5 Steps To Perfect Tennis Slice Technique
When used correctly, a slice shot in tennis can prove to be very beneficial. It is used as not only a defensive shot every player should have in their arsenal, but also as a way to finish off points. Some players find it difficult to master since it involves so much touch, but it is a change of pace that can severely throw off an opponent.
To practice, there are a few steps to a proper slice technique. The majority of slices are going to come off the backhand, but there are forehand slices to consider as well. Everything from having the right grip to using proper footwork is crucial. These steps below will not only help to improve your slice technique, but overall as a tennis player.
1. Find a Grip That Works
Off the backhand, the two most common slice grips are continental and eastern. The majority of people should start with a continental grip, seeing if that works for them. It is usually the more versatile grip, and gives a player a good amount of accuracy when trying to perform at a high-level.
Ultimately, grip choice does come down to each player. The important thing is to find a grip that allows for not only short slices, but slices that can go deep into the court as well.
2. Small Steps For Proper Setup
Just like with many other shots, small steps are the key with a slice. It is a finesse shot in a lot of ways, so getting the timing down is crucial. After using a bunch of small steps to get in the right position, that final push forward should allow for a good amount of power.
Make sure that the footwork is different from a standard backhand to a slice. This is especially true for people who have two-handed backhands most of the time. A slice is usually going to be one-handed, so the preparation is different. Players can reach a bit more with one hand, but won’t have that off-hand to provide quite as much power.
3. Use a Proper Stance
Backhand stances for a slice is again, up to personal preference. However, standing in a neutral stance or even slightly closed will provide the right amount of balance for most players. Start in a neutral stance, and tweak things slightly until it feels as comfortable as possible. Not only is this going to work best, but it helps to disguise the shot by not opening up too early.
With a neutral stance, a player should align their feet so that they are parallel with the sideline. Remember, this is before the backswing, so do not rush to open up the body too quickly. Once the body starts to fly open, the control for any slice is gone.
4. Backswing
The backswing of a slice is different than any other shot in tennis. The goal is to create backspin on the ball and give the opponent a different type of look in general. Sometimes it changes pace, while other times, it curves. Players who develop a lot of touch with their slice can have pinpoint accuracy, especially on dropshots.
It all starts with a shorter setup, as a player swings the racquet back and has it positioned up. That puts the head of the racquet a bit behind and above the head of the player. The racquet needs to be higher than where the ball is going, to get that angle on the slice.
As soon as the ball bounces, the weight of the body needs to be moving towards the front foot. A slice is not necessarily about power, but a person does need it to create that spin on the ball to put it where it needs to be. Since this is a more controlled shot, keeping the eyes on the ball is essential. It is not a see it and rip it type of shot.
Ideally, a player is going for a contact point where the racquet is in an open position moving from high to low. An ideal slice usually takes place about a foot or two in front of a player’s dominant foot. A ball hit a little too early usually means it will pop up. If it is it too late, there is a chance that the slice is too flat and goes out.
5. Perfecting The Follow-Through
No one should ever overlook the follow-through with a backhand slice. As the racquet makes contact, a person needs to finish the shot by staying low and continuing the movement from high to low. In the end, the racquet should be moving forward and even back up a little.
As a player is finishing their backhand slice, they are also moving into position for the next ball. One way to maintain balance is to use the off-hand as a way to regroup.
6. Handling High & Low Balls
The difference between a high backhand slice and a low backhand slice is that a player can only afford to have a short backswing with the high ball. The goal is to have a down or shot so that the ball stays in play and the angle can be used in a player’s advantage.
When slicing the ball low, bending the knees is very important. Keeping a low center of gravity, a player is coming under the ball and not trying to pop it up too much. With a low ball, some players will try to pull off a drop shot, while others will want to slice it into the empty court.
A slice is a little difficult for some people to handle, but it is mostly a defensive shot. Some players use it on offense occasionally to bring their player in. For example, if a player is deep behind the baseline, a slight drop shot might be one shot to pull off.
Above all else, people need to stay on their toes with any change of pace. In a long rally, hitting balls coming at the same speed is relatively easy, but throwing in a slice could mess up an opponent fairly quickly. It acts a lot like a change-up from a pitcher in baseball, throwing timing off.
7. Working On a Forehand Slice
A forehand slice is not used nearly as often as a backhand, but it is a weapon that sometimes players rely on. Most of them will like this as a complete change of pace, because it is not used defensively unless there is a scramble for the ball.
The goal for any player is to disguise their slice with a forehand as much as possible. If a player knows that a slice is coming, they can read it and come in for the easy ball. Keeping a player honest with a forehand slice once in a while works, but it can look rather weird if the shot ends up not working at all.
Final Thoughts On The Slice In Tennis
It is easy to get frustrated hitting slice shots in tennis, but it is a difficult shot to master in general. When it does work correctly, it becomes a huge hassle for the opposition.
Practice with a partner or a ball machine to get a few different types of slice shots down. Not only do players need to find ways to slice the ball deep into the court, but dropping winners close to the net helps as well. Hitting at the same pace all the time makes most tennis players a bit too predictable.
You can also read:
- 15 Best Tennis Books
- 7 Best Tennis Ball Hoppers
- 20 Fastest Tennis Serves Ever
- 10 Best Net Players In Tennis History
- 15 Longest Tennis Matches of All Time
