How To Hit The Perfect Forehand Slice Return In 7 Simple Steps

[@ivysmum]

I have been using a forehand and backhand slice return for a few months with great success. I'm currently playing competitively at 3.5 so my opponents, like me, are far from expert level. The returns are deep and I can move them around the court, which seems to catch the receivers off-guard. The slice return is an important tool in my toolbox!

[@primetimepickleball]

Great stuff Lorie!

[@richardherrington6060]

Your verbal description accompanied by your video illustration and overlay is very helpful. Thank you!!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you! It's great to get this type of feedback! Thanks for watching

[@maheshsankaran7981]

Great video. One suggestion would be to do a summary at the end of the 7 steps, so that they are reinforced in the viewer's mind. Thanks for making the video.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks for the tip!

[@JohnStubbert]

This teaching video is of major importance to my learning journey about pickleball. I find that the footwork and involvement of body positioning is simply not explained at our club level instructional classes. I had the opportunity to play the following day after watching this video and focused just on receiving the ball as you showed. I found I was more successful with my return shots and also more relaxed because I had given myself time to prepare to receive the shot. Not having played a racket sport before, this detailed breakdown is vital as I am a visual learner. Thank you

[@primetimepickleball]

So happy to hear that you implemented this right away and that it helped. 👍🎉

[@ginnysher6541]

Great video. I truly enjoy and appreciate how you break down individual 'pieces' of a shot, in this case a slice. It's so helpful to see footwork, rotation, spacing, speed, etc. I hope to incorporate this into my toolbox very soon.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks Ginny! Glad you find it useful.

[@justinburnettemusic]

This is awesome! Gonna train on this tomorrow! Thanks for the detailed instructions and video.

[@primetimepickleball]

Awesome! Glad you found it helpful!

[@mediumdun18]

This is so well done. The breakdown is succinct and easy to translate to game situations . One of my favorite shots and this helped refine my approach . Thx!

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad you enjoyed it & thank you!

[@robertharrison7832]

Whew, I feel like I have been to Pickleball University. This is a loooong video, really good but longer than most. But your explanation of the movements is so clear. I will have to watch this video a dozen times before I can remember most of it. I look forward to your other videos. RH Philippines

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks! Yeah, i tend to go for it on the length because I want to be SUPER clear.

[@Thejoeb]

Super useful return. Dave Weinbach does it very well, he was one of the first players I saw using it as a means to get to the line with the follow through movement.

[@primetimepickleball]

For sure!

[@bretwallach9863]

You caught my attention when you talked about the position and movement of the non-paddle arm because it reminded me of how dependent I am on my left arm for balance, especially once my legs get a little tired causing my footwork to get a little sloppy. At the end of a pickleball session it's often my LEFT (non-paddle) arm that's the most tired and sore because it spends a lot of time extended away from my body much like it shows in your video at 6:31 and with my long, heavy male arms it really works the shoulder muscles. I look forward to trying the slice return shown here - thanks!

[@primetimepickleball]

Good observations! Yes, the off hand is so important yet so often overlooked.

[@TriciaW618]

Great tips! I do slice returns- not always successful. The ‘spacing’ explains it a lot. Thanks.

[@primetimepickleball]

😊

[@mtcdnp]

I also add a side pull to it sometimes to add extra spin or turn hand 90 degree while slicing. My back slice sometimes makes the return to bring ball back across the net without opponent touching it. Best way to return this slice for opponent it is top spin since the ball will continue same rotation direction.

[@primetimepickleball]

Nice! Yeah, adding sidespin is a good plan. Alternating pure underspin with sidespin ones is also effective. :)

[@lingluo5946]

Good job! very detail explanations!❤ Thanks for posting 🌹🌹

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@ronaldtrawon1841]

Thanks for the tips. Very pickably helpful.

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SuryaBurra-j3r]

Thank you excellent lesson❤ you explained well step by step

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad you liked it

[@joysonmenezes2158]

Great content! Could you please show how to do the same on backhand? Also, the slice return is effective if the serve is short. But if the serve is deep, it's really tricky to adjust, especially since there's limited spacing due to fences.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks for the suggestion for the BH slice video. I personally think slice works well when you're in a pinch on deep ones. Just shorten up your whole motion and chip it more than doing a full swing slice.

[@cathylacour2061]

Great job breaking it all down. Love your videos!

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you!

[@cmwei888]

Thank you! It’s what I am working on now, in tennis and pickleball!

[@primetimepickleball]

Awesome! Thanks for the comment and glad you liked it.

[@andyapsay8220]

Really good video. I need to take notes.

[@primetimepickleball]

glad you liked it :)

[@AnnMitt]

Wow!! Awesome instructional video. Thank you!!!

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad you liked it Ann! 😊

[@bretwallach9863]

First, kudos for a great instructional video! I tried this last night starting in the middle of a game (probably to the dismay of my partner ) and after the first couple didn't go particularly well, I visualized and focused on the swing motion (sort of a "U"), the semi-open stance, and the weighting on my feet and it worked! That being said, I don't think I'm gonna add this shot to my repertoire anytime soon. That's because pickleball is so complicated and demands so many different types of shots that I simply have a long ways to go on too many other higher priority shots to put in the effort to become good at this one, not to mention I have too many choices at each shot that I can't deal with the focus required to incorporate yet another one. Lastly, it didn't seem like this slice had any adverse affect on my opponents relative to the topspin loop drive (which I'm very good at) that I usually use instead. But someday, if I master everything else, I will refer back to this great video and relearn this shot.

[@primetimepickleball]

Hi Bret! That is totally fair and makes a lot of sense. The topspin looper is a good option as well.

[@davidbray4380]

Where you might benefit from having this in your arsenal (even as a beginner) is when you're a bit tired and could use some extra time after returning a serve, making it easier to get up to the NVZ line. The slice spends more time in the air, thus giving you that extra time. In contrast, a topspin return will reach your opponent faster AND come back faster, often forcing you to split-step and take it mid-court. Also, a slice changes up the pace for your opponent, forcing them to hit it harder (since it doesn't reach them with as much force as would a topspin drive), many times causing an unforced error.

[@punk7066]

Great video. I didn’t know I needed to change my grip and that my paddle face only needed to be slightly open.

[@primetimepickleball]

Glad you liked it!

[@marylewis7212]

Excited to work on this. Thank you

[@primetimepickleball]

Great stuff Mary!

[@peteherrera1502]

Great video and great explanation

[@primetimepickleball]

Thank you!

[@86309]

I am wondering if most top level players rotate and change grips like I did all those years in tennis , I was told its best to learn one grip that works for it all, (continental) from. the baseline to the Kitchen, staying the same from forehand to backhand for NVZ work as well. good videos, thanks!

[@primetimepickleball]

Most top level players are constantly making shifts in their grips.

[@jimkazmarek5302]

I use it especially playing outdoors and hitting into the wind

[@primetimepickleball]

Yup, slice is great for gaining more control in the wind.

[@gentlehorst]

@@primetimepickleball Not sure if it is just control but confusion how to hit it not robotic but calculating even the wind effect (banana) curve in slow motion 🥐

[@deborahducworth5619]

Thx, Nicole, very helpful!

[@primetimepickleball]

😊

[@thomasrutledge587]

Can you show how to use the Eastern grip for the slice?

[@primetimepickleball]

I wouldn’t recommend that. Not the right grip for the situation. Why not use the continental? If you really want to do it, you just have to turn your wrist more left as you come through the shot to close the paddle face a bit more.

[@yasim9435]

I see that finishing slice with relaxed wrist in a whipping motion dramatically increases spin, reduces elevation and increases depth but it also reduces control and makes shot target point less predictable. So does the slice whip have future among pro players?

[@primetimepickleball]

It already exists at the pro level. not usually the first choice on the forehands side but it gets mixed in.

[@IRWE905]

In the demonstration the return was just above the net. What would be the ideal height above the net to consistently have the ball land in the back 1/3 of the court. And do you change this 'ideal' height with differnt speeds of the incoming ball?

[@primetimepickleball]

Great question. It all depends on your speed and capability to get up to the NVZ line quickly. Hit high enough and slow enough to give you time to get up there.

[@davidells8146]

I love your content. I’m not sure what lav system you use but the transmitter is clipping which causes your audio to be difficult to listen to. Try turning down the sensitivity of the mic pack and hopefully that will help. If that’s not an option try placing the mic further from your mouth.

[@jimkazmarek5302]

It's your problem I have no problem with the audio

[@davidells8146]

@@jimkazmarek5302 it’s subtle and I pick up on it because I’m an audio professional but it wouldn’t hurt to polish this area of their production. It takes no time at all.

[@primetimepickleball]

Hi David, thanks for the feedback. TBH, I can’t hear what you’re referring to but I’ll try a few things and hopefully it helps. The lav is plugged directly into my computer so there’s not transmitter. I guess I’ll try placing it further away. Or maybe I can try turning down the sensitivity of the input volume on my Mac. Does that make sense? Clearly I’m not an audio expert here. Glad you enjoy the content.

[@davidells8146]

@@primetimepickleball great info thanks. Yes if you turn the sensitivity down on the Mac that should help, but otherwise best lav placement is always on the sternum even if it’s less convenient to clip there.

[@JohnEpto-ng6ml]

2

[@primetimepickleball]

3

[@michaelwang8195]

Thoughts on whether the old school "j" slice or more modern "u" slice from tennis are more appropriate in tennis (I know it applies more to backhand but i find the same concept applies on forehand)? This video explains the difference the best I've seen on the tennis side kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqiqgXlontOJn80. I find that coming from tennis I use both depending on height/speed of incoming ball (j for higher faster balls and u for lower slower balls). The full inside out chop is fun as a return on low, short serves but gotta watch for the atp coming back.....

[@punk7066]

What are the j and u methods? I was a racquetball player and learning spin isn’t easy for me. I was taught to finish with my arm extended straight as if holding a platter.

[@primetimepickleball]

Hi Micheal. Mostly u-shape, you can see at one point in the video I draw the U shape. Balls just don't bounce that high in pickleball and also the ball is not rubber and no strings so you can't "grab'" the ball as much hense J-shape is less needed.

[@bethpat9]

I'm not using the spin shot. I just can't figure out how to! I'm rather new.

[@primetimepickleball]

Go against the wall and start with doing small (chip) slices from relative close. We have a video on that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJerZ5aeoJeIgMk

[@Largecanyondog]

Def more aggressive underspin

[@primetimepickleball]

😊

[@LubaLuba1]

Why is pickle ball rules so hard to understand

[@primetimepickleball]

Which rules are you struggling with?

[@helenhyatt1539]

I am curious to know how many sneakers the girl in the white goes through with her habit of dragging her left toe! Great lesson and I will do my video to see what I do. But teaching an old dog new habits is difficult.

[@primetimepickleball]

She goes through quite a bit but there’s no need to change what she’s doing. It’s how she stays dynamically balanced. It’s quite common.

[@burtlewis_SC]

Sorry, but that's not a slice, it's just hitting underneath the ball flat. A slice shot imparts reverse spin and the more spin the better.

[@primetimepickleball]

Respectfully disagree. Definitely a slice. This shot is imparting reverse spin. Agree that the more underspin , generally the better.

[@DJK-cq2uy]

Pffft

[@shelkatz]

In table tennis it’s called chopping.

[@primetimepickleball]

Cool, makes sense.

[@gentlehorst]

I am not playing to win but for the fun. If the score reaches 9:9 I am happy. So I often overdo the slice just for fun but yes, I use the slice as a tool for variety (to slow down, irritate their 'normal' game so they start thinking again while not killing the exchange. How you teach that shot is well done.

[@primetimepickleball]

Thanks so much Horst!