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Golden Oldies
Any knowledgeable observer
of professional tennis will notice that the vast majority of players are
lacking an extremely valuable weapon in their arsenal of strokes—the
slice backhand. The slice backhand was a
basic element in the games of the greatest champions in tennis history:
Bill Tilden, Don Budge, Jack Kramer, and Pancho Gonzales, to name a few. The lack of an effective slice is one of the main reasons for the death of serve and volley and attacking tennis. It is my belief that the great champions of the past with their aggressive, net rushing style would easily dominate the one-dimensional players in the modern pro game. Without an effective
slice this attacking style of play is literally impossible, and as we
shall see, there are fundamental reasons why it is so uncommon in the
modern game.
Why the Slice Backhand is So ValuableWhy is the slice so valuable? First, it is by far the best shot to use from a defensive position, particularly when a player is pulled wide off the court. In this situation the sole objective is to hit a shot that gives you time to return to the center of the court. The slice backhand is indispensable due to the fact that it travels slower than a topspin drive. This gives the player time to get back in position, without resorting to something as defensive as a lob. It allows the player to get back into the point instead of going for a high risk winner from poor position and making an unforced error—something we see continually in the modern game. Second, and more importantly, the slice backhand is the most effective shot to use when approaching the net—the foundation of the “chip and charge” or attacking strategy, both from the backcourt and on the return. The Spinning AdvantageThe slice approach is usually made on short balls, typically those hit with topspin, and on second serves, usually also hit with heavy spin.
When a player slices a
topspin shot, the direction of the spin on the ball is maintained rather
than reversed. To understand this, imagine that as the player
prepares to slice a topspin shot, the top of the ball is spinning toward
him as the ball approaches. As he slices under the ball, the ball
continues to spin in the same direction. That is, as the ball leaves
his racquet and travels back toward the opponent, the top of the ball is
still spinning towards him. By changing topspin into underspin, the player actually adds to the existing spin on the ball. This causes the ball to skid and remain low in the opponent’s court. The player is forced to hit up as you assume your position at the net. The slice approach is particularly effective on grass and other fast surfaces, which cause the bounce to remain even lower than on slower surfaces. It is no accident that modern Wimbledon champions such as McEnroe, Edberg, and Sampras, all utilized the slice backhand with great effect. It is also no accident that these players all had one-handed backhands.
The slice backhand is virtually impossible to hit correctly with two-hands. Even two-handers who try to add the one handed variation are never as natural and sure.
For more articles in Ed Atkinson's Golden Oldies series, visit the TennisONE lesson library. Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you about think Ed Atkinson's article by emailing us here at TennisONE.
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