Intro:

The slice backhand gets a bad rap. It's the shot you hit when you're scrambling, the one you 'settle' for when you can't rip a topspin drive. But the greatest players in history – from Rosewall to Federer – have used it as a weapon, not a surrender. It's time to upgrade your mental model.

What the slice actually is

The slice backhand is a backhand hit with backspin. You cut under the ball, with the racket face slightly open, and the racquet travels from high to low to high (a shallow 'U' shape). The key is the follow-through: it finishes high, not low. That's what makes the ball skid and stay low.

Your contact point is not as far in front as a topspin drive, and your wrist stays firm. You're not flicking; you're carving. Think of it as a knife through butter – clean, smooth, and controlled.

When to use it (and when not to)

Use it when:

• You're on the stretch. A ball pulled wide or a low ball that forces you to bend awkwardly – slice lets you hit it back safely without trying to force a drive.
• You want to change the rhythm. A slice drops short and low, forcing your opponent to generate their own pace. It's a beautiful change-up.
• You're approaching the net. A low, skidding slice forces a weak reply, letting you come in and volley.
• You're returning a big serve. Blocking it back with slice neutralises the pace.

Don't use it when you're camped on the baseline and you have time to set up for a drive. If you have time, drive it. Slice from a neutral position is a gift to your opponent – they can attack your short ball.

Why it's not just a defensive shot

Here's the mental shift: a slice can be as aggressive as a drive, but in a different way. A drive pushes your opponent back; a slice pulls them forward and down. A well-hit slice stays low, so your opponent has to hit up to get it over the net, giving you a ball you can attack.

Think of Federer's approach slice – he would carve it so it died at the baseline, then follow it in. Or think of a drop-slice: you disguise it as a normal slice, then cushion it so it lands just over the net. That's a point-winner, not a defensive shot.

The slice also buys you time. When you're in trouble, the slice gives you an extra beat to recover your position. That's its defensive value – but it's a tactical defence, not a panic button.

The feel

Imagine you're trying to slide a piece of paper under a door – the racket face brushes under the ball with a little forward push. You don't slap it; you glide it. The contact is in front of your body, and the follow-through finishes near your opposite hip, with the face still slightly open.

Keep your wrist locked. If you let it break, the ball will pop up and float long. Your whole arm should feel like one solid lever.

Why it still matters

Every junior player should have a reliable slice. It will save you countless points when you're in trouble, it will give you a way to break up a rhythm, and it will teach you touch – something you can't learn from just pounding drives. Plus, it's the shot that will let you win points with your brain, not just your muscles.

Take it to court:

1. Practice the 'paper slide' feel – 20 minutes of shadow swings, focusing on the high-to-low-to-high path. 2. Hit 50 slices from the baseline – aim to get the ball to land deep but stay below the net tape as it crosses. That's your target: a skidding, low ball. 3. Next time you're in a rally and stretched wide, hit a slice instead of a wild drive. Notice how much more time it gives you to recover. That's the slice earning its keep.