Background Speckle tracking echocardiography 2D (STE 2D), a new technology, allows rapid and accurate analysis of regional and global left ventricular systolic function. Aim The aim of this study was to assess subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in the patients with systemic hypertension with preserved ejection fraction by using STE 2D. Methods 2D echocardiography images of left ventricular were acquired in six sections-apical 4-chamber, 2-chamber, 3-chamber, parasternal short axis at the basal, mid, and apical levels in 194 subjects (151 hypertensive patients and 43 healthy controls). The images were analysed by QLAB software version 9.0. Long, circumferential and radial strain were quantified in 18-segments. Result Peak systolic long strain, circumferential strain, radial strain and longitudinal-circumferential systolic index were markedly decreased in patients with systemic hypertension comparing with control group (−11.57 ± 2.37% vs. −16.52 ± 1.19%; −13.52 ± 4.97% vs. −17.92 ± 2.39%; 10.24 ± 3.4% vs. 12.33 ± 1.94%; −12.55 ± 2.83% vs. −17.22 ± 1.44%, p < 0.001). Besides, the average of systolic blood pressure in normal longitudinal-circumferential systolic index group is lower than abnormal that group (127.93 ± 9.02 mmHg vs. 139.92 ± 12.51 mmHg, p < 0.001) and the average of systolic blood pressure in normal systolic index group is lower than abnormal that group (128.57 ± 8.1 mmHg vs. 141.96 ± 12.39 mmHg, p < 0.001). Conclusion although left ventricular ejection fraction is normal by conventional echocardiography, there is an early decline in systolic function by STE method and mean systolic blood pressure in the groups with normal systolic strain parameters are lower than that with abnormal strain parameters.