Theories of the Game

The Visual Tennis Alternative,
Part Six:
The Role of the Hitting Arm Position: Backhand Slice

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By John Yandell

Go to Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 of the Visual Tennis Series on TennisONE


(Click here to see a complete, animated sequence of the backhand slice hitting arm position.)

In the last article we saw how to achieve the critical straight hitting arm position on the one-handed drive or topspin backhand. The role of the hitting arm is just as important when hitting slice with one hand. If anything, players tend to have even more internal arm motion trying to hit down through the ball to generate underspin.

If you examine every good slice backhand in slow motion you will see that the hitting arm is always straight at the contact. The slice is generated by the angle of the racquet face moving through the line of the shot. TennisONE has an animation of one of the purest examples of good technique on the slice drive--the backhand of the great Ken Rosewall. Check it out and notice how his hitting arm straightens out well before the contact, and stays in the right hitting arm position through the technical finish of the stroke.

The following progression is designed to teach you how to develop these same core elements yourself. As with the topspin drive, your goal should be to set up the hitting arm in the correct position at the completion of the turn. If you master this position you will naturally develop a compact loop to change the direction of the racquet when you start the foreswing. Trying to create an independent looping motion tends to create the dreaded "elbow lead' in which the elbow and the hand arrive at the contact before the racquet head. This results in late contact, loss of power, and control, and unfortunately, sometimes is the cause of tennis elbow.

The difference in the turn position compared to the drive is in the angle of the racquet face. The racquet face is set open about 30 to 45 degrees and raised or lowered to the height of the ball. This same position, with the hitting arm locked at the wrist and elbow and the racquet face open is then maintained throughout the stroke. This means the arm is straight with the racquet face open at the contact point and at the finish.

The result is natural slice. Visualize the ball as an orange and the open racquet face as a knife blade. As the racquet comes forward, the knife cuts through the diagonal back third of the orange imparting natural underspin.

For each position, follow the checkpoints and establish the position physically. Now close your eyes and create a detailed mental image of the checkpoints--how each position looks and how it feels. This gives your body the direct visual and kinesthetic information it needs to master and execute the model.

As you work to develop the stroke visualize the image of the straight hitting arm and of the knife and the orange. By changing only one key, the angle and height of the racquet face, you will be able to go back and forth between topspin and slice--the other core elements stay the same.

Start in a good balanced ready position, with the feet a little wider than shoulder width, the knees flexed, the torso straight up and down and the racquet at waist level and pointing straight ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The player has stepped to the side with the left foot and turned his shoulders until they are perpendicular with the net. The grip change happens simultaneously with this turn move. The player has rotated up on the toes of the right foot. The body is still straight up and down from the waist.

The unit turn will do most of this racquet preparation and only a small additional movement is needed. The hitting arm is straight and goes straight back so that the racquet hand is positioned in the middle of the back leg. The racquet face is open about 30 to 45 degrees and set to the height of the oncoming ball.

 

 

 

The player has stepped into the shot so the tips of the toes of both feet are parallel to the target line. The weight has shifted to the front foot and the front knee is flexed. Note the key hitting arm position is unchanged. The arm and racquet have moved forward as a unit to the contact point, which is well in front of the front leg. The open racquet face moves through the line of the shot impart natural slice. There is no need to chop the ball or hit down. The shoulders have stayed perpendicular to the net and the back arm opposes, moving in the opposite direction. This helps keep the torso in the correct position, sideways and straight up and down from the waist.

 

 

 

 

The hitting arm position has remained identical throughout the course of the swing--straight with the elbow and wrist locked at the turn, the contact, and now the finish. The wrist is at eye level, and the shaft of the racquet is still at the same open angle to the court. The shoulders are sideways to the net. This combination of shoulder position and simple, unchanged hitting arm position make the stroke effortless and consistant. The player has come up on the back toes for balance. Note how the torso is still straight up and down from the waist. The racquet face has stayed at the same angle all the way through the swing and this results in a combination of underspin and good shot velocity.

 

 

 

(Click here to see a complete, animated sequence of the backhand hitting arm position.)

 

- End of Part Six -

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