Johnson’s slice backhand

zverev2018

zverev2018

Semi-Pro
Is he just content to slice that backhand over and over and over with no purpose? Jeez this is not women’s tennis from the 80’s.

Don’t get me wrong it’s a nice shot to have and someone like Federer uses it perfectly to mix things up, but Johnson basically is just slicing that ball into play for endless rallies.
 
Almost worked too. Missed a routine forehand on break point in the first set that he slice had set up nicely. You’ll be speaking a different story right now if he made that forehand.
 
Mack-2 said:
Almost worked too. Missed a routine forehand on break point in the first set that he slice had set up nicely. You’ll be speaking a different story right now if he made that forehand.
Click to expand...

At 28 year old he has 4 titles all 250 level. If he’s content to not go to the next level then yeah by all means he should continue slicing away. The bad lower ranked players will get annoyed and probably lose, but the good higher ranked players will find a way to win 95% of the time.
 
zverev2018 said:
At 28 year old he has 4 titles all 250 level. If he’s content to not go to the next level then yeah by all means he should continue slicing away. The bad lower ranked players will get annoyed and probably lose, but the good higher ranked players will find a way to win 95% of the time.
Click to expand...

He doesn’t slice all the time on his BH. It was just a tactic he was using against Djokovic.
 
zverev2018 said:
Well I hope it works because I don’t like Djokovic that much. A few minutes ago he screamed at a ball girl because he wanted her to hurry with the towel. Ugh.
Click to expand...

Johnson is a nice guy. Would like to see him get a big win.
Really? What point or game was that in? I want to rewind to see.
 
zverev2018 said:
Is he just content to slice that backhand over and over and over with no purpose? Jeez this is not women’s tennis from the 80’s.

Don’t get me wrong it’s a nice shot to have and someone like Federer uses it perfectly to mix things up, but Johnson basically is just slicing that ball into play for endless rallies.
Click to expand...

Did you not see Roddick at the end of his career
 
I remember watching him play the US Clay Court Champs this year -- I think he won it(?) -- and the commentators spoke at length about it. I forget exactly what they said but I think the reason he keeps slicing it is because he's given up hitting (or trying to hit) a topspin bh. Navratilova, as (overly)confident as they come, said she just couldn't hit a topspin backhand. Personally, as someone with a great slice bh, I think a topspin bh is worth it's weight in platinum, and a much better weapon. Much easier to hit down the line with it.
 
Yep it’s a shame he can’t combine it with some solid drives. He seems to have 0 confidence in coming over the BH. I don’t even remember his earlier years on your when he didn’t slice so much. Surprised he’s gotten into the top 30 with just the slice. Wish he would come to the net more. He flails a bit on the serve, always thought that his serve could be a bit better given his height and offensive style.
 
Bukowski said:
Yep it’s a shame he can’t combine it with some solid drives. He seems to have 0 confidence in coming over the BH. I don’t even remember his earlier years on your when he didn’t slice so much. Surprised he’s gotten into the top 30 with just the slice. Wish he would come to the net more. He flails a bit on the serve, always thought that his serve could be a bit better given his height and offensive style.
Click to expand...
Ive watched him on the practice courts - he can hit a semi-decent drive/TS BH; apparently doesn’t have the confidence to do it in a match. Sad.

I will never understand how someone who is that good as a junior and has access to the coaching doesn’t at least hit a serviceable BH. The obsession with junior rankings is sad.
 
IowaGuy said:
He used topspin more in his college matches.
Click to expand...


Not so many videos available of his breakout years on tour, but even here where hes established he comes over the ball on the BH side noticeably more from stationary positions than today. I think i remember an article about him a few years ago that was focused on his diet and weight loss ('15?) mentioning that his coach really had him focus on the slice. I assume the reasoning is that the response to the slice is most typically going to be a heavier ball with more net clearance which gives him the time and opportunity to hit a FH.
 
Bukowski said:

Not so many videos available of his breakout years on tour, but even here where hes established he comes over the ball on the BH side noticeably more from stationary positions than today. I think i remember an article about him a few years ago that was focused on his diet and weight loss ('15?) mentioning that his coach really had him focus on the slice. I assume the reasoning is that the response to the slice is most typically going to be a heavier ball with more net clearance which gives him the time and opportunity to hit a FH.
Click to expand...

Slice followed by FH was one of Graf's biggest weapons!

Once Johnson slices it and the opponent has to dig it out (especially on a deep slice), it is pretty hard to get it to Stevie's BH again, due him running around to hit the FH.

Sometimes he is literally standing in the doubles alley to run-around his BH!
 
IowaGuy said:
Slice followed by FH was one of Graf's biggest weapons!

Once Johnson slices it and the opponent has to dig it out (especially on a deep slice), it is pretty hard to get it to Stevie's BH again, due him running around to hit the FH.

Sometimes he is literally standing in the doubles alley to run-around his BH!
Click to expand...

ditto with delpo, post wrist surgery... though delpo has a bigger fh hammer


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Yep he just slices in rallies. Only time he breaks out the 2 hander is for passing shots.

I like how he plays...fun to watch that strategy and his FH is awesome.
 
Remember Roddick's backhand slice approach shot? Stubborn till the end of time and he definitely wanted to get better.
 
Shaolin said:
Yep he just slices in rallies. Only time he breaks out the 2 hander is for passing shots.

I like how he plays...fun to watch that strategy and his FH is awesome.
Click to expand...

Another fun thing about watching him play is how his opponents adapt to his slices, which is a style that many of them don't see often.

Many will play a more attacking style against it, coming to net more than they usually do (which is optimal, given his weak topspin passing shots).

Fed's 2017 match is a good example (of course, Fed is better at net than most). After a tough 1st set from the baseline, Fed starts coming in very often to Johnson's BH, more S&V than normal, etc.

 
George Turner said:
He slices 90% of backhands. He does this because his topspin backhand is one of the worst in the game, along with Karlovics. This is the same in any match against any random opponent.

Click to expand...

Shaolin said:
Yep he just slices in rallies. Only time he breaks out the 2 hander is for passing shots.

I like how he plays...fun to watch that strategy and his FH is awesome.
Click to expand...

His two hander is so awful that he occasionally tries to hit a one hander

 
atatu said:
The weird thing is he can hit a pretty good drive, but so could Steffi Graf
Click to expand...
I remember watching Seles play Graf a couple of times & beat her. Then the last time I saw them play, Graf hit topspin backhands, and won. They're much more offensive, and easier to hit down-the-line winners. Yes, they're more difficult to master but worth it. It amazes me Navratilova & Graf won so much with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Steve Johnson slice backhand
Replies
16
Views
7K
Santiagomac
S
JackB1
Harrison's slice backhand
Replies
0
Views
489
JackB1
JackB1
lrdrdy
Djokovic slice
Replies
39
Views
2K
Milanez82
M
Tempest344
Gasquet needs slice backhand?
Replies
3
Views
881
MEAC_ALLAMERICAN
M
G
Backhand slice - Federer's real weapon?
Replies
15
Views
3K
ezdude1970
E
Back
Top