my slice backhand is all out of whack!

[TennisKevin]

recently my 1 handed slice backhand has become unglued. whenever i hit the shot, it either is a skyrocket (face too open), or it lands inside the service line, waiting for my opponent to either put the ball away or set up a nice approach for a volley winner. i just can't seem to find a happy medium. either it is a drop shot that goes too far or it lands about a yard past the baseline. how do you guys hit your slice backhands? i primarily use my slice backhand because i am still developing my 1 handed topspin backhand, and now i find myself running around every ball i get! someone help me out and give me a few tips on hitting 1 handed slice backhands!

 

[Rickson]

recently my 1 handed slice backhand has become unglued. whenever i hit the shot, it either is a skyrocket (face too open), or it lands inside the service line, waiting for my opponent to either put the ball away or set up a nice approach for a volley winner. i just can't seem to find a happy medium. either it is a drop shot that goes too far or it lands about a yard past the baseline. how do you guys hit your slice backhands? i primarily use my slice backhand because i am still developing my 1 handed topspin backhand, and now i find myself running around every ball i get! someone help me out and give me a few tips on hitting 1 handed slice backhands!

Sounds like you're trying to get under the ball instead of hitting through at all. Use a high to low motion and hit with a square face, not a wide open face at contact.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

If your slice is out of whack and you fix it, would it, then, be "whack" ?

In general, I hit three main types of slice for different situations.

One would be a fairly "flat" drive, deep-- mainly as a change from topspin or to return high moonballs or to return high kicking serves.

Another would be hit with more underspin and land mid-court, or slightly farther back, forcing the opponent to hit up or place the ball very cautiously. It is hard to hit a booming winner from a low skipping slice.

And then there is the dropshot.

Find someone who will hit you tons of balls so you can practice the slice-- over and over, and over.

B

 

[dr_punk]

The slice backhand (like every stroke in the game) has a different result the way you hit it. Usually cutting it like an orange is your best bet, but figure all this out yourself... strokes are something very natural and something really serene about them... if you feel iffy about the ball you just hit, you're doing something wrong and don't advance until you correct it.

 

[35ft6]

Hit against a wall. Pick a spot on the wall that is about waist high, and hit your slice in a way that you're really line driving it into that spot. Practice hitting a slow, straight slice instead of a high floaty one. Keep your arm pretty straight, and really drive through that sucker. Strive for a swing trajectory that looks like a wok, boat, or soup bowl from the side, starting high, then carving down and through the ball, and finishing high.

Do this for a while, and then when you get on court, do the same thing, but not as hard. And you'll be fine. I think.

 

[dr_punk]

Hit against a wall. Pick a spot on the wall that is about waist high, and hit your slice in a way that you're really line driving it into that spot. Practice hitting a slow, straight slice instead of a high floaty one. Keep your arm pretty straight, and really drive through that sucker. Strive for a swing trajectory that looks like a wok, boat, or soup bowl from the side, starting high, then carving down and through the ball, and finishing high.

Do this for a while, and then when you get on court, do the same thing, but not as hard. And you'll be fine. I think.

lol yeah you're right
but i don't know about the whole finishing high...