I lost my slice serve

[ionutzakis]

I seem to have lost the interest in the slice serve, I didn't practice it anymore and now it's gone.

Now when I hit one, I seem to always hit into the net.

Is it better to have the grip more towards eastern backhand or towards eastern forehand for more spin? Which one is better for power?

What other tips can you give me to bring it back? Is is worth practicing it anymore or should I just stick to flat, topsin, kick?

[slice bh compliment]

Kind of the opposite here. I rarely hit a flat serve anymore. Mostly, I slice. I kick it, too...kind of a combination of sidespin and upward spin. FYI: the grip most good players use is on the left (BH) side of a straight continental...but not quite a backhand grip. I'm sure it's been done, but I would not use any radical grip changes for certain different spin serves. I would not use a forehand grip for anything but a fh groundstroke.

Exception: Becker could kick, slice and do anything anyone would ever want to do with a serve with a hand position that looked like it was on the right side (FH side) of a continental. Maybe it was just the heel of his hand that shifted right. But it looked like a slight eastern forehand grip to me. He's an exception, though.

Funny, if you can kick with your grip, why are you having trouble slicing? Maybe you are hitting downward? Or your toss is changing too much. Or you are opening up too soon (not leaving the left shoulder and/or your head and chest up long enough)?

[Cindysphinx]

I was told that if you're trying to slice and it keeps going into the net, try not tossing quite so far into the court and going slightly more over your head (but not straight over your head!). Just a teensy adjustment. This gave me a bit more arc so I could clear the net.

[rocky b]

go to tennis.com great video on the wicked slice serve helped me alot when thing are not working.

[fuzz nation]

You said yourself that you don't practice it anymore. If I don't hit a bucket of serves a week, I know I'm not dialed in so I'd say that if you've lost your slice serve, you probably left it in a bucket of balls somewhere. Reward your search by hitting each ball you take out of that bucket with a slice serve (I recommend a continental grip) and what was lost will probably be found before you even get to the bottom.

[circusmouse]

I use a grip slightly bh of continental, but it's true that guys like Becker and McEnroe could do anything with grips slightly fh of continental, so it's really about what works for you. When hitting a slice, I find it helpful to toss about the same as with a flat serve, but I try to concentrate on pronating quickly through the outside of the ball. That's just the visualization technique that works for me. On topspin serves, I focus on pronating through the top of the ball. When I try brushing up or around the ball, my results are inconsistent and weak. Pronating is key to consistent spin and power.

[dave333]

Slice serves are typically done with continental.