1. What is the dominant eye?
The dominant eye is the one your brain uses as the main reference for depth perception and aiming. It’s essential in tennis because it influences how you see the ball, align your shots, and position your body.

2. How to discover your dominant eye (quick test)
Follow these steps:

  • Focus on a fixed point (e.g., a doorknob or a button on the wall).

  • Make a triangle with your hands and center the object inside it (both eyes open).

  • Close one eye at a time:

If the object stays centered, the open eye is your dominant eye.
If the object shifts, the closed eye is your dominant one.

Example: If you close your right eye and the object stays centered, your dominant eye is the left (and vice versa).

3. Why is it crucial in tennis?
The dominant eye determines:

Service position:

  • Left eye dominant (like Federer): can afford to “turn their back” to the court and still see the ball and net clearly.

  • Right eye dominant: often serves better with less torso rotation.

Contact point on shots:

  • Forehand: Players with right-eye dominance (e.g., Zverev) tend to prefer more open stances and rely more on wrist/forearm action.

4. Common mistakes if you ignore your dominant eye

  • Copying the wrong technique: Mimicking Federer if you’re right-eye dominant may limit your vision of the ball.

  • Inaccurate aim: If your head is poorly positioned, you lose control and power.

5. What to do now?

  • Try the test and find your dominant eye.

  • Analyze your technique with your coach:

→ Does your service stance allow you to clearly see the ball?
→ Is your contact point optimized for your eye dominance?

  • Adapt your game: Experiment with small adjustments to make the most of your natural vision.

Conclusion
The dominant eye is often overlooked, but it can be the difference between an effective shot and a missed one. By optimizing your technique based on your eye dominance, you’ll gain:
✅ Better ball tracking
✅ More accurate and powerful shots
✅ Greater comfort in your movements

Try the test today and share your result in the comments!

by Federico Coppini
https://www.coppinifedericoacademy.com/