Slice: Who Needs It?

[ipodtennispro]

Slice

i ment: slow and low level pleyers use it (more than a topsin or flat bh). meaning that top players shouldnt use it? of course not. read the bottom line in my prev post. cmon.

Yeah, I went back a read it and your giving the impression that it is a defensive shot. That is only the case if you float it or hit what is called a "lazy slice". I just watched the finals of the Boys 18's National Open here in Hawaii and the guy who won it used the one-handed backhand slice 90% of the time. He had a two-handed backhand and a one handed slice. He choose to use it because it was used offensively. He wasn't out of position, late to the ball etc. etc.


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PS don't get personal

 

[Redflea]

My older son hits a two-handed BH, and our club's pro has helped him develop a two-handed slice BH that bites into the court, very effective. Two-handers who lack a slice BH (and aren't comfortable with a 1HBH slice) should consider learning a two-handed slice if they want one - it was very easy for him to learn and it gives him more variety and options.

The forehand slice is a great option for returning serves, if you have that and a BH slice, you can hit a return (or groundstroke, of course) off both wings that will stay low and offer your opponent a limited set of options.

The slice can be a great change of pace in a top-spin heavy rally, (where the change can cause many players to miss-hit or cough up an easy ball) and can cause problems particulary for folks w/western grips who have trouble handling low balls.

IMHO, not learning how to slice would be like leaving several of your clubs at home when you went golfing. Don't limit your options, it's likely your opponents won't.

 

[ipodtennispro]

Slice

My older son hits a two-handed BH, and our club's pro has helped him develop a two-handed slice BH that bites into the court, very effective. Two-handers who lack a slice BH (and aren't comfortable with a 1HBH slice) should consider learning a two-handed slice if they want one - it was very easy for him to learn and it gives him more variety and options.

....ss-hit or cough up an easy ball) and can cause problems particulary for folks w/western grips who have trouble handling low balls.

IMHO, not learning how to slice would be like leaving several of your clubs at home when you went golfing. Don't limit your options, it's likely your opponents won't.

Great points Redflea. I am just curious though, does your son release his other arm and hit a traditional one handed slice?

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[Redflea]

Great points Redflea. I am just curious though, does your son release his other arm and hit a traditional one handed slice?

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Thanks...no, he actually holds on through the stroke the majority of the time...maybe 10% of the time he releases after contact. Frankly, it looks pretty odd the first few times you see it, but it works, so I don't get involved.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

Or more specifically, do I need it?

For the last seven months, my pro refused to teach me slice groundstrokes. He wanted me to get the bread-and-butter topspin groundstrokes working and reasonably consistent first.

Yesterday, he said we're ready to try some slice if I'm still interested. After a few minutes trying forehand slice, I found myself wondering whether this was really worth the effort. The stroke looks kind of "push" to me; in fact, one of my problems was that I was trying to hit the slice shot hard, so it was flying. It seems that, at my 3.0 level, I'll have far more success just trying to put as much pace and topspin on the ball as I reasonably can.

I can see that I have many months of lessons and practice ahead of me before I can slice and avoid having the thing fly or pop up but still have enough pace to be effective. Bummer!

At what level does a slice shot become indispensable, if ever?

Every player should be able to slice the ball back.

 

[cak]

On vacation I was playing at a club where several players had a two handed slice backhand. (Apparently the pro was teaching a two handed slice to those with two handed backhands.) Just as effective as a one handed backhand, and not as easy to recognize.

 

[Cindysphinx]

My pro told me that it is possible to hit a 2HBH, but I figured he meant releasing the second hand at the last second. Heck, if there really is such a beast as a true 2HBH, I need to learn that.

 

[kevhen]

2HBH slice? Yes, it is possible, a little awkward but possible. Easier with just one hand though. But Santorro slices with both hands at the pro level.

 

[Kevo]

The forehand slice is an awkward shot. It usually isn't used as a regular groundstroke. It is usually defensive or you could use it as a dropshot although I don't equate that with the driving, wonderful to have in your arsenal, backhand slice.

In the 1HBH slice you meet the ball out in front and drive through it. It's a fairly natural stroke since your leading shoulder is controlling the racquet and naturally extends out in front of your body. On the forehand side you can't really extend out in front of your body because the back shoulder is controlling the shot, and simply extending forward is not possible with rotation during the stroke. You can hit a driving forehand slice and be effective with it, but it's much more difficult because your preparation needs to be a little bit different and you have to account for the shoulder rotation pulling your frame away from the extended follow through. I would ignore the forehand slice entirely until you have command of the backhand slice. There really is no need for a forehand slice 99% of the time.

 

[The Gorilla]

On vacation I was playing at a club where several players had a two handed slice backhand. (Apparently the pro was teaching a two handed slice to those with two handed backhands.) Just as effective as a one handed backhand, and not as easy to recognize.

what happens when you're pushed out wide and can't reach the ball with your two hander?

 

[cak]

what happens when you're pushed out wide and can't reach the ball with your two hander?

Okay, here's the really, really bizarre part. Rather than going for a one handed backhand, they'd go for a left handed forehand. (And I saw not one player, but two players do that.) I have seen people go for the non-dominant hand forehand on a pull out wide before, but not as often, and in conjunction with the two handed slice I was just in awe. Now, this was the first time I played on clay, so I don't know if it's just the teaching at this snowbird club in the Florida Keys, or more common way to play backhand on clay or just two random people that didn't seem to know each other well or play together before but had the same idea. Yet another lady on a different day also had the two handed slice, but I didn't see her going for the weak hand forehand. These were 3/3.5 level senior (as in 50+, but I'm not sure they were 60+) players.

 

[ipodtennispro]

Pushed out wide

what happens when you're pushed out wide and can't reach the ball with your two hander?

You have two options. 1. You will have to release the hand and hit a one handed slice. 2. Off either side(forehand or backhand) in a FULL stretch postion use a eastern backhand grip(continental will suffice) and karate chop is hard as you can and it will curve in like a boomarang. This is almost a trick shot like hitting between the legs. But is quite effective in getting back into the rally. Never concede the point. That's all Sharapova and the others are doing when the release their hand and just want to make a play on the ball. But, the grip is the key.

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[kevhen]

I only hit the left-handed shot when returning serve since it's pretty hard to switch hands when on the run, but when returning you already can start with both hands on the grip. Otherwise it's easier to just hit the righty slice backhand when on the run. When I have time, I drive the righty 2 hand backhand.