Backhand slice

[henrybear]

For some reason, whenever I try to hit a backhand slice, it, for the most part, ends up as a drop shot, although it's well disguised :wink:

I need to know what I'm doing wrong when I try to slice it. When I used to use the LM Prestige Mid, I was able to hit my slices deep pretty consistently, and now that I've switched to more "open" rackets, such as the K90, PS85, and the AG100, they just haven't been the same!

I understand it's pretty hard to give me tips on what to do when I don't produce a video of me hitting some slices/drop shots, but I've seen plenty of great advice on these forums without any videos :-D, so I was hoping you guys could throw some tips out here (there are probably a million threads on this).

Whenever I try to adjust my slice to have it land deeper, it always ends up hitting the frame and then clunking its way into the net :cry: I've been watching videos of pros hitting slices, and have tried emulating what they do (primarily Fed), but it'll work sometimes, and then fail another.

Am I opening my racket face up too much? For the most part, I hit it with a pretty vertical racket face. Should I push forward a little when I hit it, or should I not?

HALP me, TT buddies:)

[35ft6]

I suspect you're hitting it with your racket arm only. Your non-racket arm should be moving backwards, mirroring the forward movement of the racket arm. Almost like you're doing a breast stroke in the swimming pool. The left arm is super important on a slice.

Remember, it's a feel shot. Don't swing hard. Just make clean contact, keep a firm wrist, stay down on the shot (if it's low), and make sure the non racket arm is moving backwards, that's where the weight and penetration of the shot comes from.

[oldhacker]

Hi Henrybear - I know quite a few players who have the same issue with their backhand slice and have a few ideas for you.

First off - no way is it anything to do with your racquet. Hit a shot right and it will work with any stick.

My ideas are:

1. Opening racquet face too much causing you to come under ball so that it pops up rather than drives through. Use a continental grip and keep your wrist fixed throught the shot and drive through high to low with racquet face pretty much perpendicular to the court at contact.

2. Late on shot. Often a problem for players who decide too late to hit a slice and so do not set up early enough. Slices work best if you can take the ball nice and early and out in front rather than close in. So set up with a big shoulder turn and really go after the ball rather than letting it get on top of you.

3. Hitting leaning back is another cause. Make sure you get your wait moving into the shot. I like to think as if I am trying to barge a door open with my front shoulder. It is also very important to keep sideways on through the shot by using your non-hitting arm going out behind you as a brake to rotation.

[nalbyvsfed]

with a dropshot your racket goes downward, with a slcie your racket geos foreward. maybe you lack forward momentum.

[TsongaEatingAPineappleLol]

Excactly. When you're looking into a slice like that, keep you arm totally still and slightly bent, and rotate your shoulder into it so it's one movement.

[fuzz nation]

Plenty of good advice already.

One cue that I like to use for a good bh slice is the idea of maintaining the "L" that's formed between the throat of your racquet and your forearm so that everything remains a stable unit throughout the stroke. Swing through the ball with a complete follow through so that the tip of your racquet is pointing in the general direction of your target. That can help you to accelerate through the ball instead of just pushing your racquet out to the ball with no drive.

If you try a slice in slow motion and watch the face of your racquet, you'll see it open up as it gets farther out in front of you. Make contact too far in front and the racquet will slide under the ball too much, then it dies like that drop shot result you're describing. Be deliberate with your legs so that you're transferring your weight forward through the shot - that's where the energy is.

I have a pair of LM Prestige mids along with a bundle of other frames - trust me, the racquet's not the problem. One thing that a tree branch of a frame like the Prestige may be forcing you to do is to set up and initiate your swing earlier - those frames don't let me get away with being late at all. Lighter frames can let us be more lazy, but with good deliberate movement and timing, the slice will work, even without that confidence inspiring extra heft.

[truthorbust]

I enjoyed all the advice her too.. my slice is awesome now that i make sure to stay with the ball and be behind it with my body and mass .

[henrybear]

thanks guys! thank you so much!

I'll be sure to try this out today (if it doesn't rain :???:) I assume there is always a small variation on how your strokes adapt to a new/different racket, but in this case it really shouldn't be much of a difference since it's only affecting my backhand slice.

P.S. TsongaEatingAPineappleLol....best name EVER.

[VinhLam]

Hi Henrybear - I know quite a few players who have the same issue with their backhand slice and have a few ideas for you.

First off - no way is it anything to do with your racquet. Hit a shot right and it will work with any stick.

My ideas are:

1. Opening racquet face too much causing you to come under ball so that it pops up rather than drives through. Use a continental grip and keep your wrist fixed throught the shot and drive through high to low with racquet face pretty much perpendicular to the court at contact.

2. Late on shot. Often a problem for players who decide too late to hit a slice and so do not set up early enough. Slices work best if you can take the ball nice and early and out in front rather than close in. So set up with a big shoulder turn and really go after the ball rather than letting it get on top of you.

3. Hitting leaning back is another cause. Make sure you get your wait moving into the shot. I like to think as if I am trying to barge a door open with my front shoulder. It is also very important to keep sideways on through the shot by using your non-hitting arm going out behind you as a brake to rotation.

Old hacker got some good info.
1. Probably too much under and underspin and not enough push or drove. Whatever you want to call it.

2. Could be a positioning thing. Always step in when you can for any shot.