Wilander's slice (and the the backhand slice in general)

[Olli Jokinen]

It was clearly the main weapon for him, when he won the US Open 1988. Has the slice backhand lost its value? Today, the backhand slice is merely a defensive shot. But is it a weapon thet has lost its meaning? Who wins – and matches – rallies with it? Seems as if, Federer is is the only player thet utilizes it. Am I wrong? I seldom see it as a shot that sets up points.

 

[TheRed]

It's lost lots of value these days, due in part to racquets. It's still very effective in the amateurs and as a change of pace in the pros but in the old days with the old racquets, there was a much lower chance that a player would take a decent slice and rip it to take instant control of the point. It's a much great possibility these days though it probably doesn't happen as often as players think. I think it's a bit like the volley - it's clearly not as useful as it was in the old days but it's still a lot more useful than people think. Players just don't know how to use a slice anymore other than for defensive purposes. I do mean "use" because yes, players can hit a decent slice, but they don't know the nuances of when to deploy the slice.
For me as a 4.5 amateur (once 5.0 but age does me no favors), I find the slice extremely useful because at this level, most guys either over hit or do nothing when they see a slice coming at them.

 

[Olli Jokinen]

It's lost lots of value these days, due in part to racquets. It's still very effective in the amateurs and as a change of pace in the pros but in the old days with the old racquets, there was a much lower chance that a player would take a decent slice and rip it to take instant control of the point. It's a much great possibility these days though it probably doesn't happen as often as players think. I think it's a bit like the volley - it's clearly not as useful as it was in the old days but it's still a lot more useful than people think. Players just don't know how to use a slice anymore other than for defensive purposes. I do mean "use" because yes, players can hit a decent slice, but they don't know the nuances of when to deploy the slice.
For me as a 4.5 amateur (once 5.0 but age does me no favors), I find the slice extremely useful because at this level, most guys either over hit or do nothing when they see a slice coming at them.

I don't know what my level is, since I'm European (I used to be good at a tournament level in the late 80s and early 90s). But still find it an easy and effective shot. It changes pace and makes your opponent react differently. I still enjoy when the one-handers use it, but it seems, its dying at the professional level. It's an intelligent shot, yet pros seem to not use it as often as before.

 

[vandre]

there have been significant changes in the ball and/or the court surface at many if not all of the slams. i don't have any stats or metrics to back this up but its possible that some of these changes may have negated the effectiveness of the slice bh. do you remember how slice bhs used to skid at wimbledon in '88? man, i do. today it seems like the ball bounces much higher and truer thus taking some of the fangs out of the slice bh.

 

[hoodjem]

I saw Cecchinato using it yesterday.

 

[Olli Jokinen]

I saw Cecchinato using it yesterday.

Yes, most of the players with one-handed backhands use it. But there are so few left.