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What side to receive serve from?

I'm a 3.0 level lefty women. I can put a fair amount of pace on the ball and have a good backhand.

I started the game by playing with another left handed lady and always received serve from the deuce side. I stayed there over the years and now have trouble on the other side.

I think a lot of the problem is mental. Nowadays, I like to play with several different partners but they all want to receive serve on deuce (they are all righties).

My question is, what side, in your opinion, should the lefty receive from? and include the thought process of why. Also, include strategies for playing that way.

On the rare occasion that I play the ad side, once I get going, I usually do pretty well, but it mostly feels like a foreign country. I want to be most effective as a left handed player so any advice would be appreciated.

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What side to receive serve from?

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May 06, 2009
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starstarstarstar 		Great Opportunity!
by: Mike

You have a great opportunity to form a winning doubles team with a right handed player. Having "one of each" (one right-hander and one left-hander) gives you some options that right-hand-only teams don't have:
1) You can almost always avoid serving into the sun (have the other player serve on that side!)
2) Since more doubles shots come down the middle of the court, both of you can be hitting your forehands on those middle balls, and forehand volleys at net!

So, I recommend you stay in the deuce court, and play "forehands in" with a right-handed partner. One thing you need to be comfortable with, though - from the deuce court you should be able to confidently hit inside-out forehand returns to crosscourt, and also crosscourt backhand returns. Most players find it easier to hit inside-out on the forehand side, so hopefully this will work for you.

By the way, this "forehands in" approach is used by the Bryan brothers, the top doubles team in the world!
May 06, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks
by: Anonymous

Thanks for the advice, Mike. I am anxious to hear from someone with the opposite opinion, just for the sake of the argument. I just played, and won, a doubles match on Sunday, on the ad side. The reason it worked was because my right handed partner has a very weak backhand and we needed her on the deuce side for that reason. I guess it depends on many factors. Thanks again!
May 06, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Returning serve
by: Anonymous

it all depends on whether you have a stronger forehand or backhand groundstroke and volley. If your forehand is better than you should play the deuce side so you get to hit all the balls down the middle with your forehand.
It is a little different changing from deuce court to ad court is because you have to align different.
May 06, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		A leftie too...
by: karine

And I also prefer receiving on deuce side because I like to return the serve down the line so it's easier to bother my opponent (righthanded most of the time) on her backhand. It's very effective for...singles! As for double, I still like playing the deuce side were crosscourt returns comes within reacjh of my forehand volley But then I might be bothered by the person at the net on returning serve downline - you can only surprise someone a couple of times. So I learned to force my return crosscourt waiting for an opprtunity to use my secret weapon.
May 06, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Which side should you play on?
by: fellow lefty

Hello!
I am also left handed. I learned to play tennis as an adult. I started as a complete beginner and am now a 4.5 player. When I started I played the deuce side. Especially if I was playing with a rightie. This kept our forehands in the middle and that is where we saw more balls at the 3.0 level. As I progressed I now play both sides. In a very competetive match, playing the ad side can really spice things up. The return of serve becomes more of a factor the higher the levels of play and you are very well covered if someone tries to pass you.
I have watched Martina N and the Bryan brothers play for years. It is always interesting to see what side the lefties play on.
Good luck and be flexible!!!
May 06, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Left Handed Player Doubles Position
by: John

I'm left handed and which side I play on depends on how strong my partner is. Generally, the stronger player should play the ad court because in close games that is the side that may determine the most game winning points (especially when receiving serve).

If my partner and I are fairly close in ability, and the ad court opponent's back hand is not as strong as his forehand, I play the ad court. The reason is that most of my forehand shots are going cross court to the opponents backhand. This creates a lot of weak returns that my partner can cut off with volleys down the middle or angled to the side for winners.

When playing with our forehands to the alleys we close up the middle a little more because it is easier to cover more of the court towards the alley with one's forehand. And, the one of us with the stronger backhand is the designated player to take balls that are in the middle between us.

Also, it is easier for me to return serve in the ad court. In the deuce court it seems that most right handed players find it easier to serve wide to my backhand. I have stonger returns of serve with my forehand than with my backhand.

Have fun. And remember, "lefties rule."

John
May 06, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Deuce or ad
by: Anonymous

If my backhand was strong (which is always a rare skill) I would play the ad side, simply because you'll be able to return most serves stronger, which come to your backhand. I had this problem recently with a leftie, and he was much more able to return my serves to him the ad side then other players. Serves down the middle to your backhand are fairly rare on the ad side. This strength alone is vital, because I think the serve return is possibly the most vital of all shots in the game, the most in need of consistency.

The other players' comments about having two forehands in the middle is no doubt a good point, however, and should be considered.
May 06, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Lefty: stay on the left!
by: Tim

In intermeditate to lower level advanced play, my experience is that the lefty should play on the left when playing with a right-handed partner. Most players (and especially less advanced players) have a weaker backhand than forehand. The smart intermediate server will then serve mostly to the backhand regardless of whether it is down-the-line or out wide. As a receiver, there is a greater distance for the ball to travel if played to your weaker backhand out wide and therefore much easier for it to be picked off with a poach if you are playing it out wide. There is a major distinction between higher level advanced play where to reduce angles servers tactically go down the middle and therefore as a receiver you want to have your stronger side in the middle whereas in lower level play going after a weak backhand with the serve is the most effective strategy.
My advise lefty at the 4.0 level or below is stay on the left!
May 06, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		lefty
by: Anonymous

HI,
I am a righty with a lefty partner. I play deuce--she plays add. We like having her strong fh in the middle and my strong backhand in the middle. But we can always switch it up.
Important to have a player with mental toughness play the ad side.
Have fun.
May 06, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		I AGREE WITH JOHN
by: JUN

YES I AGREE WITH JOHN. WHOEVER IS MORE CONSISTENT SHOULD BE AT THE AD.
May 07, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Lefty Doubles
by: Anonymous

When playing doubles, I almost always receive from the ad court, especially when my partner is a righty.

For some reason, I am able to make effective returns off my slice backhand when the serve is down the middle. Often, I am able to hit a short cross-court return with underspin, creating a difficult shot for the server to play effectively. If the serve is wide to my forehand, I am able to hit either a solid down-the-line return or a good cross-court shot away from the net player.

If I am partnered with a fellow lefty, we flip a coin to see who plays the ad court.
May 07, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Lefty....
by: Anonymous

As martina navratilova puts it. The player with the better inside out bck return is better to return from the deuce court....Thats most of the serve are going to be hit
May 07, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		What side to play
by: Anonymous

Well in the "big" world of tennis, the lefty normally controls on the right side - their forehand covers the middle.The right hander controls the left - their forehand also covers the middle.

At top level doubles the server tries more serves down the centre to cut out the angle of the return.

At lower club level the serves are usually lateral.

You really have to decide where your best at returning, nothing is set in stone, but at a better level the middle will be hit more, so with 2 forehands covering that part of the court makes you a strong pair.

During the rally if you and your partner grab the net, you have two forehands covering the centre, where at the higher level, more balls are hit.

I think you should try out both, and see what works, but be flexible and be able to play either side.

When asked what side to play I usually comment " I can play badly on both"

Have fun
May 08, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		U can be on any side u just need 2 identify a small thing in ur game.
by: Rishabh Tah

well as for my opinion I dont think that there should be any problem for you to play from ethier side but even if u think that deuce side favour u better than I am telling you some thing now try thinking over it....

you are a left hander if u r on deuce side than it would be easy for u to pick up the coner serves as u said ur back hand, u said, is gud.

Bt dont go for what is gud go for what is consistant.

My forehand is very gud I can play nearly all kind of balls with my forehand bt I am more consistant in my backhand. B'Coz I can have a long rally if given in my backhand and there is a probability of losing point if givin on my forehand b'coz I know that I am gud in forehand, I do not bother much if ball comes in my forehand because of enough confidense in my forehand but often that confidence make me lose my point and my consistany in my backhand make me win in the point.

So in my opinion u better should go for consistant shots and justify your shots that which shot is more consistant for u ur backhand, in which u r very gud, or your fore hand.

if u find ur forehand more consistant than u can go for any side u want b'coz if u r on deuce side
or on AD side u easily can recive corner serve as well as T serve.

find it Go for it.
best of luck 'n' all the best.
May 09, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		comfort zone is very important in doubles game
by: danny f.

the player/s ability to absorb preessure depends on the score ( say 30-40 or 40-30 ) and has a great influence as a receiver. If the player is comfortable on the deuce court then he is a type of player who don't want to take risk or afraid to take responsibility. A player who plays the ad court whether lefty or right handed has the mental toughness to handle the pressure that is required during tough matches. If you are a player who could depend well on the ad court at 0-40 or 30-40 score then you should play the ad court. At 40-30 or 40-0 score,if your confidence is very high then you can finish the point easily while scaring your opponent of your tremendous return off the adcourt.
May 10, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		lefty
by: yazan

I think for the lefty she should receive at the ad side inorder to control the wide side serve if she wanna play with a righty so they will cover both sides
May 10, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Lefties - which side is better
by: Anonymous

I would start a beginner leftie on the duece side, but have them get use to both positions and later on let them decide which is their strongest side - I am right handed but can play as a leftie - only as I am a better coach then player and am working with 8 year olds.
May 11, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Left Handed player
by:

My doubles friend is a Left handed player and he plays the add side of the court because he was a great down the line shot and it normally throw people people off.

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