I think you will unleash a real trend and the #1 player in 7 years will play 2 forehands! 😀 Imagine kids getting trained like this from the first lesson on! Anyway, I might try this as well. Having a 1HBH myself, I hate that this is always the goto spot of my opponents... PS: This must have been tried before, no? Have you done some research?
Try! You mean before as in someone on the tour has tried this? Yes, a few names. Currently I think Teodov is the kid that might make it the furthest, we will see. He's a top jr right now.
Thank you! I'm lucky to want it as much as I do because it's definitely a struggle and I'd be miserable on this journey if I wasn't interested in it haha.
Awesome stuff! I have used 1HFH on both sides in practice, but never successfully in matches because it takes too much mental energy to switch grip quickly. Looking forward to hear about how you do the grip change! If you want to improve your 2HBH, you can try playing with a 2HFH (like Seles) and analyze the left and right side like you did in this video to improve quickly. The pros of 2HFH + 2HBH is that you don't have to think about switching grips and it's easier to counter opponents that have a way stronger 1HFH.
I definitely wonder how serve returns will go but besides that I feel pretty confident! And it only gets better from here still so any holes could maybe patch. I know what's possible since my right side shows me that.
I actually like my one handed backhand more than my forehand, maybe i should play a backhand on both sides. Haha My backhand is much more lethal, my forehand is bit more consistent. Opponents don't know what side to attack, heard this multiple times that after the match they still didn't figure out what to do.
haha keep em guessing. Conventional wisdom always says to bully the backhand. A piece of data I use as a proxy to "prove" backhands tend to be the inferior shot. But many have good things to say about their level but maybe at the very top and often across the levels, the backhand is a weaker or less lethal shot.
Just wanna say this, but your content is probably the best ive seen. your opinions can be controversial (like the multifilament take) but i really like your honesty. keep up the great work 👍
Thank you! I try to be honest, not necessarily controversial but it works out that way haha. More opinions and thoughts to come! Some may upset some people but we gotta keep it honest, don't we :)
I commend you for your inquisitiveness and dedication towards the nuanced things that are overlooked or not explored in tennis (or others toward another sport they love) Whether that be, experimening with extended racquets with different string patterns, different strings, to your observations with string pattern gaps, parallel drilling, etc, to now replacing your 2HB with a lefty FH well into your adulthood...which I may add...Is NOT easy! When I was a kid, I was ambidextrous. and played several sports this way, until coaches forced me to choose a side...which was unfortunate. Having a skill set like that, imho, is a great advantage, not only in sport; but life. I went on to play several sports at a very high level and it would've been interesting to have that in my toolbox. Now, I still play several different sports where I play some righty; some left, but tennis (which I didn't pick up until adulthood) is primarily righty... Although I can go left when playing a defence squash shot sliding outside the alley. Love your channel... It's your passion and curiousity that keeps me coming back.
Thanks for sharing your story! It must be tough, as a coach, to make the right decisions for the players. I'm sure for some that is the way to go. For others...who knows what they could have been? Plus, how many coaches are qualified to teach ambidextrously? But I totally feel you if you have some frustrations. The lack of any support for this path is largely why it is traveled alone. I'm largely interested in it not only for the potential of another forehand but I think my body will be better off if I can rise to the challenge of developing a real one. More balanced overall instead of such a bias in every way for the right side. Cheers!! The freedom to explore my curiosity is probably what keeps me so passionate. I could feel my passion dying towards the end of my time with the 2 handed backhand. I just felt such a plateau and reinforcing that bias... Hope to see you in the video following this one!
Having two forehands sounds cool. Intriguing step-by-step commentary on your body mechanics when using it. My brain is still processing whether I would benefit. I have a pretty darn good one-handed backhand, and my backhand slices have won me many points. I definitely do want to incorporate trying a "reverse" forehand into some ball machine sessions!
Reverse forehand? What do you mean? Thank you! I also think I'm benefiting from balancing my body out more as I become ambidextrous but I'll detail this more in the next video about this journey. My two handed backhand would still be more threatening than my lefty forehand, all around, but the gap is closing more and more and I hope to fully surpass it eventually.
@@ZeroLoveTennis LOL. I might have worded that wrong. I just mean a forehand with my non-dominant arm, like you’re doing. I really do like the concept of balancing one’s body. That to me has always been the one downside of tennis as your main physical activity. Not that tennis players look like Quagmire locked up in a house for a few months with a computer and Internet. Ha!
Interesting that when you don’t have much time to think you revert to backhand habits. Case in point are volleys like the last one. Impressive that you’re trying this. I’m sure it’s both a huge mental and physical challenge
I think I agree but I'm not sure the volley you are speaking of is an example of that but maybe. Feel free to elaborate. If you mean that approaching volley I caught a liitle mid-court, idk. Volleys are always right handed for me and I plan to keep it that way. So I wouldn't move into position to hit a backhand if I was going to hit a volley. It is mentally taxing in an interesting way. I'll explain that in a future video as well.
@@ZeroLoveTennis Yeah, sorry for the vagueness. I'm talking about the volley at 12:12-ish. I wasn't at all being critical, it was more of a reflection of the enormity of breaking habits even on more reflexive shots. In a true double forehand world, that shot would have probably been both easier more accurate if you'd used your left hand instead of stabbing across your body, don't you think? Like if it was flipped and the cross court shot came to your right, you'd WANT to take that volley as a forehand as it would be easier to get to and control. In theory, you'd want that on both sides, no?
@@trippwestbrook9827 I see. Well, at this time, I don't plan to dive into lefty volleys. It sounds too hard to close that gap right now and with the learning curve of switching grips, being at the net and making the right decisions with much less time sounds way harder for...what, a little reach? It's mostly that. It's too hard for too little gain. And in that example, Using my right leg to step over/around my left allowed me to pivot into one giant step for reach. A distance that was required which would have asked for more steps had it been a lefty volley, I think. And even if not in that situation, this would be the case for some. But to optimize every situation for either arm is just too much at this time, especially at the net. Especailly, again, for a moment of the game that comes up quite infrequently for me but kind of in general. A huge challenge for a very small percentage of the interactions with minimal gains (as far as I can see) Hope that makes sense. Happens around 12:04 for anyone wondering
@@ZeroLoveTennis really appreciate the thoughtful reply and it makes total sense. I admire the challenge and look forward to seeing it pay off for you. Cheers.
Appreciate that! Still thinking about how to optimize the prep. If your right side is good and you think it as an example to mimic and learn from on the left side, that is in large part my approach to this. It's a lot of "what am I doing on that side that I'm not on this side" thinking but I try to connect with that deeply. The discoveries are very interesting.
I totally get what you say regarding coordination issues with your lefty forehand. But just a thought, have you tried switching to a double-hander to get a better coordination going (after all, DH still uses a dominant left hand) and then switching backwards and forwards until it all clicks into place?
I have not. I feel as though the 2HBH is very right hand dominant still. Unless you are talking about a lefty 2 handed forehand. The idea of which already tangles my neural circuitry. That is to say, it sounds very uncomfortable haha.
@@ZeroLoveTennis Perhaps now that you are better at hitting a lefty forehand, your 2HBH may not be as right hand dominant as before and so may have significantly improved !! Would love to see a video
I still don't know how dominant it should be or at what moment. I hear so much from great players...and for myself felt differently at different times. Probably added to a lot of my frustration, actually. That being said, I know my left hand could be better and a lot of things like weight transfer and rotation will improve from that as well.
I’m an ambidex but play right handed with a two hander. In my junior days I was a lefty! Some days my forehand is great and on other days its my backhand lol
@@ZeroLoveTennis ahhah sucks to be bad at only one wing lol. Are you planning on going back to the two hander once your lefty forehand is good enough? Pros also train their non dominant forehand
@@ZeroLoveTennis I’m invested in your journey! I saw somewhere that you said that doing small things such as brushing your teeth with your non dominant hand even helps. Here are some insights from an ambidex: my skill on both hands is the same. But if I learn some skills with only one hand, ofcourse that hand can peform the task. better. My coordination on both hands are the same, but if I’m used to doing a thing with one hand. Doing it with the other hand still feels odd, even though I can do it immediately without practice with the other hand. So I agree with your take. Try doing as much things with your left hand! ps: not everyone is 100% right or left sided. There is more than just hands. Dominant eye, ear, foot, etc
You are wise on the Ambidextrous journey and truths! Yes, sometimes co-dominant is used in place of ambidextrous even though that makes you sound mirrored on both sides, which isn't true.
I'm generally happy to hit a lefty one if I can just to get the reps in but it doesn't mean that is the better shot choice for me in the moment. I get your struggle. I think it's a decision you make ahead of time a swear to commit to and then it becomes a habit. Like how if a player has time to run around and hit a forehand, they likely will. But my wiring is more like "don't chicken out, hit that lefty if it comes to the left side, that's the whole reasons you switched and it's the only way it'll get better. So what if you throw this point."
@@ZeroLoveTennis what I mean is if the ball is somewhat in the middle or even just slightly off center from to either side: do you play which forehand? since forehand is an aggressive stroke( at least for me who likes to play inside out) so if I have the mentality of 2 forehands do I then go inside out to the right with a left handed forehand if my natural inclination is to really drive the point with that shot. I have tried 2 forehands many times and I always end at this conondrum, it's never about the quality of the shot for me since i'm ambidextrous and can play equally well with each hand.
I can still get caught in a funny spot. I might even slice a ball in that situation, with my dominant hand. I'm generally pretty happy with the decisions I make in a pinch like that but I still blow a point sometimes.
Hello, i m pure lefty (hand,feet), but i was forced to learn tennis with right hand so i m interested in your approach..my question is how do you place your two hands on neutral position and don t you lose time on one side to set your hand on grip?
I'll have to detail this on a future video. Please keep an eye out. I'm writing the prompts for it but the video will be about how I did this. I have another one coming talking about why. I may combine those videos but it depends how long it takes.
I'll break down my grip method sometime. I wonder how much this might adapt overtime. I can't say my method is the best, I'm traveling a lonely path so I have to try what works for me and get good at it and only then can I know if it's working well enough. For now, I kind of have both hands overlap in some way that a release can happen and the grip is more or less in position to hit the ball well upon letting go. Hard to describe without showing and I change it up for a few reasons sometimes. I'll detail it in a breakdown of "how" I did this.
I am doing this for a lot more than three months, but not constantly. A key problem is the footwork, because the distance to the ball is different from a backhand and you are used to that backhand distance. To master the new footwork is crucial. You will need to quit playing backhands forever. I can tell you, that it is a completely different thing, to play forehands with a ball machine than with an opponent who does not play easy balls.
It is definitely not easy! Yes, some footwork and spacing habits are still there but I'm breaking them and finding out where it happens and why. The machine is really good for fixing those things where as hitting for real can bring a lot of that old reaction habit back. But I do a lot of both and I think that is key. How is it going for you so far?
@@ZeroLoveTennis I am still playing a singlehanded backhand. Once in a while, I play some lefty forehands in doubles. Doubles is more easy, because you do not need to move that much. I also tried to serve as a lefty, what gave me a lot of insight in the mechanics of serving. My only goal was to play a lefty forehand for short and low balls, which are difficult to kill with a single handed backhand. It was in the end a nice experience, because I had no talent for playing with my left arm.
Haha right on. Doubles would throw me off a bit because it's always a little vague as to which ball will be yours next. Singles, it's always yours next.
I've had some success. Some moments that make me wonder if I need a different neutral grip so I'm more ready either way somehow but overall not so bad.
The big disadvantage of two forehands might be not having the natural slice backhand, it would be interesting to see you in match play and if that leftie forehand can hold up, but I'd have to think your opponent would un-mercilessly pound your leftie forehand, every chance they got!
I guess I didn't mention it in this video but I have no intention of giving up my backhand slice. But I hit forehand ones now just to force the habit and get that practice but I do mix it up, still. And the opponents definitely bully my lefty when they want to win but I'm happy to take the beating because it's great practice. I'm all about getting the reps in on my lefty now.
@@ZeroLoveTennis I use a slice forehand in the same way I do on the BH and it's always very effective, especially when I want to take a high bouncing forehand very early and come to the net. I can't see how you can't have a lefty slice forehand.
I don't. But this is partly why. Many big adjustments. But sometime I might after I'm more comfortable. Points are often played in some form when I hit, though. So there's still a winning element when playing.
I'll have to Google that... One sec Interesting. What is this? It feels a little "horoscope" like but maybe it's a bit more scientific? I haven't looked into it at all just enough to know what you're speaking about a little haha. Maybe my next video will further inspire a journey for you to leave the backhand for another forehand. Tricky video to make but I'm working on it
It's not really scientific, its 's more like take-it-for-what-it's-worth personality grouping made by some priests I believe like 100 years ago. But sometimes it is uncanny how people do fit a lot of the attributes that are ascribed to each grouping. For me most but not all of what they say about 5's I feel does apply to me. And 5's are in good company; it's thought guys like Einstein and Alexander Hamilton fit the bill very well. Super looking forward to the next video!
I see! Yes, that sounds reasonable. Even Astrology signs or Horoscopes have some merit but you can kind of read any of those and find a lot of relatability in them. Maybe this thing is a bit more specific.
Nice! And by backhands on both sides, are you sure it's not a 2 handed forehand? They are different but look similar. If you're a righty, a backhand on the right side would mean your left hand is at the buttcap, not the right.
Think I didn't? For 2 years? A big attraction to the second forehand is NOT being so right arm dominant. I don't like the idea of all my tennis being right arm only. This decision is as much for my body as it is for my tennis and what potential I want to explore.
I was definitely obsessed with it for a while. I enjoyed it as well. It was pretty good. I had some lethal power. But I came back to two for the reasons one might, with some of my own. Ultimately going to a lefty forehand and ditching the backhand entirely. We'll see how it goes.
Maybe in a few ways. Overall, no. I have better reach and spin which actually helps with some consistency in a lot of situations or angles I can get or pull off. But overall, it is a bit less consistent and less lethal because I have less power/pace. But the gap has closed so much in these last few months that I am only encouraged to keep going. At this time, it's good enough to rally at a high pace and not throw every point in the trash. I might even win some off the left side, now.
I think you will unleash a real trend and the #1 player in 7 years will play 2 forehands! 😀
Imagine kids getting trained like this from the first lesson on!
Anyway, I might try this as well. Having a 1HBH myself, I hate that this is always the goto spot of my opponents...
PS: This must have been tried before, no? Have you done some research?
Try! You mean before as in someone on the tour has tried this? Yes, a few names. Currently I think Teodov is the kid that might make it the furthest, we will see. He's a top jr right now.
Well done on having the grit to do this!
Thank you! I'm lucky to want it as much as I do because it's definitely a struggle and I'd be miserable on this journey if I wasn't interested in it haha.
Awesome stuff! I have used 1HFH on both sides in practice, but never successfully in matches because it takes too much mental energy to switch grip quickly. Looking forward to hear about how you do the grip change!
If you want to improve your 2HBH, you can try playing with a 2HFH (like Seles) and analyze the left and right side like you did in this video to improve quickly. The pros of 2HFH + 2HBH is that you don't have to think about switching grips and it's easier to counter opponents that have a way stronger 1HFH.
I definitely wonder how serve returns will go but besides that I feel pretty confident! And it only gets better from here still so any holes could maybe patch. I know what's possible since my right side shows me that.
I actually like my one handed backhand more than my forehand, maybe i should play a backhand on both sides.
Haha
My backhand is much more lethal, my forehand is bit more consistent. Opponents don't know what side to attack, heard this multiple times that after the match they still didn't figure out what to do.
haha keep em guessing. Conventional wisdom always says to bully the backhand. A piece of data I use as a proxy to "prove" backhands tend to be the inferior shot. But many have good things to say about their level but maybe at the very top and often across the levels, the backhand is a weaker or less lethal shot.
Just wanna say this, but your content is probably the best ive seen. your opinions can be controversial (like the multifilament take) but i really like your honesty. keep up the great work 👍
Thank you! I try to be honest, not necessarily controversial but it works out that way haha. More opinions and thoughts to come! Some may upset some people but we gotta keep it honest, don't we :)
I commend you for your inquisitiveness and dedication towards
the nuanced things that are overlooked or not explored in tennis
(or others toward another sport they love)
Whether that be, experimening with extended racquets with different string patterns,
different strings, to your observations with string pattern gaps, parallel drilling, etc,
to now replacing your 2HB with a lefty FH well into your adulthood...which I may add...Is NOT easy!
When I was a kid, I was ambidextrous. and played several sports this way,
until coaches forced me to choose a side...which was unfortunate.
Having a skill set like that, imho, is a great advantage, not only in sport; but life.
I went on to play several sports at a very high level and it would've been interesting to have that in my toolbox.
Now, I still play several different sports where I play some righty; some left,
but tennis (which I didn't pick up until adulthood) is primarily righty...
Although I can go left when playing a defence squash shot sliding outside the alley.
Love your channel...
It's your passion and curiousity that keeps me coming back.
Thanks for sharing your story! It must be tough, as a coach, to make the right decisions for the players. I'm sure for some that is the way to go. For others...who knows what they could have been? Plus, how many coaches are qualified to teach ambidextrously? But I totally feel you if you have some frustrations. The lack of any support for this path is largely why it is traveled alone.
I'm largely interested in it not only for the potential of another forehand but I think my body will be better off if I can rise to the challenge of developing a real one. More balanced overall instead of such a bias in every way for the right side.
Cheers!! The freedom to explore my curiosity is probably what keeps me so passionate. I could feel my passion dying towards the end of my time with the 2 handed backhand. I just felt such a plateau and reinforcing that bias...
Hope to see you in the video following this one!
Having two forehands sounds cool. Intriguing step-by-step commentary on your body mechanics when using it. My brain is still processing whether I would benefit. I have a pretty darn good one-handed backhand, and my backhand slices have won me many points. I definitely do want to incorporate trying a "reverse" forehand into some ball machine sessions!
Reverse forehand? What do you mean?
Thank you! I also think I'm benefiting from balancing my body out more as I become ambidextrous but I'll detail this more in the next video about this journey.
My two handed backhand would still be more threatening than my lefty forehand, all around, but the gap is closing more and more and I hope to fully surpass it eventually.
@@ZeroLoveTennis LOL. I might have worded that wrong. I just mean a forehand with my non-dominant arm, like you’re doing. I really do like the concept of balancing one’s body. That to me has always been the one downside of tennis as your main physical activity. Not that tennis players look like Quagmire locked up in a house for a few months with a computer and Internet. Ha!
Lol I think of that exact image when I think about going back to a 1 handed backhand. A picture I should include in my video maybe!
@@ZeroLoveTennis 🤣
Interesting that when you don’t have much time to think you revert to backhand habits. Case in point are volleys like the last one. Impressive that you’re trying this. I’m sure it’s both a huge mental and physical challenge
You will only master the mental challenge, if you quit backhands forever. Otherwise, you are confusing yourself.
I think I agree but I'm not sure the volley you are speaking of is an example of that but maybe. Feel free to elaborate. If you mean that approaching volley I caught a liitle mid-court, idk. Volleys are always right handed for me and I plan to keep it that way. So I wouldn't move into position to hit a backhand if I was going to hit a volley.
It is mentally taxing in an interesting way. I'll explain that in a future video as well.
@@ZeroLoveTennis Yeah, sorry for the vagueness. I'm talking about the volley at 12:12-ish. I wasn't at all being critical, it was more of a reflection of the enormity of breaking habits even on more reflexive shots. In a true double forehand world, that shot would have probably been both easier more accurate if you'd used your left hand instead of stabbing across your body, don't you think? Like if it was flipped and the cross court shot came to your right, you'd WANT to take that volley as a forehand as it would be easier to get to and control. In theory, you'd want that on both sides, no?
@@trippwestbrook9827 I see. Well, at this time, I don't plan to dive into lefty volleys. It sounds too hard to close that gap right now and with the learning curve of switching grips, being at the net and making the right decisions with much less time sounds way harder for...what, a little reach?
It's mostly that. It's too hard for too little gain. And in that example, Using my right leg to step over/around my left allowed me to pivot into one giant step for reach. A distance that was required which would have asked for more steps had it been a lefty volley, I think. And even if not in that situation, this would be the case for some.
But to optimize every situation for either arm is just too much at this time, especially at the net. Especailly, again, for a moment of the game that comes up quite infrequently for me but kind of in general. A huge challenge for a very small percentage of the interactions with minimal gains (as far as I can see)
Hope that makes sense.
Happens around 12:04 for anyone wondering
@@ZeroLoveTennis really appreciate the thoughtful reply and it makes total sense. I admire the challenge and look forward to seeing it pay off for you. Cheers.
Glad to see you trying ambidextrous! I have been doing this on and off for a few months, too.
Nice! What was your reason?
As a one handed player I understand your grief and look forward to your progress.
Did you try the two and the one and feel like both have some annoying things about em?
@@ZeroLoveTennisI like your early preparation on the new forehand. I would worry too much about technique at this stage.
Appreciate that! Still thinking about how to optimize the prep. If your right side is good and you think it as an example to mimic and learn from on the left side, that is in large part my approach to this. It's a lot of "what am I doing on that side that I'm not on this side" thinking but I try to connect with that deeply.
The discoveries are very interesting.
@@ZeroLoveTennis I guess it will in part come down to something called muscle memory which can take years.
Definitely. Maybe it can transfer over to the other side more quickly than one thinks but hard to say
I totally get what you say regarding coordination issues with your lefty forehand. But just a thought, have you tried switching to a double-hander to get a better coordination going (after all, DH still uses a dominant left hand) and then switching backwards and forwards until it all clicks into place?
I have not. I feel as though the 2HBH is very right hand dominant still. Unless you are talking about a lefty 2 handed forehand. The idea of which already tangles my neural circuitry. That is to say, it sounds very uncomfortable haha.
@@ZeroLoveTennis Perhaps now that you are better at hitting a lefty forehand, your 2HBH may not be as right hand dominant as before and so may have significantly improved !! Would love to see a video
I still don't know how dominant it should be or at what moment. I hear so much from great players...and for myself felt differently at different times. Probably added to a lot of my frustration, actually.
That being said, I know my left hand could be better and a lot of things like weight transfer and rotation will improve from that as well.
how do you change grip? what is your preparation position of your hand?
I'll answer this in the next video in a part where I cover something along the lines of how I do this or what my technique/setup is.
I’m an ambidex but play right handed with a two hander. In my junior days I was a lefty! Some days my forehand is great and on other days its my backhand lol
Nice! 99/100 days it was my backhand that wasn't great if something was off.
@@ZeroLoveTennis ahhah sucks to be bad at only one wing lol. Are you planning on going back to the two hander once your lefty forehand is good enough? Pros also train their non dominant forehand
The dream is to never go back, to be honest haha. Still don't feel like it but we will see.
@@ZeroLoveTennis I’m invested in your journey! I saw somewhere that you said that doing small things such as brushing your teeth with your non dominant hand even helps. Here are some insights from an ambidex: my skill on both hands is the same. But if I learn some skills with only one hand, ofcourse that hand can peform the task. better.
My coordination on both hands are the same, but if I’m used to doing a thing with one hand. Doing it with the other hand still feels odd, even though I can do it immediately without practice with the other hand. So I agree with your take. Try doing as much things with your left hand!
ps: not everyone is 100% right or left sided. There is more than just hands. Dominant eye, ear, foot, etc
You are wise on the Ambidextrous journey and truths! Yes, sometimes co-dominant is used in place of ambidextrous even though that makes you sound mirrored on both sides, which isn't true.
the hardest part of doing double forehands for me is knowing when to do a left forehand or go inside out
I'm generally happy to hit a lefty one if I can just to get the reps in but it doesn't mean that is the better shot choice for me in the moment. I get your struggle. I think it's a decision you make ahead of time a swear to commit to and then it becomes a habit. Like how if a player has time to run around and hit a forehand, they likely will.
But my wiring is more like "don't chicken out, hit that lefty if it comes to the left side, that's the whole reasons you switched and it's the only way it'll get better. So what if you throw this point."
@@ZeroLoveTennis what I mean is if the ball is somewhat in the middle or even just slightly off center from to either side: do you play which forehand? since forehand is an aggressive stroke( at least for me who likes to play inside out) so if I have the mentality of 2 forehands do I then go inside out to the right with a left handed forehand if my natural inclination is to really drive the point with that shot. I have tried 2 forehands many times and I always end at this conondrum, it's never about the quality of the shot for me since i'm ambidextrous and can play equally well with each hand.
I can still get caught in a funny spot. I might even slice a ball in that situation, with my dominant hand. I'm generally pretty happy with the decisions I make in a pinch like that but I still blow a point sometimes.
Hello, i m pure lefty (hand,feet), but i was forced to learn tennis with right hand so i m interested in your approach..my question is how do you place your two hands on neutral position and don t you lose time on one side to set your hand on grip?
I'll have to detail this on a future video. Please keep an eye out. I'm writing the prompts for it but the video will be about how I did this. I have another one coming talking about why. I may combine those videos but it depends how long it takes.
How dpo you handle the return of serve? I'm assuming your left hand is higher on the grip?
I'll break down my grip method sometime. I wonder how much this might adapt overtime. I can't say my method is the best, I'm traveling a lonely path so I have to try what works for me and get good at it and only then can I know if it's working well enough.
For now, I kind of have both hands overlap in some way that a release can happen and the grip is more or less in position to hit the ball well upon letting go. Hard to describe without showing and I change it up for a few reasons sometimes.
I'll detail it in a breakdown of "how" I did this.
I am doing this for a lot more than three months, but not constantly. A key problem is the footwork, because the distance to the ball is different from a backhand and you are used to that backhand distance. To master the new footwork is crucial. You will need to quit playing backhands forever. I can tell you, that it is a completely different thing, to play forehands with a ball machine than with an opponent who does not play easy balls.
It is definitely not easy! Yes, some footwork and spacing habits are still there but I'm breaking them and finding out where it happens and why. The machine is really good for fixing those things where as hitting for real can bring a lot of that old reaction habit back. But I do a lot of both and I think that is key. How is it going for you so far?
@@ZeroLoveTennis I am still playing a singlehanded backhand. Once in a while, I play some lefty forehands in doubles. Doubles is more easy, because you do not need to move that much.
I also tried to serve as a lefty, what gave me a lot of insight in the mechanics of serving.
My only goal was to play a lefty forehand for short and low balls, which are difficult to kill with a single handed backhand. It was in the end a nice experience, because I had no talent for playing with my left arm.
Haha right on. Doubles would throw me off a bit because it's always a little vague as to which ball will be yours next. Singles, it's always yours next.
Great stuff. What's returning serve like?
I've had some success. Some moments that make me wonder if I need a different neutral grip so I'm more ready either way somehow but overall not so bad.
The big disadvantage of two forehands might be not having the natural slice backhand, it would be interesting to see you in match play and if that leftie forehand can hold up, but I'd have to think your opponent would un-mercilessly pound your leftie forehand, every chance they got!
I guess I didn't mention it in this video but I have no intention of giving up my backhand slice. But I hit forehand ones now just to force the habit and get that practice but I do mix it up, still.
And the opponents definitely bully my lefty when they want to win but I'm happy to take the beating because it's great practice. I'm all about getting the reps in on my lefty now.
@@ZeroLoveTennis i thought you dont play matches
@@ZeroLoveTennis I use a slice forehand in the same way I do on the BH and it's always very effective, especially when I want to take a high bouncing forehand very early and come to the net. I can't see how you can't have a lefty slice forehand.
I don't. But this is partly why. Many big adjustments. But sometime I might after I'm more comfortable. Points are often played in some form when I hit, though. So there's still a winning element when playing.
Maybe they think having two forehand slices is losing some edge but that's not my plan anyway
Do you know what an eneagram 5 is? I'm one too.
Been waiting for this video too. Super interested in ditching my backhand too
I'll have to Google that... One sec
Interesting. What is this? It feels a little "horoscope" like but maybe it's a bit more scientific? I haven't looked into it at all just enough to know what you're speaking about a little haha.
Maybe my next video will further inspire a journey for you to leave the backhand for another forehand. Tricky video to make but I'm working on it
It's not really scientific, its 's more like take-it-for-what-it's-worth personality grouping made by some priests I believe like 100 years ago. But sometimes it is uncanny how people do fit a lot of the attributes that are ascribed to each grouping. For me most but not all of what they say about 5's I feel does apply to me. And 5's are in good company; it's thought guys like Einstein and Alexander Hamilton fit the bill very well.
Super looking forward to the next video!
I see! Yes, that sounds reasonable. Even Astrology signs or Horoscopes have some merit but you can kind of read any of those and find a lot of relatability in them. Maybe this thing is a bit more specific.
I either play ohbh or both sides double handed backhand
Nice! And by backhands on both sides, are you sure it's not a 2 handed forehand? They are different but look similar. If you're a righty, a backhand on the right side would mean your left hand is at the buttcap, not the right.
Why don't you try hitting a one handed backhand?!
Think I didn't? For 2 years? A big attraction to the second forehand is NOT being so right arm dominant. I don't like the idea of all my tennis being right arm only. This decision is as much for my body as it is for my tennis and what potential I want to explore.
@@ZeroLoveTennis Hitting a great one handed backhand is awesome. You just need to spend more time watching clips of Stefan Edberg.
I was definitely obsessed with it for a while. I enjoyed it as well. It was pretty good. I had some lethal power. But I came back to two for the reasons one might, with some of my own. Ultimately going to a lefty forehand and ditching the backhand entirely.
We'll see how it goes.
You are denying yourself the ultimate tennis experience.
Is having a regular backhand the ultimate tennis experience? I had one for a long time. I don't feel like I'm missing out at all.
Is your left forehand better that backhand now?
Maybe in a few ways. Overall, no. I have better reach and spin which actually helps with some consistency in a lot of situations or angles I can get or pull off. But overall, it is a bit less consistent and less lethal because I have less power/pace. But the gap has closed so much in these last few months that I am only encouraged to keep going. At this time, it's good enough to rally at a high pace and not throw every point in the trash. I might even win some off the left side, now.