The Lefties Game

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The Lefties Game

by Julia Lowcher
(Austin, TX)

I am a lefty and started playing tennis less than a year ago after 30 years. I didn't ever play competitively as a child.

I am doing fairly well, but am having difficulty with instruction that works for me, a lefty. I know what the advantages are for a lefty (i.e. slice serve out wide and cross court to backhands) and am making good progress in these areas.

I play both doubles and singles. My net play was pretty good until various coaches gave me conflicting instructions and I basically stopped being effective at the net for about 5 months.

The past 2 matches I've played, I went back to my old style of play, starting off in the middle of the service box and moving forward as soon as the ball is in play, standing within inches of the net. And wouldn't you know it, I became that good net player that I was when I first started playing, basically taking over the match.

One of our instructors who happened to see the last set commented that I "owned that net!" He was the same coach who told my partner and I to stand back about a few feet from the net while the ball is in play.

This has worked wonderfully for her and I'm not sure if it has anything to do with being a lefty, but it didn't work for me.

I have been burned down the line a few times, but I would say that for the most part, I am able to pick off those down the line shots and they are so fearful my net play that they try for harder for winning shots that they don't make.

The other advice I was given was to always keep looking forward because net play can be so fast that looking back at the ball for even a second can impede net play. I have also tried this for the past 6 months and can honestly say that not looking back has not helped me at all, but has hurt my net play.

I know I am supposed to be focused on the team on the other side to watch what they do and then I know what to do, but it doesn't work that way for me and I am wondering if it is the way lefties process things, or it's just the way I process things.

I can highly focus on that ball, but I can't focus on that ball and another person at the same time effectively. I have pretty quick hand/eye coordination and can be where that ball needs me to be and can send it back to where they can't get to it, but it is done by instinct, not actually seeing them.

Does any of this make sense to anyone out there? Possibly only lefties could help me out with this.

But suffice to say that I am going back to doing things the way that feels natural to me. I've been instructed enough by various people to now know that everyone has their own way of doing things!

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The Lefties Game

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Apr 02, 2009
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Natural learning
by: Walter

Hi Julia,

I'm not a lefty :-)), but I know what you are talking about. You're right, everyone is different and basic tactic rules are to be modified accordingly. You're instincts are doing a good job and playing the game should be just that. If you cannot perform a tactic and you would like to or you feel it would be make you a better player then you have to tweak your technique, maybe also consciously work on that, until it goes automatic.
Good luck

Apr 02, 2009
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"Why did you sting me!?" and the Scorpion replied: "It's my nature!"
by: Julian

Coaches will insist on adopting and adhering to techniques that have been proven to be the "ideal" or most effective way of doing things. But a good observant coach will not ignore your nature, tendencies and style of play and insist on adopting a specific method if there's something you do very well using an unorthodox approach that suits your characteristics better.

Jul 16, 2010
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GOOD NETTER
by: Anonymous

I am a lefty and once a number 1 player for division 1 college here in Texas. I played the ITF pro tour in Asia. I played against Bjon Borg when we were juniors at the age of 15 years old.I have been teaching tennis for 30 years and have good record in producing top players acquiring tennis scholarship to all division 1 college in United States. You seems like you got such a good talent and skills in playing tennis. Don't be confuse what all the pro's telling you. They were all telling you the right instruction. What they missed to tell you is in order to be good in your style, you have to put more time in drill and practicing your game under the eye of a good descent tennis instructor. To be aggressive and always wanted to attack the net, a player has to be real natural on his game. You get this by a lot of repetition, until you get it down. If you able to ask advice from the top professional like Nadal, Federer, Agassi,Sampras,and specially my favorite net player like Mcenroe and Edberg, they will tell you that you don't really watch the ball,instead, you use your great anticipation and feel the ball as it comes to you. This is a professional word we used, when you become natural tennis player. You don't have enough time to think and plan during the game. You do that before the match. You just need more training and, a lot of drill time, and you will see how really good you can be. Be patient. Just remember, we professional have been playing tennis since the age of 4 or 5 years old. Just think about how long you have just been playing. The secret is.......You've got to look very natural(instinct and anticipation). Just remember, you don't have enough time to think when the ball is in play. You need to hit a thousand, thousand of balls. Remember to be a good netter, is a skill. The ball have a very short distance to travel between you and your opponent. Really, your opponent is time. If you can conquer time, you will become a great netter. You achieve this with a lot of repetion. Tennis is not really that complicated. It's just takes a lot of patient and time. I hope, this helps you. Any good Tennis pro will be able to help you. Tell them what I told you. Bye!

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Jul 16, 2010
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Submitted by: Anonymous

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I am a lefty and once a number 1 player for division 1 college here in Texas. I played the ITF pro tour in Asia. I played against Bjon Borg when we were juniors at the age of 15 years old.I have been teaching tennis for 30 years and have good record in producing top players acquiring tennis scholarship to all division 1 college in United States. You seems like you got such a good talent and skills in playing tennis. Don't be confuse what all the pro's telling you. They were all telling you the right instruction. What they missed to tell you is in order to be good in your style, you have to put more time in drill and practicing your game under the eye of a good descent tennis instructor. To be aggressive and always wanted to attack the net, a player has to be real natural on his game. You get this by a lot of repetition, until you get it down. If you able to ask advice from the top professional like Nadal, Federer, Agassi,Sampras,and specially my favorite net player like Mcenroe and Edberg, they will tell you that you don't really watch the ball,instead, you use your great anticipation and feel the ball as it comes to you. This is a professional word we used, when you become natural tennis player. You don't have enough time to think and plan during the game. You do that before the match. You just need more training and, a lot of drill time, and you will see how really good you can be. Be patient. Just remember, we professional have been playing tennis since the age of 4 or 5 years old. Just think about how long you have just been playing. The secret is.......You've got to look very natural(instinct and anticipation). Just remember, you don't have enough time to think when the ball is in play. You need to hit a thousand, thousand of balls. Remember to be a good netter, is a skill. The ball have a very short distance to travel between you and your opponent. Really, your opponent is time. If you can conquer time, you will become a great netter. You achieve this with a lot of repetion. Tennis is not really that complicated. It's just takes a lot of patient and time. I hope, this helps you. Any good Tennis pro will be able to help you. Tell them what I told you. Bye!

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Jul 21, 2010
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LEFTIES TENNIS PLAYER
by: Anonymous

I'm also a lefty, I guarantee that I will be able to help you with your tennis, knowing that you only been playing for about 1 year. I am a real Tennis Pro, not like the tennis instructor in any tennis club. I mean, I played professional in the 70's. I have been teaching and producing top players in Austin for the last 15 years since I moved here from Dallas. There's so many things I will show you about your tennis, and I will widen your horizon. I taught the only one best female tennis player who took Pflugerville High School into Regional Championship. I taught private lesson once in a while in Pflugerville. I will not charge as much as do some of top player. I will help you, in that way, you won't be confuse.
Please, e-mail me at.... dcguan@aol.com. You won't regret that you did. Thank you.

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