PHOTO OF THE WEEK
TIP OF THE WEEK
Leftys
By Carl Danner
Lefties get to play many rightys, but righties play relatively few lefties. If this seems unfair, that's because it is. Tough.For either participant in a mirror-image match, two things are important. First, on many shots you need to aim your angles straight ahead rather than crosscourt, especially for backhand to backhand play. So many righties forget this, and instinctively set up a left-handed forehand with a backhand counter or block. Second, you need to account for different amounts of sidespin than you are used to. Notice I said different amounts, not different spins, because a lefty's forehand has the same sidespin as a well-struck righty backhand -- just more of it. Think of it in those terms, and then adjust for the bigger ball break that comes with the extra sidespin.
During points, I recommend either player (the righty, or the lefty) consider a simple approach: Defend crosscourt to the backhand, and attack crosscourt to the forehand. For service returns, hard pushes, and blocks, going crosscourt to the backhand can cramp your opponent and force them to come back crosscourt to your forehand. That's good. Alternatively, when you get the attack, there's nothing like going at your opponent's wide forehand for a point winner off either of your sides, but especially the backhand -- where you can take the ball early over the table and angle it away.
The tactical problem is the same for either player in a mirror-image match. Leftys just get to do it more often.