In tennis, the backhand slice is a very effective stroke to have in your repertoire of shots. When you hit the ball with slice, you put a backward spin on the ball, and when it hits the court, it skids. This spin causes the ball to stay low and requires your opponent to hit up on the ball to clear the net. It is also a slower ball, and players who like to hit against fast balls may find this type of shot tough to hit with success.
Grip Choice
The continental grip is used for a backhand slice shot in tennis. If you hold your racket with the bottom edge of the head's frame pointing toward the court and look at the end of the butt cap, you see that the handle is shaped like an octagon with eight bevels, or sides. Place the base of your index finger and the heel of your left hand on the top bevel. Rotate your hand one bevel to the left for the continental grip.
Swing Path and Body Positioning
As you make contact with the ball, the swing path of your racket goes from high to low. This action enables you to impart backspin to the ball. Prepare early as the incoming ball approaches. Pivot on your right foot and turn toward the right with your left shoulder pointing toward the net. Take your racket back to your right side with both hands. Your left hand should be on the grip, your right hand holding the racket at the throat. Maintain a slight bend in your left elbow. Concentrate on keeping the racket head up, above your left wrist and to the side of your right shoulder.
Contact
When you contact the ball with a high-to-low swing, keep your wrist firm, swing from your shoulder, put the weight on your front foot and lean your shoulder forward into the shot. Make the strings of the racket brush the back of the ball from the middle to the bottom of the ball. This causes the ball to spin backward. The angle of your racket face at contact depends on the height of the ball. The lower the ball is in relation to the height of the net, the more you need to open the racket face. This means the hitting surface is angled upward and you must have a more pronounced downward swing path to give the ball enough lift to clear the net.
Follow Through
After you meet the ball, you want to keep your momentum going through the point of contact. Concentrate on a level swing path, and follow through by extending your hitting arm and directing the racket's head toward your target. As your hitting arm goes forward, throw your right arm backward for balance. This also helps to keep your body turned, which is important for a true slice, not a sideways spin.
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