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The left-handed opponent is hitting from your right. Where do you shade?
A lefty forehand from your right goes cross-court to your side. Shade to the middle, expect the ball.
A left-hander is hitting a forehand from deep on your right-hand side. You are at the net on the left. Where is their natural ball?
A lefty forehand from your right goes cross-court to your side. Shade to the middle, expect the ball.
Why
Handedness sets which way the natural ball goes. A right-hander's forehand lives on their right (your left as you look at them), and cross-court from there goes to your right. A left-hander's forehand lives on their left (your right), and cross-court from there comes to your left: the diagonal a right-hander could only reach with a backhand, now hit with the stronger wing and with far more pace and angle available. If you are on that diagonal, shade toward the middle and expect a heavy ball; if your partner is on it, they should. The adjustment is a step, but the step is worth making before the ball rather than after.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Find out in the warm-up which hand each opponent uses. Then remember that a forehand goes cross-court, whichever hand it is.
Intermediate
Against a left-hander, mentally mirror the court. Their forehand corner is your right, their backhand corner is your left, and the tactics flip accordingly.
Advanced
The lefty forehand from their right also produces a heavy slice into your side glass. Cover the diagonal, but be ready for the ball to curve.
Common questions
A left-hander is hitting a forehand from deep on your right-hand side. You are at the net on the left. Where is their natural ball?
Toward the middle: a lefty forehand goes cross-court, to you. A lefty forehand from your right goes cross-court to your side. Shade to the middle, expect the ball. Handedness sets which way the natural ball goes. A right-hander's forehand lives on their right (your left as you look at them), and cross-court from there goes to your right. A left-hander's forehand lives on their left (your right), and cross-court from there comes to your left: the diagonal a right-hander could only reach with a backhand, now hit with the stronger wing and with far more pace and angle available. If you are on that diagonal, shade toward the middle and expect a heavy ball; if your partner is on it, they should. The adjustment is a step, but the step is worth making before the ball rather than after.
Why not toward the left glass: cover the line?
The line from that position is their backhand-side reply, and it goes to your partner, not you.
What should a beginner do here?
Find out in the warm-up which hand each opponent uses. Then remember that a forehand goes cross-court, whichever hand it is.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The lefty forehand from their right also produces a heavy slice into your side glass. Cover the diagonal, but be ready for the ball to curve.
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