The slice backhand: TENNIS MASTERCLASS by Patrick Mouratoglou, EPISODE 4

In this Masterclass, I dive into the art of the slice backhand and what it can do for your game. The slice is effective in many ways. It disrupts your opponents rhythm and it can set up an effective approach that leads you to the net. The advantages of knowing how to hit a clean slice are essential for you to have a wholistic tennis game. If you are out of position, a slice might be your best move. The slice is successful more or less on each surface, which is why you need to know how to use it and when.
That is exactly why such legends as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were able to add this tool to their game and go to the next level.
During this session, I teach you all of the key elements of how to hit a backhand slice including racket preparation, contact point, foot position, angle, balance and tactical options.
To recap, using a slice can break the pace, change the direction, and help you dictate with your forehand on your backhand side. In today’s game, it’s valuable to counterpunch vs. defend, even with this shot.
Watch and learn how to apply my slice methodology. And of course leave me a comment on how you implement my advices into your game.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro : a mandatory tool in modern tennis
0:30 - Never imitate Roger Federer’s slice backhand
1:20 - Definition of the slice
2:44 - The slice backhand technique: move forward
3:28 - The slice backhand technique: the preparation
4:32 - The slice backhand technique: the contact point
5:31 - When to use the slice backhand? Three options
8:21 - Don’t use your slice backhand as a defensive shot! (not too much)
9:37 - A very special slice backhand by Roger Federer
11:14 - Conclusion
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THE COACH
Patrick

[@w116tjb]

Whoever you brought on to edit these videos recently is doing a great job. Production value is great.

[@Better_Call_Raul]

Everything is great except the music. Lose the stupid annoying music.

[@rinhu8864]

A guy called Travis apparently 😉

[@jdogfunk100]

The audio is amazing for being filmed outdoors

[@jeffmerrill2456]

Can I just say how grateful I am that you are willing to share this content for free. It's so clear and helpful. Thank You!

[@MariaDSaenz]

We are sooooo grateful for these masterclass videos, they are game changers. Thank you Patrick!! You're the best.

[@wty989898]

Thank you for another quality masterclass!!! Master indeed!!!

[@theforehandguy]

Really is great

[@750ml]

Great lesson Patrick! Only 1 problem with it: You said you’d explain more (1:08) how important the follow-through is (for precision and control) in this masterclass, but you never talked about it again… Would love to hear what you have to say about that! Thanks so much for all you do!

[@Juliette_4]

Patrick, You are such a fantastic instructor. I love your channel. I have had many tennis instructors and none of them come close to you.TYSM for having a you tube channel.

[@GrungePopRecords]

My former coach Nick Bolletieri probably couldn’t have said it any better. Thanks so much. Love the video Patrick

[@dusancorlija9088]

No way, Bolletieri is God for him, period.

[@chriscrocker5369]

Can you imagine what Nick could have accomplished if he had youtube and social media?

[@PrecisionPointTennis]

I was a nick bollettieri protégé in 1985

[@shirin8402]

​@@chriscrocker5369still we are useless

[@PrecisionPointTennis]

Fantastic! Peter Lundgren helped develop that short and wide slice that Federer used so well. Thanks for another master class 🎾🇬🇷🤗🏆

[@TheMTGMind]

if you talk about slice backhand, never ever forget to mention Steffi Graf. I have seen her life and her backhand slice was the best i have ever seen. Great lesson!

[@damdamdeo26]

I only wish I could go to the Academy to meet Patrick and get to see the Coach in person. Keep the Masterclass coming. Awesome content!

[@LiamApilado]

I cannot wait for UTS 2023!

[@petesesplankis8657]

That one of the best video's I've seen on the slice! Very well done!

[@theforehandguy]

How’s you slice?

[@jeromecote245]

Best KZbin tennis clinics hands down. Merci Patrick. Ça donne le goût d’aller à ton académie! I need to work on this shot since I sometimes hit a floater that is getting destroyed by my opponent.

[@JOAOVidros]

This content is pure GOLD, thanks for it

[@piquicaanez3321]

This guy is unbelievable top coach in the World

[@MTariqSalem]

Such an incredible content by a great coach! Thanks a lot. You can’t imagine how impactful your videos are!

[@madmitten5]

Thanks - the shoulder into the ball cue really helped me!

[@rodolforodrigues9534]

Great class!!! Aula excelente!!!

[@luisminillas21]

Incredible Patrick! regards from Andalusia!!!

[@colossaltennis]

Great lesson Patrick! Enjoy your insights and lessons on player development. Appreciate the videos!

[@worldtraveler8255]

Quality content indeed. Just joining the chorus of wows for getting these uplifting masterclass handy, in particular for those ones who can't reach / meet in person Patrick. I am very grateful for this.

[@Jackripster69]

Amazing to have a coach of this calabur giving back to tennis and helping us scrubs along.

[@iarapiffer2689]

Thank you for this amazing video!

[@peterknowles2344]

Great video and coach.Much appreciated

[@fabiograppasonno1495]

Coach Patrick is a warranty! Also this explanation is very exhaustive and it is always a pleasure to listen these precious tennis tips! I really want to see other videos of Patrick and especially I wanted to see videos on mental tennis tips, because it's an important aspect that struggle many tennis players and only very expert coaches can talk about it.

[@user-gt8rg2rp8w]

Thank you Patrick!! You're the best.

[@colinbyer3018]

This is a very good video thank you the point with not using slice as just defensive is really interesting

[@damondavros3712]

Patrick, I'm very new to tennis. I really appreciate your videos and I am learning a lot from you. Great content!

[@ShaqKoyokArt]

Thanks for sharing this tennis tips. Very helpful for beginners like to try to hit this strokes

[@nandkumardoctor]

Salute to you Sir. Thank you Sir for such compact and valuable teaching of Backhand slice.

[@xe2ywi]

❤ Patrick, you are the one teaching slice, I'm a very bad hand shooter, but I've seen my opponents just sliceing and get off the problem, I'll try to do it on your terms, also learning on the dominant eye, think that's the key to my terrible left hand issue, Gracias amigo coach!

[@blasipatrick4881]

Excellente vidéo merci pour tous ces précieux conseils👌👌

[@KorvanAleric]

Mister Patrick I'll never thanks enough for your very instructional and ispirating video. I discover this channel as I would like to back playing tennis by focusing at first in improving tecnics and then tactics. I've found the latest masterclass very interesting and will be great to complete them with forehand and 2h backend. I've start watching your channel some days ago and I can't stop watching. In every lesson there a lot of hints to improve and the eye dominant application help me a lot in understanding the body pronation and position in according too. Thanks again for time you dedicate to us.

[@TrangTennisFever]

Great details and specifics as always! Also love that you mentioned RF backhand slice as you are correct I have examined and tried to replicate without success. Glad you called out what needed to be said.

[@sahooboss]

Good stuff coach. 🙏

[@yassz9667]

Super vidéo merci beaucoup coach

[@nguyenbinh140]

Thank you so much for your videos. You are truly my online teacher.🎉❤🎉❤🎉

[@Aa-ji2yf]

Great video. Thank you.

[@sethetsematsoele1404]

I no longer watch other coaches on KZbin. I mean, why would I when I can have top-level content right here? I don't know why you started doing this, but it's the best thing. I thank God for you ❤

[@shoxerx7406]

I did a sidespin slice one time and i havent recreated it since. It was the most beautiful thing ive ever done in tennis

[@MrsCrazyrange]

I finally started implementing this yesterday in a tournament. Won first round, lol, delighted 😁

[@federicotown8052]

Very useful for sure !

[@MJCE]

You should definitely do a first and second serve masterclass

[@netfun8087]

Love this video. Thank you. I would also love to understand how Graf got so much pace on her slice backhand.

[@davebeery_youtube]

Great instruction!

[@michelottaviani3296]

Very interesting lesson and I am proud he is french.

[@alaindesilets]

Great tutorial! Since you mentioned Murray and Djoko as some of the models to emulate (as opposed to Roger), I think it’s worth pointing out that at the end of of their preparation, they bring the racket to an almost horizontal position, with the racket face pointing up. Then, as they pull the handle forward, they rapidly straighten racquet so its face is at about a 45 degree angle at contact. I started emulating that 2-3 years ago and found it added a lot of pace to my slice, not sure why. I think it's because it allows you to generate a bit of initial forward momentum by pulling on the handle with your tricep. If the racket face is facing forward, you can only use your tricep to bring the racquet down and all the forward momentum must be generated through rotation of the shoulder joint. Some of the added pace may also come from the angular moment generated as the racquet rapdily moves from horizontal to semi vertical, and kind of 'slaps' the ball forward.

[@cotedebette7148]

When will Patrick teach it to Stefanos?😂

[@theforehandguy]

Yoooo😂

[@kusumsingh3758]

Thank you, sir you are very good coach , I watch your videos every day to learn, best tennis tricks and techniques, I'm from India sir, thank you universe 🙏 Krishna 🙏

[@helloeveryone0123]

Extremely true. I’ll always forward through on my slices where I want the ball to fly in the direction. Roger’s slice is simply cheating. But I’ll do what works for me. But I will say, I love slicing towards opponents forehand because it side spins towards their body and they always mess up

[@federicotown8052]

Great !

[@ajhl1]

I find that more men use the backhand slice than women. I would have thought it would be the opposite. Steffi Graff is the best example of the backhand slice in the women's game. Great tip from Patrick as usual!

[@artemisianwell5122]

Barty used it all the time

[@meredith669]

Thanks coach

[@nordattack]

I would say Ken Rosewall had the best slice/flat backhand the game has ever seen. That is why his nickname was "Muscles" because he hit that backhand with so much pace.

[@lubondochilekwa]

Roger was a really special player!

[@puntrigarkelly8851]

You explain so well. Thank you so much for the knowledge. I am a fan.😊

[@lionrawr92]

Who needs a coach when you have Patrick mouratoglou

[@elbru78]

Almost perfect video, just missing, according to me, some seconds about the leg part. I am glad to see that your advices are the same I gave to my students during my last lesson about slice backhand 🎾💪

[@ST-rm3bz]

Yes and yes! Excellent lesson and as always so clear! But I caught myself looking to the right stand and timing.

[@kasmr6860]

I need one of those on forehand 😁

[@Abhinav2392]

Thanku for another great video

[@giorgionegri1083]

ciao, seguo da poco questo canale ma sono esaltato dagli insegnamenti di un super Mouratoglou sempre molto chiaro e preciso anche senza capire bene la lingua...😅 mi piacerebbe molto fare delle lezioni sul campo con il Maestro Patrik...

[@ChonaA340]

Many thanks Patrick, for your unique tips for recreational players, like me. I’m using a lot of your tips, and the great thing is… THEY WORK PERFECT! 💪🏼 I’m wondering to have a “clinic class” with you. How can I do it??? Where are your club or your tennis center; I’ll try to go there ☝🏼😊 Thanks again for this magnificent advises or tips… they are improving my consistency while playing. Many thanks Sir Patrick 🫵🏼😃

[@paull7725]

And Graf’s? Kind of forget she won 23 GS with a slice bh 😊

[@edgarbernardoorellanahered5261]

I think Roger’s slice is basically his one hand backhand with a different grip and termination. I play the back hand with one hand, and it feels natural to do it like Roger.

[@kurilladesign]

excellent

[@jc-vu4gn]

My coach says the same thing “ do not copy federer” He told me so many people go into tennis trying hit like federer, not that it won’t work at all, is just for the rest of us there are better options

[@extremerc48]

thanks

[@MrKosticPhotography]

True regards Roger slide side backhand, I was able as lefty to produce it few times same as serve,opponent can’t catch the ball at all lol… ball just slide more out sideways

[@gertdejager6597]

Great lesson Patric! Thank you so much. Does this also apply to a crossed-eye dominant player (righty with dominant left eye)

[@theyruinedyoutubeagain]

So it's French where we got "effect" from! I was always wondering why we call spin "effect" in Romanian.

[@alessaschmitz5847]

Please, bring Steffi Grafs 1993 slice backhand. She used to make these slice backhands as offensive

[@Ace_youtube]

Yo I tried the slice backhand and the one handed backhand for the first time and I’m actually BETTER with a 1 handed backhand and the same slice that federer uses than my own 2 handed backhand

[@theintentionalist]

Pat, I do it the Roger way and it works for me. Maybe because the drop shot is my favorite shot? Maybe the strong wrist gene? Ken Rosewall was my coach in a past life?

[@emmanuelcannou2433]

It seems to me that Steffi Graf also had a knifing slice backhand, maybe different from Federer's technic, but very effective. However I never understood how she could produce so much power on her forehand side with a late preparation. If one day you could explain that point to your followers, I would very pleased.

[@brothera6494]

Hello, Patrick, thanks for the vídeo and, ¿what about the ONE HANDED BACKHAND? Please…

[@rmn341]

Your tips are easy to understand. But for me these are quite difficult to execute in actual match.

[@sino8208]

Move forward and shoulder going into the direction of the ball and wrist will extend when the arm extends

[@hearthome.]

❤

[@mustafamertbingol9614]

roger lover

[@francopolo510]

I wish I could have a better slice backhand. Since I develop to two handed backhand I usually skipped slice backhand and forget how to play. I think it's easier if you have single handed backhand than the transfer is easier

[@bmanbusee3812]

Good video. Though he looks less comfortable making these videos compared when having his students around. I keep my wrist flexed at contact for my slice but will try the tip about extension to get pace

[@bmanbusee3812]

The tip with extending wrist is valid but have to not get too “wristy” while doing it. Saw great pace. It’s not difficult to get the fed slice with side spin. Just keep wrist flexed (was doing this prior and got the nickname fed sometimes after a good shot)..😂 thanks for the tips

[@gerhardwagner9438]

Perfekt Tipps for Hobby Player 🎾...thanks a lot‼️greetings from🇱🇻

[@wowwow3530]

thx

[@e.mckinron1129]

Thanks but it seems to me that you were a bit quick on the «slice backhand technique» and missing the very crucial role of the non-hitting arm that can be used as a counterweight to the hitting one. I have seen a couple of matches from G. Dimitrov and it did seem to me that this was at the very core of his incredible slice technique.

[@lazy_palms8590]

I started slicing like federer before watching him. It feels right for me like that. Should i change my slice or continue like that?

[@catoqsh4750]

excellent lesson! I will take your point on Roger's BH slice to explain to 11 year old boy... thank you so much!

[@ezrasanmiguel9472]

No mention of Steffi Graf?!!!

[@howelljordan3469]

...that last description is a treat to a table tennis player who is now playing tennis. Enjoy!!!

[@dariusd2003]

I find it funny you showed Tsitsipas slice bh floater that gets demolished at times.

[@KlingOnzSkins]

Wow! I actually hit the Roger Federer slice? I had no idea. I always knew my slice 🍕 was unusual and now I know why. I go down the line. It stays low and after the bounce it goes sideways. Thanks for the explanation. 👍😎

[@borisnahalka3027]

the slice serve is a great example! do you hit it with your wrist and your grip stiff? no. if you want to have a good slice serve, that is. The same goes for any aggressive slice. forehand, backhand, no matter.

[@quentincrisp6933]

Ironic that Patrick maintains that Fed's BH slice is unique to him and in the same video he shows Dimitrov's slice which is almost identical to Fed's!🤔

[@jimclawley9117]

It’s honestly not. If you see both players live, their techniques are markedly different. What you notes most is how much physically stronger Federer is on court. He is also a lot more balanced through his midsection. Dimitrov uses a lot of body movement through his shots and leans into the slice a lot more

[@amormagisterestoptimus]

​@@jimclawley9117🌱🤫

[@jonathangutierrez4733]

When are you going to teach the 1 handed backhand hit?

[@patrickmouratoglou_official]

very soon ;)

[@dusancorlija9088]

Great video, I like to ask Turkish man Patrick, do you know anything about Novak? I see, Othoman Empire sindrom. 😵😩

[@fabiocolletto3236]

Unfortunately we amateur players 99% of the time do use the slice backhand when we are oon or two steps late on the ball to hit a topspin backhand

[@Nessaj87]

Top class video both production and contentwise, again. Impressive. Time for Patrick to coach Casper Ruud now that the collab with Holger Rune is done! I bet you would make wonders with Ruud as well.

[@Alexwaylander92]

I think I have the same slice as Roger 😅

[@jaiman1525]

Use the wrist its obligatory? Avant un critère de réussite d un revers coupé était le maintien de l angle avant bras raquette, forget, edberg...et leurs slice me semblaient meilleurs..que les joueurs d aujourd'hui...Je dis cela juste par curiosité et est ce une évolution d aujourd'hui ?

[@brianb336]

Patrick is the best coach I have ever been blessed to witness. So incredible his lessons are to give feedback and tips. Thank you so much!!!

[@THEBIGMOOOstinky]

I only hit a slice forehand when its a drop shot or im out of position and on the run