How to Hit a Backhand Slice in Tennis
Contents
Backhand slice is one of the most important strokes in tennis. If you can master this shot, you’ll be able to dominate your opponents.
Backhand Slice Grip
One of the best grip for a backhand slice is the continental grip. This grip is also used for a backhand drive. You can also use an eastern backhand grip or a semi-western backhand grip for a backhand slice. The continental grip is the best grip for a backhand slice because it gives you more control.
Continental Grip
The continental grip is the most popular way to hold a racket for a backhand slice. This grip is different from the eastern and semi-western grips because the position of the knuckle on your index finger is lower down on the bevel. You can also hold the continental grip for a topspin backhand, but it’s more common for slicing.
To hold the racket in a continental grip, start by holding it in your nondominant hand with an eastern forehand grip (meaning your palm should be facing you and the bevel should be horizontal). Then, shift your index knuckle down one bevel so that it’s resting on the third bevel from the top. You can check your grip by looking at your racket head-on; if you’re holding it correctly, you should see two knuckles and part of your palm.
Eastern Backhand Grip
One of the most important strokes in all of tennis, the backhand can be a bit tricky to master. But once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll be able to hit backhands with speed, power, and precision.
There are two main types of backhand grips: the continental grip and the eastern backhand grip. The continental grip is most commonly used for forehands, but can also be used for backhands. The eastern backhand grip is the most common grip for hitting backhands.
To take an eastern backhand grip, start by placing your racket in your nondominant hand. Then, place your hand so that your palm is facing upward and wrap your fingers around the racket’s handle. Your thumb should be placed on the top side of the handle. Finally, position your hand so that your index finger is extended toward the racket’s head.
Semi-Western Backhand Grip
One issue you may have with a continental grip is that it can be difficult to hit a good backhand slice. A backhand slice is a very important shot in tennis. It keeps the ball low and causes it to spin backwards, making it hard for your opponent to attack. A lot of point can be won by consistently hitting good backhand slices.
To hit a backhand slice, you need to use a different grip. Instead of holding the racket with a continental grip, you need to use what is called a semi-western backhand grip. This grip is similar to the continental grip, but your hand is rotated more towards the racket head.
To properly execute a backhand slice, you need to hit the ball with an open racket face and brush up underneath the ball, giving it topspin. Hitting the ball with an open racket face will ensure that the ball doesnt go into the net. If you dont have enough topspin, your opponent will be able to easily attack your shot.
Backhand Slice Swing
When playing tennis, there are different strokes that can be used in order to beat your opponent. The backhand slice is a great stroke to use when your opponent is approaching the net. This stroke is also effective when your opponent is on the other side of the court and you want to hit the ball deep. In order to hit a backhand slice, you need to follow these simple steps.
Swing Path
The backhand slice swing path should be slightly inside-out and relatively low to the ground. This will give your shot more topspin and make it travel through the court more quickly. If you swing too high, you will send the ball long; if you swing too low, it will bounce up and hit the net.
Swing Plane
One of the most important aspects of hitting a backhand slice is to make sure that you are on the correct swing plane. The swing plane is an imaginary surface that the racket head traces as it moves through the hitting zone. For a backhand slice, the racket head should move from low to high on this imaginary surface. This low to high motion will help ensure that the ball spins and dips sharply when it hits the court.
Backhand Slice footwork
One of the most important aspects of hitting a backhand slice is your footwork. If you don’t have the right footwork, you will not be able to hit the ball correctly. There are a few things you need to keep in mind when you are positioning your feet.
Split Step
A lot of recreational tennis players tend to stand still when receiving service, which makes hitting a backhand slice quite difficult. pro players, on the other hand, make sure they are ready to move into position by doing a “split step.” As soon as the server tosses the ball into the air, both feet leave the ground and land about shoulder-width apart, slightly bent at the knees. From there, you can push off in any direction necessary to get into position for your backhand slice.
Back Pedal
As you reach the ball, start taking small steps back away from the net. You want to be in a low stance with your weight on your back foot as you make contact with the ball. This will help you keep your balance and generate power from your legs as you swing through.
Backhand Slice Drills
The backhand slice is one of the most important strokes in tennis. A backhand slice is a low, spinning shot that goes from one side of the court to the other. It is used to defend against high balls and keep the ball in play. Backhand slice drills can help you improve your technique and add more power to your shot.
Wall Drill
One of the best backhand slice drills is the wall drill. This exercise can be done alone or with a partner. If you are doing it alone, hitting against a wall is the best option. If you have a partner, they will stand across from you and hit the ball back and forth.
To start, you will want to position yourself about three to four feet away from the wall (or your partner). From here, take your normal backhand grip and stance. For right-handers this would be placing your right hand on the racket handle with your palm facing down.Lefties would do the opposite. Next, bounce the ball a few inches in front of your body and hit it against the wall (or have your partner hit it to you).
As you make contact with the ball, slice it by swinging low to high and across your body. The ball should bounce off of the wall (or your partner’s racket) and land on your side of the court. As it bounces, make sure that you are moving into position to hit it again. The goal is to keep hitting sliced backhands until you miss or can no longer keep the ball in play.
Backhand to Backhand Drill
This is a great tennis drill for beginners who are struggling with their backhand slice. The backhand to backhand slice drill will help you get used to the feel of hitting the ball with a slicing motion. It will also help you develop a consistent backhand slice.
To do this drill, you will need a partner. Stand on opposite sides of the net and hit your backhands to each other. Make sure to hit the ball with a slicing motion. The goal is to hit the ball deep and keep it low over the net. After each shot, quickly recover and get ready for your partner’s next shot.
Backhand Cross Court Drill
This is a great drill to work on your backhand slice. Start by placing two cones or balls about 3-4 feet apart and 2-3 feet behind the baseline on the ad court side. For right-handers, this would be on the left side of the court. The objective is to hit 10 backhand slices crosscourt between the cones, making sure to keep your shots low over the net. After hitting 10 crosscourt slices, move the cones closer together so they are only about a foot apart and repeat the drill. If you are able to hit 10 crosscourt slices between the cones that are a foot apart, then you are ready to move on to the next level.