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Thursday, October 28, 2010

RAFAEL NADAL - LEFT HAND ADVANTAGE!


It is often heard that Rafael Nadal’s uncle, mentor and coach encouraged him to play left handed though he was a natural right handed person. It is difficult to assess whether what Rafael Nadal has achieved is directly attributable to such a decision. What advantages does a left hander derive over a right hander in terms of play? The strokes that a left hander plays can be played by a right hander too. Federer’s Forehand is as good as that of Rafael Nadal. In certain situations, Nadal forehand may look more deadly, say when the forehand kicks up on a single fisted backhander. In some other situation, a Federer forehand is more deadly when it rips through on a flatter trajectory.
Forehand from left hand with excessive top spin was said to be a master stroke that catapulted Rafael Nadal into a champion player. Is such a statement a fact or a myth. Should the coaches start advising left handers to play right handed and right handers to play left handed. A player should play to his strengths and to the weaknesses of his opponent. If a player is strong on right hand, will it be better to play with right hand or with left hand.
As far as backhand is concerned, most of the players play double fisted backhand strokes. There could be a bit of advantage in ambidexterity for the backhand stroke, since both hands are used to generate power and get control. But what advantage is derived in reversing the roles of the left hand and the right hand. Since there are more right handers than left handers, there is less familiarity with a left hander opponent. One becomes accustomed to playing the shots of a right hander mostly. When one faces a left handed player, there is some element of surprise in the shot making of the opponent. While playing to the weaknesses of the opponent, it takes time and thought to plan your shots. It is not that instinctive. The rhythm has to be established anew. The flair is not there during some shot making. 
If there is an advantage in any particular direction by a left hander, it will get neutralized on the other side of the court by a right hander. Left handed forehand advantage appears to be only a myth and should not spur parents to start advising their wards to start playing with the wrong hand in order to become a Rafael Nadal.



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