Countering Left-Handers: What is the Correct Way to Play!?

In table tennis, you don't often get the chance to play against left-handers. However, it is dangerous to go without a strategy.

If you know how to counter them in advance, you can approach the match with composure.

In this article, I will introduce some strategies for countering left-handers that will be useful in such situations.

(1) Table tennis counter-lefty strategy: Don't use the same serves as you do against right-handers

First, as a counter-lefty strategy, you must not use the same serves you use against right-handed opponents. This is because many serves that are effective against right-handers are not effective against left-handers.

For example, short serves to the backhand or middle are cases in point.

These are effective against right-handers. You can aim for a point on the third ball after they return it with a push.

However, if you serve to a left-hander's backhand, the path is straight, so the distance is short.

Because of this, they can hit it at an earlier timing, putting you at a disadvantage in the rally.

As you can see, when playing against a left-hander, you should not use the same serves as you do against a right-hander. Instead of gaining an advantage, you risk putting yourself at a disadvantage.

(2) Table tennis counter-lefty strategy: Serve fast to the forehand, then play the third ball to the backhand

Effective serves against left-handers include fast long serves to the forehand or serves with natural sidespin.

First, move your opponent significantly with a serve to their forehand. Then, attack the open backhand side on the third ball to aim for a point.

The opponent's stance and body orientation are different from those of a right-hander. One reason players feel that left-handers are difficult to play against is due to these visual effects.

Also, because of this, you might think that serving to the opponent's forehand would lead to them hitting a powerful shot. However, that is not actually the case. If you don't have a long, fast serve to the forehand, your opponent will easily return your serve.

Be bold and hit a long serve to the forehand to move your opponent around. Then, return the third ball to their backhand.

Note that as you continue to do this, the opponent may become cautious and start standing closer to their forehand side. When this happens, hit a fast serve or a long backspin serve to their backhand. This is even more effective.

In this way, moving your opponent with fast long serves or natural sidespin serves to the forehand and aiming for a point on the third ball is an effective strategy against left-handers.

(3) Table tennis counter-lefty strategy: Hit forehand drives to the straight course

As a strategy against left-handers, hit your forehand drives to the straight course, which means hitting to the left-hander's forehand.

A forehand drive is a drive shot hit with the forehand. A drive is an aggressive shot that turns a backspin ball into a topspin return.

It can be illustrated as follows.

Left-handers are not used to being hit hard on their forehand side like this. For this reason, this is your target. Be bold and hit it straight.

On the other hand, they are good at blocking drives hit to their backhand. Therefore, please avoid this.

As shown, a forehand drive hit to the straight course is an effective countermeasure against left-handers.

♣Summary

As I have explained so far, the key points for countering left-handers in table tennis are as follows.

▣Serves that work against right-handers will not work

▣Serve fast to the opponent's forehand, and return the third ball to the backhand

▣Hit forehand drives to the straight course

Keep these countermeasures in mind and be prepared. You don't want to lose just because your opponent is left-handed!!

Next time, I would like to introduce tactics for left-handers!! What tactics should left-handed players use?