How to play against a Lefty

[anchorschmidt]

Guide to how one should play against the lefty. I didn't write this but I follow the blog and perhaps this could help other people as well

https://thoughtsontabletennis.wordpress.com/2015/02/12/playing-against-lefties/

I have copied the summary below: [NOTE: There is much more info on the blog post]

Summary and complete game plan

Serve

• mostly short pendulum serve into his forehand zone->pop up->3rd ball attack
• faster serves of the same type with an all in 3rd ball attack into his backhand with your forehand or backhand
• from time to time long serves down the line to keep him guessing

Receive

• stand further to the right
• prepare to make a step forward incase the serve drifts away sideways on your forehand side
• if you see that the sidespin serve double bounces, rip it with a backhand loop or try to control it with a properly angled blade
• if the serve is long and drives away from your forehand, loop it into the opponents deep backhand or down the line, focus on a low trajectory

Rally behaviour

• lock the opponent on his backhand side with forehand loops, pay attention to hit the mentioned spot a bit left of the middle line and don’t go all in too early, most lefties have solid blocking skills on the backhand
• don’t use extreme angles if you aren’t sure to hit a winner or get a significant advantage – what goes around, comes around
• if he tries to break the pattern: enforce the same placement with every of your shots whether it’s forehand or backhand
• sudden! backhand shots into his long forehand are effective after a long phase of containment
• if he tries to move you into your backhand corner with slightly wandering block try suddenly changing into a backhand loop into his wide forehand or even an inside out loop to prevent that the same happens to you
• if he tries to loop forehand to forehand with you where he uses inside out loops, try cocking your wrist a bit back to cancel the sidespin but loop normally in general
• wrist slightly cocked back if you counterloop inside out loops

 

[Der_Echte]

A lot of good tips.

I would add something simple.

A good QUICK BH attack is your friend.

LH players face RH players with good Fh all the time and they generally have a lot of experience vs that and know how to cope.

On the other hand, a Lefty doesn't face many righties with a quality consistent QUICK and fast BH attack. There are few things a Lefty hates more than a RH player with a BH that is quick, unpredictable, can land anywhere, and land it with pace and depth and placement.

 

[raazzz]

Awesome list! Is there any similar list how to play against a player with long pipe?

 

[anchorschmidt]

Awesome list! Is there any similar list how to play against a player with long pipe?

Yes actually https://thoughtsontabletennis.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/playing-against-long-pimples/

 

[Der_Echte]

Haha, tha amature LP player in the CWX vids he is teaching the swipe receive is our company's CEO (he wore grey color t-shirt Paralympic Trials) and who made that vid. He mailed me a DVD of that camp, it was in 2008 or 2009 in Baltimore, USA area.

 

[raazzz]

Yes actually https://thoughtsontabletennis.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/playing-against-long-pimples/

Thanks very helpful!