Junior who is naturally left handed but plays right handed

[Oz_Rocket]

So this is something I've been aware of for years but wanted to find out if anyone had been through something similar. My 12yo son is naturally left handed but has learned to do most things with his right hand including writing, batting in cricket and playing tennis.

From a young age he drew and picked everything up with his left hand and still kicks left footed and when doing something new (pool, guitar, etc) he naturally does it left handed. It was only when he went to kindergarten that he started to use his right hand to draw and then write. I'd say he's close to being ambidextrous but with a definite bias to his left hand/foot.

The problem is now that he's doing very well in tennis (close to top 50 for his age in the country with multiple wins against a several top 20-30 players) but is finding that he just doesn't have enough strength in his right arm to develop his forehand into a weapon. His double handed backhand is lethal and easily his best side.

We've just left things for now but before he hits the 14s later this year I wondered if anyone had seen this and had any advice? Obviously changing to conventional left handed play would take years. He tried a two handed forehand (lefty double handed backhand) and it felt weird but if he could do it then it has the potential to be sensational. I'm almost thinking just strengthen up the right arm when he can do weights??

 

[SpinToWin]

Nadal is the same in the opposite direction AFAIK and he has one of the greatest forehands ever so…. Just keep working on it I'd say, no need to make major changes IMO, he'll be strong enough eventually.

 

[LeeD]

Serve is the key, can he serve lefty?
2nd point is forehands. Can he hit effective lefty forehands?
3rd point is volleys, can he volley left handed?

 

[Alien]

It is unfortunate because lefties have an advantage, that he lost when playing right. Yes he can strengthen his right arm, I don't think that the natural hand is stronger but usually more able. Muscles can be enlarged and hyperttophed but nerve connections I am not sure. I would double the training of his forehand comparatively with the amount of time he dedicates to his backhand and then maybe do some weights.

 

[Oz_Rocket]

Thanks for the thoughts. As much as it would be an advantage the boat has definitely sailed on him being a lefty and it comes down to managing what has as best we can. When he started tennis we had no idea he'd do as well as he would so it wasn't an issue.

The few times we've tried a lefty forehand it is obvious he would take a long time to adjust. Then as LeeD says he would need to do a whole lot more than that. Never tried a serve so might give that a go just out of interest. His right handed serve is good (110-115kmh flat) and he's hoping it can become a weapon. Mine was 180-190kmh back in the day and he'd like to get close to that but it might be hard.

The most noticeable issue he has is creating pace on his forehand. If he gets pace from the other player he can generally match it with good technique and using his legs and body. Short balls he can take high and redirected fairly easily to the sides of the court. But with slow deep balls he has trouble generating a lot of racquet head speed to send them back with interest. So he tends to send them back deep to the corners with some shape.

He hasn't had a growth spurt for a while so is slightly smaller than most other kids his own age and he won't be able to do weights for while. Thankfully we've got a ball machine so combined with resistance band work I've been feeding him plenty of slow deep forehands. It is slowly working but until he gets more size and strength I guess we won't know.

 

[JBH]

Thanks for the thoughts. As much as it would be an advantage the boat has definitely sailed on him being a lefty and it comes down to managing what has as best we can. When he started tennis we had no idea he'd do as well as he would so it wasn't an issue.

I'm left handed and can do most athletic actions with either hand. IME if you have expectations of him playing at a high level, convert to left handed now. His right side can be as strong as the left,but will not be as coordinated.

The learning curve to switch is not linear and should take less time than you might think. Initially it will appear hopeless, but after a day or two things should start to change unusually quickly.

 

[zalive]

The thing with strength that it's all a game of technique, racquet setup and stringing tension (with whatever strings he plays with). The one who understands this will have at least few ideas what can be done. I don't think left hand/right hand is here the key at all, as he is probably ambidextrous by now with all that practice with the right hand. And it's certainly not about the arm power.

 

[Dae18]

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[scotus]

Sharapova is reportedly a lefty who plays tennis right-handed.