You know, at the beginning of the forward/downward swing the racket face is open, right?
But you don't close the racquet face for a slice. That's the whole point of a slice. It's not a topspin stroke, it's underspin. So the racquet face starts out slightly open and remains that way through the forward swing. That is also why the racquet is still descending down at contact in a slice, whereas in a topspin backhand or forehand, it would be going up already. You HAVE to keep the face slightly open and your racquet should be getting under the ball. I cannot look at high speed videos and analyse this, I am going purely by perception because I rely on these cues to make shots. Your racquet face is open at say a 10 or 20 degree (at most) obtuse angle as it meets the ball. It does NOT close at contact because the effect of that would be to send the slice crashing into the net. But it also does not become like a flat bed in which the ball lands; that would be too open and send the ball skying up. That is also why I mentioned leaning forward into the shot when you hit a slice. That forward movement of the body gives momentum and when combined with a good follow through on the slice, will make it drive through the court rather than sitting up. All that said, I am not comparing your technique to Fed's slice but to the conventional slice as taught by coaches. I don't believe recs need a chop slice most times because we are not dealing with that kind of top spin.
Watching again, your slice is popping up because you are letting the hitting arm drop off to the right after contact. In a traditional slice, the racquet descends a little more after contact before going up and finishing parallel to the shoulder, i.e, not quite like a topspin shot but not too dissimilar. If you want to learn Fed's slice, you should first analyse what you want to do with it. Because if you already hit a good traditional slice and want the Fed slice as a supplement, it's different. But if you want to slice effectively and decided to use Fed's slice as a model, maybe rethink that. Copy Graf's slice instead, a far better model for recs.
Try to make more small step adjustments instead of that big one you make most of the time. Basically, you're making that step before you hit the ball from way too far back, resulting most of the time in a stance that is too wide. OTOH, in a match you'll be forced to hit slices from various unfavorable positions so maybe that's not useless, though it shouldn't happen when machine is feeding you balls. Maybe not stand that far behind the baseline to start with? Federer is pretty lazy with his feet in his slice video too, but still rarely gets into a wide stance.
I can't see exactly from the video, but something is a little off with your wrist movement and follow-through.
I like that ... that should eliminate his broad jump
into contact.
I don't think I said it was truncated I said it was advanced
Best, BHBH
That's 100% better ... I especially like hits #2 and #3. Now that the arm is extending from 90° to straight as your primary first movement forward to contact ... your contact point WILL not be as far in front as before. Two slight issues ... ONE ... I'd like to see your right elbow pointed a little less forward ... and a little more pointed down throughout ... which WILL require your contact point to be less in front ... ... ... and TWO ... at your racquet back position your wrist is a bit "cocked" ... at like 90° between forearm and racquet shaft ... and then it extends to beyond the optimal 130° after contact. This variance in the wrist is a sign you're using wrist as a way to gain racquet head speed ... which is not stable. For now ... you're ELBOW is the only things that should be flexible ... as your grip is firm and your wrist angle remains at a FIXED 130°. At racquet back position ... your elbow should be at a FULL 90° bend ... with the wrist at 130°. The elbow extends ... but wrist does NOT. To clearly see this ... stand sideways in front of a mirror ... arm straight and down ... racquet level to the ground and the wrist at 130°. With the elbow and upper arm stationary ... FIRST ... bend the elbow up to a full 45° and allow the wrist to flex up as well (to 90°) ... and pull the racquet head down where both the elbow and wrist flex down ... ... ... THEN ... bend the elbow up but keep the grip and the wrist FIRM (still 130°) ... and pull the racquet head down where the elbow flexes down but the wrist stays fixed. Your GOAL is to have a totally flexible elbow while at the same time having a totally firm grip and wrist ~ MG
Yep ... make your fh cookie cutter ... not your bh slice. That said ... based on the progress @Curious has made on this stroke in a short time ... he is just about through with pouring the foundation. He will soon be using those @BounceHitBounceHit nails to add rooms.
I’ll do that next time.
I actually noticed that when I watched the video. My forearm is too horizontal isn’t it with the elbow too high and pointing the net?
Agreed, @Curious is a good athlete, dedicated, and obviously a fast study. His tennis future is bright! [emoji471]Yep ... make your fh cookie cutter ... not your bh slice. That said ... based on the progress @Curious has made on this stroke in a short time ... he is just about through with pouring the foundation. He will soon be using those @BounceHitBounceHit nails to add rooms.
Yes ... but that TV's future next to his shadow swings is not so bright. I felt conflicted recommending a longer follow through.