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Technique
The slice: the shot every player should own
What backspin does, when to use it, and why it is the best escape when you arrive badly to the ball.
The slice is the opposite of topspin: the ball spins backward. It bounces low, stays short and floats. It is tennis's least glamorous shot and one of its most useful.
What it is actually for
- As a lifeline: when you are late or stretched, a slice can be hit from positions where a normal stroke is impossible.
- To change rhythm: after several topspin balls, a slow low ball disrupts.
- To approach the net: the slice stays low, so your opponent must lift it and leaves you a comfortable volley.
- Against high balls: slicing them is far easier than trying to drive them.
How it is hit
Continental grip, the same as the serve and volley. The racquet travels from high to low and forward, with the face slightly open, passing under the ball.
The motion is more guiding than hitting. A well-struck slice needs no force: the ball stays low because of the spin, not the speed.
The typical error
Chopping too far downward, almost vertically. That produces a ball that rises and floats, a gift to your opponent. The path must go far more forward than down.
Why it matters on the backhand
If you play a two-handed backhand, the slice is still hit one-handed. Every player should have a backhand slice even with a two-handed drive: it is the tool for balls you cannot strike properly.