Backhand Slice

[jb193]

For those of you that hit a backhand slice with an eastern backhand grip, do you just easily make the switch to the continental when approaching the net or do you stay with the eastern grip? I've never hit a slice worth anything until I began practicing it with an eastern grip, which is fine, but it adds yet another grip to learn which is simply more work and causes transitional problems when going to the net. It seems to me like you are having to learn to hit the slice with two grips, eastern & continental in this scenario, since I consider the backhand volley a sort of a slice. Is this something I shouldn't even worry about?

 

[Rickson]

For those of you that hit a backhand slice with an eastern backhand grip, do you just easily make the switch to the continental when approaching the net or do you stay with the eastern grip? I've never hit a slice worth anything until I began practicing it with an eastern grip, which is fine, but it adds yet another grip to learn which is simply more work and causes transitional problems when going to the net. It seems to me like you are having to learn to hit the slice with two grips, eastern & continental in this scenario, since I consider the backhand volley a sort of a slice. Is this something I shouldn't even worry about?

Yes, I hit the slice with an ebh and I switch to continental if I come to net, but then again, I switch to continental after hitting a sw fh that forces a weak reply too. Switching grips when you get to net shouldn't be a problem. If you think about it too much, it'll become one so just practice switching grips and take it from there.

 

[batakdepores]

Grip awareness

Hi guys,

It's funny that I had just began looking at my own grips after I started reading tennis forum (since Jan'06).

I can't say I know how to hit slice backhand with eastern bh grip, but I know now that I hit it with an eastern forehand grip, and no it doesn't float unless you called Federer bh slice is a floater.

I also realized now that my volley grips are also eastern fh grip on both side. Guys on this board swears by continental grips for backhand slice and fh/bh volley, but if I were to switch, I'll lose a bit of time in adjusting and honestly I don't know if it's better for me.

Again, slice backhand (right-handed) with eastern bh grip sounds a bit awkward to me. Actually, it baffled me if it makes sense at all. Please educate me on how effective the grip is.

 

[chess9]

Continental on forehand and backhand slice and volleys. Been that way since 1958.

-Robert
________
MICHIGAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA

 

[louis netman]

Hi guys,

It's funny that I had just began looking at my own grips after I started reading tennis forum (since Jan'06).

I can't say I know how to hit slice backhand with eastern bh grip, but I know now that I hit it with an eastern forehand grip, and no it doesn't float unless you called Federer bh slice is a floater.

I also realized now that my volley grips are also eastern fh grip on both side. Guys on this board swears by continental grips for backhand slice and fh/bh volley, but if I were to switch, I'll lose a bit of time in adjusting and honestly I don't know if it's better for me.

Again, slice backhand (right-handed) with eastern bh grip sounds a bit awkward to me. Actually, it baffled me if it makes sense at all. Please educate me on how effective the grip is.

Eastern forehand, or derivation thereof is not so odd for slice. It depends on the height of shot you're returning, etc. Many times coming to net with a low slice/sidespinny shot can be accomplished with a more EF grip. High backhand slice down the line is easiest with Continental, and sometimes one can create amazing cross court/angle slice with a derivation of EF grip...

 

[batakdepores]

Eastern forehand, or derivation thereof is not so odd for slice. It depends on the height of shot you're returning, etc. Many times coming to net with a low slice/sidespinny shot can be accomplished with a more EF grip. High backhand slice down the line is easiest with Continental, and sometimes one can create amazing cross court/angle slice with a derivation of EF grip...

Louis Netman,

I'm not quite sure if you're trying to support my statement or the opposite. The way I understand it is that your statement is telling me that BH slice with a eastern FH grip is not that uncommon. What about BH slice with eastern BH grip? The only player (one handed) who I know uses eastern backhand grip is Henin-Hardenne, now I don't know how someone using that same grip to hit a slice backhand. Perhaps jb193 and Rickson mistyped or I misunderstood it.

 

[louis netman]

No, don't think it is that uncommon, BH slice with EF. BH slice with EBH may be more uncommon primarily due to the angle of attack. It would seem quite hard on the wrist and not very natural...

 

[jb193]

The only player (one handed) who I know uses eastern backhand grip is Henin-Hardenne, now I don't know how someone using that same grip to hit a slice backhand.

Really? Only Henin-Hardenne uses a Eastern Backhand for slice? That is hard to believe. Anyway, my wrist feels great hitting a slice with an EBH. My wrist kind of pronates the opposite way of a forehand wrist pronation and because of that, I get more power and hit a much more solid. When I hit a backhand slice with a continental, there is no pronation and therefore I feel week and "hack" at it more.........

 

[batakdepores]

Really? Only Henin-Hardenne uses a Eastern Backhand for slice? That is hard to believe. Anyway, my wrist feels great hitting a slice with an EBH. My wrist kind of pronates the opposite way of a forehand wrist pronation and because of that, I get more power and hit a much more solid. When I hit a backhand slice with a continental, there is no pronation and therefore I feel week and "hack" at it more.........

Jb193,

I wasn't clear on my example. I meant to write that Henin-Hardenne is the only player who comes to mind when thinking about eastern backhand trip for backhand shot in general, and she mostly hit TOPSPIN. I've never seen her hitting slice in any video clip. I do not expect her to hit a slice BH with an eastern BH grip either.

 

[Rickson]

Jb193,

I wasn't clear on my example. I meant to write that Henin-Hardenne is the only player who comes to mind when thinking about eastern backhand trip for backhand shot in general, and she mostly hit TOPSPIN. I've never seen her hitting slice in any video clip. I do not expect her to hit a slice BH with an eastern BH grip either.

Justine hits drives more than slice, but I don't know if she switches to continental when she slices. Perhaps Justine doesn't use the extreme eastern bh grip for her slice, but it might be a milder form of the eastern bh grip.

 

[batakdepores]

Justine hits drives more than slice, but I don't know if she switches to continental when she slices. Perhaps Justine doesn't use the extreme eastern bh grip for her slice, but it might be a milder form of the eastern bh grip.

Hey Rickson,

This is the site from which I learn the correct grip name:
http://www.tennisgeometrics.com/Eastern_backhand_Tennis.html
Now I don't know how anyone can hit a backhand slice with this grip. The only imaginable way for me to hit a slice is if the back of my palm is facing the ground. Please help me understand this.

I hit my slice backhand with this grip:
http://www.tennisgeometrics.com/Eastern_forehand.html

 

[munk3y]

Continental on forehand and backhand slice and volleys. Been that way since 1958.

-Robert

Wow. You've played tennis longer than I've been alive.