Special one-handed forehand and backhand

Baffin

New User
Monica Seles plays both two-handed forehand and backhand, is there anyone playing both one-handed forehand and backhand? (hold the racquet with the right hand when hitting ball in the right-handed side and switch the racquet to the left hand when hitting ball in the left-handed side)
 

nViATi

Hall of Fame
There are probably people who could but it just isn't effective. Takes too much work to improve coordination of both hands. Too much time changing hands, too.
 

Alexandros

Professional
nViATi said:
There are probably people who could but it just isn't effective. Takes too much work to improve coordination of both hands. Too much time changing hands, too.

I don't think the changing hands would be that great an issue, even on tight points unless you're being dragged left and right with really fast paced balls. The co-ordination thing would be the biggest hinderance - but a truly ambidextrous person should be able to pull it off. And think of the benefits - the ability to pound forehands off both wings!

I recall reading an article that said Donald Young could hit with either hand but he decided on going left hander.
 

LoveThisGame

Professional
Long ago, a friend with tennis elbow switched to RH and LH forehands. I liked to suck him into net. Not much time to switch grips and rather vulnerable across the hips.

I remember seeing Luke Jensen, the ambidextrous one, hit a RH shot at net, get lobbed over his left shoulder. He backed up hastily and hit a LH smash for the point. I thought that was extraordinary ability.
 

Amone

Hall of Fame
Well, for one thing, anything that hasn't been tried has been tried for one of two reasons: It doesn't work, or they aren't comfortable that way. I would guess there have been plenty of ambidextrous people, but as I can't name any off the top of my head, I'll leave that out.

Assuming it doesn't work, there's probably a reason. And once you discover that reason, you can easily find ways around it. For instance, it is hard to switch between hands, you can easily defeat that argument by just hitting a 1 handed backhand when you're rushed. Anyone able to hit a good forehand should be able to hit at least a passing backhand, by my figuring.

If it is just uncomfortable, then all the easier to remedy, you can just as easily be the first if you'd like. All it takes is a lot of practice. Admittedly, for someone like me, it would also take some strength training in my wrists and forearms on my left hand, but even still, I've been trying to gain ambidexterity, and to some degree, I'm quite a bit like someone who just picked up a tennis racquet now with my left hand, a great improvement over the complete lack of ability to even attempt a left-handed shot.

Oh, considering! There was one person I know hit two forehands, and he was on my high school team last year, playing doubles. My coach was kinda wierded out about it, but since he was more comfortable with it, she allowed it. He did that to some degree of success, it wasn't in any way detrimental that I know of.
 

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
Baffin said:
Monica Seles plays both two-handed forehand and backhand, is there anyone playing both one-handed forehand and backhand?
You'll be glad to know that unlike Monica, I hit with a one handed forehand and a one handed backhand.
 
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