I love to teach running around backhand but I’m always looking for the 1-2 players out of 10 where this is not the best strategy.
It’s not one size fits all in terms of tactical patterns.
The Spanish Way is to hit the heavy forehand whenever possible but with certain players I respect their individuality—the way their bodies and minds are wired—and wouldn’t force the Spanish pattern on them.
I think this is especially true in the women’s game.
For boys and men it’s exceedingly rare.
I suspect the preference has to do with laterality and the particular eye and side dominance of certain players, which tends to create a major preference on one side.
You can fight that dominance if you want, but sometimes it’s a losing battle and what I’m arguing is that—in those rare exceptions—you are hurting the player more than helping them.
I believe that, as coaches, we should try not to coach everyone into the same patterns. I say: Respect the individuality in front of you.
Sometimes a player may run around the backhand weapon to play high and heavy, but their true weapon is the backhand. I have some friends who play this way.
In this pattern, the forehand is setting up the backhand weapon, even though the player is running around the backhand.
I’m arguing for a more nuanced approach rather than cookie cutter style coaching which tends to ALWAYS stress the forehand as the primary weapon.
Chris Lewit, Prodigy Maker