The backhand is half of the tennis ground-stroke game.
It's important to have both halves of the backhand stroke.
Whether you have a one-handed, topspin backhand or a two-handed backhand the slice backhand should be in your arsenal of shots.
Article Photos
One-handed, topspin backhand.
The one-handed player seems to grasp that fact faster than the two-handed because it becomes more apparent more quickly.
The one-handed topspin backhand is most comfortably struck when the contact point is between our hips and knees. Topspin can be hit when the ball is chest level, but is a bit more awkward.
Where it really starts to get difficult is when the ball is shoulder high or below the knees. It is very hard to brush up the backside of the ball in those positions.
Fact Box
Bill Longua has been the tennis director/head pro at Palm Island Resort, Cape Haze, since 2007 and is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association with more than 35 years teaching experience. For more tennis tips and his book "Winning Tennis Strokes" go to onlinetennistraining.com or e-mail questions to bill@onlinetennistraining.com. A $3.99 download book holiday sale is at onlinetennistraining/holidayspecial.
The two-handed player will not have a tough shot when the ball is higher than the comfortable hitting zone due to the second hand driving through the ball, thus it takes that player longer to figure out that a slice is needed.
The other two most glaring areas when a slice is needed are shots that pull you wide off the court and short low balls that will force you to hit an approach shot and follow that ball to net. The slice backhand allows for greater reach when racing for wide shots requiring less footwork and when held in the correct grip, the Continental, has the face of the racquet facing the opponent's court.
When faced with a short low ball you need to keep the ball down on the approach shot, trying a quick snap up topspin shot will either send the ball long, since a quarter of the court is behind you, or make the ball sit up resulting in an easier passing opportunity for the opponent.
Some quick tips to the slice are:
Continental grip;
, brush down the backside of the ball with the face of the racquet slightly open;
maintain a firm wrist with no snap at all;
lead the stroke with the butt of the handle; and
use a complete follow-through with the face remaining open.
Bill Longua has been the tennis director/head pro at Palm Island Resort, Cape Haze, since 2007 and is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association with more than 35 years teaching experience. For more tennis tips and his book "Winning Tennis Strokes" go to onlinetennistraining.com or e-mail questions to bill@onlinetennistraining.com. A $3.99 download book holiday sale is at onlinetennistraining/holidayspecial.
