Drive not float
- Thread starter TwistAndShout
- Start date
I dunno about the 'anatomy' but a floating slice comes from the racquet face being too open or not enough forward movement on your swing. This guy has almost no views. But I think his slice video is really good. Very simple - you can go out and do this I think no problem and have a decent slice. I dunno a slice like this counts as driving - but its good enough for me..
Good tip to keep the ball low is to not change the angle of the racket, keep your weight centred and your head still, while leaning into the shot slightly with your shoulder after your unit turn. the more you tend the lift up and out of the shot , the more likely you are to get the resulting floated slice, which tactically can also have its benefits
Experiment with different contact points.
The slice is a counter-intuitive shot for anybody who knows how to hit a decent topspin drive on either their forehand or backhand side. Those topspin drives are better executed when we "go out after the ball" where the racquet can best release with more speed and command of the ball.
Do a backhand slice in slow motion without hitting a ball and watch the racquet face as your racquet arm travels forward. The face will typically open more and more the further it travels ahead of us. That's where the racquet face opens up and slides under the ball, it loses its bite, and sometimes sails high and long.
So instead of "going out after the ball" when you try to drive a slice, stay patient and let the ball get back further beside you. You ought to be able to generate better bite and drive on the ball, but other things are needed to help out. Get onto your front foot and lean forward through the slice as you make contact. That allows the force of your body weight to sort of drag the racquet into contact without much of a windup. Sometimes it can help to think of this as a "gravity shot" where we sort of fall or lunge forward though contact.
The slice is a counter-intuitive shot for anybody who knows how to hit a decent topspin drive on either their forehand or backhand side. Those topspin drives are better executed when we "go out after the ball" where the racquet can best release with more speed and command of the ball.
Do a backhand slice in slow motion without hitting a ball and watch the racquet face as your racquet arm travels forward. The face will typically open more and more the further it travels ahead of us. That's where the racquet face opens up and slides under the ball, it loses its bite, and sometimes sails high and long.
So instead of "going out after the ball" when you try to drive a slice, stay patient and let the ball get back further beside you. You ought to be able to generate better bite and drive on the ball, but other things are needed to help out. Get onto your front foot and lean forward through the slice as you make contact. That allows the force of your body weight to sort of drag the racquet into contact without much of a windup. Sometimes it can help to think of this as a "gravity shot" where we sort of fall or lunge forward though contact.
There's actually like million ways how you can hit or use a slice. It requires a lot of feel to hone in the shot. You need to have good feel to control the depth of your slice.
I think typically you can't drive the slice as much on a lower ball. Lower the ball is below the net's height, the more you need to hit with an open racquet face. Above the net's height then you should be using a perpendicular face, unless you're doing a defensive lob or drop shot. Approaching the net with slice is also different from a baseline slice as well, because again controlling the depth is different and the footwork is different too.
Some times you may want to intentionally "float" the slice to buy yourself time when in a defensive position.
I think typically you can't drive the slice as much on a lower ball. Lower the ball is below the net's height, the more you need to hit with an open racquet face. Above the net's height then you should be using a perpendicular face, unless you're doing a defensive lob or drop shot. Approaching the net with slice is also different from a baseline slice as well, because again controlling the depth is different and the footwork is different too.
Some times you may want to intentionally "float" the slice to buy yourself time when in a defensive position.
This guy looks like a defensive back. 
I liked all of his tip except abbreviating the follow through. It's such a relaxed stroke when you get it down, I just wouldn't put that constraint on it.
Ironic timing ... I was just hitting with someone yesterday that is fairly new to tennis. His strokes are way ahead of where they should be, but his slice bh was awkward looking. He had the basic high to low stroke ... but it looked forced. I only gave him two tips ... 1) show me some back 2) get your racquet head behind your head. First swing ... looked like he had hit a slice for years. Tell someone the proper backswing ... the rest will come more naturally.
I liked all of his tip except abbreviating the follow through. It's such a relaxed stroke when you get it down, I just wouldn't put that constraint on it.
Ironic timing ... I was just hitting with someone yesterday that is fairly new to tennis. His strokes are way ahead of where they should be, but his slice bh was awkward looking. He had the basic high to low stroke ... but it looked forced. I only gave him two tips ... 1) show me some back 2) get your racquet head behind your head. First swing ... looked like he had hit a slice for years. Tell someone the proper backswing ... the rest will come more naturally.