String Theory

In A Briefer History of Time, Stephen Hawking discusses developments in theoretical physics. In his introduction to string theory, we meet some unusual particles that behave as though “left-handed.” So now, alongside gravity, strong, weak and electromagnetic forces comes left-handedness! Lately, this left-handedness, or “Lefty Spin” for short, has been wreaking havoc on the natural order of things and rendering even the world’s best tennis player hapless.

Surface Tensions

Today’s top players rely on topspin hooks for their offensive shots. The balls dip, dive, kick, explode, curve and carve up court-space like gravity bends light. Things have not always been this way. Just over 30 years ago, three of four Grand Slams were held on grass, Roland Garros the lone dissenter. On grass, the low slice followed by a net rush was the ticket. Jimmy Connors’ and Bjorn Borg’s achievements are remarkable for their unorthodox style of play—Connors blasting flat balls and Borg carving out angles with topspin, both men planted at the baseline. Connors was a throw-back; Borg a revolutionary.

Topspin has become the norm for two reasons. First, it is less risky and rewards the faster, more powerful athletes of today. It can be hit higher and harder yet stay in play. Net clearance and swing speed can be increased. Second, the predominant surfaces of today are harder and produce a higher bounce. Generally, harder surfaces reward topspin shots.

In 2008, hard court tournaments comprise 37 of the 66 ATP events scheduled, while 23 of 66 are on clay. Of the total, 91% are on surfaces that yield a high bounce, which favors topspin.

There are exceptions to today’s standard style. Fabrice Santoro is a top-100 player who uses slice liberally. But he is a rarity on today’s tour. The Santoroes are found mostly on the public courts.

What’s So Unique about Lefty Spin?

Lefty Spin is unique because it’s rare: there are fewer left-handed people in pro tennis. When a lefty like Rafael Nadal is playing a righty like Roger Federer, Nadal has an immediate advantage because he is more likely to have competed against other righties than Federer is to have played against other lefties. Meetings between lefties are rare.

Why Does Lefty Spin Provide an Advantage?

Observe how Lefty Spin matches up against Righty’s backhand. When Lefty Spin goes cross court to Righty’s backhand, Lefty Spin instantly seizes the advantage. Why? Because of the inherent strength differential between a forehand and a backhand, whether one-handed or two. If Righty is using a two-handed backhand, when Lefty Spin hooks the ball away from Righty’s outstretched arms it stretches him wide, and may even force Righty to drop his left hand to slice or block the return. This is what John McEnroe did to Bjorn Borg, using Lefty Spin to extend Borg and force a weak reply.

The strength differential between a two-handed backhand and a one-handed backhand is plain, but it is true that Righty can reach farther to his left with the one-handed backhand. Still, a reach across his body means he cannot reach as far to his left to hit a backhand as he can to his right for a forehand. These built-in imbalances in strength and reach provide the second advantage to Lefty Spin.

There’s a more powerful advantage. Splitting the court into two “sides”—a Deuce court and an Ad court—coupled with convention yields a third benefit to Lefty Spin. A majority of games are decided in the Ad court. There are only four scenarios in which to end a game in the Deuce court. Moreover, all closely contested games are decided in the Ad court. Every one of them. This is a simple by-product of the rules of play and the scoring system.

When Righty plays Lefty Spin, he is likely to have to defend and/or win most of his receiving games from the Ad court, where he has a distinct disadvantage. Lefty Spin can use his powerful hook serve away from Righty’s backhand to force a weak reply. We saw this again and again when McEnroe served his famous “can opener” to Borg’s two-handed backhand in the Ad court. There is little a Righty can do save take the ball early, a risky play leaving him vulnerable to the serve up the middle or to Lefty Spin’s next shot.

Naturally, because the majority of games are decided in the Ad court, Righty’s advantage in the Deuce court eventually gives way to Lefty Spin’s. It’s physics and anatomy coupled with geometry.

Overcoming Lefty Spin

There simply is no one-handed backhand reply from the Ad court receiving position that can fully neutralize Lefty Spin’s advantage. Righty’s two-handed backhand is stronger on the high-bouncing balls, but the reach limitation cancels out any strength advantage two hands give him.

The best way to counter Lefty Spin is to win the receiving games at 15-40. Once the game reaches 30-40, Lefty Spin will likely prevail and bring the game to Deuce. From there the game will be decided in the Ad court, where Lefty Spin has the clear advantage.

Thinking Outside the Box

There are two possible ways to negate the Lefty Spin advantage.

First, require Lefty Spin to begin his service games from the Ad court, so that all closely contested games will be decided in the Deuce court, where his advantage is less profound.

Alternatively, use the Van Allen Simplified Scoring System. In this system, there is no Deuce or Ad; when a game reaches three-points apiece, the seventh point is played to the service box of the receiver’s choice. VASSS is being used in collegiate matches today, and it goes a long way in putting Righties and Lefties on equal footing.

A sport so steeped in tradition is loath to make radical changes, and no one wants to be seen as picking on a minority group. Lefties are certainly in the minority. At least for now. But if Uncle Toni has his way….


AUTHOR'S NOTE: This material is copyrighted and may not be reprinted or reproduced without the express written or verbal consent of the author. Thank you for your cooperation.