Rightie..Learning Left Handed Forehand - How long?

[acintya]

I feel weird.
When I was shooting with a bow - i was in the leftie position
also when i once held a hunter gun - i held it like a leftie
i play drums - and I lead with left hand - (although im a rightie) - i needed a year or so to fully adapt - and still i need to work on it .. my right hand feels still better.

my question is.. how long i would need to teach myself a leftie forehand? :\
im an intermediate but i have the will. it is a long way? dwhat could i do to learn faster? Do stuff with my left hand?

 

[IowaGuy]

Can you accurately throw a ball left handed?

 

[golden chicken]

If you understand the fundamentals of how you produce the stroke and can wrap your mind around mirroring it, then maybe 1/2 hour of play to get the timing and stop feeling totally awkward, and then however many hours it takes to develop the same strength and fine control as your normal forehand. I find a WTA style bent-arm forehand is easier, partly because there's fewer moving parts, and because the arm position is similar to my two-handed backhand.

My coaching coach made us switch hands so we'd feel what it was to be beginners again, but I'd already messed around with lefty groundies before, so I didn't struggle quite as much as my peers. Serving lefty is a real challenge, though.

 

[acintya]

Can you accurately throw a ball left handed?

sure i can - i can drums leading with left hand. lots of work on coordination man

 

[acintya]

If you understand the fundamentals of how you produce the stroke and can wrap your mind around mirroring it, then maybe 1/2 hour of play to get the timing and stop feeling totally awkward, and then however many hours it takes to develop the same strength and fine control as your normal forehand. I find a WTA style bent-arm forehand is easier, partly because there's fewer moving parts, and because the arm position is similar to my two-handed backhand.

My coaching coach made us switch hands so we'd feel what it was to be beginners again, but I'd already messed around with lefty groundies before, so I didn't struggle quite as much as my peers. Serving lefty is a real challenge, though.

yeah i see! i understand...i think it will be manny manny hours till i would reach the level of my right forehand. at least playing with left hand would improve my 2HBH if I would switch back to rightie. I will never serve with left hand - thats too much haha.

 

[SinjinCooper]

sure i can - i can drums leading with left hand. lots of work on coordination man

Most drummers throw well. Lots of carryover.

 

[IowaGuy]

sure i can - i can drums leading with left hand. lots of work on coordination man

OK, well then prob no issue with learning to play tennis with left hand.

I play tennis right handed, but play ping pong lefty. Started lefty years ago to make games more competitive with friends of lesser skill. Now play ping pong equally well righty or lefty.

Do you have reason to play tennis lefty (i.e. injury), or are you just trying to develop a lefty FH like Nadal did as a kid?

 

[acintya]

OK, well then prob no issue with learning to play tennis with left hand.

I play tennis right handed, but play ping pong lefty. Started lefty years ago to make games more competitive with friends of lesser skill. Now play ping pong equally well righty or lefty.

Do you have reason to play tennis lefty (i.e. injury), or are you just trying to develop a lefty FH like Nadal did as a kid?

when i started tennis i hurt my right hand due false technique - but the will was big and i started playing double handed on both sides (dominand hand on top). the pain was there for a half year but when i played double handed the pain was almost non existent - so now i got a great nadal backhand - but i wanna get rid of double handed forehand. thats the story. i played that way for 3 years, and now i play normal for 1 year. (right hand fh, ohb)

why i want to learn left hand FH? well i played a few months with it and i feel the ball just a lot more with the left hand - i dont know why- maybe a brain thing? but the power in my right hand is like 100x bigger. lo. now i was inactive for 3 years - starting from zero.

 

[golden chicken]

yeah i see! i understand...i think it will be manny manny hours till i would reach the level of my right forehand. at least playing with left hand would improve my 2HBH if I would switch back to rightie. I will never serve with left hand - thats too much haha.

See, this is where you sort of get yourself in trouble. Your dominant hand should be on the bottom of the racket because that's the hand you want to be using for the serve and forehand. Otherwise, you'll either rob yourself of reach by having a forehand with a top hand grip, or you'd have to switch hands or get one of those weird two-handled rackets.

 

[Frank Silbermann]

See, this is where you sort of get yourself in trouble. Your dominant hand should be on the bottom of the racket because that's the hand you want to be using for the serve and forehand. Otherwise, you'll either rob yourself of reach by having a forehand with a top hand grip, or you'd have to switch hands or get one of those weird two-handled rackets.

Get one of those weird two-handled rackets.

I play ambidextrous. I believe that it is easier to learn a weak-handed forehand than to truly master the one-handed topspin backhand.

 

[Bender]

I already drive my 2HBHs with my left arm, so I imagine it shouldn't take me that long, but it's the lefty serve that I know I will have difficulty with.

 

[heninfan99]

I feel weird.
When I was shooting with a bow - i was in the leftie position
also when i once held a hunter gun - i held it like a leftie
i play drums - and I lead with left hand - (although im a rightie) - i needed a year or so to fully adapt - and still i need to work on it .. my right hand feels still better.

my question is.. how long i would need to teach myself a leftie forehand? :\
im an intermediate but i have the will. it is a long way? dwhat could i do to learn faster? Do stuff with my left hand?

20 minutes

to get it over the net & fairly consistent

 

[Dartagnan64]

If you are going to learn to do anything left handed, learn to serve left handed. If you can effectively hit a left handed spin serve you will set up a world of trouble for opponents. None of them will fear your lefty FH, I can tell you that.

 

[ext2hander]

Over the last ten years, I've toyed with the lefty forehand on occasion, i.e. its taken awhile since my backhands are fairly good. If forced to hit only lefty, could obviously learn quicker! Since my two-hander is 98% left-hand dominant (just two right fingers on butt; LH nearly at butt), its become a natural shot to hit the lefty forehand.

Its used for extreme wide incoming to the short ad alley, low overheads at net, wide volleys, and frequently for low balls inside the service line -- easier to topspin than my backhands. And I'm also getting confident when I elect to approach on serve, and use the lefty for low volleys or half-volleys. Naturally, the 1HBH is best for volleys are hit dead at me.

Here's a few samples hitting my lefty forehand, mixed in with one- and two-hand backhands (whatever is most convenient), taken at 71 last summer). The lefty comes in handy, as I cannot move as quickly nowadays. Wish there were more samples to show, but these were videoed by chance. ~3.5 at best.

Added a second video taken more recently, now just 4 months to 72. Having a variety of shots to the left-side adds fun to the game. In this video, anything to far left is taken with left-hand forehand. Note the 5th ball in the sequence, I was about to hit a high two-hander, but at last second elected to let fly with a left hand mini-overhead.

Serve is still work in progress, mirroring nuances of the right-hand serve onto left side. Its getting better with topspin/slice, and someday when my right-arm craps out, I'll have an old-age lefty game to drive 'em nuts.

 

[acintya]

today i started to learn the left handed forehand. i was hitting it very well but maybe someone could tell me which exercises i should do to get more power from left hand? its about 30-40% power of right hand.

 

[ext2hander]

For the life of me, my right-hand forehand has always been deficient, for lack of good shoulder turn. Only when I use a two-hand forehand do I rotate the shoulders better. I'm seriously thinking of practicing the two-hand forehand more, to muscle memory the shoulder turn! i.e. with right-hand near racquet butt, and left-hand thumb and forefinger around racquet butt.

Conversely, I have a pretty good two-hand backhand, not just any two-hander. As you may have seen, I hit the two-hander with left-hand just 1/2" from the racquet butt, with the right-thumb and forehand wrapped around the butt to stabilize racquet face alignment. There are zillions of disbelievers out there, but those who play with me know this can be driven with considerable velocity and enough topspin to stay on the court (most times!). With its longer reach and hitting zone, its essentially a left-hand forehand, as the right-hand two fingers don't contribute much power. Hence, its the Extended two-hand backhand, meant to be driven hard and deep (vs high-topspin shots).

Once you learn to drive forward through the hitting zone, one can on occasion drop the two fingers and swing with left-hand only (without thought). The stroke demands hip rotation leading the fore stroke, and lift added by unbending the knees as you hit the shot. With the extended hitting zone, the stroke IS a left-hand forehand with modified Eastern forehand grip.

As you get the rhythm and balance, practice hitting more balls with left-hand only for balls to your left-side. If jammed, you can always use your one or two hand backhand. Try it! In my videos in above post, my lefty forehand is shown on the run, rather than stretching for a backhand shot. I can hit the shot very hard now, with topspin, and much harder than my right-hand forehand. So, practice hitting the extended two-hand backhand to merge into the lefty forehand. Let me know this works.

Be brave and experiment. Having the proper mechanics is essential to hitting the left-forehand with topspin and pace.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Ask @LGQ7 - he's already done it.

 

[Migelowsky]

Last year I had an injury to one finger on my right hand and was wearing a finger sling. The doctor said I shouldnt play for 2 months so I started playing Left handed.
I just tried to free my mind , just tried to not think about it and rewire my brain. One problem at the beginig was Blisters.
I had a positive experience because I tried to be so loose, and let the body rotation let my racquet just launch. After I healed, my right handed game improved.
Here I'm about 3 weeks after I started.

 

[OnTheLine]

Ask @LGQ7 - he's already done it.

have you lost your mind? keep the patients in the asylum, or in this case on one particular thread ... no invites to other threads!

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

@nytennisaddict

Can you accurately throw a ball left handed?

Very little correlation. Overhand throwing may help with the serve — especially the ability to throw a racket. But the mechanics for a FH is very different. Throwing may help with coordination but it is not a requirement for developing the FH.

Have taught scores of right-handed novice players to hit a lefty FH. Most learned it in a relatively short time w/o learning how to throw lefty.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

@nytennisaddict


Very little correlation. Overhand throwing may help with the serve — especially the ability to throw a racket. But the mechanics for a FH is very different. Throwing may help with coordination but it is not a requirement for developing the FH.

Have taught scores of right-handed novice players to hit a left FH. Most learned it in a relatively short time w/o learning how to throw lefty.

agreed, not a requirement, but making your left hand coodinated enough to do things like throw a ball accurately, sure goes a long way to improving my 2hbh.
in particular, the big issue i had was doing the windshield wiper motion on my 2hbh, or my leftyfh
while it's not something i'd teach a beginner to worry about, as a more adv player, i find that as i improve the timing of how i when my left hand execs the "windshield wiper", my topspin increases.
side note, if i were to practicing throwing, to improve my 2hbh, i'd probably practice throwing side arm (like i'm skipping a rock)

but in general the point of any of these drills is to improve the left hand to the point that it's contributing ~50% of the effort/timing/etc...

in my mental model, the pace (rhs) of my 2hbh comes from the pull of my right (initiated by the rear foot drive + unit turn), and the spin/depth/placement/getting the racquet to contact, comes from my left.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

agreed, not a requirement, but making your left hand coodinated enough to do things like throw a ball accurately, sure goes a long way to improving my 2hbh.
in particular, the big issue i had was doing the windshield wiper motion on my 2hbh, or my leftyfh
while it's not something i'd teach a beginner to worry about, as a more adv player, i find that as i improve the timing of how i when my left hand execs the "windshield wiper", my topspin increases.
side note, if i were to practicing throwing, to improve my 2hbh, i'd probably practice throwing side arm (like i'm skipping a rock)

but in general the point of any of these drills is to improve the left hand to the point that it's contributing ~50% of the effort/timing/etc...

in my mental model, the pace (rhs) of my 2hbh comes from the pull of my right (initiated by the rear foot drive + unit turn), and the spin/depth/placement/getting the racquet to contact, comes from my left.

Full disclosure. My left arm is my dominant, preferred arm for tennis. However, my right arm is my preferred ball throwing arm. I can throw rackets equally well with either arm. However my lefty ball throwing is quite subpar and feels very awkward (even tho I’ve practiced it quite a bit).

My ability to throw right-handed undoubtedly made it relatively easy for me to learn a right-handed overhead and serve. But I do not believe it helped me all that much in learning a right-handed forehand.

 

[Bobs tennis]

I wanted to quote some input from this thread but it all hits home for me. I throw better left handed write with right hand bat left handed . I play right handed but my backhand is my stronger stroke. Use both 1 and 2 hand backhand but could never play left handed. I struggled almost a year deciding whether i would play golf left or right handed. Left was stronger right was more accurate. I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggled with this .

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Full disclosure. My left arm is my dominant, preferred arm for tennis. However, my right arm is my preferred ball throwing arm. I can throw rackets equally well with either arm. However my lefty ball throwing is quite subpar and feels very awkward (even tho I’ve practiced it quite a bit).

My ability to throw right-handed undoubtedly made it relatively easy for me to learn a right-handed overhead and serve. But I do not believe it helped me all that much in learning a right-handed forehand.

cheater
i do look back and wonder if i would have been better off just taking the initial hit (steep learning curve) of learning a 1hbh, to avoid the future difficulty of working to improve my left hand coordination

 

[IowaGuy]

cheater
i do look back and wonder if i would have been better off just taking the initial hit (steep learning curve) of learning a 1hbh, to avoid the future difficulty of working to improve my left hand coordination

Never too late, you could be the next Pete Sampras convert

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Never too late, you could be the next Pete Sampras convert

i've thought of it alot...
but since i'm not going pro... decided to stick with a 2hbh (for body symmetry development purposes - oh gosh plz don't invite tae-kwon-tennis-guy in here), and working on my 1bh-slice more.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I wanted to quote some input from this thread but it all hits home for me. I throw better left handed write with right hand bat left handed . I play right handed but my backhand is my stronger stroke. Use both 1 and 2 hand backhand but could never play left handed. I struggled almost a year deciding whether i would play golf left or right handed. Left was stronger right was more accurate. I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggled with this .

lol, I hate guys like you.
I got one good side, and it sucks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

@Bobs tennis

lol, I hate guys like you.
I got one good side, and it sucks.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Less than 1% of the human population is naturally ambidextrous. However lefties, who have to deal with a right-handed world and right-handed tools, tend to learn a number of motor skills with their nondominant arm. Often forced to do so in many cultures when it comes to eating in writing.

I also learned to play baseball right handed as a young lad but was never really good at it. I later picked up table tennis and other racket sports as a lefty and discovered that I was much better than average as a lefty athlete. When playing against weaker players, I would often play table tennis right-handed and got pretty decent at it. After damaging my left shoulder from improper spiking technique in volleyball, I switch to playing that sport predominantly right-handed.

Ongoing shoulder problems because of auto accidents and the damage from volleyball. Because of that my left shoulder would act up periodically, so I decided to learn to play tennis and Badminton right-handed. Badminton was more difficult to learn since so much of it is overhead strokes. Never developed a decent backhand in either Tennis or Badminton but my forehand and overheads shots were pretty respectable.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

@Bobs tennis


Less than 1% of the human population is naturally ambidextrous. However lefties, who have to deal with a right-handed world and right-handed tools, tend to learn a number of motor skills with their nondominant arm. Often forced to do so in many cultures when it comes to eating in writing.

I also learned to play baseball right handed as a young lad but was never really good at it. I later picked up table tennis and other racket sports as a lefty and discovered that I was much better than average as a lefty athlete. When playing against weaker players, I would often play table tennis right-handed and got pretty decent at it. After damaging my left shoulder from improper spiking technique in volleyball, I switch to playing that sport predominantly right-handed.

Ongoing shoulder problems because of auto accidents and the damage from volleyball. Because of that my left shoulder would act up periodically, so I decided to learn to play tennis and Badminton right-handed. Badminton was more difficult to learn since so much of it is overhead strokes. Never developed a decent backhand in either Tennis or Badminton but my forehand and overheads shots were pretty respectable.

yeah, there are ALOT of neural pathways being opened up (as a kid) when a lefty has to get used to a righty world... IMO at least 1 factor as to why there's a dispraportionate (sp?) # of lefties in pro sports.
in general it's a really good mental exercise to strive for equal coord on left/right.

coincidentally my level 3 (i'm level 1) instructor requirements have a component of demonstrating opposite-hand/foot coordination.

 

[OnTheLine]

When I was 6 I had a compound fracture of my right arm/wrist. Playground accident where I took a dive off a jungle gym when they were still over concrete. Bones sticking out of skin. In various casts for over 6 months. Learned to write, throw a ball, really anything with my left hand for that school year. Then went back to being a righty.

However, 40+ years later, if someone says "visualize" a forehand or backhand. In my mind, I do it with my left hand. (serve however I visulaize with right hand) which is odd since I did not play tennis at age 6.

 

[styksnstryngs]

Can you shoot a bow right handed? Because then you would be like Earl Hoyt.

 

[TwistAndShout]

From the video, which forehand would you seek to develop:

 

[user92626]

Hey OP,

How ya doing with learning the leftie fh?

I'm trying this fun activity this week though I'm going the opposite way. I'm lefty trying to hit righty fh and bh.

What I find difficult is, not the hand or arm to do their tasks weakly, but the legs and the body to coordinate well with them.

 

[Kobble]

Hey OP,

How ya doing with learning the leftie fh?

I'm trying this fun activity this week though I'm going the opposite way. I'm lefty trying to hit righty fh and bh.

What I find difficult is, not the hand or arm to do their tasks weakly, but the legs and the body to coordinate well with them.

I find it all strange. When I hit lefty with an eastern grip I feel like I am arming it too much. Wasn't that way 10 years ago. When I use a western grip, I engage the lower body motion better these days. I never felt like it did anything for my two hander, actually. To the contrary, hitting lefty slices was something I though improved my right handed slice.

 

[dominikk1985]

It can work but imo it is a waste of time that would be better spent on improving your conventional tennis. I know there was a two forehand player with atp points like a decade ago, but 99% of all tennis players don't do this. With the limited practice time of a rec player imo there should be other priorities.

 

[user92626]

I find it all strange. When I hit lefty with an eastern grip I feel like I am arming it too much. Wasn't that way 10 years ago. When I use a western grip, I engage the lower body motion better these days. I never felt like it did anything for my two hander, actually. To the contrary, hitting lefty slices was something I though improved my right handed slice.

Sort of my observation as well. My offhand strokes are all "arming" and need to be uncomplicated at this point. So I am using Eastern grip and hitting directly through the ball, practically uninvolving the legs and torso. The Eastern grip is also good for chopping and slicing.

It's very interesting to see that all the instructions are there (I'm huge on understanding every details and logics) but execution is lagging far behind. The offhand and that body side are just not strong and sensitive enough yet. This will take time.

It can work but imo it is a waste of time that would be better spent on improving your conventional tennis. I know there was a two forehand player with atp points like a decade ago, but 99% of all tennis players don't do this. With the limited practice time of a rec player imo there should be other priorities.

For recreation, "tennis" is really what we make of it. My conventional tennis (hitting/gaming skills) is practically useless for my weekend peers. They seem to have resented me for beating them too much! I kid you not. LOL They accused me of "calculating', taking advantage of them (while they only play for fun, after they lost of course) even though they were always excited and overconfident with the deals we negotiated

So once again, to reinvent my tennis, I'm learning to hit with my offhand which is no different from a complete beginner. One old man is already excited by the idea that he can beat me this way. It's fun.

 

[Kobble]

Sort of my observation as well. My offhand strokes are all "arming" and need to be uncomplicated at this point. So I am using Eastern grip and hitting directly through the ball, practically uninvolving the legs and torso. The Eastern grip is also good for chopping and slicing.

It's very interesting to see that all the instructions are there (I'm huge on understanding every details and logics) but execution is lagging far behind. The offhand and that body side are just not strong and sensitive enough yet. This will take time.

I think I will start hitting lefty forehands for fun, again.

 

[acintya]

I think I will start hitting lefty forehands for fun, again.

until you take it as fun its fun.when you get too serious...

 

[acintya]

anyone believes i have 5x more feel and touch with my left hand when i hit the slice?its weird.

 

[Kobble]

until you take it as fun its fun.when you get too serious...

Been so long. I am trying to remember how I practiced it and what parts of hitting lefty helped my righty game. It always made my right arm feel in greater control after hitting lefty.

 

[user92626]

anyone believes i have 5x more feel and touch with my left hand when i hit the slice?its weird.

That is weird.


I just got back from hitting 1hbh with my other hand. D@mn I felt some pain in shoulder, kinda like the muscle or joint being used for the first time!

My "other side" stuff are coming together enough to hang with beginners LOL

question for good 1hbh players:

you know how the follow through's very end of the FH feels very bio mechanically correct and naturally comfortable, right?, is that also possible for the very end of the 1hbh follow through? I feel the swing is unnaturally stopped by a shoulder back plate bone!!! It's weird and thus a bit uncomfortable.

I checked out Federer's swing. His follow through varies alot at the end.

Look at the first 3 strokes: 3 different depths, 3 different racket facing, 3 different heights

 

[ByeByePoly]

That is weird.


I just got back from hitting 1hbh with my other hand. D@mn I felt some pain in shoulder, kinda like the muscle or joint being used for the first time!

My "other side" stuff are coming together enough to hang with beginners LOL

question for good 1hbh players:

you know how the follow through's very end of the FH feels very bio mechanically correct and naturally comfortable, right?, is that also possible for the very end of the 1hbh follow through? I feel the swing is unnaturally stopped by a shoulder back plate bone!!! It's weird and thus a bit uncomfortable.

I checked out Federer's swing. His follow through varies alot at the end.

Look at the first 3 strokes: 3 different depths, 3 different racket facing, 3 different heights

What is your definition of your successful rhfh? If “quality stroke” ... thousands of reps. I hit 30,000+ 2hbhs first summer with ball machine, and still didn’t have a match ready stroke. If fun ... bunt/block back over ... less than 30,000.

I tried hitting lhfhs as a drill to improve touch in my 2hbhs. It didn’t seem to help ... I found better 2h drills for that purpose. But I learned a few things going through the drills that might work for you. I had a huge head start having hit a 2hbh for 3+ years ... you hit 2hbh with off arm/hand ... so already had to learn to hit. Also ... already taught coordination on that side of body with legs, stance and swing.

Suggestion for you to try:

- I like the idea of eastern ... you aren’t going to be Nadal on that wing
- learn one stance ... stick with it. Either weight transfer to your left leg, or hit all semi open ... enough timing issues at first without multiple stances
- this one will sound whack ... but it’s because your right arm is going to be weak at the rhfh thing. Take your unit turn and backswing as a 2hbh. This should help get a good turn back ... and support racquet until you are ready to swing. I would release dom hand at bottom because I wanted to hit my lhfhs from same stroke as my 2hbh path. You would want to release your left hand at top ... because your goal is learning rhfh. My goal was adding to 2hbh.

2nd arm/hand might be to awkward... but that right arm by itself is going to be awkward anyway. The idea would be get rid of 2nd hand on racquet early as possible.

Yeah ... laughed when I heard “ready by weekend”. Fed couldn’t do that. I got to where I didn’t miss many ball machine lhfhs ... but they were low pace with moderate spin. And that’s only because my left arm had been to school for 3 years.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...fh-drill-practice-thread.622558/post-12547792

 

[user92626]

@ByeByePoly

I like your suggestions. Already following the first two. The 3rd is new and a good idea. So, I'll be holding and taking back the racket exactly like my conventional 2hbh (which is quite strong and comfortable)? Left palm on the racketbutt and right palm above it? -- which seems good as well cuz I feel I need a lighter racket than my usual one.


Oh laugh if you like but today I am even more confident than last Monday after hitting two hoppers. Today I focused on the 1hbh + chopping. The FH felt sufficient already.

I don't know what Fed's goal was but for me I just need enough consistency, control and power to beat a couple early 70s men! Haha.

If regular strokes fail there's always the available handyman's tactic: run fast and tap all balls over like beginners do but I'm much more experienced than any beginner. I can beat my peers using a beach paddle (with my conventional arm of course).

 

[ByeByePoly]

@ByeByePoly

I like your suggestions. Already following the first two. The 3rd is new and a good idea. So, I'll be holding and taking back the racket exactly like my conventional 2hbh (which is quite strong and comfortable)? Left palm on the racketbutt and right palm above it? -- which seems good as well cuz I feel I need a lighter racket than my usual one.


Oh laugh if you like but today I am even more confident than last Monday after hitting two hoppers. Today I focused on the 1hbh + chopping. The FH felt sufficient already.

I don't know what Fed's goal was but for me I just need enough consistency, control and power to beat a couple early 70s men! Haha.

If regular strokes fail there's always the available handyman's tactic: run fast and tap all balls over like beginners do but I'm much more experienced than any beginner. I can beat my peers using a beach paddle (with my conventional arm of course).

Oh ... think I had forgot you were a 2hbh ... even better. Of course, to those 70 year old eyes you will have to release it early enough to get the "I whopped you with a 1h fh" credit.

Carry on ... sounds like you have this under control.

 

[TnsGuru]

Fed plays left handed for fun. Wow, he looks like a beginner playing with his other hand!

 

[ByeByePoly]

@ByeByePoly

I like your suggestions. Already following the first two. The 3rd is new and a good idea. So, I'll be holding and taking back the racket exactly like my conventional 2hbh (which is quite strong and comfortable)? Left palm on the racketbutt and right palm above it? -- which seems good as well cuz I feel I need a lighter racket than my usual one.


Oh laugh if you like but today I am even more confident than last Monday after hitting two hoppers. Today I focused on the 1hbh + chopping. The FH felt sufficient already.

I don't know what Fed's goal was but for me I just need enough consistency, control and power to beat a couple early 70s men! Haha.

If regular strokes fail there's always the available handyman's tactic: run fast and tap all balls over like beginners do but I'm much more experienced than any beginner. I can beat my peers using a beach paddle (with my conventional arm of course).

How many? ranged from one swing to never.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...ititions-to-learn-a-new-tennis-stroke.572631/

 

[user92626]

How many? ranged from one swing to never.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...ititions-to-learn-a-new-tennis-stroke.572631/

I started my rightie FH last Monday, hit against a back board for 30 mins, under 100 hits. And today, 100 hits with the rightie 1hbh.

Things don't look that bad.

Here's my own trick: it's not actual ball-hitting strokes that I care to clock the most. It's getting my hand and touch to feel dominant with activities, any activities. So, that's what I'm trying to speed up.

 

[LGQ7]

Ask @LGQ7 - he's already done it.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/ambidextrous-sports.615160/

 

[acintya]

Hey OP,

How ya doing with learning the leftie fh?

I'm trying this fun activity this week though I'm going the opposite way. I'm lefty trying to hit righty fh and bh.

What I find difficult is, not the hand or arm to do their tasks weakly, but the legs and the body to coordinate well with them.

yeah after a half yeat im slowly improving - but still, its the body and legs that are a problem. i must alaways remember to move my body into position. i have some consistency now but there are still problems with rushed balls.

the problem is only in confidence. in practice rallies i can keep up with most guys. the problem is that they shoot the most balls to the backhand - so i try to run around as much as i can (like nadal) to improve my leftie forehand.

otherwise i have already a very good and consistent leftie 2hbh (because the right hand is the driving force) and now im even starting to learn the leftie slice which i feel even more than righties.its weird.

i will not mess with lefty OHB however and will continue to play 2hbh.

the serve is the most difficult. in a year i will maybe have something ready for matches.

im optimistic and at the same time realistic!

but its really a nice feeling when you rip those left hand forehands.

 

[acintya]

update:

after months of practice you will realize that playing with left hand also means that you must play with your left half of the body. your left leg is the most important part.

its damn hard. leaning into the shot..thats whats hard. and exactly this is the reason all people who try to hit with left hand and record themselfes look like total noobs,at best they forehands remind of McEnroes - who only draws the racquet back in a straight line.

But i must say it has also improved my rh forehand - last two sessions i have gone all righty.

playing like a leftie can be done, but with years of patience and proper technique...
i havent seen yet a good convert on this forum..all videos show some big amateur forehands.

the only guy who had a proper lh forehand is one guy from video lessons,and one atp player who can play everything,but i think he switched to RH only.

those who say you need one hour are just plain stupid.yes if you play with a total amateur,but once you get a wide hard shot you are in trouble cause you need to run,bring your body in position, bring the weight on your left foot, arm and do the whole motion with racquet drop.pffff

but i must also add something.
i have successfully mastered the real nadal forehand - now i know exactly how he has started to train. my left hand is sooo loose,so i can really whip the ball. but ofcourse, its just bad copy of nadals,but the mechanics are the same.
i think I nailed it! its not only what they teach on youtube,its deeper.
it really is like you would whip the ball. i never try to make this stroke with my natural right arm --cause i dont need it.

that is also the thing that keeps me coming back..to perform exactly that shot!