Slice Backhand

[Mick]

sorry fedace, i am with leeD. i am a great admirer of the tennis greats from the past because i love the finess game. however, imo today's tennis pros got too much firepower for the players from the 70's to handle.

maybe i have been brainwashed by chopin with all of the threads that he had created about great players from the past vs today's top players :shock:

 

[Fedace]

sorry fedace, i am with leeD. i am a great admirer of the tennis greats from the past because i love the finess game. however, imo today's tennis pros got too much firepower for the players from the 70's to handle.

maybe i have been brainwashed by chopin with all of the threads that he had created about great players from the past vs today's top players :shock:

not sure about that. Federer slice backhand is still feared by many like Delportro fears it a great deal.

 

[LeeD]

I don't think the top pros "fear" Federer's sliced backhand, but they certainly get aggravated by having to set early, watch it, turn and fully swing thru a weird, slow, low, skidded ball. And Fed can back it up with a superior topspin groundie off both sides.
When Fed tops his backhand, they take it in stride like a normal good shot, so no extra prep is needed.
That backhand slice is a VARIETY shot, which makes the opponent have to adapt to it, making it effective. If Fed ONLY had the slice forehand, then the opponent's would handle it easily.
As for Graf's sliced backhand...... she oftentimes ran around her backhand to hit a heavy, fast moving, topped forehand, so opponent's need a really accurate shot to take advantage of her slice backhand. AND, from around mid career onwards, Graf practiced, but did not play with, one of the very best topspin backhands of anyone on the WTA tour. Every women's player knew about this, and were constantly wary of having to face this new weapon....which was seldom employed in match play.

 

[dannykl]

Graf already has very good topspin backhand as early as late 1980th's.
She passed Martina many times in Wimbleton by using this weapon.
It's a myth why she seldom used it in her later career.

But at times this weapon helps her secure some crucial points.
For example in the 1999 French Open Final, Graf passed Hingis by her topspin backhand in the 10th game in the second set and broke Hingis' serving game for the match.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWGYOouR69Q&feature=related

As for Graf's sliced backhand...... she oftentimes ran around her backhand to hit a heavy, fast moving, topped forehand, so opponent's need a really accurate shot to take advantage of her slice backhand. AND, from around mid career onwards, Graf practiced, but did not play with, one of the very best topspin backhands of anyone on the WTA tour. Every women's player knew about this, and were constantly wary of having to face this new weapon....which was seldom employed in match play.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

Graf already has very good topspin backhand as early as late 1980th's.
She passed Martina many times in Wimbleton by using this weapon.
It's a myth why she seldom used it in her later career.

But at times this weapon helps her secure some crucial points.
For example in the 1999 French Open Final, Graf passed Hingis by her topspin backhand in the 10th game in the second set and broke Hingis' serving game for the match.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWGYOouR69Q&feature=related

The second serve ace at 1:50 is much more impressive than the topspin backhands, IMO. You don't see that too often in the women's game.

 

[ProgressoR]

for me, learning slice with conti grip just didnt work, rather than killing myself over it i just tried it with ebh (well just milder than EBH) it worked great from the get go, so i wont be changing back soon, i feel i get more control, a longer swing with beter control, good control on high and low balls, and can play a slice with litte spin or with tons. I see no reason to go back and try with conti.

Are there really any cons to using EBH slice if you feel ok with it?

 

[paulfreda]

Don't hit late

Are there really any cons to using EBH slice ?

Yes, there is less tolerance if you are late.

I slice with a SWBH grip but the ball must be in front of me.
It cannot be hit it if the ball is even with my body much less behind me

This begs the question ...
Since the slice is what to hit when you are late, how can you justify using a SWBH grip.
My answer is that I also learned to slice with a Continental.

 

[ProgressoR]

^^^ for me the slice is a genuine rally shot and not a fall back shot if i am late...

 

[paulfreda]

^^^ for me the slice is a genuine rally shot and not a fall back shot if i am late...

It is unusual for anyone to win at the 4.5 + level using slice most of the time IMO. Back when tennis was mostly a defensive game, the slice was the ralley shot. But not anymore. Show me anyone on ATP or WTA who hits only BH slice who is also in the top 10.

And I never said slice is hit ONLY when you are late.
It is good for "change of pace" ball that can catch an opponent off guard.

 

[ProgressoR]

^^ yes, though you shouldnt infer that i use it most of them time even if i say its a genuine rally shot. I am not at 4.5+ level, so for now i think a judicious mix of slice and TSpin works fine for me. And its a useful change up shot to have in your bag at higher levels too, as you say