Using this technique, you can make it very difficult for your opponent to return your shot with topspin, making the slice a great defensive shot. Slice shots don't bounce as high, either. While weve tried to provide a thorough examination of the three kinds of serves, we realize it can be challenging to answer every question a reader might have. Advantages of a Tennis Slice Rallying. With the kick serve, youll want to contact the ball from bottom to the top of the ball so that youre hitting or brushing up on the ball. Since youre looking to hit the ball flat or without any spin, youll want to try to strike the ball directly from behind without brushing up on the ball or hitting the side of the ball. 5. Heres a photo that showcases the contact point and racquet angle when hitting a kick serve. Lets take a look at some of the details that will help ensure you can hit a great flat serve. Last but not least, another element that will help you produce a fantastic serve is going for it and hitting with confidence. As for the angle of your racquet head, youll want the edge to be roughly parallel with the baseline. Now that you know the three different types of tennis serves, it pays to keep in mind that each serve can be hit in countless places in the service box, providing you with even greater variety. In-depth Resources The shot is executed with a flowing high-to-low action and a continental or Eastern grip, using a neutral or semi-open stance. A slice ground stroke causes the ball to rotate backwards towards the person who hit the ball. Many pros, including the legendary Australian champion Ken Rosewall, used the slice backhand stroke as their only backhand. Because of this added spin, the ball will bounce with significantly less height when reaching the opponent's side.The ball bouncing with less height then makes it more difficult for the opponent to return the slice, since they will have much less time to reach the ball from where they awaited the return. When you reach it, the ball may only be a few inches off the ground, meaning that a topspin is not a realistic option. Slicing does have disadvantages, so ideally it is used as a variation or in specific circumstances. . The slice can be a useful weapon, but it does have some disadvantages. Using this technique, you can make it very difficult for your opponent to return your shot with topspin, making the slice a great defensive shot. Many pros, including the legendary Australian champion Ken Rosewall, used the slice backhand stroke as their only backhand. Disadvantages Of Slice In Tennis The slice forehand has many advantages, but using it for rally balls on slow surfaces like clay and some hard courts can result in the ball bouncing slowly and steeply, seemingly asking to be attacked. When comparing table tennis to tennis, golf, ice hockey, football, or nearly anything, you will find that it is rather cheap. Whether it's to pass that big test, qualify for that big promotion or even master that cooking technique; people who rely on dummies, rely on it to learn the critical skills and relevant information necessary for success. Second, changing your grip can be a dead giveaway to your opponent as to what type of serve youre about to hit. Your opponent can do almost anything he wants with them, especially from a position up at the net.
\nSlice always imparts control. It is also the most commonly used shot when you are in a defensive position. However, once you miss your first serve, the pressure equalizes to a degree. As a result, the overuse of a hard flat serve can lead to giving away too many free points or forcing you to rely heavily on your second serve. 3. More consistent - means with which one you can hit more or less the same shot over and over again. Disadvantages Lack of topspin Lower power potential Difficulty handling high bouncing balls How to Form a Continental Grip To form the continental grip, place the palm side of your index finger's bottom knuckle against the second bevel if you're right-handed or the eighth bevel if you're left-handed. Follow through until your racquet arm is fully extended, with the head pointing toward the ground at a moderate angle. About a 90-110 degree bend at the elbow. The good news is that youll use the continental grip for all three types of serves, so you only need to learn this one grip if youre not already familiar with it. The racquet head instead should be pointing at the back fence, at about a 45-degree angle.
\nWhen your backswing is complete, your right shoulder is close to your chin, and your right elbow points in the same direction as your right foot.
\n2. The slice serves name comes from the brushing action, or slice, applied to the tennis ball to produce sidespin. However, with practice and the proper technique, you shouldnt need to swing considerably harder to create more spin. Initially, you may be inclined to toss the ball a little farther right than you do for your flat serve to make contacting the side of the ball a bit more pronounced and establish feel. Kevin Leck is a Sport Psychology Consultant and Writer from Loughborough in the UK. On your side, there is pressure to hit your second serve in, which forces you to take some pace off the serve and subsequently gives your opponent more confidence in their return. In this article I will tell you what you need to know about how and when to play a tennis forehand slice by answering some of the commonly asked questions. There are many variations of the topspin forehand where players will choose a desired Western or Eastern grip depending on their style of play. Some professionals hit virtually all of their forehands with slice. Grass is tough on the arm, though, because the ball hits the racquet with more speed, and more speed generally means more shock and torsion. However, it makes it challenging to get under the ball and apply maximum topspin for the kick serve. The best choice is, using a continental or Eastern grip, to cut sharply under the ball with a high-to-low action, following through either straight up the court or cutting across the line to impart additional side-spin. Your opponent can do almost anything he wants with them, especially from a position up at the net.
\nSlice always imparts control. Disguise is crucial, but if executed well against a player who is standing a long way back, it can be very effective. what is a backhand slice in tennis; how to return a slice in tennis; disadvantages of topspin in tennis; slice serve in tennis Slice shots can be good for making an opponent really stretch for a ball, but it is difficult to hit them with much pace. 2. Here are some tips on how to slice a ball in tennis: 1. When youre first getting started with tennis, your primary goal will likely be to develop a single reliable serve that allows you to begin a point and play the game. Modern tennis is dominated by the use of topspin shots. There are many different types of forehand slice shot, all of which have their uses. It's a defensive shot that you should use on only three occasions:
\nIf you have trouble effectively hitting the flat backhand, you can use a slightly different stroke that carries many players far in the game the pure slice backhand. At MyTennisHQ, we have all played junior, college, and professional tennis. However, if you do adjust your toss, keep in mind that a good returner might pick up on the change in your toss and give them a hint of the type of serve and where you might be inclined to hit it. The flat serve is one of the most popular and most useful serves in tennis. In general, slicing can be very effective, but considerable precision is needed to use it frequently against a strong hitter. To hit a slice, you need to strike the ball with a high-to-low movement, thus imparting backspin. Believe it or not, when the pros hit a kick serve, their racquet is traveling at roughly the same rate or faster than their flat or slice serve. For a slice, you will need to grip the racket with an eastern or semi-western grip. It's a defensive shot that you should use on only three occasions:
\nIf you have trouble effectively hitting the flat backhand, you can use a slightly different stroke that carries many players far in the game the pure slice backhand. The slice can be a useful weapon, but it does have some disadvantages. As the ball approaches and you rotate your shoulders to your left, bring your racquet back above your left shoulder.
\nYour stance resembles the stance you take when you step up to the plate and get ready to swing a baseball bat in both cases, your hands are up around your left shoulder. The forehand smash is a fast, hard and powerful stroke that aims to force the opponent away from the table or to win a point outright. It tends to put you on the defensive quite often, so you must be physically and mentally prepared for that. At the start, youre content with just hitting the ball flat but as your skill level progresses you need to add variation to your game.
Michael Kernicki is currently the Head Professional at the Indian Creek Country Club in Miami Beach.
","authors":[{"authorId":10669,"name":"Michael Patrick Shiels","slug":"michael-patrick-shiels","description":" Michael Patrick Shiels writes frequently for golf magazines and is the official golf writer of the PGA of America's Michigan section. Rallying with a sliced forehand is mainly done by players who lack confidence in their topspin game, but it can nonetheless be very effective in the right conditions. You will have more time to return the ball, have a better stance, stronger strokes, more spin, and more confidence. Sliced returns need to be controlled with precision or else a volleyer can pick them off, especially in doubles. Disadvantages of Tennis Potential for serious injuries Tennis equipment can be costly Not a team sport Tennis cannot be played alone Lack of tennis courts Tennis takes some time to learn Motivation might be a problem Tennis may be time-consuming Need for a trainer to get to the next level Pressure can be high May conflict with your corporate career Additionally, if the forehand slice has been hit with side-spin, you will need to recognise this and allow more space if you aim to reply with a forehand, as the ball will spin into your body if your opponent is right-handed. As a result, it can be beneficial to avoid overusing a big flat serve and to use other types of serves that have a higher margin of error while focusing on quality placement to put the pressure on your opponent. \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();\r\n","enabled":true},{"pages":["all"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n\r\n","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n","enabled":false},{"pages":["article"],"location":"header","script":" ","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage"],"location":"header","script":"","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage","article","category","search"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n\r\n","enabled":true}]}},"pageScriptsLoadedStatus":"success"},"navigationState":{"navigationCollections":[{"collectionId":287568,"title":"BYOB (Be Your Own Boss)","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-entry-level-entrepreneur-287568"},{"collectionId":293237,"title":"Be a Rad Dad","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/be-the-best-dad-293237"},{"collectionId":295890,"title":"Career Shifting","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/career-shifting-295890"},{"collectionId":294090,"title":"Contemplating the Cosmos","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/theres-something-about-space-294090"},{"collectionId":287563,"title":"For Those Seeking Peace of Mind","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-those-seeking-peace-of-mind-287563"},{"collectionId":287570,"title":"For the Aspiring Aficionado","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-bougielicious-287570"},{"collectionId":291903,"title":"For the Budding Cannabis Enthusiast","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-budding-cannabis-enthusiast-291903"},{"collectionId":291934,"title":"For the Exam-Season Crammer","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-exam-season-crammer-291934"},{"collectionId":287569,"title":"For the Hopeless Romantic","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-hopeless-romantic-287569"},{"collectionId":296450,"title":"For the Spring Term Learner","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-spring-term-student-296450"}],"navigationCollectionsLoadedStatus":"success","navigationCategories":{"books":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/books/level-0-category-0"}},"articles":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/articles/level-0-category-0"}}},"navigationCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"searchState":{"searchList":[],"searchStatus":"initial","relatedArticlesList":[],"relatedArticlesStatus":"initial"},"routeState":{"name":"Article3","path":"/article/home-auto-hobbies/sports-recreation/tennis/slicing-and-dicing-tennis-style-201517/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{"category1":"home-auto-hobbies","category2":"sports-recreation","category3":"tennis","article":"slicing-and-dicing-tennis-style-201517"},"fullPath":"/article/home-auto-hobbies/sports-recreation/tennis/slicing-and-dicing-tennis-style-201517/","meta":{"routeType":"article","breadcrumbInfo":{"suffix":"Articles","baseRoute":"/category/articles"},"prerenderWithAsyncData":true},"from":{"name":null,"path":"/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{},"fullPath":"/","meta":{}}},"dropsState":{"submitEmailResponse":false,"status":"initial"},"sfmcState":{"status":"initial"},"profileState":{"auth":{},"userOptions":{},"status":"success"}}, When you're scrambling to retrieve a good, angled shot by your opponent (this is called making a. 02. of 02. He knows like no other how to disrupt the opponents rhythm by using the slice in almost every rally or how to completely catch them off guard with a drop shot. Drop Shots. If youre looking to develop an effective serve thats a weapon, then its crucial to understand and learn how to execute the three different types of tennis serves. Many pros, including the legendary Australian champion Ken Rosewall, used the slice backhand stroke as their only backhand. Not a Team Sport. Tennis is at the top. A "slow" surface such as clay will interact with more of the ball's surface area and there will be more friction placed on the ball. Slice shots never travel with a lot of pace. Ive had the chance to play against great names of the new generation, like Christian Garin, Cameron Norrie, and Kyle Edmund. That's just plain easier.\nBasically, you hit the slice backhand just as you would hit your standard backhand (both one-handed and two-handed backhands), changing only the following things about your stroke:
\n1. With the topspin, he forces Federer and other opponents to either be pushed too far backward or to take a risk and hit the ball extremely early. In this section, I will look at some of the circumstances in which a forehand slice shot can be played successfully, and the broad technique which should be used. I seldom make a mistake with my slice but it is very effective at creating UE's from my opponents. One of the best ways to increase your racquet head speed is to incorporate a wrist snap as you extend your arm to make contact with the tennis ball. Without some of Hi there! Only people who haven't really played tennis (or have played and don't use a one hander) believe this myth (aka 90% of this forum). The ball often stays low to the ground after it bounces. Dummies has always stood for taking on complex concepts and making them easy to understand. The same can be said about Federers use of the backhand slice. It moves forward and down, coming around to your right side only at the tail end of your stroke, long after the ball is gone. When a slice shot bounces, the ball stays low, forcing your opponent to really stretch to get to the ball. As a result, when the ball hits the court, it stays low, which forces a player to have to bend and get low or return out of their strike zone. Advantages of Clay . As you work to practice your serve, do so with confidence, and allow yourself the freedom to mess up while you establish the basic feel and rhythm to develop your serve. Add to that the ability to hit your serve at different speeds to throw off your opponent, and you can begin to see why developing various types of serves can be such a huge advantage. Most of the more adaptable players will also use the forehand slice for approach shots when necessary, although some are better at it than others. Aerodynamically it will appear to rise and then dip, kicking forward and up off the court surface when it lands. To help, give yourself a moment before you go to serve. Its strength lies in its speed and difficulty to return. This is basically a drop shot played at the start of a rally, so the same arguments set out in the previous paragraph apply. Thats where variety is king and why learning the three different types of serves is crucial. If you are defending desperately, you are unlikely to be able to execute a topspin lob. However, by hitting up on the ball, you generate topspin, which can bring the ball back down into the court even though youre hitting up. Slice shots that are hit from lack of confidence or in a desperate attempt to just get the ball back tend to float, and they travel through the air slowly. It gives the opponent more time to get to the ball. A player can add topspin to a shot by hitting the ball in a down-up movement, which causes the ball to rotate towards the opponent. When you want to surprise your opponent with a drop shot. And, an athlete like Mima Ito, proves beyond a doubt that the banana flip can be even more effective . MyTennisHQ is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to websites like TennisWarehouse.com and Amazon.com. Remember, when you serve, you have a considerable advantage because you begin the point on offense and can control and dictate the point from the start. This leads to a higher bounce and less spin on the ball after contact with the ground. Your ability to hit more than one type of serve will allow you to be more competitive against different players and on various court surfaces. I got a chance to play junior and professional tournaments across the world, and in 2015 I began playing as the #1 player for Pepperdine University, a great division 1 school. Topspin shots are used by most tennis players as their general groundstroke because it forces opponents to go backward. . The Top 3 Best Babolat Tennis Rackets Under $100. 2. Follow through until your racquet arm is fully extended, with the head pointing toward the ground at a moderate angle. The result will be a more fluid motion that helps you achieve a better serve. Think of your racquet face as an elevator that you need to move to the right \"story\" or height to pick up the passenger, a bright yellow tennis ball!
\n4. But don't use it as a substitute for your flat or topspin forehand. Once again, when hitting a kick serve, you should rely on your continental service grip, which is ideally suited for this serve. You can find his 2020 book: ', Seniortennisclub.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to. Ultimately, the greater variety of serves you can hit, the more you can adjust your strategy to compete at a higher level against different players and on various court surfaces. You can see it coming, as it is obvious where the server is hitting the ball to impart the sidespin. Basically, you hit the slice backhand just as you would hit your standard backhand (both one-handed and two-handed backhands), changing only the following things about your stroke: 1. When hitting a flat serve, youll want your toss to be roughly 12-18 inches in front of you and approximately 6 inches to the right of your tossing arms shoulder at the peak of the toss.
\nHigh bouncing balls are ideal for hitting slice shots, but you can play balls at any height with a slice by bending more at the knees and/or adjusting the height of your back and forward swings. Since a big flat serve has a lower margin for error, its worth being thoughtful when you choose to use it. Tennis may not be right for you if you suffer from heart disease or have high or low blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis. Your email address will not be published. It doesn't break your bank. Helpful Tip: To be successful with this tactic, you will need to stay low and develop plenty of racket-head speed, to allow you to control the trajectory of the ball. The major difference is that the racquet shouldn't be pointing straight up, at a 90-degree angle, like a bat. The slice forehand has many advantages, but using it for rally balls on slow surfaces like clay and some hard courts can result in the ball bouncing slowly and steeply, seemingly asking to be attacked. Related Tags. If you look at the top players in the world they know exactly how to use topspin and slice shots to their advantages. The same can be set for other net approaches. Slice shots that are hit from lack of confidence or in a desperate attempt to just get the ball back tend to float, and they travel through the air slowly. If you are a beginner or recreational player, or a junior just considering your first full-sized racket, you will be pleased to know that Babolat offer a range aimed squarely at you. High bouncing balls are ideal for hitting slice shots, but you can play balls at any height with a slice by bending more at the knees and/or adjusting the height of your back and forward swings.