Slice backhand goes into the net
- Thread starter toth
- Start date
Extend your arm more out !!!
Finish with racket maybe shoulder level with face horizontal and racket face is facing up
I have a good slice
C
Chadillac
Guest
No need to use slice when the ball is hip level, if you do, its early contact because shot is easy (more time)
Imagine your slice angle like landing a plane, you want it to slide, not bounce.
This is the one shot you have the most control over. Which is why its the most frustrating.
Shroud
Talk Tennis Guru
Open serve open grip. Its the future...
SinjinCooper
Hall of Fame
My slice typically goes about a foot over the net, unless the express purpose of the stroke is to float it back deep in order to regain time, in which case maybe three feet.
As to what you're doing wrong? Any of a thousand things. Best guess is an inadequately straight arm is wrecking your swing path and racquet face control. But without seeing it, that's nothing but a guess based on common ailments.
As to what you're doing wrong? Any of a thousand things. Best guess is an inadequately straight arm is wrecking your swing path and racquet face control. But without seeing it, that's nothing but a guess based on common ailments.
S
Stupendous1HBH
Guest
Agree that hip level doesn't really have to be a slice. I'd rather drive through that shot with some good topspin. But if you're content on hitting a slice at that level, you need to think "cut the head off the chicken!" and cut through the ball and drive it more. I get about only a foot or 2 of clearance but I rarely net them. My slices will go long 9/10 times before they get netted.
Defensiv, maybe neutral.
Gazelle
G.O.A.T.
I thought you had made improvements recently
I did then last night my serving was horrible
Very frustrated!!!!!
I honestly wish I never played this sport
I get more joy watching tennis than playing
Gazelle
G.O.A.T.
SinjinCooper
Hall of Fame
Slice height depends on skill and intent.
In the Monaco video of Dolgopolov hitting with Monfils, Dol was hitting his slices about a foot over the net, landing at the baseline.
OTOH, most 4.0 level player's like to clear the net by 3' on most of their deep slices, so gravity can take effect, and the slower ball gives them time to recover position.
When going DTL approach however, you'd better clear the net by less than a foot, or you just popped up a sitter ball for your opponent to crush his passing shot with.
In the Monaco video of Dolgopolov hitting with Monfils, Dol was hitting his slices about a foot over the net, landing at the baseline.
OTOH, most 4.0 level player's like to clear the net by 3' on most of their deep slices, so gravity can take effect, and the slower ball gives them time to recover position.
When going DTL approach however, you'd better clear the net by less than a foot, or you just popped up a sitter ball for your opponent to crush his passing shot with.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
If the vast majority are going into the net, aim 2' higher. But be ready to ease back on the power because they will now have the tendency of going long.
Once you solve the "into the net" problem without causing the "going long" problem, then you can start aiming lower and with more slice.
Once you solve the "into the net" problem without causing the "going long" problem, then you can start aiming lower and with more slice.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
I find I can get away with more clearance if A) I hit it deep; or B) I hit it short or with some sidespin to make it tail away.
I mostly try for baseline depth, but I still need less than a foot clearance for slice approach's. Most of my opponent's are 20-45 year's younger than me, so they run down the off slice short angles with ease.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
My opponent's age doesn't factor into my decision for more clearance. Only their skill level matters, which may or may not be heavily age-dependent.
And I'd rather err on the side of caution by hitting too high of an approach than increasing my UE count by hitting too low of an approach. This will change if I'm getting passed too much.
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Gold, post a video of your serve. You will get some advice.
I need equipment ??
I would not cheer up
I rushed out at 10 pm to serve Alone and hit gutter balls
I was to frustrated to be angry
I immedialy peeled home and feel asleep and woke up at 10 am
If this problem is not fixed by turkey day I am retiring !!
Good luck to you
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
dgold, if you're serving at 10pm alone, that is half the battle.
YOU HAVE THE FIRE. DO NOT QUIT.
Here are the biggest things I did to improve my serve to a respectable 3.5 level.
YOU HAVE THE FIRE. DO NOT QUIT.
Here are the biggest things I did to improve my serve to a respectable 3.5 level.
- Chest faces the side fence, not the net
- When tossing, really REACH for the sky with tossing arm.
- Toss slightly into the court
- Swing hard. Do not back off. Eventually, they will start to go in.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
You can do it. You're probably hitting one of those inevitable mini-valleys on the way up the mountain. Record yourself and work with your coach. Make sure to get some video of you when your serve is working well so you have a baseline. And some of your coach for something to shoot for.
Slow and steady wins the race.
johnnyb
Semi-Pro
I already accepted that improving takes time and most rec players that are any good (for your standards) have been playing for several years.
The best thing to me is to mix with people of different levels and enjoy the journey.
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Are you happy with your coaches feedback?
Are you able to get to the court for 15 mins each day?
I always have a hopper of balls in my trunk.
I often practice serves in my casual work clothes.
(I just put on sneakers, and take off my dress shirt)
You clearly want it, so you just need to put in the time and frequency.
And you must practice correctly.
Are you able to get to the court for 15 mins each day?
I always have a hopper of balls in my trunk.
I often practice serves in my casual work clothes.
(I just put on sneakers, and take off my dress shirt)
You clearly want it, so you just need to put in the time and frequency.
And you must practice correctly.
Wander
Hall of Fame
Do you have a smart phone? That's good enough if you do. If you don't, you have to invest on some type of camera. What I've been doing is riding to the nearby outside court on my bicycle and using the damn bike as the camera stand for my phone. Helped my serve a lot when I started shooting video of it this year!
E: Just so no-one gets the wrong idea in case I one day post a video or something here, my serve improving a lot means getting from disastrous towards passable! My serves max out at around 130km/h still.
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TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Search e'bay for camera mounts.
I'm old, so I play singles with peer's over 70, and with kids between 14-29. That's a LOT of difference in running speed. And age is the difference, not skill level, since they all can play in the 4.0 range.
Explanation of post #28.
I'm a bad 4.0. My singles opponents are limited to 4.0's at least 90% of the time. Some juniors include state ranked top 5's in younger age groupings (12's and 14's), and high school singles player's. Some youngster's would include anyone between 17-30 who plays at the 4.0 levels...usually those with less than 5 year's of tennis experience.
I also play singles with guys in their 30's thru 60's, who all can still cover quite a bit of court.
And last are the old farts, few my age, but some older, who USED to be top regional A player's, but got old and can't really run anymore.
I'm a bad 4.0. My singles opponents are limited to 4.0's at least 90% of the time. Some juniors include state ranked top 5's in younger age groupings (12's and 14's), and high school singles player's. Some youngster's would include anyone between 17-30 who plays at the 4.0 levels...usually those with less than 5 year's of tennis experience.
I also play singles with guys in their 30's thru 60's, who all can still cover quite a bit of court.
And last are the old farts, few my age, but some older, who USED to be top regional A player's, but got old and can't really run anymore.
Thank you, it was a great tip, much better slices over the net.
But still, if i am on the defensive, and the ball is a little bit behind me, i hit the slices often in the net - i can not extend out.
have you an another tip too?
thank you
toth
Practice the slices in all situations.
When run wide and reaching, you learn to hit higher slices because you are not in ideal hitting position, so increase your margin of error.
When going for a low slice skidding approach, aim lower over the net to make the ball stay low.
Talking doesn't do it, you have to practice EACH and EVERY shot from each and every position in each and every situation.
When run wide and reaching, you learn to hit higher slices because you are not in ideal hitting position, so increase your margin of error.
When going for a low slice skidding approach, aim lower over the net to make the ball stay low.
Talking doesn't do it, you have to practice EACH and EVERY shot from each and every position in each and every situation.
Mark Asher
Rookie
If you're driving them into the net, it makes me wonder if your racket face is open enough?
This video helped me. I like to do this a few times before I hit to help me remember the kind of swing plane I want with my backhand slice.
A good backhand slice you can drive and keep low is a beautiful thing. I think a good, hard slice that stays low is more difficult for the opponent than topspin that bounces up. Less safety than topspin though.
ext2hander
Rookie
Vic Braden used to say, finish with slight curl upward. i.e. slice stroke starts downward, but finishes upward. This lifts the ball over the net, versus tendency to hit into net.
Defensiv slice the ball behind me, i can not extend out - this is the new point.
