To play well against a left-hander, change the pattern you are used to: your crosscourt forehand now lands on their backhand, your crosscourt backhand lands on their forehand, and the spin from their serve and forehand curves away from where you expect it. Spend your first few games learning where their serve finishes, build your rallies around the forehand-to-backhand diagonal on the deuce side, and respect that their forehand on the ad side is the shot you will see most often under pressure. Most of the difficulty is unfamiliarity, and unfamiliarity shrinks quickly once you have a plan.
In my coaching sessions, right-handed players tell me they lose to left-handers even when the left-hander is not the stronger player. The reason is nearly always habit. A right-hander spends most of their hitting life facing other right-handers, so the ball comes in at a predictable angle and spin. This guide covers the geometry of the court against a left-hander, how to read and return their serve, patterns that work, and three drills. For the general framework behind crosscourt and down-the-line choices, read my guide to crosscourt vs down the line first.
Why left-handers feel different to play against
Two things change when the player across the net is left-handed. The first is the direction of the spin. A left-hander’s slice and topspin curve the opposite way, so a ball that you would normally expect to drift to your right now drifts to your left. The second is where your favourite shots go. Your crosscourt forehand, which against a right-hander meets a forehand, now meets a backhand. Your crosscourt backhand meets a forehand, and that forehand comes with the spin and weight a left-hander has spent years refining because most of their opponents have been right-handed.
Left-handers also practise against right-handers all the time. They have seen your patterns thousands of times, while you may have faced only a handful of left-handers. That imbalance is why a plan matters.
The geometry: which diagonal belongs to whom
The deuce side: your forehand against their backhand
When you rally crosscourt from the deuce side with your forehand, the ball goes to the left-hander’s backhand. For most players, including most left-handers, the backhand is the weaker wing, so this diagonal is usually in your favour. Build points here, ask them to defend with the backhand, and look for the short ball that comes back.
The ad side: your backhand against their forehand
The ad-side diagonal is the reverse. Your crosscourt backhand goes to a left-hander’s forehand, which is usually their strongest shot, and it often comes back with heavy topspin that climbs high to your backhand side. If you hit a one-handed backhand, a high ball above your shoulder is a hard ball to handle. Against this pattern, I ask players to do one of three things: take the ball earlier, step back and hit it at waist height, or change the direction to the open backhand-to-backhand line when it is safe. If you want to check your one-hander or two-hander before you take on a left-hander, my backhand diagnostic checklist is a useful starting point.
Reading and returning a left-handed serve
A left-hander’s serve spins and bounces the other way. A slice serve that would curve to your forehand against a right-hander now curves differently, and a kick serve kicks towards a different side. I do not rely on a fixed rule here. I ask players to treat the first service games as data collection and to note three things: where the first serve goes under pressure, where the second serve finishes, and how much the ball kicks.
- Stand where you can see the spin. Take your normal return position for the first two points, then adjust. If the ball pulls you wide, move a half step further out. If it jumps up into your body, move back.
- Practise the return in the warm-up. Ask the left-hander to hit ten serves into each box and watch only the bounce. Do not try to return them well. Just watch where they land.
- Block the first return deep and crosscourt. A deep, neutral return buys you time and takes away the server’s second shot. For the full routine, see my return of serve tactics guide.
If you are the one serving to a left-hander, the same idea applies in reverse. A left-hander’s backhand sits on the right-hand side of their body, so a wide serve in the deuce court pulls them towards that wing. Test it for a few points, and if the backhand return is solid, change the target.
Patterns that work against left-handers
Build on the deuce side, finish with the change of direction
Hit two or three forehands crosscourt to their backhand, then use the first short or weak reply to attack. That attack can go down the line, behind them, or into the open court. This is the same idea I describe in my short ball attack guide, adapted for the left-handed court.
Handle the high ball to your backhand
If you are a one-handed backhand player, take the ball on the rise, or slice it back low and deep so that the left-hander has to hit up. A deep slice also takes away the high bounce that bothers you. Two-handers can drive the ball up and over, or block it with a compact swing to buy time. Choose the response that keeps your balance, not the one that looks best.
Do not avoid their forehand all match
A common mistake is to play every ball to the backhand. A good left-hander will move around it, hit an inside-out forehand, and take the point. Mix the pattern. Hit the backhand until the left-hander starts to run around it, then go to the forehand side, preferably with a ball that does not bounce high into their strike zone.
Use the net when their reply is short
A left-hander who tries to hit through you can give you volleying chances. If you come in on a short ball, choose a deep approach with a slice or a drive and aim for the open court. My volley diagnostic checklist will help you check your volley first.
Three drills to prepare for a left-hander
Drill 1: Diagonal switch
With a left-handed partner, play crosscourt rallies on the deuce side, then on the ad side, and note how the ball feels different. Then swap so that you hit to the backhand on one diagonal and the forehand on the other. This builds the habit of expecting a different ball on each diagonal. If you cannot find a left-hander, ask your coach to arrange a hit with one.
Drill 2: High-ball backhand
Ask a partner to feed topspin balls that bounce to shoulder height on your backhand side. Hit twenty balls, alternating between taking the ball early and stepping back to hit it lower. Count how many land past the service line. This drill replaces the feeling of panic with a clear routine.
Drill 3: Serve return in two rounds
Round one: your partner serves ten balls to each side and you only watch the bounce and call where the ball ended up. Round two: return the same serves with a deep, crosscourt block. Keep score of how many returns land past the service line.
Common questions
Are left-handers really harder to play against?
Not because of any magic. They are harder because most players see fewer of them, so they feel unusual. A player who has practised against left-handers feels far more comfortable than one who has not.
Should I serve to a left-hander’s backhand?
Often it is a good starting target, because the backhand is the weaker wing for most players. Read the player in front of you, though. If their backhand return is strong, vary the target and mix in serves to the body.
How can I find left-handers to practise against?
Ask your coach to arrange a hit with a left-handed player, or ask your club or academy whether any left-handed players are looking for a hitting partner.
Written by Tan Xu Teng (Coach XT), Head Tennis Coach and founder of TAG International Tennis Academy. Coach XT specializes in technical diagnostics, competitive player development, and modern coaching methodology in Singapore.