How to handle slice backhand.

[zaph]

I don't mean an average slice shot, but someone with a really good one. One particular person I play learnt to play on grass courts, so he has a very effective slice and often deploys it. He hits it deep into my backhand corner. Most the slice shots I play against stop or have little power. His shoot through the court. I can handle one maybe two with my own slice backhand, but I always lose a slicing dual.

Oh and he can hit winners from both the forehand and backhand side. So if I get the my reply to his slice wrong, hit it short or it floats too high, I lose the point.

Basically I want away of getting out of a slicing dual in the backhand corner.

 

[Edburger]

Your opponent sounds like me.

Learn to hit your slice deep down the line. It will make him hit tricky low forehand - he may still win point, but at least you have escaped backhand duel. I assume you prefer FH-FH rallies.

In terms of mechanics... when countering slice, get low and forward. Always low and forward. Most of my opponents who struggle with my slice, they do not bend knees enough. And they are slow - my slice takes time away, so they hit on back foot.

Once you get a non-slice ball to your FH, rip that topspin. I assume you have good topspin FH. Use it! On his BH if possible! A high topspin ball can still be sliced, but not in that deep penetrating way that is so effective.

If you cannot do these things, alas he is probably just too good. But keep practicing! You can do it.

 

[Ballinbob]

My advice:

Make sure you are split stepping and get to the ball as early as possible. Give yourself time so you can bend your knees and get under the ball. Also, don't go for too much on these shots. I typically loop them back with high topspin to stay in the point and work from there. The critical part IMO is the early prep and bending of the knees

 

[5263]

I don't mean an average slice shot, but someone with a really good one. One particular person I play learnt to play on grass courts, so he has a very effective slice and often deploys it. He hits it deep into my backhand corner. Most the slice shots I play against stop or have little power. His shoot through the court. I can handle one maybe two with my own slice backhand, but I always lose a slicing dual.

Oh and he can hit winners from both the forehand and backhand side. So if I get the my reply to his slice wrong, hit it short or it floats too high, I lose the point.

Basically I want away of getting out of a slicing dual in the backhand corner.

What about crowding the baseline, then sneaking in to take it from 1st volley position on the way to net?

 

[Edburger]

What about crowding the baseline, then sneaking in to take it from 1st volley position on the way to net?

I feel, this is fairly sophisticated tactics. Hard to attack opponent's best shot so aggressively for most players.

IMO best to try and work the rally to get a ball in a place that suits you, then try to attack.

 

[Mr.Lob]

I don't mean an average slice shot, but someone with a really good one. One particular person I play learnt to play on grass courts, so he has a very effective slice and often deploys it. He hits it deep into my backhand corner. Most the slice shots I play against stop or have little power. His shoot through the court. I can handle one maybe two with my own slice backhand, but I always lose a slicing dual.

Oh and he can hit winners from both the forehand and backhand side. So if I get the my reply to his slice wrong, hit it short or it floats too high, I lose the point.

Basically I want away of getting out of a slicing dual in the backhand corner.

Why do you have to slice back to his slice? Take pace off and hit flatter or moonball to his backhand. If you get something short, drop shot to forehand corner.

 

[newpball]

I don't mean an average slice shot, but someone with a really good one. One particular person I play learnt to play on grass courts, so he has a very effective slice and often deploys it. He hits it deep into my backhand corner. Most the slice shots I play against stop or have little power. His shoot through the court. I can handle one maybe two with my own slice backhand, but I always lose a slicing dual.

Oh and he can hit winners from both the forehand and backhand side. So if I get the my reply to his slice wrong, hit it short or it floats too high, I lose the point.

Basically I want away of getting out of a slicing dual in the backhand corner.

Well, practice slicing until you improve.

A ten year old boy walking on the street south of London with a tennis racket in his arm asks a pedestrian for directions. "Excuse me, how do I get to Wimbledon from here?". The pedestrian answers: "Practice, lots of practice!".

 

[Edburger]

Hitting flat returns to a good slice, very hard because it is so low. Hard to get good trajectory. Hitting topspin to good slice is also difficult, because it is hard to work back of ball.

Moonballing = suicide against decent player.

 

[Ballinbob]

Hitting flat returns to a good slice, very hard because it is so low. Hard to get good trajectory. Hitting topspin to good slice is also difficult, because it is hard to work back of ball.

Moonballing = suicide against decent player.

it's not hard if you get there in time and bend your knees. it really isnt. Just get there, set your feet, bend your knees, and hit a shot cross court. It's nothing fancy and it keeps the point neutral.

Slicing back DTL as you say is harder IMO because your going over the higher part of the net and the slice can drift wide

 

[Edburger]

I feel, if you do not find it hard to to hit topspin on slice then you have no played against good slice.

Slice to slice = much, much easier.

 

[LeeD]

Just more practice against the deep, skidding slices.
Was hitting with a local 4.5 last week, and topspin to topspin, we could hit some long rallies.
Then I started to hit some skidding slices, and his shots sprayed just a little bit.
Then, HE started hitting some really deep low slices, and our rallies went downhill to 3-4 shots on average.
"Rally" would consist of hitting our shots more than 4' from either baseline.

 

[Ballinbob]

I feel, if you do not find it hard to to hit topspin on slice then you have no played against good slice.

Slice to slice = much, much easier.

Yeah but just make sure you go cross court IMO if you're going to do that

 

[movdqa]

Do you use a continental or an eastern grip? The continental may be somewhat easier in returning low, sliced shots. It might make it easier to hit topspin shots off of sliced shots.

 

[Edburger]

Yeah but just make sure you go cross court IMO if you're going to do that

But the poster has already said that BH to BH rallies, he loses in 4 shots.

So, you take the risk of going down the line. If error - no loss, you would lose cross-court rally anyway.

Simple.

 

[Edburger]

Do you use a continental or an eastern grip? The continental may be somewhat easier in returning low, sliced shots. It might make it easier to hit topspin shots off of sliced shots.

I feel, very bad idea to adjust grip for particular opponents.

 

[zaph]

What about crowding the baseline, then sneaking in to take it from 1st volley position on the way to net?

Well it is basically a grass court approach shot, it is skimming across the net, net an easy thing to volley.

Plus I'm not that good at the net and my opponent has played alot of serve volleyers and can play that style himself. Like I said, he learnt on grass courts. So he has a good passing shot and a decent lob.

 

[zaph]

Why do you have to slice back to his slice? Take pace off and hit flatter or moonball to his backhand. If you get something short, drop shot to forehand corner.

It is the easiest shot to hit off it, otherwise I am trying to take a low ball which is shooting through with a double handed backhand, which is a tougher shot.

It is also in the corner, so I having to hit this after running from the centre of the baseline.

 

[zaph]

Just more practice against the deep, skidding slices.
Was hitting with a local 4.5 last week, and topspin to topspin, we could hit some long rallies.
Then I started to hit some skidding slices, and his shots sprayed just a little bit.
Then, HE started hitting some really deep low slices, and our rallies went downhill to 3-4 shots on average.
"Rally" would consist of hitting our shots more than 4' from either baseline.

Part of the problem, is nobody else really gives a problem with slice shots anymore. Most slice shots I face don't come in as deep or shoot through as much. As long as I concentrate, watch the ball, and keep down I can do something with it.

It is the quality of these slices that is causing me the problems. Basically I am facing a superior player.

 

[zaph]

Do you use a continental or an eastern grip? The continental may be somewhat easier in returning low, sliced shots. It might make it easier to hit topspin shots off of sliced shots.

On the forehand a very extreme Western grip, though oddly I can slice with that grip.

On the backhand plus volley continental, with one hand for slice/volley, two hands for the topspin shot. Very conventional and borring.

 

[Edburger]

I think, you master this guy, you become much better player. If can handle low skiddy slice, feel more comfortable taking normal topspin shots early on the rise. Your other friends, will be frustrated you always seem so aggressive and have so much time on ball.

Work hard at improving slice and anticipation, moving quickly and getting low and forward. This guy - tough, but if you can beat him, you will be allround player.

 

[movdqa]

I feel, very bad idea to adjust grip for particular opponents.

I've changed my forehand grip over the years going from Continental to Eastern to Semi-Western. I can still hit forehands with the old grips. I can hit an Easter or Continental backhand as well.

It isn't developing an additional grip for one opponent but something in your arsenal for the rest of your tennis career.

 

[Nostradamus]

I don't mean an average slice shot, but someone with a really good one. One particular person I play learnt to play on grass courts, so he has a very effective slice and often deploys it. He hits it deep into my backhand corner. Most the slice shots I play against stop or have little power. His shoot through the court. I can handle one maybe two with my own slice backhand, but I always lose a slicing dual.

Oh and he can hit winners from both the forehand and backhand side. So if I get the my reply to his slice wrong, hit it short or it floats too high, I lose the point.

Basically I want away of getting out of a slicing dual in the backhand corner.

Tell him, Slice is for only Girls and OLD men. if they keep it up, complain to the tournament refree and have him DQ'ed

 

[newpball]

Part of the problem, is nobody else really gives a problem with slice shots anymore.

I think that depends on the level.

Top level, absolutely, the slice is a wait and see shot but for the beginner and mid levels the slice is a hard shot to return as many will frequently return it in the net.

 

[movdqa]

If you want more practice against slice shots, you might try older players.

 

[torpantennis]

Switch to semiwestern FH, and run around the slice BH. Otherwise, continue struggles. IMO, slice is the way to go against western grip players, e.g. Djokovic.

 

[Edburger]

I've changed my forehand grip over the years going from Continental to Eastern to Semi-Western. I can still hit forehands with the old grips. I can hit an Easter or Continental backhand as well.

It isn't developing an additional grip for one opponent but something in your arsenal for the rest of your tennis career.

Change grip, change swing path, change contact point, change timing.

I feel, not good tactic. Damage consistency.

 

[boramiNYC]

Whenever you have to deal with a fast incoming ball one option could be a drop shot. You can either slice it back CC or hit a dropper DTL. Make sure you disguise it well so he cannot hit a put away winner on your dropper. Close in a little bit after the dropper ready to move fast for the next shot.

Five kinds of responses you can expect from him. DTL or CC deep, DTL or CC short, or a lob. For the deep shots you should close in as quick as possible and volley away for winner to the open court. For short shots you have to again move in quickly and use disguise to beat him. For lob you want to hit your normal overhead and just make it in.

Due to the lob you can't move in to quick right after but as soon as you know it's not a lob you should close in and finish the point.

 

[MeMyselfandI]

Whenever you have to deal with a fast incoming ball one option could be a drop shot. You can either slice it back CC or hit a dropper DTL.

Hit a drop shot off a fast incoming ball. This should be included in the thread. "What is the worst piece of advice you ever heard".

 

[boramiNYC]

Trolling hard on internet won't get you the ATP point you dimwit. Your own countryman, ash thinks you're a joke. Tell me why I shouldn't think the same.

 

[movdqa]

Change grip, change swing path, change contact point, change timing.

I feel, not good tactic. Damage consistency.

Changing your grip or adding a new one is a long-term thing.

 

[movdqa]

Trolling hard on internet won't get you the ATP point you dimwit. Your own countryman, ash thinks you're a joke. Tell me why I shouldn't think the same.

In general, you want pretty good control on your shot when hitting a drop shot which you don't have on something coming in fast.

 

[boramiNYC]

In general, you want pretty good control on your shot when hitting a drop shot which you don't have on something coming in fast.

We're talking about a fast slice to the backhand here. It's not a flat missile. Safest shot is countering with slice to where it came from. The OP has problem winning the point by slicing back and forth. In this case a drop shot is an option precisely because the incoming slice is fast one. The opponent has less time to react.

 

[movdqa]

We're talking about a fast slice to the backhand here. It's not a flat missile. Safest shot is countering with slice to where it came from. The OP has problem winning the point by slicing back and forth. In this case a drop shot is an option precisely because the incoming slice is fast one. The opponent has less time to react.

I agree on slicing the ball back unless you're good with some other kind of counter.

If I hit a really nice fast slice backhand and I see the other person under stress, then I have a foot in the court looking for a weak return.

If you hit a drop shot off a fast slice to a good player, then he's going to be looking for it on subsequent shots.

 

[boramiNYC]

Of course if you make it obvious it's not going to work well. You should mix it up with regular slice and surprise with the dropper. I'm not saying this is the best option or anything (we won't know for sure unless we know the OP's game much better) but something that may work for the OP since he needs some ideas.

 

[PhrygianDominant]

Well, the poster said that he doesn't want to lose slice duels with this guy. As far as I can see the options are as follows:

-Slice up the line
This may or may not be a good idea depending on how much better his slice is than yours. Hard to tell without seeing it, and even then it may just be a confidence thing. It will, however, break the pattern.

Slice back cross court and come in
How good is his backhand passing shot? Normally you don't want to approach cross court so take this with a grain of salt, but it may just keep him honest if you ghost in after he prepares to slice back. You can also try this going down the line if you have a good slice.

-Alternate slice and topspin
This can break his rhythm and hopefully coax a short ball or a slice that sits up for you to attack or run around.

-improve your slice
Then you can make him answer the hard questions, or at least deter this slicey behavior

Those are my ideas. Try one or all.

 

[Ballinbob]

Or maybe just hit to his forehand more so he doesn't slice as much. Use cross court shots to pull him wide on the fh side and then bang one to the bh

 

[rkelley]

I don't mean an average slice shot, but someone with a really good one. One particular person I play learnt to play on grass courts, so he has a very effective slice and often deploys it. He hits it deep into my backhand corner. Most the slice shots I play against stop or have little power. His shoot through the court. I can handle one maybe two with my own slice backhand, but I always lose a slicing dual.

Oh and he can hit winners from both the forehand and backhand side. So if I get the my reply to his slice wrong, hit it short or it floats too high, I lose the point.

Basically I want away of getting out of a slicing dual in the backhand corner.

I don't know that there's an easy answer here. A good, strong slice is a powerful weapon and can be really difficult to handle. Once an opponent finds out that you can't handle it you will probably be receiving a lot of slices. Learning to handle it is part of advancing.

The two basic answers are hit slice back, or hit topspin back. You should be able to do both.

For the slice reply, you're going to have to improve your slice. The cc slice is the safest shot. Dtl off a good, hard slice is not the greatest play. By definition our slice reply needs to be low to net and have some pace to be effective, and dtl is highest net and shortest court. If you float up a weak slice dtl you just served up a weak ball to his fh. Good for him, bad for you.

If you're going for topspin you would hit it with your normal motion (assuming it's a good motion). You shouldn't need a different grip. You should have a bit more time to get to the ball and set up, but you're going to have to really get down and hit up to get the ball over the net.

Look at this as an opportunity.

 

[GoudX]

I don't mean an average slice shot, but someone with a really good one. One particular person I play learnt to play on grass courts, so he has a very effective slice and often deploys it. He hits it deep into my backhand corner. Most the slice shots I play against stop or have little power. His shoot through the court. I can handle one maybe two with my own slice backhand, but I always lose a slicing dual.

Oh and he can hit winners from both the forehand and backhand side. So if I get the my reply to his slice wrong, hit it short or it floats too high, I lose the point.

Basically I want away of getting out of a slicing dual in the backhand corner.

Getting caught in the corner against a slice is just like an opponent dictating with any other weapon. By this point he is dictating, and he has caught you in his trap. It is a similar situation to when an opponent has you pinned with sharp and deep cross court forehands - by the time it occurs he already has the upper hand.

My solution is to take the initiative earlier so that he doesn't get the upper hand in the first place. If you push him back and get him on the run, he will not be able to hit that aggressive slice (unless your opponent is Murray or Federer!).

If you do get caught having to respond to a low slice, I tend to go for a 60-70% speed heavy topspin shot, as this is a very high percentage shot. Bend your knees, get low and hit a solid shot with good spin 4-5ft over the net.

 

[movdqa]

There's a backhand slice duel between Federer and Sampras on Youtube. Both of them get very low to hit their slices. There are a few topspin backhand tossed in as well.

Do you find the deep, slice backhands to be tougher than someone drilling inside-out topspin forehands to your backhand?