No backhand?

[dekap]

i was curious if anyone doesnt have a back hand meaning you could forehand with both hands. im a lefty and new to tennis but since im learning from scratch, ive been practicing doing right handed forehands as well. im curious if anyone tried to do this

[AznHylite]

I wouldn't actually practice with your other hand. When the ball is heading towards you very quickly, you won't have time to switch hands.

[SoBad]

I've only seen one (female) open-level player hit forehands from both sides in competition. But why not go for it, if you can do it, ambed...(?) is rare, so just have fun with it:)

[ananda]

well, if you could develop a forehand on both hands then sometimes when you have time to setup, like a high ball, you could have time to slug it as a forehand rather than a bh.
although praps you could run arround and take it as a fh on your dominant side. but my point is that the option is open, its not like you HAVE to use both forehands.

one situation could be on the serve. you could pick a high kick serve with a forehand on both sides.

[Commando Tennis Shorts]

wouldn't you lose time by fumbling for the forehand grip? moving to a backhand grip takes a lot less time

[volusiano]

And in theory, if you can be ambidextrous, why not learn both the forehand and backhand using both arms? Then you can pick and choose whether to use a LHFH or a RHBH when the ball is on your left, or vice-versa. Wouldn't this give you the most option?

The question is, can you decide fast enough in your brain which one to use? LOL

[desilvam]

You could use 2 rackets, one in each hand, on your return games if it was not illegal :D

[Sliceboy2]

I had learned to hit a lefty forehand (I'm a right handed) that is when I was learning my two handed backhand. It just to grove my left hand to be the dominant on 2HBH. I did not really do it on games. I guess if you could comfortably groove both hands why not.

[origmarm]

I've seen quite a few players hit with both hands on both sides i.e. 2HBH and a 2 handed forehand. If you take the "Agassi" method for hitting a 2HBH you should be pushing with the left hand anyhow (assuming you are right handed), i.e bitting it like a kind of forehand with other hand guidance. Apply this on both sides and you could in theory hit a 2hander on both sides and play this somewhat like a forehand on both sides.
I think its possible but I'm not convinced its a very good idea

[Gram Parsons]

I hit a 1H forehand on both sides.
I so far have found no issue from the baseline.

As I hussle back from making a shot, both hands come on to the handle and which ever wing it is going down, that hand assumes control.

Issues however:

Volleys are a problem, so you have to have a decent backhand volley. This can be learned - although I'm struggling a bit.

Another major issue is returning a good body serve. I can back hand slice well - so that helps a bit. To hit a body serve with a forehand is a bit of a nightmare.

Last is when you are faced with an opponet at the net and they are rapidly hitting balls back deep. You do feel a little rushed on the grip change

Basically I would say its impossible to have no backhand. And that's coming from someone who is fairly well groved on both wings. A rudimentary one is essential, even if it's just to keep you in the point. To be honest, I can hit a passable 2HBH I think because my non-dom hand (right) is nicely grooved with a forehand, even when I don't practice them.

I would also say that I do not play at a sufficiently high a level to tell you that you may get found out against very good players.

Smashing overheads with either hand is very cool though :-)

I don't regret pursuing it for a second. But that's just me. It feels a bit more exploratory in terms of how you play the game.