I don't know how to phrase it but I am talking about a slice push stroke - short swing imparts a little slice but not enough to really change the ball flight. The slice is more coincidental to the basic shot. it also features little shoulder turn - you essentially "poke" at the ball. Hit with a somewhat open face to gain net clearance. Frequently used by beginners. It's almost like a lazy volley.
This is not the same as your 'penetrating" slice that is hit with good pace but is somewhat flat - this is what a slice and dicer hits. Racquet face is barely open and contact and they use a lot of pace. Very low net clearance!
And it's not the same as pro style slice - the pros hit with massive wicked underspin far beyond what the old timers like Perry hit with. These shots don't have that much clearance (usually) either but they have a ton of underspin. Again if they have to much clearance the pace will push it out.
Then we have the "hacker" slice - lots of net clearance - not much underspin - relies on gravity to bring the ball down (as they use a lot of clearance). Its a shot that is very safe but not particularly troubling.. They cannot be hit terribly hard because you run into issues with going long. But you can close the face a little to poke at it if you get a shot coming to you with more zip.
My comments about my use of 1hbh slice in 4.5 singles competition ... 1hbh slice my main baseline neutral rally stroke, and constant c&c behind 1hbh slice.
FYI ... I would say I hit your 1hbh slicer dicer category ... low over the net, "enough" back spin and pace for my targeting purposes in 4.5 singles. Pace and big spin was never key elements for me ... low and to targets and very low UE was. To me ... 1hbh slice is a utility shot, not going for risk reward like a big fh, so unacceptable to make many errors off a utility shot. Probably should be one of the slice categories/buckets ... don't miss slice for you (best technique you can hit and still stay low UE. If that means moderate spin ... go with that.
So ... to me the 1hbh is a utility shot ... so my interest is purpose and result, not technique classification. That said ... I think the shoulder turn, hitting of closed stance is the building blocks to premium 1hbh slice, even at 4.5.
1hbh utility:
1) neutral rally ball
2) transition shot to get to net
I don't think the 1hbh slice in pro game has any relevance for 4.0-4.5 singles. I think someone posted the Agassi video in this thread where he said for baseline rally balls he only had two thoughts 1) as much spin as possible 2) as low and short as possible. To me that makes sense at the pro level ... takes a very quality shot to keep a pro from teeing off. Not so much in 4.5 singles ... keep it low, with reasonably low bounce from moderate back spin ... no 4.5 is going to do much with it. Agassi wouldn't have benefited from running Sampras around with good 1hbh slicing. Not so with a Topher vs Ben ... if Topher can hit rally 1hbh slice from corner to corner, from short sideline to sideline, from deep to deuce corner followed with cc drop shot ... that can be very effective in 4.5 singles.
I think it's the same with 4.5 1hbh slice and approach ... accurate and low will win you a lot more matches than obsessing on back spin imo. I also think great rf control along with good targeting wins points with 4.5 c&c. If you get the perfect ball you can hit short dtl and add some side spin tailing awayin the alley, maybe take almost all the pace off, that can work with many 4.5 opponents. That kind of thing would be useless (gimmick) in ATP matches.
I have become interested in technique since joining here, and actually some tips from
@IowaGuy improved my 4 decade old 1hbh slice. But if I had to pick one stroke technique that mattered the least, it would be the 1hbh c&c. I have a friend that would have failed the "crap" test ... but didn't matter. He hit the bh slice dtl to where he wanted without missing, and was excellent covering the net.
I guess my point was "what works" at 4.5, and measuring based on purpose and result rather than technique. Just throwing that into the mix/discussion.
... but my last USTA it was just 4.0, 4.5
