Left-handed players can be a royal pain in the butt to play against. Everything is in reverse.  How do you flip the switch and start beating these guys instead of fearing them. Well, with a few minor changes, you can make the experience less aggravating and increase the probability of you going home with the win. (see below).

1. Beware Of Your Backhand

One of the greatest weapons that “lefties” tend to use is a hard-hitting forehand shot that often pulls “righties” clear off the court. This forces you to extend for a long “strrrrreeetch” with hopes of just making contact with the top of the racket. Needles to say, your left-handed opponent will be in a great GSP (good shot position) to easily capitalize on your weak return. So, how do defend against it?

Know that this shot is likely to come your way. Be prepared! If you’re able to mentally ready yourself ahead of time, you’ll be able to adjust more quickly and gain more time to hit your follow-up shot.

But remember, if you’re a right-hander like I am, this will always be considered a weakness. So, don’t try to hit a winner or blow one past your “lefty” opponent in this case. Simply, hit a safe solid (…defensive shot) deep into his backcourt, and you’ll be in great shape.

2. Go Back Down The Line

When a “lefty” hits a shot to your backhand side, you want to strike the ball down-the-line to send it back to your opponent’s weaker side. Yes, the down-the-line stroke will be more difficult because of the height of the net, but by hitting the ball cross-court, it’ll end up in their forehand sweet-spot range (SSR). And you definitely don’t want that to happen.

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When you’re playing a lefty, don’t try to bend him to your will. That won’t work. It’s you that needs to make the adjustments. Try these 2 strategies on your next left-handed opponent, and you’ll have him thinking “Hey, maybe I should have been a right-hander.”

Brian

TennisMindCamp