slice backhand

Benchwarmer1 · slice backhand

i always try to hit slice, but i can't hit it just right, at least not where i want it to go, any tips

x.doublea

Make sure you don't hit with an open stance...step into the ball with a slightly open racquet face, and push the ball and follow through towards the target. It's not going to give you major side spin, but it's dependable and it will keep the ball relatively low.

Benchwarmer1

how will it get sidespin

x.doublea

There would usually be a bit of a natural side spin...not too much, but there will be some. If you cut down a bit more, you'll get more bite on the shot, but less accuracy.

Benchwarmer1

i seem to hit mine really high, should i close the racquet face a little more?

x.doublea

It sounds like you're totally cutting down on the ball without going back high...usually, I hit them high to low to high, although I now cut down on the ball a bit more.

Benchwarmer1

is it all in the followthrough?

x.doublea

Well, the racquet angle's also important. If it's too closed, it'll go straight to the ground. If it's too open (which might be in your case), it'll go too high and sit up for the opponent to crunch.

Benchwarmer1

i once hit it(enphasis on once) where the face was closed and it was perfect, but i just can't do that anymore, how do i do that anyway

Chelsey

O.K. here is how I can maybe best describe it to you without actually showing it to you.

The main body parts that are used in getting a good offensive slice is your upper arm/shoulders, the wrist, and the forearm.

#1. The wrist: The best way to describe the mostion here is you move your wrist as if you are casting a fishing line, but not quite as exagerrated but pretty close. This will provide the spin for ya.

#2 The shoulders/upper arms: This motion is kinda like an umpire calling a player safe w/o the arms being spread out. Just do the motion without letting your arms go outside the width of your shoulders.

#3 the forearm: The the racquet upward and to the ball. You roll your forearm away from your body.

Put all these 3 movements together and you will develop a power slice. The follow through from this 3 components should be natural.

You also want to try and hit the ball as you step forward before it reaches your front hip and go through the ball.

Make sure you don't chop down on the ball or you will lose your forward movement effort that the power slice is trying to create.

This will take numerous times to get right so keep at it and don't get frustrated.

x.doublea

Do you swing as fast as you can with the slice?

Benchwarmer1

almost, about 3/4 of the speed

x.doublea

That's way to fast....that's why the slice you hit is high. Does it often go long as well?

Benchwarmer1

no, not really

x.doublea

That's strange...then it's either your racquet face is too open or perhaps you carve too much under the ball and put too much air underneath the ball?

Benchwarmer1

its kinda like i hit under

x.doublea

Try to hit more on an even plane with the ball...because now, you're cutting too much underneath the ball, and this is causing a lot of air to push the ball upwards. That's good for a defensive lob, but it's insufficient for a normal slice.

Benchwarmer1

so hit it the same place on the ball as if it were a topspin BH?

x.doublea

No, you still hit underneath the ball, but not as much as much as you are doing now. If you hit on the same place you hit for a topspin shot, you're going to frame the ball.

Benchwarmer1

that's happened to me many times, i guess that's why Very Happy

Benchwarmer1

how about on the topspin forehand, i try to put as much spin into it as possible, but i always come up short, it either stays low, or goes into the net

x.doublea

If you want to keep create so much spin, aim about seven to nine feet above the net, and you'll see that your shots are going to be nice and deep!

Benchwarmer1

i use a semi-western grip, is that good, it came naturally

x.doublea

Yes, semi-western grip is good for spin, but if you don't hit without any net clearance, the shot will most likely land short.

Benchwarmer1

they mostly all do

x.doublea

Yes, than it's definitely a net clearance problem.

Benchwarmer1

how do i get the ball higher?

x.doublea

Well, basically, set your mind to hitting high above the net, and your strokes should follow. Perhaps more body rotation?

Benchwarmer1

that sounds good, i sometimes look like a robot on a bad day

x.doublea

Do you mean you just hit with your arm sometimes?

Benchwarmer1

yes absolutely,how should the body be turned?

x.doublea

Well, it's an incorperation of using the legs, turning the hips, turning the shoulders....

I'm trying to find you a good tutorial site....

x.doublea

Benchwarmer, try this one:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/skills/4230728.stm

It's not spectacular, but it gets the basic points across.

Benchwarmer1

yeah, that helped x.doublea

x.doublea

No problem. Very Happy

BBC Sport can actually be quite useful....I learned to hit the between-the-legs from there. Well, I can do it in badminton and squash, but not in tennis yet....

leftys_rock

J-man

most of the time my slice will go high and deep when i'm on the run. but when someone hit's a low ball it will go deep and low

anyhow Benchwarmer1 follow the steps that x.doublea posted and you should do good

Benchwarmer1

ok sounds good!

Dragonlord

the problem with the semi-western benchwarmer is that it sucks with low balls when your trying to get some topspin in, try going from more lower to high, and the ball shouldnt land in the net, follow what x. doublea said, that BBC site is awesome and will help a lot...

also, like what j-man said, dont try to slice when the ball goes high, when it does, use topspin, but when it goes low, try to slice it...

Benchwarmer1

when it comes to low balls, i just switch to eastern, which am i am comfortable with also

Dragonlord

or u could spin it with backspin, cuz when the ball has backspin it floats, but with topspin, it goes down quicker, thats why its easy to hit topspin on high balls with semi-western and ez to hit backspin on low balls with continental...

x.doublea

I wouldn't recommend hitting forehands with a continental grip, regardless of the hight. It just gives so little options. I hit all my forehands with a grip that seems to be between an Eastern and a semi-western.

Benchwarmer1

i either hit it with semi-western or eastern

Benchwarmer1

well, thanks to your guys advice, i hit with a lot more spin Smile