How to Hit a Slice Backhand That Stays Low

The slice backhand is the shot that separates thinking players from bangers. It changes pace, buys time, sets up approaches, and — when it stays low — makes opponents hit up when they want to hit through.

The grip and setup

Continental grip. Same grip you serve with, same grip you volley with. That already tells you the slice is a punch-and-carve motion, not a full swing.

Turn early. The racquet goes up above the shoulder, tip pointing back or slightly up. Non-dominant hand cradles the throat. Weight loads on the back foot.

The swing path

The mistake most players make is chopping straight down. That produces a slice that floats or sits up.

The correct path is high to low, but with forward extension. The racquet moves down and through the ball, not down and across. Think about carving the outside of a beach ball with the strings — that is the sensation.

Contact is out in front, slightly above the ball, with a slightly open face. Not wide open. Just enough tilt to brush under.

Follow through

The finish is long and low. The racquet ends out toward the target, roughly waist height, not up over the shoulder. If you finish high on a slice, you lifted at contact and the ball floated.

When to use it

• Return of serve against a big first serve — a chipped slice return neutralizes pace.
• Approach shot — a low slice forces the opponent to hit up, giving you an easy volley.
• Change of pace in a rally when the opponent is grooving on your topspin.
• Defense on a stretched ball — you can slice at full extension when you cannot swing full topspin.

Practice progression

Start with drop-feeds. Drop the ball, slice it cross-court, ten in a row landing past the service line and staying below net height on the bounce. Then feeds from a partner or coach. Then live rallies where you must slice every third ball.

The slice is not glamorous. It is not the shot you post highlights of. But if you want to beat players who hit harder than you, it is one of the most valuable shots you can own.