Ambidextrous tennis?

ubermeyer · Jul 18, 2009

This guy has a whole bunch of videos of ambidextrous tennis players: http://www.youtube.com/user/wholebrainplanet

Basically, they have 2 different forehands, one left handed and one right handed.

Is this just a fringe technique, or might it actually work if these guys became professionals?

Your thoughts please.

tennisnut16 · Jul 18, 2009

I know a girl who does this. Way to beat her: hit at her body (she doesn't know what to do).

Also, how do they volley? 2 forehand volleys would be especially hard on reflex volleys.

zapvor · Jul 18, 2009

i hit with 2 guys who were ambidextrous. very interesting to hit with. i did not notice any blaring weakness. in fact its kind of distracting to you becaue you end up watching haha

firstblud · Jul 18, 2009

now that's god-given talent

volusiano · Jul 18, 2009

I see this guy can only hit forehands off of each side. I think it would be even more advantageous if he could also hit backhands off of both sides, especially on balls that you're out of position and need to reach hard to make up for lost time.

Dreamer · Jul 18, 2009

volusiano said:
I see this guy can only hit forehands off of each side. I think it would be even more advantageous if he could also hit backhands off of both sides, especially on balls that you're out of position and need to reach hard to make up for lost time.

I wonder if it would get too confusing. He should have at least one slice right? weirdness my mind can't wrap my brain around him having two slices, too confusing.

What I really want to see him do is play with two racquets. If I saw that, i'd be intimidated as hell LOL.

mlp · Jul 18, 2009

Dreamer said:
I wonder if it would get too confusing. He should have at least one slice right? weirdness my mind can't wrap my brain around him having two slices, too confusing.

What I really want to see him do is play with two racquets. If I saw that, i'd be intimidated as hell LOL.

Are you even allowed to play with two racquets?

ubermeyer · Jul 18, 2009

mlp said:
Are you even allowed to play with two racquets?

no, he was joking

WildVolley · Jul 18, 2009

I've been predicting for a couple of years that it is only a matter of time before we see a top 100 ranked player hitting forehands off of each side. It seems to be a natural progression for kids that start hitting two handed off each side and then become stronger.

I expect that the player that hits this way will default to hitting a two handed shot when rushed for time.

ubermeyer · Jul 18, 2009

Dreamer said:
I wonder if it would get too confusing. He should have at least one slice right? weirdness my mind can't wrap my brain around him having two slices, too confusing.

Did you know that you can slice your forehand?

Even Roger Federer does it sometimes.

tennisnj · Jul 18, 2009

I played 4 years of D1 college tennis (albeit at the bottom of the singles chain) with 2 forehands. I've been told numerous times in matches & tournaments that people don't know if I'm lefty or righty & which side should they hit to. I started by not being strong enough & hitting 2 hands on both sides b/c my body just wouldn't do it & it seemed that even though I was naturally lefty, I played tennis stronger righty.

VaBeachTennis · Jul 19, 2009

ubermeyer said:
This guy has a whole bunch of videos of ambidextrous tennis players: http://www.youtube.com/user/wholebrainplanet

Basically, they have 2 different forehands, one left handed and one right handed.

Is this just a fringe technique, or might it actually work if these guys became professionals?

Your thoughts please.

It's definitely and interesting concept. As one who has played a LOT of handball, where the better players tend to be somewhat ambidextrous or have a strong "weak hand", this concept is somewhat tempting.

VaBeachTennis · Jul 19, 2009

Dreamer said:
I wonder if it would get too confusing. He should have at least one slice right? weirdness my mind can't wrap my brain around him having two slices, too confusing.

There's nothing stopping him from having a slice backhand from at least his more dominant hand..................................

Physics of Tennis · Dec 2, 2015

tennisnut16 said:
I know a girl who does this. Way to beat her: hit at her body (she doesn't know what to do).

Also, how do they volley? 2 forehand volleys would be especially hard on reflex volleys.

She can use her racket as a forehand or backhand. Maybe she knows what to do, but you are too dim to know any better.

Physics of Tennis · Dec 2, 2015

mlp said:
Are you even allowed to play with two racquets?

Yes, when you play two-racket tennis: www.tworacket.com

Physics of Tennis · Dec 2, 2015

ubermeyer said:
no, he was joking

Why then do you use two hands to pray?

Physics of Tennis · Dec 2, 2015

Dreamer said:
I wonder if it would get too confusing. He should have at least one slice right? weirdness my mind can't wrap my brain around him having two slices, too confusing.

What I really want to see him do is play with two racquets. If I saw that, i'd be intimidated as hell LOL.

Then go to www.tworacket.com

heninfan99 · Dec 2, 2015

firstblud said:
now that's god-given talent

nah many can hit off hand forehands, it's just practice

mightyrick · Dec 2, 2015

I frequently hit a left-handed (offhand) forehand. But I cannot use it unless the situation is very exceptional. If I am running for a ball to my backhand, the angle is extreme, and I simply cannot stretch to get to it... I will hit a left-handed forehand. It probably happens three or four times per match. However, usually because of the speed of the incoming ball, I don't have time to adjust my grip and hold the racquet at the bottom of the handle. So I have to keep the left hand choked up on the handle which is where it would be for a two-handed backhand. The shot can be very effective. I have hit a lot of winners with it -- lobs and drives. The opponent usually thinks they hit an outright winner to your backhand. Then, the ball comes back as either a solid drive or a lob.

All of that being said, I would not recommend it as a primary rally shot. I still consider it to be a low-percentage shot. Much lower than a standard two-handed backhand.

sureshs · Dec 2, 2015

Sharapova sometimes does this. So does one oldie at my club, but both his forehands are lousy so it doesn't matter

Deleted member 23235 · Dec 3, 2015

WildVolley said:
I've been predicting for a couple of years that it is only a matter of time before we see a top 100 ranked player hitting forehands off of each side. It seems to be a natural progression for kids that start hitting two handed off each side and then become stronger.

I expect that the player that hits this way will default to hitting a two handed shot when rushed for time.

Alex/Simon mention that the main issue with 2fh is switching grips under pressure (eg. instead of just a twist of the racquet, it's a handoff + twist),... it's more efficient to just have a 1or2hbh

GuyClinch · Dec 3, 2015

nytennisaddict said:
Alex/Simon mention that the main issue with 2fh is switching grips under pressure (eg. instead of just a twist of the racquet, it's a handoff + twist),... it's more efficient to just have a 1or2hbh

This. Simon can hit quite well from both sides - and serve fairly well from both sides. But the issue is the grip change is too slow. So this is not going to be a thing. Though maybe the serve could be.. not sure if there is any rule against it. Sucks that in baseball there is.. That is such a stupid rule - but I digress.

BMC9670 · Dec 3, 2015

ubermeyer said:
Is this just a fringe technique, or might it actually work if these guys became professionals?

Your thoughts please.

I agree with nytennisaddict's post above. I think it would work fine up to a certain level, but the pro game becomes too fast for the hand position change.

Deleted member 23235 · Dec 3, 2015

ubermeyer said:
This guy has a whole bunch of videos of ambidextrous tennis players: http://www.youtube.com/user/wholebrainplanet

Basically, they have 2 different forehands, one left handed and one right handed.

Is this just a fringe technique, or might it actually work if these guys became professionals?

Your thoughts please.

While I don't think 2fh will be a thing in the future (after seeing the alex/simon video and the comments), I do generally like the idea of training yourself to be ambidextrous from a whole body/brain development standpoint... so thx for the link!

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