tennis one handed backhand video
Tennis backhand slice?
My one-handed backhand slice sucks. Whenever I try to perform it, the ball just dies a few feet away from where I hit it. I have watched countless instructional videos and followed them but they do not work.
Here is what I do-
I pivot my feet and bring the racquet behind my head.
I bring the racquet down in a chopping motion and follow through.
The ball either hits the frame and flies or it barely skims the strings and just goes a few feet.
HELLPPP
Tough one to be sure of without seeing your stroke and grip, but it sounds like you are making too much of a downward “chopping” motion. You may also not have the face of the racquet square enough, and may be trying to cut under the ball too much. All of the “stroke fundamentals” of the slice are the same as a “regular shot,” with the following exception:
The backhand slice motion is more of a gradually downward motion starting with the racquet behind you at around your shoulders. As you swing the racquet forward the face of the racquet should be square to the line of your swing (ie, not facing the ceiling) and you swing down and through the ball, with power, ending the stroke around your knees.
The KEY here for you, I think, is to swing THROUGH the ball, imparting both forward momentum AND slice spin.
The face of the racquet may be pointed just a little upward, depending on the power of the stroke you are attempting and situation on the court, but it should mostly face directly forward towards the net. Compared to topspin, you will have to hit the ball much lower over the net to keep the shot in, lowering the margin for error with this shot…. but it’s worth it cause a good slice can be a very effective shot, especially as a “change of pace.”
I’ve seen lots of people try to overemphasize the “spin” they put on the ball, swinging “around” the ball instead of through the ball, for both topspin and slice strokes, and the result is almost always a week shot… a ball that may spin a lot but has no power (forward momentum). So don’t get discouraged…once you get the hang of this it’s an easy and effective stroke.
Tennis One-Handed Backhand Progressions: Step 2: Racket Back