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How to Play Against a Left-Hander in Table Tennis

Playing strategy 11 of 16 • Playing style

How to play against a left-hander in table tennis: why your forehand cross-court goes straight to their backhand, where to serve, and how to finish wide. Step-by-step diagrams.

Diagrams show the table from above, you on the left. Solid gold lines are your shots, dashed lines your opponent’s. Tap any step to enlarge it.

Use it when — You are right-handed and your opponent plays left-handed (or the other way round).

The pattern

Playing a left-hander, step by step

The animation plays the whole sequence; the frames below break it into single shots.

Animation of playing a left-hander: Serve long and fast to the lefty’s backhand; Their backhand comes back to your forehand; Forehand cross-court: straight into their backhand; Under pressure, the block sits up; Switch wide to their forehand, now open — ANIMATEDThe whole sequence, shot by shot. It loops.

Strategy 11, step 1: Serve long and fast to the lefty’s backhand — STEP 1Serve long and fast to the lefty’s backhand

Strategy 11, step 2: Their backhand comes back to your forehand — STEP 2Their backhand comes back to your forehand

Strategy 11, step 3: Forehand cross-court: straight into their backhand — STEP 3Forehand cross-court: straight into their backhand

Strategy 11, step 4: Under pressure, the block sits up — STEP 4Under pressure, the block sits up

Strategy 11, step 5: Switch wide to their forehand, now open — STEP 5Switch wide to their forehand, now open

Why it works

Why this pattern wins points

Against a left-hander the familiar angles swap. Your cross-court forehand now travels to their backhand, and their cross-court forehand comes at your backhand. Many right-handers lose to lefties simply because they play their usual patterns into the lefty's forehand. Starting on the lefty's backhand and switching wide to their forehand once they have committed turns the unfamiliar geometry into an advantage.

Key points

Your forehand cross-court reaches a left-hander's backhand. Use it to build the rally.
Serve to their backhand side, short or fast long, to keep their forehand out of the first attack.
Watch their forehand cross-court: it comes into your backhand, so be ready on that side.
Once they lean to their backhand, the wide forehand is the open space.

Common mistake

Playing your usual forehand-to-forehand rally. Against a left-hander that line is a straight one into their forehand, often their strongest shot.

Common questions

Why is it hard to play left-handers in table tennis?

Mostly unfamiliarity. The cross-court angles are reversed, their sidespin serves curve the other way, and most players practise far more against right-handers.

Where should I serve against a left-hander?

Usually to their backhand side, either short or fast and long, so their forehand is kept out of the first attack. Mix in a wide serve to the forehand now and then so they cannot wait on one side.

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