Master the Slice Backhand
Every player needs a slice backhand. Not as a crutch — as a weapon. The slice stays low, skids through the court, changes the rhythm of a rally, and sets up your net approaches. Federer, Barty, and Dimitrov all built careers partly on the quality of their slice. If you only have a topspin backhand, you're missing one of the most versatile tools in tennis.
The Continental Grip: Non-Negotiable
The slice backhand uses a continental grip — the same grip you use for serves, volleys, and overheads. Base knuckle of the index finger on bevel 2. If you're currently hitting slice with your normal backhand grip (eastern or semi-western), you're limiting the natural underspin the continental creates.
The continental grip opens the racket face naturally, which is exactly what you want for slice — the strings contact the underside of the ball, creating backspin that makes the ball float longer in the air and stay low after bouncing. If your current grip size feels off for one-handed slice shots, check our grip size guide — a grip that's too small will twist on off-centre hits, and slice backhands contact the edge of the sweet spot more often than topspin shots.
The High-to-Low Swing Path
Topspin goes low-to-high. Slice goes high-to-low. That's the fundamental difference. The racket starts above and behind the ball (roughly shoulder height) and swings forward and downward, cutting under the ball at contact.
Preparation: Shoulder Turn + Racket High
Turn your shoulders sideways to the net. The racket should be at shoulder height or slightly above, supported by your non-hitting hand on the throat. Your elbow is tucked, not flared. Think of it as cocking a hammer — the energy is stored up high.
Forward Swing: Carve Under the Ball
Step forward with your front foot (right foot for right-handers) and swing the racket forward and slightly downward. The racket face is open — angled upward about 30-40 degrees. Contact the ball at waist height, out in front of your body. The strings should contact the lower back quarter of the ball.
Contact: Firm Wrist, Long Through the Ball
This is where most slices break down. The wrist must be firm — any looseness and the racket face flops, producing a floaty ball with no penetration. Push THROUGH the ball, not just under it. The difference between a good slice and a bad one is how far the racket travels forward after contact.
Follow-Through: Low and Long
The racket finishes at hip height or slightly below, pointing toward your target. It should NOT chop down and stop at contact — that produces a droppy, spinny slice with no depth. The follow-through should feel like you're shaking hands with the net post.
When to Use Slice (and When Not To)
| Situation | Use Slice? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Approach shot (coming to net) | Yes | Stays low, giving you time to close; opponent must hit up on the passing shot |
| Low ball (below knee height) | Yes | Much easier to slice a low ball than topspin it — natural motion fits the contact height |
| Change of pace (opponent grooving) | Yes | Breaks rhythm — slower ball with different spin makes them readjust timing |
| Windy conditions | Yes | Slice stays flat and penetrating; topspin gets pushed around by wind |
| Defensive return (fast first serve) | Yes | Quick, compact swing; redirects the server's pace; buys recovery time |
| Rally ball from behind the baseline | Sometimes | Only if deep and heavy — a floating slice from the baseline invites attack |
| High ball (shoulder height or above) | No | Awkward contact — topspin or flat drive is more effective from that height |
| Short ball you want to attack | No | Drive it flat or with topspin for pace — slice gives your opponent time to recover |
Slice vs Topspin Backhand: Head-to-Head
| Quality | Slice Backhand | Topspin Backhand |
|---|---|---|
| Bounce height | Low — skids and stays below waist | High — kicks up to shoulder/head |
| Ball speed through the air | Slower — floats longer before landing | Faster — dips quickly into the court |
| Depth control | Easier to place deep with less effort | Requires more swing speed for depth |
| Offensive potential | Setup shot — creates opportunity | Finishing shot — can win points outright |
| Defensive reliability | Excellent — compact, works under pressure | Good, but needs time and space for the swing |
The ideal player has both. For a deeper dive into building a topspin backhand alongside your slice, see our backhand improvement guide.
Slice Backhand Drills
Wall Slice Rally
Equipment: Wall or rebounder
Stand 4 metres from a wall. Hit slice backhands only, keeping the ball below waist height on the rebound. The wall gives instant feedback — if your slice pops up, it'll rebound high and fast, telling you the racket face was too open. Aim for 30 consecutive slices with the ball staying low.
Key point: The wall drill teaches depth of cut. A good slice should barely rise after hitting the wall — if it rebounds above your shoulder, you're chopping down too steeply.
Low-Ball Pickup
Equipment: Partner feeding short, low balls
Partner feeds balls that bounce below knee height at the service line. Your job is to slice each one back deep to the baseline. Bend your knees, get the racket under the ball, and use a long, smooth follow-through. 20 balls per set, 3 sets. This builds the low-ball handling that makes slice indispensable in match play.
Key point: Low balls are where slice shines — trying to topspin a ball at knee height is a recipe for errors. Slice naturally handles low contact points.
Approach Shot Pattern
Equipment: Partner at baseline
Partner feeds a short ball to your backhand. Hit a deep slice approach shot down the line, then close to the net and volley the reply. 10 reps, then switch to cross-court approaches. The slice approach stays low, giving the net player an uncomfortable ball at their feet — this is the classic approach pattern used at every level.
Key point: The slice approach is the safest way to get to the net. The ball stays low, travels through the air slowly (giving you time to close), and skids off the court, making the passing shot harder.
Depth Control Challenge
Equipment: Cones or targets
Place a target 1 metre inside the opposite baseline. Rally with a partner using slice backhands only. Score 1 point for landing behind the service line, 2 points for landing beyond the target. First to 20 points wins. Depth is the difference between a useful slice and a slice that sits up for an easy forehand attack.
Key point: A short slice is an invitation to attack. Every slice should land past the service line unless you're deliberately hitting a drop shot.
Topspin-to-Slice Transition
Equipment: Partner rallying
Rally cross-court on the backhand side. Alternate between topspin and slice every two shots — topspin, topspin, slice, slice, repeat. This trains the grip change and swing path switch that you'll need in match play. The goal is to make the transition seamless — your opponent shouldn't be able to read which shot is coming from your preparation.
Key point: The real power of the slice isn't the shot itself — it's the contrast with your topspin backhand. When your opponent can't predict which is coming, both shots become twice as effective.
Wind Slice
Equipment: Windy conditions
This one's opportunistic — next time it's windy, go out specifically to practise slicing into and across the wind. A slice into a headwind dies in the air and drops short — useful as a surprise. A slice across a crosswind can curve unpredictably. Hit 30 slices in each direction and learn how wind interacts with underspin. This knowledge wins outdoor matches.
Key point: Wind is your friend with a slice. Topspin players struggle in wind because the spin amplifies unpredictability. Slice players thrive because the ball stays flat and penetrating.
Equipment for a Better Slice
Because the slice backhand is typically a one-handed shot (even for two-handed backhand players), grip security is paramount. A dry-feel overgrip absorbs moisture and keeps the racket stable through the carving motion — especially important in humid Australian conditions. For extra insurance, a grip spray before the match eliminates first-set slippage.
A vibration dampener also helps with slice comfort. Off-centre slice contacts (common when reaching for wide balls) transmit more vibration than centred topspin shots, and a dampener takes the edge off over long sessions. For the complete guide to dampener types and placement, see our dampener guide.
And to sharpen your slice during evening sessions, try our LED balls — watching the backspin rotation under lights is oddly satisfying and helps you calibrate how much cut you're putting on the ball. For volley technique that pairs perfectly with the slice approach, check our volley guide. And for the overgrip deep dive, see our complete overgrip guide.
Grip it, slice it, win with it
Overgrips for one-handed confidence, dampeners for comfort, and practice balls for high-rep slice sessions.