Transcription
In this video, I'm going to show you how to do a backhand slice that is really going to give your opposition problems, and it's going to be a fantastic shot for you in all aspects of the game.
Now, if you're thinking, "Ah, backhand slice. Oh, yeah, but yeah, when I do that, it pops up into the air." I'm going to show you exactly what happens when you do that and how to avoid that. So, let's go through the basics of a backhand slice.
Now, as an over 50s player, I want to tell you before I teach you the techniques why this is such a brilliant shot for you to have. First and foremost, it's a lot easier on your body and your joints. Okay? Compare this to a topspin backhand, for example. This is so much easier to do. You've got more control, and just as far as effort goes, we're going to lean into this as I'm about to show you, it's a lot easier on your body.
The other thing is it's a brilliant way to return serve because you've got two options, as I'm about to show you. We can dial in hard and low so it comes in skidding to that player, which so many players have a really hard time trying to get. Now, even I'm talking about 3.0, 4.0, even four and a half to 5.0 players have a hard time with this, especially if they're used to it coming in as topspin or a flat shot and doing their drops. When this comes skidding in with backspin, it's a lot harder for them to try and do a drop, a third shot drop. So, you've got that as well.
The other thing is it gives you more control. It's much easier in windier conditions to control this. So, it is a really fantastic stroke to have. And I say it's easier on your body. It's incredibly effective. And when it comes to returning serve, you've got two fantastic options. You should dial it in and laser guide it in. So low and flat with backspin. Really tough, as I say, for people to return. The other thing is you can make it a little higher and go high and deep. And as you know, in return a serve, you want to get these these shots high and deep as they come in. Gives you plenty of time to come into the net for that third shot. So, so many reasons to have this shot. I'm going to show you how to do it right now.
Okay, so let's go through the basic technique when it comes to your slice backhand, right? So you've got your continental handshake grip, right? So you're in the ready position. The first thing you do, just like you do with any stroke, is you want to get onto a side-on position. So what we do, we're going to step out to the left. Now, depending on how much access you've got with your hip here, but generally, if you can get it 90°, it doesn't matter. Just But you're stepping out to the side with your non-dominant hand, your left hand, you've got it at the throat of the racket here. And what you do is bring it round above your left shoulder. Okay, so that is your first movement. You step out and bring it round above your left shoulder. That's creating torsion. All right, so a spring-load effect. And then what we're going to do, we're going to step in and keeping your right shoulder down. So you want to have that weight on your front foot. Right? So let's just go back through that. Right? So here you are. You've got your continental grip, your handshake grip. Right? So ready position. Step out and bring that around up high above your left shoulder. There we've got that. And then we're going to step in and we're going to do this motion. Right? That is the motion you want to do. Show you again. Going to come out, step in. Now, you want to keep that right shoulder down. You want to feel like you are leaning in. So, you're leaning into this as if we're going to run into the net. So, if we did this, right shoulder down, and then you're almost falling into the next step. Okay, that's what you want to do. So, your right shoulder should be down. Do it again with me. Coming around >> and then we do this.
Now, it's important when you're doing this is we're going to split our arms as it is because this is your counterbalance. So, when you're doing this, you don't want to just be like this. What we're going to do is come down and we split like this. This balances you out. So, let's do this again. So, we're coming around. We're stepping out. Stepping out to the side. Bringing it back. Step in. You're leaning down. And that is the motion.
Now, common mistakes are coming around and chopping. It is not a chopping motion. It is a carving motion. To finish up high and quite uh often taught, but don't get too pedantic about this, is having your racket up like this where you can hold a a glass on there. So, as you finish like this, and the reason we do that is that'll get the ball cutting, so spinning backwards. Because if you were to do this now, this is a different shot, and have your hand coming up a little bit, we're going to cut inside out, which will give you more of a side spin, which is advantageous if you want to go down the line and get it spinning away from your from your opponent. But for the moment, all I want you to do is concentrate, bring it round, and finish up like that. Remember, it's not a chopping motion. Finishing it up like that. Weight on your front foot, right shoulder down, leaning into this, right?
Other thing is your contact point. Just like other shots, it needs to be out in front by your front knee. So, when you contact that ball, it should be out here. Because if you're hitting it too far back, that's when you're going to sky up into the air. That's when you get those those soft slices where you go, I don't know what's going on. You know, it just goes up like that, and then they smash it away. It's not good. Right. Your contact point needs to be out in front. Around. >> Here we are. Split. And there's your contact point. Right out level with your front knee. And then you're like this. Okay. Let's see what that looks like. >>
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