World’s Most ANNOYING Tennis Opponent (Secret LEFTY Patterns) - Part 1

#1 Amazon new release for tennis book - Essential Tennis: www.amazon.com/Essential-Tenn... Order your copy today and learn from my top 38 principles for tennis success!
------------
Get your FREE membership to ET Academy and IMPROVE your game now:
Grab 15% off Diadem racquets, strings, bags and more using this discount link: diademsports.com/discount/Ess...
------------
Follow this simple, free 7-Step checklist in your very next match for smarter, more effective play: essentialtennisvideos.com/win...
------------
Looking for the perfect practice partner, match play partner, or qualified coach in your local area? PlayYourCourt will send them directly to the court of your choice! This is the greatest resource on the planet for passionate players looking to maximize their improvement: www.playyourcourt.com/try/et/
------------
MORE HELPFUL LESSONS:
Why Your Forehand is WEAK
• Why Your Forehand is W...
Steal Roger’s Secret Strategy
• Steal Roger's Secret S...
World’s Most Annoying Tennis Opponent (and why they beat you)
• World’s most ANNOYING ...
Aim HERE For Easy Tennis Wins!
• Aim HERE for Easy Tenn...
Stop Standing HERE In Tennis (why you’re losing)
• Stop Standing HERE In ...
Stop Beating YOURSELF At Tennis!
• Stop Beating YOURSELF ...
Hit WINNERS Like Djokovic
• Hit WINNERS like Novak...
Bryan Brothers DON’T Cover This!
• Bryan Brothers DON'T c...
------------
FOLLOW US ONLINE:
Facebook:
/ essentialtennis
Instagram:
/ essentialtennis
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Google Play:
play.google.com/music/m/Idphv...
Twitter:
/ essentialtennis
Stitcher:
www.stitcher.com/podcast/esse...
------------
OUR PRODUCTION GEAR:
Slow Motion Camera: amzn.to/2Lw26Dx
Analysis iPad: amzn.to/2MEeFSM
Drone: amzn.to/2okeSfg
Wireless Mics: amzn.to/2NvluT8
Vlog Camera: amzn.to/2PbivQ5
Ball Machine: amzn.to/2ofFZb6
Camera Tripod: amzn.to/2PLKPJR
Phone Tripod: amzn.to/2MENc3p
------------
Essential Tennis is worldwide leader in digital tennis improvement resources. For over a decade their coaches have been publishing video, audio, and written instruction helping millions of passionate players improve at the game they love.
With content ranging from video lessons, to the first tennis podcast ever published on iTunes, to insightful long form emails giving insight into the improvement process Essential Tennis has the guidance you need to reach your goals and break through to the next level of play.
Their coaches also provide world class in person experiences including group clinics and their exclusive, Milwaukee VIP instructional package.
For more information on lessons, digital training programs, or anything else please send an email to support AT essentialtennis DOT com.
------------
If you can read this you have an impressive scrolling game.
:-)

[@dayostical]

On behalf of the left-handed community, I hereby revoke your lefty card for exposing out secrets. The decision cannot be appealed 👩‍⚖️

[@TennisOreste]

Haha I was going to write the same. Ian still have time to cancel the series.

[@benkofi8570]

I second this motion

[@Froudd]

I third it

[@lucasgonzalez3003]

I fourth the motion

[@demand61]

You’re out Ian. Only right handed scissors for you from now on

[@demand61]

What I love most about being left handed is having the post match beer and opponents going “are you left handed!?!?”. This happens all.the.time.

[@Rwh-nb1zp]

Years ago, I played a left handed player all the time, and he would beat me ALL THE TIME, usually 3-6 or 4-6. I got so frustrated that I went to the library and got a book by the USTA called "How to Beat a Left Handed Tennis Player". I learned how to use a left handed player's spin to my advantage, not to fight it, but to re-direct it back at him. I'd brush up on the ball on the opposite side of where you normally would for a right handed player, and it seemed to use his power and drive it back. I called it "Completing the Circle." So, in our first set after I learned this, I BEAT HIM, 7-5 !!!:-) However, after our match, he never wanted to play again. He never answered my messages... To answer your question, I can do much more with my backhand and am more comfortable with it. From watching your videos, I realize that I am much more fundamentally sound on my backhand, like unit turn, weight shift, racquet face awareness and angle. On my forehand, the point of contact was late, armed it over a lot, did not do unit turn consistently. I am working now on making my forehand more fundamentally sound, with your forehand action plan. It is difficult to change the way that I have done it, but I'm making some progress. I've got a ball machine, so that helps.

[@myronhelton4441]

What you are saying is that you need to hit with a lot of topspin on your backhand side to the lefty forehand to bother lefties. His forehand would love that. The way to beat a lefty is to drill to his backhand. The mistake righty makes is he try to hit winners to a lefty forehand.

[@danielyu2198]

Like: You prefer forehand Comment: You prefer backhand

[@bobobobobobobobobo9393]

I think I like forehand more

[@TheTennisMentor]

Slice BH all day 😅

[@atrem7942]

I cant help to smile when i play and they think they can get away with a short higher ball on my backhand, because it only his backhand... that look 🤣 of total devastation, you can feel their spiritbreaking. their whole game plan down the drain. when looks like he just saw his favorite pub burndown. on nothing but technical en tactical skills. i like to take them to school. if the stars align it's special to see. I play so few matches nobody knows me as a player. it's often one match then the pressure is full on.

[@lintonblaise2356]

Forehand all day

[@spongebob1849]

Forehand all day

[@LivesThatInspire]

Your channel IS REALLY THE BEST. Again a topic which everyone is waiting for. Keep Going!

[@gamerslair6280]

Im not I’m a lefty

[@LivesThatInspire]

😂

[@nick0424]

I prefer my backhand. I am a lefty, but I bat right handed in other sports like golf, baseball, hockey, etc...

[@joseppi4cinqua]

Same here! I like my forehand equally though.

[@millerkidsmiller3733]

Oh my gosh Nick. You just described me perfectaly! I throw left. Swing right in baseball, swing left in tennis, and prefer my backhand. Nobody ever sees that coming.

[@nick0424]

@@millerkidsmiller3733 yeah. I throw people off too. I throw right and bat right handed. In tennis, I serve and overhead right handed and play (groundstroke and volley) left.

[@millerkidsmiller3733]

Wow, I've never heard of a serve and throw one way and a ground stroke the other. That would confuse me too. Are you a highschool player or not? I think my coach ( since I'm in Highschool) would jist tell me too pick one.

[@nick0424]

@@millerkidsmiller3733 I played in highschool from 1994-98. My coach didn't care. I never dropped the racquet or looked awkward. He didn't notice until my junior year! He cared more about conditioning and ran us into the ground cause he was also the basketball coach.

[@TennisTrollChannel]

Finally- video on how to play against lefties.

[@EssentialTennis]

4 part series!

[@unknown634VODS]

You shall perish at our wrath

[@rafaforehand3333]

Ian, Great Video!, I am a Lefty doubles player who recently started playing singles. I was able to use the video to figure out what I should be doing.. If you get a chance could you post a video for lefties best doubles patterns or are they the same?

[@sports4eva115]

"This is like cheating, using the opposite hand" 😂😂😂

[@shameelsolanki9226]

Hi Ian. Great work!! Can you do a series on injuries. I’m suffering with a tennis elbow currently.

[@Juliben001]

once again, awesome video (just like the one about the most annoying player). very helpful!

[@TheTennisMentor]

I’m kind of ok with lefties after years of my BH side being bullied 😅 I’ve developed a really good slice down the line and inside out/in FH. The tricky ones for me are the ones with big lefty kickers, usually takes me a set to get my return timing! Great video as always Ian!💪

[@qmcqueen2429]

While my forehand is a little more versatile I prefer my backhand. I also strike my BH a little harder and with more spin than my FH. I love when people continuously throw it to my backhand hoping for some kind of relief!

[@janetfrancis4386]

Thank you for your channel and videos. There are so few of us. 🙂I am a lefty and I prefer my backhand. I tend to hit a flat forehand and need to work on my forehand top spin.

[@kcazzzzz]

the most annoying thing about lefties is their serve. i think 4 out of 5 of the match points (40-0; 40-15; 40-30; A-40), they can use slice serves to pull opponents wide. thats 1 of their main advantage against other players. while for righties, only 1 of the match points (40-15) on the side of the court where they can use a slice serve to pull opponents wide. this applies for break points as well. 4 of the lefty's break point is on the ad side of the court (0-40; 15-40; 30-40; 40-A), while only 1 is on the deuce side. that means if a righty tries to open the court with a wide serve on break point, their serves will be moving into the lefty's forehand. so in total, 6 out of the possible 8 game winning points favors the lefties, which is huge

[@caocaohehe]

Yes

[@tennisparisbrothers8001]

@@albertcamus5970 yes my brother serves so effectively on the ad side!! We post videos of lefty forehands and backhands

[@kcazzzzz]

@Kirds to Plowshares a good slice serve will move the ball out of the court and even into the stands after it lands due to the spin. in order for righties to do that on the ad side of the court, they have to use the kick serve. the kick serve does not swerve as much as the slice serve, and the ad court is where nearly all of the match points are played at. a lefty with a slice serve can spin the ball wide on the ad court due to him being left handed, but a righty's slice serve can't. they can only do that on the deuce side of the court

[@redrocklead]

@Kirds to Plowshares My buddy only plays lefties (Me, his Father in Law, and another) He struggles when league begins because he rarely sees right handed serves.

[@flicksta]

This is the thing people don't traditionally realise when playing me as a left handed player. Right handed players don't serve much down the T on the ad side as it's to a RH FH. They serve mostly to my FH as it's their familiar serve. However, as said below even though the court is symmetrical, points from which you can win or save game are asymmetrical. Ad in, Ad out, 40-30, 30-40, 40-0, 0-40 are all ad court, only 15-40 and 40-15 are deuce court.

[@RedesignYourLifeNow]

I appreciate this video so much because I have been playing like a rightie for the last few years and I am a leftie. I was struck that I was losing matches and I was playing to my opponents strengths. Duh! So the leftie is finding his groove again and creating annoying matches for my opponents. Thank you.

[@janetrace4485]

I prefer my forehand but many times under pressure my backhand is more consistent. I’m a righty but play against a lefty pretty regularly and I usually try to get her running to hit the forehand then it opens the court to hit to her backhand. I really like your videos cuz I can readily apply the strategies to matches.

[@Tech0BG]

The root of all problems is exactly what you have said - lefties play 90% against righties and right handed players only 10% against lefties, so it's hard to practice. Righties can hit the same slice serve and make lefties life hard, but we rarely practice it unlike the left handers.

[@connorbrown1895]

I prefer my backhand honestly. I feel like it’s consistency and control is more dependable than the power of my forehand. Against even leveled players, I often approach more off my cross court backhand than any forehand shot

[@millerkidsmiller3733]

Yes, I love the control of the backhand, to me it zeems obvious that two hands = more control and consistancy.

[@captainchaos1311]

i love backhands

[@lorinjohnson1349]

Thanks for this info. It’s very helpful. Unfortunately, my backhand is the strongest. My forehand is a work in progress. 🙃

[@007avartar]

Well worked alot on my backhand this year so i feel realy good with my backhand at the Moment

[@BIGLOVE4TRUTH]

I’m a lefty and other fellow lefty’s give me trouble

[@BIGLOVE4TRUTH]

I played a set against one today...I was Mr. shank a potamous for several points against him😡

[@cfoples]

same

[@EssentialTennis]

@@BIGLOVE4TRUTH Help on the way!

[@robertkelly1357]

Yup. I’m a lefty, and playing another lefty is a pain.

[@cotasa]

Haja same

[@amarijayamari]

You make some good points and as a left-side player I play left-handers seldom and confront some of the same frustrations as the other righties. I prefer my forehand but have a tendency to hook the ball too much- I like to hit it flat on my forehand side, and also pronate and top the serve, especially on the duece side. The righ to left issue is great, and I might also add that left-handers are more right-handed than right-handers, only because we have to practice living in a predominantly right-handed world.

[@jakeheap7197]

I drill on hitting my backhand safely and DEEP down the line. Cross-court is NOT my only backhand shot. I can't afford be that predictable.

[@binnyboy2472]

I prefer coming in with the forehand but I think my backhand is better on a rally ball and is more consistent. I think it has to do with how I use a lot of top spin on my forehand which is more risk while my backhand is flatter and slower most of the time.

[@TennisOreste]

Lefty here :) Lately I've played against righties with better, more consistent, backhand than forehands. That's a problem. After losing a couple of matches, I ended up playing as if they were fellow lefties (without the serve) and the game became much more even.

[@redrocklead]

As a lefty, when facing a strong backhand I like to position on the duece side and look for short balls and hit them inside out to get them running. If successful, they at best hitting a defensive ball to your inside in forehand. Occasionally they get it back to your backhand but not often. I practice long 6-10 shots inside out rallies then play the point out. Each forehand progressively wider to their forehand. Clean net winner are worth 2 points. Cardio intensive.

[@TennisOreste]

@@redrocklead Very useful, thanks! I'll try your exercise, despite my sad current cardio status.

[@redrocklead]

@@TennisOreste Honestly sometimes we only have an hour at lunch to get max cardio and tennis strokes. Playing competitive rally drills is more efficient than a set. Based on Charge 3 data it's greater exercise physically but not same mental pressure as ad out serving.

[@TennisOreste]

@@redrocklead Completely agree. I love to compete, but without a correct cardio preparation, you will end up exhausted all your matches. At least these types of exercises are interesting and add tools to our game. Great talk

[@martinabisse5418]

Personally, I'm a left-handed player and unlike many players, I love playing my backhand, much more than a forehand, I also like playing backhand shift, which seems incongruous for my teacher ... and I was asking myself a question: as I prefer the cross shots, suddenly, I find myself playing the forehand of the right-handed people and which is not good news for me obviously ... what can I do to keep "the power" in my points?

[@redrocklead]

Spending time learning how to hit inside out backhands. Inside out lefty backhand with Rafa spin often has your opponents quitting on balls early. If it crosses the sideline before the baseline, it's money.

[@mravi2583]

i prefer backhand and thanks for making such great videos!!!!!!!!!!!

[@marinaa4767]

Thank you so much for the video for lefties, please , do some more , because 99% of videos it is about how to improve right handed players but you only one provided a video about how to improve your game being lefty, please, show more strategies😊 for players like you!

[@marcnoble9319]

I enjoy playing lefties. I really like the challenge and in the long run, it strengthens my backhand. I just have to keep reminding myself what my strategy is which you sometimes you forget while playing but at every break in play, I remind myself that I'm playing a lefty and have to reverse my usual tendencies. I think it makes you a better player so why get frustrated. There is one lefty I play once in awhile and he has such a terrible backhand but he's fast so he tries to over rely on his forehand by standing in the middle of the court when I serve to the Ad side so I serve right down the center which ends up being a body shot for him. It really throws him off.

[@eventconvite]

I'm a tenist from Brazil and I want to congratulate you for your terrific didatic and for turning apparently "obvious things" into eligthinning knowledge

[@shattonius]

Ian, how do you deal with players that play directly at the net (like, literally hips to the net)? A few players on my team play that way and seem to be able to hit any ball no matter where it gets sent to, and the randomness of their volleys can either send it horizontally into the lane or pile drive it down the center.

[@benkofi8570]

As a lefty, this is interesting to watch. I also don't love playing other lefties because it forces my changeup tactic of going bh to bh. Also, Ian (and any other lefty's in the comments) is it just me or are many people surprisingly slow to realise that they are playing a lefty a lot of the time? I would have that wouldn't be the case because imo it's such a rare and sudden optical and gameplay change that I usually realise nearly instantly but a lot of the time it takes people 10-40 mins to realise. The next video is about to be me watching other people use the same means of torture that I've used since 2009. Great video though Ian. P.S. Do you also dislike playing lefties, Ian?

[@redrocklead]

As a lefty, I notice all lefties, especially wait staff. My wife is right handed. I once danced with a left handed woman. It was a revelation.

[@benkofi8570]

@@redrocklead 😂

[@NoRoads2AllRoads]

Ian, would you be able to tell me what is that app that enables you to have different layers on your screen? This would be amazing for my athletes instead of me drawing on a board, having this as a visual.

[@barryjohnson1330]

I am a lefty, prefer my forehand but working on my one handed backhand. As a lefty playing double my partners usually prefer to keep forehands up the middle, which ends up putting me in the situation of taking serves for the most part on backhand.

[@chickenman2312]

I'm a lefty LOL. People have a hard time returning my serve.

[@mehtabsinghcheema8356]

All because you probably hit on our backhand side.

[@Jamsome59]

@@mehtabsinghcheema8356 technically right handed players can hit to OUR backhands it’s not that us lefts are the only ones allowed to do that lol. Your not as used to it but it goes both ways.

[@xawee7254]

my forehand has lethal potential and when in rythm is my prefered shot.. However my backhand is steady shot I can always rely on and prefer it when I'm not playing so well.. aka my forehand is inconsistent still atm

[@molteni3]

Ian, I am a lefty and surprisingly, I LOVE to hit backhands. I am much more accurate and more powerful hitting BH. Now I know CW says the forehand should be the stronger side but honestly, I don't know why. Take baseball, which is another stick and ball sport, which one would you prefer to bat? Try hitting a baseball forehand. To me swinging away from the body is much more comfortable to do than swinging back into your body. Forehands are tricky for me but backhands I can just step in and smack the sucker. I know, I'm just a 3.5 rec player but those are my thoughts.

[@martinabisse5418]

Me too... maybe it should be because , as lefty, we often get the ball on our backhand and if we don't spontaneously offset forehand, we practice our backhand again and again and it always gets better?

[@thescarletrose9100]

As a leftie I like my forehand for my power shots and to keep the right handers on their backhand but my backhand is usually more consistent.

[@eincan1313]

As a lefty I tell my righty partners all the time, every shot I have (crosscourt to bh, slider serve to the ad side) you have the same shots on me. They look at me like I have two heads. I would say the only advantage a lefty has is that I face primarily right handed players and they don’t see many left handed players. My regular hitting partners it is not such a problem anymore for them. Thanks for the video.

[@susiebolt4021]

I'm a righty and prefer my backhand so I don't usually have trouble against lefties. I'm working on improving my forehand, but it's amazing how many opponents are so set in their patterns that they never figure out that my forehand is weaker. Even when I run around it to hit a backhand. You'd that would be a clue.

[@danm4037]

Been working a lot on my forehand, and it's starting to overtake my backhand as my preferred shot, but I still consider my backhand a strength. I'd say right now, I can do a bit more damage with my forehand, but my backhand is usually more reliable. (BTW, I'm a lefty.)

[@mrmaxmo1670]

I prefer my forehand as a weapon, but I am not afraid to pull the trigger on my backhand if someone hits a weaker or shorter shot to it. However, I tend to like to hit a solid deep ball with at least some spin to hopefully set up my forehand.

[@tenniswarrior-holistictenn2818]

Teichmann against Shelby Rogers today in semis in Lexington

[@gaylewashburn1137]

Thanks Ian. I am a lefty and like playing the ad side for my strong forehand to their backhand. But, if my partner is a stronger player than me, we switch and have our forehands in the middle - and the stronger player on the ad side. Now my weaker backhand gets hammered. Should I just stick to the ad side no matter what?

[@harvinderkaursehgal8507]

Plz tell what we should keep the mindset while playing the tennis Or if we are down in our match or game

[@benkofi8570]

Keep telling yourself things like "It's not over" and "I can still win this" when your losing and general short positive sayings when you're level/up. If you're nervous, take your time, don't let yourself get rushed by your opponent. I hope I've helped you

[@mrdeshapiro]

As a lefty, my backhand seems to be what I got shot back with from righty forehands and I seem to play more right-handed people, so my backhand has become pretty good.

[@Arturwozere]

As a righty I used to not have much of a preference, FH was the weapon of choice, but BH rallies more consistent and kept opponents under alot of pressure. Now as a lefty I certainly do prefer my FH only because I have not yet managed to find my preference in two handed or one handed BH.

[@patrickdear911]

As a leftie myself I have found that my backhand has actually improved over the years as right handers try to play on it. My forehand has always been strong so I do exactly what you said in the video, and try to pin them on their backhand. If they do manage to flip it back to hitting on my backhand I have found a deep slice down the line helps to put a rightie back on his backhand again. As a fellow leftie I expect you know all this. Look forward to the next video.

[@benkofi8570]

@Patrick Dear if you watch Rafa he uses the bh slice down the line to get his forehand into play just like you do. It's truly a god tier move when done well

[@patrickdear911]

@@benkofi8570 absolutely. The sliced back hand is something Rafa has developed to neutralise opponents and gain the upper hand again in the rally.

[@anacap007]

This is where developing a good DTL BH shot is necessary for both types to effectively change the pattern. But you also need to defend well on the BH side.

[@AcingTennis]

As a righty - my forehand is strongest like most players - but its so much more satisfying to win a point on a strong backhand winner. JUST FEELS SO GOOD.

[@JiraiyaSama86]

Honestly, I think even if the righty knows what to do, the issue is the patterns. It's not patterns that they use as frequently. I think the issue in general is that fact that they normally have to use patterns that they don't normally play as often in terms of where to place the ball. Another thing I think should be noted is how a lefty might have the more solid backhand due to possibility that they likely have played enough righties to develop it. Probably the most frustrating part is the serve. The trajectory is different. Overall, I think it depends on how the player generally plays. Many righties tend to play most of their game from the ad court, especially those with big forehands. Those players also tend to have better forehands from the ad court. It really depends on how they play the game.

[@wolvyakapatch]

I believe my forehand and backhand are pretty close in effectiveness, i do feel that footwork / positioning wise its easier to do more when hitting forehands.

[@bryanwu9215]

Although I am right-handed, I prefer to hit at my two handed backhand side. So all I need to do is imitate the tactic used by David Nalbandian or Rafael Nadal(Only imagine his great forehand as my backhand). Thank you Ian for your another great video!

[@alisonspray7782]

My backhand is better than my forehand. I have tried for years to get forehand top spin, which I can do, but it is very inconsistent. I tighten up and poke, while my backhand is a slice and much more fluid with a full follow-through.

[@AS-ws2se]

I’m a lefty. I usually do forehand to backhand during matches. I was actually wondering why people don’t do the same to me on the deuce side. Your point that lefties get to practice that pattern a lot more totally makes sense though! Really insightful. I do have one question. Why is the lefty slice serve considered so nasty? Cause the way i see it, righties could do the same when they’re on the deuce side; so it kind if evens out. Am I missing something?

[@Jetpackninja]

As a righty, I think the slice serve on the ad side is problematic for the same reason as the FH to BH pattern. We don't face it enough, so we are not use to returning that wide slice that also is going to our BH. Meanwhile, a lefty facing a righty likely has a lot of practice returning slice serves on the deuce side. Also, righties don't hit the wide slice on the deuce side as frequently as lefties do on the ad side because it plays to most opponents' FH.

[@torrubirubi]

Exactly. Our brain reacts completely wrong when returning a slice serve, as we don’t face such opponents regularly.The ball will get to your body. The smart lefties will change the serve regularly, so you can’t get used to the pattern. When you think you know what to do with the slice - BOOOM!, he plays flat or topspin.

[@myronhelton4441]

I'm right handed. My serve slices like crazy to left handers backhand. I barely got beat by a lefty high school champion. I was absolutely amazed & tickled that he never sliced to me. I was amazed that a girl beat me once that was a super player. I was so proud of her. My backward poor area of the country had the best non professional tennis players in the nation when tennis was the strongest. A 10 year old won here once. There were 2 tennis ages. The 10 year older than me Billie Jean Bobby Riggs age (that got tennis started ) that came to the net, my group was the 10 years younger Connors group that stayed back. These old strong fat short men with better balance were the best. Going away from wood rackets ruined the game. I am right handed & ambidextrous with the best 2 handed backhand around, the rest of my game isnt as good. Leftys low shots to my 2 handed backhand were back aching to pick up. I cant hit with 1 back hand. Most people with great serves, the rest of their game is weak.

[@bobbennett2075]

I’m a lefty myself and still have trouble playing against one.

[@dadsfreetimeclassicgaming1220]

im a lefty who enjoys their inside out forehand. what a waste

[@Jamsome59]

Bob Bennett I’m a lefty also, and have the same issue it’s because we are used to playing forehand-backhand and vise versa, so with 2 players with the same dominant hand rallies can last longer because both can hit cross court with their consistant BH.

[@timh2066]

Hey, i started playing tennis 4 months ago or atleast around 4 months ago, i just turned 16 and i can finally beat a 6, so do you think i can become like a 3. These are dutch rankings, i dont know if they are different somewhere else👍 I dont know if it matters but, my forehand is pretty good, my backhand is really bad, i can hit with topspin and my serve is decent

[@NoRoads2AllRoads]

Exactly! Whenever someone tells me... oh a lefty has an advantage! No it does not. It's the exact same thing just mirrored. You have the same angles and exploitations. IF ANYTHING, the only advantage I give to lefties, is that they get to use slice serves and opening the court with the serve on difficult points against them (think 30-40 ... Ad out and so forth). In these cases, they can use their slice serve while a righty only gets to use their slice serve on the deuce side (usually more neutral points).

[@NoRoads2AllRoads]

@@albertcamus5970 ? No it doesn't. A kick to the back hand out wide From the ad side, kicks inwards. If on deuce, then it kicks out towards your forehand if wide or to body if down the T. A righty is exactly the same but on reverse. A lefty doesnt have kicks both to backhand. If your mean the slice serve from ad to the backhand, well, you as a righty have the exact same serve from the deuce side to a lefty s backhand.

[@NoRoads2AllRoads]

@@albertcamus5970 and? So do yours, to the lefty only just mirrored (from deuce side outwide to lefty backhand, and down the middle from ad side). There's no advantage here, other than as I said a lefty has the slice outwide on more important points usually (from ad side)

[@NoRoads2AllRoads]

@@albertcamus5970 I'm not taking offense. What I'm saying is, you have the exact same weapons a lefty has. Against a lefty, your slice serve ALSO goes to their backhand, so it's a moot point saying lefties have an advantage against rughties because they don't. Yes they slice goes to your backhand but so does your slice serve to them. Your as a righty have the exact same weapons as a lefty it's just reversed/mirrored

[@jaidenoutofcontext7290]

After a break from tennis i still could do my forehand but not my backhand Lefty squad

[@lawfence11]

If during CC (ad side) rallies, your forehand or the opponent’s forehand is significantly stronger than your backhand, I would try to walk around and hit inside out forehands. They may get tempted by the open court from you walking around your backhand, they hit down the line and then you get the advantage in the CC (deuce side) rally. Otherwise, you’ll wait for a ball you can comfortably go down the line with (preferably something that sits in the middle of the court and you can hit an inside in forehand).

[@barbmedlin3362]

I love hitting back hands - mine is 1 handed. I have a fair amount of control on this side and easily can change directions. My forehand is a flatish and 2 handed. I can do all kinds of things with it, disguise not the least of it. I have been told the ball comes over the net with opposite spin. It does force errors for no observable reason. The ball most often, is returned into the net.

[@EssentialTennis]

Awesome, good for you!

[@Whisper555]

1. Lefty's tend to have good backhands because of the 90/10 experience 2. Lefty's don't get hurt with their backhands by going down the middle of their opponents AD Court (Yes technically down the line) because the easy shot cross court is straight into the Lefty strength or the right handed backhand is now trying to hit down the line. I suspect you are going to go into this in your next set of videos

[@diddominicthiemwintoday6731]

As a righty I understand and use all this. I happen to win most of my matches against lefties. When people always talk about Rafa’s forehand to Roger’s backhand I respond with that equal opportunity pattern. I like to go to their forehand also because it’s commonly their better shot but it’s less consistent.

[@redrocklead]

Many Lefties are two handed athletes. Many batted right handed, golfed right handed, I throw righty. Two handed backhand is there best shot. 10,000 hours right handed in other sports makes for solid two handed backhands often the first power shot. I get zero second serves to my backhand from skilled opponents. 3 BH seconds in 5 matches.

[@stevlehr]

I'm left handed. I can hit my forehand harder than my backhand but my two handed backhand may become my more consistent ground stroke. I can choose to play two handed or one handed on either side. When playing someone new, don't assume backhand weakness. Especially don't judge a stroke by its mechanical flaws (at least in recreational play). I played a lot with a right hander who has an odd looking backhand. It requires a lot of strength but he has that. It is his best stroke.

[@mcurtisallen]

The real issue with lefties isn't the position strategy (once you know where to put the ball), it's the fact that their spin travels in the opposite direction. Since most players are right-handed, it's very hard to get your timing right since most people have little experience with lefties. I end up mishitting way more than I would otherwise and giving up unforced errors as a consequence.

[@joshuasingyard5617]

I prefer my backhand, but will always put this down the line to a left handed backhand. This ensures that I have continually got shots on my terms. [The backhand down the line is not easy with a single handed backhand]

[@--..FC..--]

thanks

[@bbogdanmircea]

Now just imagine a player that has huge lefty Topspin that gets you out of court, but is actually a right handed player converted to lefty so he has also very strong backhand... Oh wait ...

[@vlesmeries]

Righty here and I love playing lefties because I love hitting my 1BH or 2BH. FH is not as steady.

[@geutz2000]

I am righty but prefer my backhand (one-handed, thank you McEnroe, Becker and co): feels more natural to me and also have the possibility to annoy my opponent with slice. Forehand is more technical and does not forgive approximation.

[@gojugojujohn]

You failed to note a left handed player will develop a stronger backhand do to hitting a right handed forehand on the on set of learning the game, Further becasue left handed people have learned to adapted to do right handed activities with their left hand throughout life. We learn to throw, write, catch, sew and type with or left hand. This nature adaption to a right hand world has made us unique, Just look to baseball which is a dominant right handed game. However the most valuable player on a team is a left handed pitcher.

[@joskerenkens8747]

My forehand is more defensive (a lot of spin), which can be very affective sometimes. However, my backhand is a lot more powerfull, so I prefer hitting these.

[@DillPlays]

Ayyyeee getting featured again!! Thank you! Everyone else feel free to check out my other videos on my channel.

[@bodyenigma]

I’m the oddball lefty player. I prefer to play doubles on the deuce side, and my strongest shot is my backhand. My question is, what’s the best way to play on the add side of the court as a lefty. I’m concerned that the net player will poach my return when its going to my forehand.

[@redrocklead]

I only play tennis lefthand. I am left-handed and more importantly left eye dominant, but a right handed athlete. I throw right handed, I preferred right handed lacrosse and hockey shots. The advantage of Ad serving is truly one thing that clearly is unfair. Naturally I love a flat inside in two handed backhand return. It feels like a pulled HR when batting RH in softball or a side armed RH off hip lacrosse shot from 12 yards. I always ask lefties about handedness in other sports. If they are right handed in other sports watch out for the two handed BH.

[@NamesAreRandom]

I am a lefty and really the only advantage should be that we are stronger on the adv serve points. However I think a lefties main advantage is we are just much more used to playing forehand to backhand, and basically have much more solid backhands.

[@SamUel-eb5zm]

I regularly play a leftie who’s favourite ‘get out of backhand jail’ card is to run around the backhand and hit a cross court forehand slice that stays low and fast and swings wide - I’m not superman but that shot is my kryptonite!

[@SamUel-eb5zm]

The channel is fantastic btw, so much great content!

[@Pastarastaman100]

As a lefty i have to say I really don't appreciate this video 😂

[@tomswiss7128]

I'm very fortunate. I actually play, very often, with a friend who is a lefty. Therefore, my backhand is actually quite solid. Ando so, when i play against a righty, i'm usually confident

[@jamespearsoniii914]

Lefty here😁. I trust my backhand more, to not make a mistake. But my forehand hits the winners

[@yonexfan12]

Lefty here with a very good one handed backhand topspin and deadly slice and average forehand I guess I just handicapped my lefty advantage a bit, but that's ok, the serve is where it's at.

[@yonexfan12]

Oh, and I can play a whole match without someone figuring this out, they attack my backhand and never serve to my forehand lol, especially doubles if I play deuce side.

[@delaneypatee5517]

Well I’m starting out tennis now and I’m actually left dominate but can play almost to equally as well with my right. So really if they switch over to try to hit at me back hand I can just switch to my right hand and hit it back FH

[@KittiChan1]

I have been playing against a lot of lefties recently. Their serve especially on the ad side has been a big issue for me. I had to stand completely outside of the single court to get the ball back because they really like to slice serve it to the outside leaving the court wide open a bunch of time. I won against them all because they were lower level players but I don't want to imagine how much trouble I would get if they were at a similar level.

[@_SamuelOngkyMahendraTatawijaya]

I am a Lefty. And I would say that for experienced players against lefty, sometimes (+-30% of the time) that pattern did not work. Cause both players will try to make more and more riskier move down the line using their backhand. And most of lefty train their backhand more than normal player (because of the main set of 'I must ready to receive my oppenent strong forehand shot with my backhand'). So, that would be slightly advantage for lefty if you use that strategy. In my opinion (cause i am lefty), the most things that make me uncomfortable is low ball on my forehand. I can hit all kind of ball with my backhand and make a decent shot (i can always rely on my backhand to defend my ground) as long as i can reach the ball in time. But, 90% of the time, if there is a low ballin my forehand, my shot become suck, and the only thing that my forehand can do just make a lob shot. And the second things is use the strategy in video and a few add straight line shot on lefty forehand to caught lefty off guard. Sometimes its work

[@autiger621]

I’m a lefty and prefer my two handed backhand. I get way more topspin and can therefore put more power in the shot

[@gypsy317]

Ian thx for the interesting video, You never responded to my question, why are you endorsing/promoting the in/out line device? Do you really believe it's a worthwhile device to use? Have you tried playing a set with it? Unfortunately I bought two and they are total junk. I guess it's possible you actually think they work but really (really, really) unlikely. You seem pretty sincere in your mission/vision so it's disappointing to see you endorse something that doesn't work.

[@jeffrudzinski]

I think the harder part is that even IF the RH player figures it out and tries to flip it so that they're hitting FH to the left's BH, the lefty has so much more exposure to right handed players that we're more likely to win the battle of the backhands. Like serving, yeah we can get you guys on the ad court pretty hard, but you could (hypothetically) do the exact same to us on the deuce side..the thing is...we're just way more use to it so you swinging a serve out to our backhand isn't really anything new. We simply get more reps and that is ultimately what give the edge. It also shouldn't be lost that left handed people are right-brain dominant, so they're typically more creative. For me that's been the biggest advantage. IMO right handed players like to play the game very mechanically, and just changing it up on them really f's them up.

[@shadycharcoal9043]

I prefer my backhand. Very reliable and consistent and i play the backhand trap a lot cross court

[@martinrosemary5654]

I am a lefty, still in development but my strong side is my backhand, my slice bk cause i still can t hit a bk drive.., and my forehand is my weekness, i keep hiting late and missing.., i think i can fix it if i work on it but still, my strongest side will always be my backhand slice, how can i run my oponent if i im not cinsistent whit crosscout forehand and then they hit down the line i give them time to recover whit my slice that even if its a strong slice it s still not very ofensive...

[@tw3937]

I'm a newer player so I might be out of my depth here but why not use a slice here? If the opponent is getting in a groove a slice can change the temp no? It's probably bad technique but I mix in the slice a lot since people only expect it as a defensive play.

[@virtualyme7659]

In my opinion the serve seems like the biggest hurdle against a lefty. It's one of the things I can't control as opposed to the pattern of play. The wide slice and the ball kicking up in a seemingly uncharacteristic from a lefty spin can prove problematic

[@LarzB]

In my case i prefer my backhand in cross ralies. Only in receiving a serve i prefer a forehand. I actually enjoy hitting cross court with lefties.. the problem i have is that I'm so programmed to go cross court on the add side that i forget to target the left handed weakness, which generally is also the backhand, just less pronounced as they play so many right handed players So my problem is that i play a left handed player like it is a right hander.

[@oliviamou60]

I prefer backhand..........may i know why forehand is usually better than backhand though???? could you make a video on t hat please? thank you.

[@aaravmodey7544]

I’m lefty irl and I actually prefer my backhand. I might look annoying because of the trade off you showed but now it would be strength to strength or weakness to weakness.

[@josephhall1625]

I'm ambidextrous so for me its a win win, note I self-taught myself how to play righty and and 60% of the time I prefer to play righty even though I was born Lefty It really helps my game.😊

[@myronhelton4441]

I am ambidrextrous. I know you are weak on one side. Am I correct.

[@josephhall1625]

@@myronhelton4441 yes but i weird way my right hand serve is stronger than my left but my shots are stronger on. My left then my right. I'm technically a lefty. Tho

[@ericshine1]

Hey... I just watched the first set of this match!

[@EssentialTennis]

Analysis coming!

[@ericshine1]

@@EssentialTennis That was great. Now I'm going to go watch the set again. :-) And great tag at the end of your vid! Hahaha

[@paddlepower888]

I have the superhuman ability to blow both backhand and forehands under the best of conditions, so the lefty "issue" doesn't matter. Due to a RH injury sustained in a bike accident, I began learning left handed FH last fall with semi-Western grip. Now that my RH is mostly healed, I'm retraining my RH to use semi-Western grip. Having KZbin has helped my progress. Next step: get a ball machine.

[@scottmackie2821]

I like hitting my forehand...but I hit more winners with my backhand. It is less prone to errors.

[@Tycy2014]

Lefty here, used to prefer my backhand when I played all the time, I knew that if I was playing right handed players they would hit to my back hand a lot, my strategy was to just hit cross court with them till they finally got down the line on my forehand side then when they did I would run and crack it down the line or cross court, it was a 50/50 that would end the point most of the time.

[@EssentialTennis]

Thanks for leaving your experiences!

[@h1ppoh1ppo]

Not essentially the how to beat righties as lefties but i bet its also as interesting too for me as a lefty :)

[@EssentialTennis]

Yup, you'll want to know this!

[@trltroll5378]

Since I’m so used to playing righties I forget their serve spins the other way and their slice 😂