teaching the slice

[Kirisaki]

i am by no means a teacher or anyone certified. but a couple friends had problems with a backhand slice. i tried to help, and they aren't doing too badly anymore.

if the points below are not valid, please tell. these are just the small thing i tried to correct with my friends' swings. if they are wrong, it would help them and myself too. :D

-just extend through the ball. take the racquet back above the ball, then just aim for clean contact and push through. you may not get results immediately, and may have floating balls, but it pays off very much.

and the biggest advice:

-it comes almost COMPLETELY from shoulder. i dont know if this is right or not, but you should NOT be opening up your body (pointing the belly button towards net). get your shoulder to the side, full unit turn. then use the shoulder for the swing. just push out and rotate the arm from the shoulder.

the other hand (non dominant, i think thats the term) after releasing the racquet should move back the other way. good separation. it helps to decelerate the racquet and keep balance.


my friends got results pretty quickly, after just 15 minutes or so a marked improvement. after i got the shoulder advice from my coach three days ago, my own slice has much improved as well. very useful.

i hope it help.

[Rickson]

You really love abuse, don't you? We all know you're Kana coming in with another user name.

[Kirisaki]

:confused:

do you try to accuse everyone? is it everyone who does not love twistserve is now kana?

i hardly know kana. i did not see any posts besides last backhand slice thread. please do not jump to conclusion.

[FedererUberAlles]

I've got to agree with Rickson. Try to be less obvious.

[Kirisaki]

why do you think i am kana? i dont know what to say. please answer.

[Jon Hampton]

just extend through the ball. take the racquet back above the ball, then just aim for clean contact and push through. you may not get results immediately, and may have floating balls, but it pays off very much.

Yes, that's pretty much it. You want to make a motion like a baseball umpire's "safe". You don't want to chop the ball, but push though once contact is made with the racket. Floating balls are usually a result of an open racket face. If you made a slice that floated on your opponent, look at how your racket face was positioned when you hit it: OPEN! For slices that carry through the court and pass low to the net, use a more neutral or closed racket face.

it comes almost COMPLETELY from shoulder. i dont know if this is right or not, but you should NOT be opening up your body (pointing the belly button towards net). get your shoulder to the side, full unit turn. then use the shoulder for the swing. just push out and rotate the arm from the shoulder.

Yes, you should never attempt to hit a backhand slice from a open stance. Either a closed stance or a reverse open stance (look at Roger Federer's backhand slice when he is out of position; his lower body is pointed away from the net, while his his upper body is pointed towards it) is ideal.

the other hand (non dominant, i think thats the term) after releasing the racquet should move back the other way. good separation. it helps to decelerate the racquet and keep balance.

I didn't find any significant improvement in paying attention to what your non-dominant hand does. Anybody disagree?

why do you think i am kana?

And, honestly, I couldn't care less if you're Kana or not. If you are and are looking to get away, good for you. If you're not, it's the same can of tuna to me.

[Kirisaki]

jon hampton, i think on open stance you got confused. People in a close stance over rotate and open up chest too early, even with feet in opposite direction. Their chest moves up and doesn't stay down, and points to the net. it pops things up and slows racquet down, too.

non dominant separation help balance as the swing shoulder moves out.

[Rickson]

I've got to agree with Rickson. Try to be less obvious.
LMFAO! We all know it's Kana/meat/Becky/Kirisaki.

[Elleon]

Why the charade ?

[Kirisaki]

i do not know how to properly resist accusations. what did i do? :confused:

so in meantime, i will just stay silent when accused.

[Kirisaki]

elleon, what does charade mean?

[fishuuuuu]

A charade is an act, and I like your tips for slice.

Myself I found it confusing to watch other players slicing. The main reason is because their racquet head dipped down after contact so I thought they were chopping at the ball ... main thing that helped me is an open raccquet face, neutral body stance, rotation, and pushing clean through the ball with a continental grip.

And you have all been deceived. I AM KANA.

[fist pump]

are we on the tips /instruction boards or are we on detective ill find out who you are board?

[AngeloDS]

Actually, it doesn't come from the shoulder. It comes from your acceleration when your elbow is bent and you straighten out your elbow (straighten out your forearm). That acceleration of your forearm/elbow straightening out is really the big key.

That's why you need to step into your slices to gain some drive to it so it skids. If you stand still, your slices will be lofty and float and easy to volley or be attacked. Though, if they do hit the ground they are EXTREMELY tricky. Depending on how you sliced it, it can take a 90 degree turn to the left/right or just imediately stop.

The only one that uses shoulders, is the forehand slice. That is the hardest tennis shot, but it's very effective when executed.

[mach1]

jon hampton, i think on open stance you got confused. People in a close stance over rotate and open up chest too early, even with feet in opposite direction. Their chest moves up and doesn't stay down, and points to the net. it pops things up and slows racquet down, too.

non dominant separation help balance as the swing shoulder moves out.

No...Jon is right. You should hit a slice in a closed stance but can hit a slice in an open stance if you werent fast enough to go to a closed.

[AngeloDS]

You should be in the closed stance side-steping towards the ball/net (side-stepping is extremely important, you should do a lot of side-stepping drills) as you slice. You can't effectively step into slices when you're in the open stance to get a good amount of drive.

I do an extreme driving skid slice, where my back is pretty much to my opponent and I'm stepping backwards into the ball as I slice. That's for my backhands. If I can't do that, I just go with a normal backhand slice being in the closed-stance and then side stepping into the ball.

I never have my chest to my opponent when I slice.

Even on my forehand slice, i'm moving into the ball and I'm sideways side-stepping into it.

[Andy Hewitt]

Just slice with your backhand,,, God I need a new racquet....

[Jon Hampton]

No...Jon is right. You should hit a slice in a closed stance but can hit a slice in an open stance if you werent fast enough to go to a closed.

I knew I wasn't going insane! Thanks Mach1.

[Rickson]

I knew I wasn't going insane!
Yes, but the author of this thread isn't so lucky.