Backhand Lesson: Slice vs Drive (When, Why & How?)

[@goldencalf5144]

Rock solid points. I actually find it easier to drive high balls with my double handed backhand than to slice it. The double hander can cover a multitude of sins from late (or nonexistent) preparation to lazy footwork.

[@TheTennisMentor]

Interesting! It’s good to know your strengths and weaknesses… makes for quicker decisions!

[@PrecisionPointTennis]

Fantastic video. A big bow of gratitude 🙏

[@TheTennisMentor]

🙏🙏

[@Javi_C]

Clear and concise. Thank you Ashley!

[@TheTennisMentor]

You’re welcome Javi… legend!

[@kumarsabaratnam4787]

Thanks for the super coaching tips.

[@erinaslay3976]

Thank you so much for all of your insights!

[@TheTennisMentor]

You are so welcome!

[@johnbrondumnet]

A short slice landing just behind the service line while staying low is a great ball for coming to the net (if you are close or inside your baseline). It forces your opponent to hit up while making it too risky for them to hit an aggressive passing shot - should make for an easier put away volley.

[@TheTennisMentor]

Totally agree!!

[@germanslice]

@@TheTennisMentor I don't have a backhand slice that floats up in the air or drops the ball short in the court or sits it up like you see with so many club guys who have weak slices who make the mistake of opening their strings up too much under the ball for if the face is too open that cause all this weak high floating sitters that runs usually out of gas and drops short down in the court or becomes sitters up at the net because the energy is going up in the wrong place. So I don't have that kind of slice. I don't always skim back the slices going all across the body using the L-Finish. I do use that way to slice drive sometimes, and I know most players like to slice drive that way, but I find it more better instead to just buggy whip the ball instead using Fed's Backhand swing instead of always skimming it across the body. I like Federer's Swing so I use that to buggy whip the ball on my backhand whether slice or flat. The net clearance is anywhere from 2 feet to just only a few inches. I made the change to Fed's more compact swing because it helped increased the strike zone range for me instead of just hitting with an open face from just the hips which as you said limits your range of motion and makes it more difficult to drive off the lower balls. So You're right, I used to be under a national coach and was coached to drive the ball with the hips using an open racquet face which results in a big swing size needing lots of court space for the swing and I found it limiting and awkward although that's how we first learn to drive the ball Because when you have an open racquet face, you are limited in what you can do with the racquet head because of the swing size. You can't do much with it. So you have to compensate with doing all this extra footwork just to get yourself fast enough around the ball in order to be able to use it and it takes also longer to execute so if you use a bigger swing size you would need higher levels of fitness. With the L. Finish I did have to change over to the backhand slice grip in order to use it and then change back again to the backhand grip for topspin. But with Fed's backhand, I don't have to change grips to drive sidespin or to drive flat. I can do both using just the same swing and grip. That's why I like his backhand. So I saw the open face way that i was coached to drive the ball with as like having a big albatross swinging around that just gets in the way of the ball and half the time it felt like you was muscling the balll you was doing more work off the ball with the strings than the racquet was doing on the ball when I was coached to drive the ball with the strings.. . I think switching over from using a big swing to a more compact swing was more better suited for me. For now I no longer had to put up with swinging that big albatross all around anymore and got rid of the arm dragging on the ball.. There were other setbacks too in using a big swing, for with a big swing you could end up hitting off the wrist if you got caught up in the middle of your loop jammed on a fast heavy ball and cause possible wrist strain or injury.

[@federicotown8052]

Very good points !

[@nathanmiller6051]

Excellent lesson!! Thank you 🙏

[@TheTennisMentor]

🤜🙏

[@chatpata1]

Thank you! You mentioned defensive vs attacking slice. Can you please do a video on those two slice shots in terms of when to use, how to execute, how to avoid floaters, etc.? Thanks

[@TheTennisMentor]

Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll work on it!

[@danschannel169]

Another great vid. Thanks

[@TheTennisMentor]

You’re welcome Dan, thanks for watching!

[@aidanprentice1807]

I needed this lesson!

[@TheTennisMentor]

I hope it helps Aidan!💪

[@Better_Call_Raul]

Great lesson. 🎾 I use a single handed Eastern grip backhand and look to drive my shots by default. Have not incorporated much slice into my game except for the obvious situations (stretched wide, under pressure, high ball, etc). From the baseline, I estimate that I am driving over 90% of the balls. The one-hander is a different animal and might deserve its own separate lesson.Particulary on mixing in slice you are in a *comfortable position* . I suppose one option for getting out of the habit of driving all balls from the baseline is to make the unit turn with a chopper grip instead of my normal Eastern BH grip.

[@twinwankel]

Good video. I use an eastern grip on my one hander and I don't change my grip when I slice. It's not necessary for me. I also drop shot with this grip. And I use this grip for my forehand. Makes life simpler.

[@TheTennisMentor]

Doesn’t get much simpler! Thanks for watching 💪

[@timpwn]

Nice and concise vid, coach - got youtself a new subscriber! Cheers!

[@TheTennisMentor]

Thanks a lot Tim, great to have you! 🤝

[@peterevans5803]

I’d love to see your comparison on the “drive” and “topspin” two-handed backhand

[@johnnacke2017]

I played a match this weekend with a guy who was using the TiS6 frame. He is in his mid-sixties ,4.0-4.5 singles player. I'm a 74 year old 3.8-4.0 singles player. I use the Head Auxetic Speed pro, strung with a gut/ rpm blast hybrid. He strung his racquet with Hyper G 17 at 58lbs. He won. He produced lots of pace and attacked my backhand. I was not happy with my one-hander: not a lot of racket head speed, no pace ( maybe because i'm trying to adjust my BH grip a bit) Anyway, I played a few games with his TiS6:Holy Crap, I was ripping the ball all over the place, especially my backhand. He challenged me to suck up my pride and give the TiS6 a shot. I think I will! Ciao, John

[@federicotown8052]

Thank you !

[@touchtennis]

That lens though!

[@devpatel7154]

oddly enough for me I almost never slice with my backhand and always drive. I really prefer my forehand slices and with a two hand backhand its much easier to drive the ball. It also helps stabilize play when your opponent moves you a lot. I want to integrate a backhand slice in my game in the future as well

[@TheTennisMentor]

Interesting! Thanks for your comments. Definitely a good tool to add variety!

[@lcervantes8505]

Great points. It's harder to hit an aggressive shot off a slice. Opponent has to hit up providing an easier ball to volley away. Becker would slice short to the center then come in making it difficult to pass. The mute volley against opponents whose forward movement is, er... not the best.

[@aymansyed1351]

What's the difference between an aggressive and defensive slice? Same technique or position on court?

[@radekovacevic2056]

Hi Ashley Are you a head coach in a club? If you are which one?

[@TheTennisMentor]

Yes, The Avenue Tennis (Hampshire)

[@studfinderball]

The most simplicity is to slice everything all the time. That's what I do. One bevel to the right of the Kuerten grip yields an all purpose slice, drive, and rolled shot that's perfect for rec doubles. The straight thumb of the Kuerten grip runs diagonally across bevel 7 (right hander) and pushes off to assist racket head acceleration. Very easy on the wrist. Copes well with balls of all heights. Swing path is mostly level.