Should I switch to left handed tennis?

[Eph]

Should I switch to left handed tennis, at least for the serve?

Several people have brought it up over the year after asking for a critique of my serve. I was a pretty good player who could have gone D1/minor leagues, if I wanted. My knee gave out, so I threw out that idea (not that I wanted to, anyway). I was pitching in the high 80s to low 90s as a left handed pitcher (accurately).

When I was a young child and took tennis camp lessons, the coach taught only right handed, so that's how I picked up the racquet, and played. I just got into tennis seriously a year ago, and now play 1-2 hours a day. I'd like to get better, and compete in a tournament before I turn 27 (I'm 21 now). My ultimate goal is to get to the 5.0 level.

So, should I switch? If so, how do I start? How do I teach myself to rebuild my serve from the left side? Is it really like the baseball pitching motion?

What is my next move to become a 5.0 player?

[junbumkim]

I think it's unlikely that you will benefit from switching the serving hand.

I have seen pretty much all of your serve posts, and i know some people recommended you switch to the left hand. It's not an absolutely groundless claim. The serving motion is very similar to throwing motion.

However, you have already so much spent time coordinating your body for serving with the right hand. My guess, you are going to run into just about as much frustration and struggle if not more. And, especially at the age of 21, it is much much harder to make a drastic change.

Another reason is, even though you switch to your left hand, it's unlikely that your serving technique is going to be smooth. Again, your age, limited time to practice, and so on play into the account.

Obviously no one can tell you about the end-result. You could end up with a better serve - God knows by how much -, but I have a feeling that it's not going to be what you hoped for.

[junbumkim]

Another thing I really wanted to mention is,

it will be much better if you went a took a lesson from a real good pro, who is an expert in techniques and teaching techniques.

You post a new video and 30 different people are giving you 30 different opinions. You are forced to filter them out on your own. There is no organized, and systemic approach to building your serve. What you need an instant feedback on site, not 10~20 good advice which you try to incorporate in a wrong order or worse yet at the same time.

You want to practice the same basic motion over and over and over and again with only minor adjustments and addition rather than swithcing between motions.

[lwto]

I play with a college level player, a natural lefty..
he developed tendinitis in his left hand back hand.

Started to hit right hand forehands, now he's pretty good at it..

He decided to try a right hand serve and has gotten a adequate 2nd type serve.

Now he serves left and right and it truly is a nightmare for his opponents.

like all lefties he's got this huge kicking serve out of the box to a righties back hand.. now he's translated it to his right hand and has this huge kicking serve out wide to the deuce court.

Great to have.

[sh@de]

^ I'm trying to do that at the moment. I'm a natural righty, but I started tennis playing with my left. So I have a nasty lefty serve, and I'm trying to use my right hand to emulate that now :p. It's working well because I played badminton with my right hand.

To OP, unless you really have the determination and perseverance, trying to switch hands at this stage is not such a good idea. It takes a loooot of time, and you'll definitely get very frustrated. You might as well spend all that time into improving your current form; if you spend the same amount of time as you would trying to learn with your other hand, you'll definitely see a lot of improvements.

[lwto]

^ I'm trying to do that at the moment. I'm a natural righty, but I started tennis playing with my left. So I have a nasty lefty serve, and I'm trying to use my right hand to emulate that now :p. It's working well because I played badminton with my right hand.

To OP, unless you really have the determination and perseverance, trying to switch hands at this stage is not such a good idea. It takes a loooot of time, and you'll definitely get very frustrated. You might as well spend all that time into improving your current form; if you spend the same amount of time as you would trying to learn with your other hand, you'll definitely see a lot of improvements.

Nice.. I can barely bounce a ball with my left hand.. though, I've been very succesful, and I have found out just how effective it is to have a plausible left handed volley. I play alot of doubles so, especially when I'm on the add side, it becomes very effective, I've stopped and won many a points cause I can cheat to the right.. baiting the opponent to go backhand side. The shot is usally a winner cause its so bad, un orthodox and suprising to the opponent, who is walking back cause they think their shot is a winner.

Nevertheless, its a good shot to have. I recommend it. :)