Backhand Slice

Backhand Slice

The backhand slice is by far one of the most difficult strokes to learn, as well as to teach. But I have a secret. The secret is called: Shadow stroking, but before I share it, we must go over the three steps to a backhand slice. The first move is called the "turn".

Shadow stroking- refer to the bottom of the page*

Below is a picture of one of the best turns to a backhand slice in history... Roger Federer's turn.

The second step is the "contact point": Below is another picture of Federer's backhand slice.

The third and last step is called the "finish". Below is a picture of a finish for a slice by a player whom I don't know the name. But if you look at his finish, you can see how the racquet is accelerated through contact, not down. In fact, if there was a picture of this player hitting his backhand slice at a later moment, you would see how his racquet is moving through contact, but also come back up to a higher point.

Shadow Stroking

If a player goes through these motions without playing (no pressure to hit the ball in or at a certain location), they will develop a tendency to move in the correct manner. The more the player practices the motions, the more likely they are to move in the correct way.

This practicing of the motions is called shadow stroking. If a player were to do this with a "weighted racquet", the hand, wrist and shoulder muscles will grow stronger and have a stronger tendency to move in the correct manner.

How to make a weighted racquet?

Take many pennies and scotch tape and place ten pennies on a strip of scotch tape. Overlap another piece of scotch tap over the ten pennies to complete a strip. Repeat this process to choose the weight you would like. Then, take electrical tape and tape the strips of ten pennies onto an old racquet that you don't use anymore.

When shadowing, practice slowly! Do NOT play with this racquet. There should be NO STRINGS in it.