The best weapon against crafty slice is....?

[tennisbody]

I wonder what is the best weapon against slicers... Is it a topspin , flat shot , moonball or maybe a loopy topspin. How to create offensive ball from slice return or slice ball. I find myself having difficulty with good wide angled slice...Any ideas...?

Thanks,

[Hawaii 5.0]

In general you are supposed to slice a slice, but most often people topspin a slice and try and get offensive early.Generally when people slice it's becuase they are on the defense and it usually takes more than one or two shots to regain the offensive,so by at least not giving a sitter you can keep them back.Unless the slice is offensive then its tough.I'd slice it back unless you are confident in your ability to change the spin of the ball as well as the direction since by changing the direction of the ball they will be even more on the move.

[Plawan]

Slice back deep and selectively approach with either slice or mild topspin. The best answer to a slice shot is to hit the ball before it hit the ground because it's floating and slower than topspin. A slice passing shot is easy to finish with volley becuase it rised up above the net or it can float out under the pressure.

[tennisbody]

Thanks , I'll try to slice it back as an approach shot and then to volley to the open court.. But here comes my next quastion - When you have been pulled out wide with slice is it safe to slice back down the line...( over high part of the net plus direction change ...) ?

[@wright]

I am wondering this too as I have been playing a guy better than me who can basically hit outright winners with his slice. It stays so low I feel like I'm playing in super gravity. I won the first set off him the last time we played, but the next two sets were all him slicing it low and I would try and blast a topspin forehand and either miss it or my reply would be too weak. His fitness isn't so great, so I think next time i'll just focus on running him from side to side and maybe a drop shot here and there. I didn't try to vary my gameplan nearly enough. His passing shots are superb too. Oh well, guess I just answered my own quesiton!

[jayserinos99]

^^ it depends on your situation. typically you would want to go crosscourt to give yourself time and position; basically percentage tennis. problem with that is your opponent, knowing that you're out of position, will sneak in behind it. if that happens, you don't necessarily have to go for the line, but make your opponent play one more shot by slicing it a bit closer to the net so your opponent has to volley it one more time.

[Eric Matuszewski]

Creating the perfect strategy to beat the slicer or any other type of player for that matter will just get you playing a game that is not your own and make you lose faster. Just adjust your mechanics to handle the lower bounce and play your same game.

When dealling with a slicer (person who hits slice) keep in mind the ball will bounce 2 to 3 feet lower than a topspin ball. This is because the ball is impacting the court at a shallower angle thus it rebounds at a shallower angle. The ball will also leave the court with much less speed than the topspin or flat ball, thus it will tend to die in front of you.

Make these 2 mechanical adjustments to deal with the slicer.
1. Take the ball earlier, this means get closer to the bounce because the ball will not come to you (you must go get the ball).
2. Get your butt down. Go into a deep lunge position before trying to strike each slice ball.

[Hyperstate]

Methinks Eric has got it right. You gotta bend yer knees and get to the slices early to achieve good replies. My mate hits these irritating low bouncing slices and I either slice back deep (cross court) and approach the net, or if I have the time, run round the slice, adjust my forehand (more racquet head speed), and hit to either his backhand or forehand, depending on whichever gets him out of position, wrong foots him, blah blah

[polakosaur]

keep it low and deep with whatever shot you want, this forces the opponent to hit a slice up to clear the net and keep it deep, you anticipate the shot get ready knowing it will be at a height for groundstroke and set yourself up with an approach to and easy volley

[Eric Matuszewski]

Tennisbody, I teach at Princeton Racket Club (New Jersey) I can teach you in an hour how to distroy every annoying slicer you'll ever meet. Club phone is 732-329-6200. Leave your # with the receptionist.

[tennisbody]

Thanks to all of you and special thanks to Eric for tel.# and contact.

[borisboris]

Hey Eric - how about a few keystrokes of advice for someone playing a regional legond slicer this weekend - Seattle - Can't afford to go to NJ. Come on be a patriot.

[tennisbody]

Just get back from tennis lesson with Eric. I must say it was well spend time and money. Eric gives me a few invaluable tips how to fix my problem and improve my game based on my individual style. I highly recommend Eric to anyone in New Jersey Princeton area who's looking for good, no nonsense advice.

[tennisdad]

Had one of these matches the other night - the guy ONLY hit slices from both sides. After a 1st set fighting him (and mostly me) on it from the baseline and him winning that one easily, I just got more aggressive and, especially in the 3rd set, pushed him back and came to the net every opportunity and took the match - it worked. BTW, I'm switching to the the s/w fh, so this match was not good for me, but hey gotta adapt. It seems like the s/w doesn't lend itself that well to those low, biting balls (at least at my level).

[@wright]

SW forehand should work well for low balls compared to a western forehand. Compared to an Eastern you will probably have a more difficult time hitting low balls.

[Eric Matuszewski]

Dear Boris, hope my posting is not too late to help. My students keep me very busy and I know I'm making my girlfriend crazy so I'm gonna try to keep posts shorter.

Assuming you read my earlier post you realize I don't recommend trying to change your game. Check your mechanics with that post.

I know alot of you guys like to think patterns so here's a simple one for you.

Try to short angle topspin the slicer.

A vulnerability of the slicer is that he can't pull the ball down quickly over the net. This takes topspin. His shots will tend to stay in the air longer (a function of underspin) thus when he gets something short off the side of the court (that he has to run forward and to the side on especially) it will be much harder for him to hit a passing shot. (I realize cross court approaching is a traditional no-no but it can work with the slicer). Give him more room on the down the line (He'll have to change direction on the ball on the run, get it over the highest part of the net and dip it down quickly, which he can't do without topspin). Try not to laugh when he starts pulling his hair out, just keep a straight face, keep good mechanics (see earlier post). Best Wishes

[Petekbladetour1]

Slice it or hit massive topspin.

[kelz]

Slice it back, or plenty of top.

[Tim Oosting]

If the slice is good enough, topspin will be very difficult. Hit a flat, hard ball with margin, deep to the forehand, regain confidence in your rally and next time, give the slicer more topspin to try and work with. He'll probably fail or hit it too high.

[TommyGNR]

Here is a couple:
1) Come up to net. Slice shots dont dip(like topspin) and are the eaisiest spin to volley.
2) Switch to a continental or eastern grip. Its easier to hit a low ball with them.
I understand that Eric is a teaching pro(which I am not), but I am not so hot on his suggestion. Its exactly the type of shot (short with room down the line) that chip and charger wants to see.