How to play against… · 3 min read

Against the lefty

Their wide serve on the ad side pulls you off the court right on the big points. Shift your return position openly.

Why it’s uncomfortable

The spins go the opposite way to usual and, above all, the lefty serves wide to your backhand on the ad side, where break points and game points are played.

The plan

On the ad side, stand clearly toward your backhand alley. Make them serve down the middle, which is harder.
Attack their backhand with your crosscourt forehand (for a righty, your crosscourt forehand goes to their backhand).
Watch out for their crosscourt forehand to your backhand: look for the down-the-line backhand to change direction.
During the warm-up, ask for a few serves on the ad side to get used to the spin.

To review after the match

In the app, when you mark that your opponent was “Left-handed”, we ask whether you tried:

I shifted toward my backhand alley to return on the ad side
I attacked their backhand with my crosscourt forehand
I changed direction with the down-the-line backhand

To practice on court

Returning against a lefty

If you have a left-handed partner, 15 min of returns on the ad side against the wide serve.

Goal: Getting used to the spin.

Ideas inspired by Brad Gilbert, “Winning Ugly” (ch. 8, “Destroying your opponent’s game plan”).