-out ball is often the safer starting option because the crosscourt path usually gives you more court to work with. The inside-in change can be valuable, but it asks for better directional control and can leave you exposed if the opponent reads it early.

Using the shot on a third-shot drive

A short return into your backhand half can create a good run-around opportunity. USA Pickleball’s current third-shot guidance specifically recommends moving your feet, contacting in front and favoring the forehand when possible.

A useful pattern for a right-handed player is:

1. Short return lands slightly left of center.
2. You move around it early instead of reaching with the backhand.
3. You drive inside-out toward the opponent’s right-side player or backhand lane.
4. You recover forward only if the drive produces a weak enough fourth ball.

The shot should still follow the normal third-shot decision. If the return is low, deep or leaves you off balance, a drop may be better than forcing a forehand drive. See our third-shot drive guide for the full decision framework.

Using the shot on returns

Some returners like to shade toward the backhand side so they can create more forehands. That can work when the serve is readable and you still have enough room behind the baseline to move.

But do not turn forehand preference into a predictable weakness. A server who sees you overprotect the backhand side can serve wider into the forehand corner or body, making your starting position work against you.

The priority remains the same as in our return-of-serve guide: make a controlled return, create depth and get forward. A spectacular run-around forehand is not useful if it leaves you late reaching the Kitchen line.

Inside-out forehands in doubles

Doubles adds a partner-spacing problem. A singles player can sometimes run much farther around a backhand because only one player is responsible for the court. In doubles, a large run-around can move you into your partner’s lane.

Before using the shot aggressively, ask:

• Am I taking a ball my partner is already set to play?
• Will my movement close or widen the gap between us?
• Can I recover before the opponent attacks the space behind me?
• Does my forehand actually create a better contact than my partner’s shot?

If the answer to the last question is no, the run-around is probably unnecessary.

Target selection: do not hit inside-out automatically

The term describes the shot direction, but that does not mean crosscourt is always the correct target. Use opponent position and contact quality first.

Useful targets include:

• deep crosscourt when you want margin and depth;
• the opponent’s backhand when that matchup has actually produced weaker replies;
• middle when you want a safer lane and reduced angles;
• inside-in down the line when the opponent has shifted heavily toward the crosscourt expectation.

Our target-selection guide explains why target quality should follow balance, opponent position and the next-ball consequence instead of a memorized location.

Three mistakes that ruin the run-around forehand

Mistake 1: moving after the ball has already entered the strike zone

Late recognition produces rushed footwork and contact beside the body. Decide earlier or accept the backhand.

Mistake 2: running around without creating space

Some players move sideways but end up jammed because the ball is still too close to the body. Move enough that the forehand swing has room.

Mistake 3: winning the contact but losing the court

You hit a strong forehand, remain outside your normal position and then lose to the next ball into open space. The shot is not complete until recovery begins.

A simple 30-ball practice progression

1. 10 cooperative feeds: feeder sends slow balls toward your backhand half. Run around, hit controlled inside-out forehands and recover.
2. 10 two-target feeds: alternate inside-out crosscourt and inside-in down the line. Score only balanced contacts.
3. 10 decision feeds: feeder mixes easy run-around balls with balls that should stay backhands. You score one point for choosing correctly and one for executing the chosen shot.

The final block is the most important. The real skill is not hitting thirty forehands. It is recognizing the ten or fifteen balls where the forehand is actually the better choice.

The main takeaway

An inside-out forehand is valuable when you have enough time to move around the backhand, create a stronger contact and recover without opening too much court. It is not a cure for avoiding the backhand.

Use the sequence read → move → create space → contact in front → recover. If the movement makes any of those steps worse, hit the backhand instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an inside-out forehand in pickleball?

It is a forehand hit after moving around a ball on your backhand side, with the shot traveling crosscourt toward the opposite side of the court.

Should you run around your backhand in pickleball?

Only when you have enough time and the forehand meaningfully improves the shot. If running around makes you late, stretched or slow to recover, use the backhand.

What is the difference between inside-out and inside-in?

Both begin with a forehand from around the backhand side. Inside-out goes crosscourt; inside-in changes direction down the line.

Can you use an inside-out forehand on a third shot?

Yes. A short return into your backhand half can create time to run around and drive a forehand. The decision still depends on return height, depth and your balance.

Is a forehand always better than a backhand?

No. Many players prefer the forehand, but a balanced backhand is better than a rushed forehand created by excessive movement.

Sources & Further Reading

• USA Pickleball — Forehand vs. Backhand in Pickleball
• USA Pickleball — Return of Serve Tips
• USA Pickleball — Mastering the Third Shot