What to do about guys who ONLY hit slice?

[LeeD]

Actually, a hard slice is hard to volley on a fly as said because the trajectory doesn't drop, and the backspin causes not only mishit volleys, but also causes the ball to drop sharply unless the volleyer is moving forwards with the stroke.
Moving forward sounds great, but slicers can lob with controlled height to get the ball over your head, causing you to retreat once you decided to move forwards.
On a bounce, the sliced ball doesn't keep it's backward spin, but rather goes into a deadball or no spin bounce, which skids low and off to either side almost at will...but not your will.

 

[halalula1234]

Agree with other posters that getting to net is a good plan.

Also keep in mind that slicing all the time is an inherently low percentage strategy. These type of players (and I played an excellent slicer in a 4.0 tournament once so I know what you're talking about), have gotten extremely consistent at it. But, because of the nature of slice, they cannot hit as hard or as high over the net as a topspinner. You just have to make them play until they mess up. You should be able to get to most of their shots in time, and they usually don't have a big serve.

Another variant of this problem is the guys who hit flat & hard. That can be a little tricker because they will hit winners and rush you. But the same strategy applies - keep the ball in and deep. Put pressure on them with your consistency.

Omg i play one of them...Slice random ones..some short/curvy some deep some fast some slow but all of them low..on the backhand..

and on the forehand he hits so flat and hard..I was so angry i couldnt get any rhythm going even when im 40-15 up he would get the next points and win. I really hate junk ballers even worst ones that hits hard on random shots.

 

[only4theweak187]

Moonball these guys with reverse forehands or with more windshieldwiper-like forehands and hit these deep so they have to hit a very difficult High-Slice, these high slice balls are easy to attack cause they are a weak shot.

 

[tes]

I used to play an older guy just like this. It's tougher than you think!

A lot of us "old guys" learned our tennis strokes back in the 60's when Ken Rosewall's slice backhand was a marvel to watch and to emulate. Also,
older players have usually lost a step or two (in my case 3 or 4 at age 59) and need to rely on the slice to make up for being too stretched out of position to drive it flat or with topspin.
Even in today's modern game you see Nadal float in a slice to get back into the point.

 

[longnt80]

If you cannot deal with slice, it is because you have not practiced with these types of shot. So don't try to hit hard. Try to "feel" their slice strokes out first. Hit with good technique and footwork. Try to prolong each point as much as possible (if your conditioning is bad then that's your fault) so that you can hit more shot to practice against their strokes. Once you have a hang of dealing with their slices then start to hit harder. I found out that if you hit it right, the slice actually compliment your top spin stroke. One thing: the slice already have backward spin to it so don't try to hit with much top spin. Just try to hit flatter and the backward spin from slice will become your top spin.

 

[Andre D]

So I played in my first USTA tournament this weekend (3.5 level).. got to the semi-finals and lost to the number one guy in my state.

It was an incredibly frustrating match, as I felt I had more solid shots than him, but he was VERY good at hitting slice with pace and deep. I lost 3-6 0-6, after serving at 3-3 40-15 in the first set. I obviously lost my cool which didn't help, but a lot of that was that I couldn't come up with a strategy that worked against this guy.

The best thing I could think of was to approach more often, but because he hit most of his slice shots so deep, that was difficult.

Any ideas? (Other than me needing to practice returning slice shots, which I do need to do.)

I would love to play against guys, OP I´d tell you what I do..Since they slice they cant send fast balls, or at least very fast..If he hits deep you just have to place the ball well and go to the net, If u get him to run around the court he´ll throw you easy slices because he wont have time to preparate for the shot, and if you cant aproach the net at once drive the ball, i dont find it too hard to drive a slice..after all it has the same spin you are going to put in

 

[mikeler]

A lot of us "old guys" learned our tennis strokes back in the 60's when Ken Rosewall's slice backhand was a marvel to watch and to emulate. Also,
older players have usually lost a step or two (in my case 3 or 4 at age 59) and need to rely on the slice to make up for being too stretched out of position to drive it flat or with topspin.
Even in today's modern game you see Nadal float in a slice to get back into the point.

I meant a guy that sliced both his forehand and backhand. Everybody has a backhand slice. When I came into net against him, it went from slice to a hard sidespin shot. I've never played against another player like him.

 

[papa]

Actually, a hard slice is hard to volley on a fly as said because the trajectory doesn't drop, and the backspin causes not only mishit volleys, but also causes the ball to drop sharply unless the volleyer is moving forwards with the stroke.
Moving forward sounds great, but slicers can lob with controlled height to get the ball over your head, causing you to retreat once you decided to move forwards.
On a bounce, the sliced ball doesn't keep it's backward spin, but rather goes into a deadball or no spin bounce, which skids low and off to either side almost at will...but not your will.

Although you might be correct on some of this, it has not been my experience that typical sliced shots do not drop sharply unless they are hit relatively high or bounce from one side to another unless side spin is added. One of the weaknesses of the slice is that it has a tendency to "float" rather than "penetrate" the opponents court. However, there are several forms of slice and I think I see where your coming from.

I suspect you are primarily referring to ball hit with heavy backspin that have all they can do to clear the net like a dropshot for example. I was thinking more of a relatively low trajectory ball which probably explains the differences.

Twenty, thirty years ago, the backhand slice was a normal, everyday shot. Although still effective, its not used that much by younger players - they might be missing out on something.

 

[Wilander Fan]

Yeah..as others have said...I just came in to say the slice backhand is IMO a better all around shot that any topspin backhand. I am not talking about those floating shots that seem to hover just over the net and drop in. I mean the eastern grip shot where you drive through and come under the ball. Its fast and the ball barely bounces.

I think people have gotten carried away with the topspin shot that they can throw their bodies into. Yes, it looks nice but the balls tend to rise into your opponent's strike zone.

 

[tes]

I meant a guy that sliced both his forehand and backhand. Everybody has a backhand slice. When I came into net against him, it went from slice to a hard sidespin shot. I've never played against another player like him.

He sounds like a player with flawed stroke mechanics but exceptional timing
to be able to thread hard passing shots effectively without topspin.
Does anyone remember Francois Durr's backhand?

 

[mikeler]

He sounds like a player with flawed stroke mechanics but exceptional timing
to be able to thread hard passing shots effectively without topspin.
Does anyone remember Francois Durr's backhand?

Flawed maybe. Effective absolutely!

 

[escii_35]

(singles)

Against a 3.5 slicer I tend to focus on the knee bend and step-in/run around any floaty bad slices. As long as I stay interested it's a crushing.

4.0 slicers tend to back their game up with a good set of wheels and nice shot placement. To win it comes down to two things, fitness to get myself into shot position over a long match and only being forced to hit one or two big shots per point.

Never played a 4.5 slicer of both wings.

 

[tennismonkey]

not so simple to lump all people who hit predominantly (or all) backhands with slice together. there's definitely a quality level as well where a 3.5 backhand slice is < 4.0 backhand slice < 4.5 backhand slice.

and as you go up -- you see that the backhand slice pace and variety increases as well. for example shoulder high backhands might not be the easiest shot -- but a good 4.5 player or higher doesn't have a whole lot of problems generating pace on these.

and the strategem of coming to net against backhand slicers doesn't really mean much if your net game isn't any good and your overheads aren't up to snuff.

in tennis -- the better player ALWAYS wins. even if the better player only hits junky backhand slices.

 

[arnz]

If you play like this guy, slicers will never bother you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TVu0aJoJTg

:shock::shock::shock:

 

[only4theweak187]

If you play like this guy, slicers will never bother you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TVu0aJoJTg

:shock::shock::shock:

This is where i agree strongly that heavy topspin strokes almost moonballing these slice-players is very effective.

I do this myself, i start using a lot of reverse forehands and hit my shots to the corner, opening up the court for myself to attack the short, weak high slice they will have to hit which usually ends up in no man's land for me to pounce on and approach and put away a volley or a drop volley.

 

[woodyAllen]

As a club player myself, i feel the greatest weapon against the slicers is patience and no over hitting. There is no reason in the world to return a sliced ball out. It is easy to handle and place. Just try a loopy spiny ball deep in the baseline with little pace.

I understand that for advanced players coming to the net is easier and more efficient but for everyone else just be patient.

I have an awesome record against slicers, but i have to admit most rallies are 10-20 strokes long. It is not fun to watch but it is affective.

Maybe someday i can shorten the points by moving to the net but this is not today. (I am getting there though)