i was just talking with a guy i play with sometimes and he was asking me about a slice backhand and i told him to hit through the ball straight ahead like a rosewall slice but i said i am not sure if that is right i told him to find out for sure to go to your videos on youtube and that is exactly what he did problem solved thank you
@@Goglinek It's interesting that you think this is staged, and that you don't think a few small adjustments to technique can make an enormous difference.
I have never seen the slice explained like this, in such detail - it's like you're explaining all the secret, missing ingredients! You have very current knowledge of how modern tennis is played at the highest level, as well as a natural ability to communicate this information to your students. (Including those of us that are not there!) I usually just wander by and drop in to watch a lesson every now and again, but after this... *I'M SUBSCRIBING!* See you again, and soon! - JD, Montreal (Canada)
What a great lesson. Take the ball deep (which gives you more time too, defensive), flat face, don't flex wrist, full swing arc down-up. Student got it right away.
Just wanted to come back here to say thank you for such a great lesson! I watched this video a couple of weeks ago, and it's made the world of difference to my slice. I previously had the racket face way too open and the ball always sat up too high with no penetrative or depth. You're the best coach on RU-vid Nik, I'm getting so much out of all your lessons, so thanks again!
I just signed up for a few tennis lessons to fix my nonexistent backhand slice amongst other things. And then this shows up. Amazing lesson as usual. Good seeing shamir picking it up this quick. There's hope for me too lol.
You definitely have more time with larger faced rackets of today to time the high to low across the body slice of today. When the relatively tiny faced old school rackets from 50 years ago were used to make slice, your timing needed to be really good to take that much of a high to low and across the body swing at the ball without framing the ball into or over the fence. Very interesting how advancements in technology shapes technique and ultimately how the game is played. I learned and, for several years, taught “old school” tennis years ago, and was starting to incorporate some of Borg’s and Vilas’ techniques into my game…turning my grip over a bevel to two and swinging more low to high in a bigger loop to hit a more aggressive topspin lob, change the pace with a heavy moon ball, use morel topspin for higher percentage approach shots. Back problems a career change and 35 years later I’m playing again. It’s been so cool to witness how the game has changed through the years. Ultimately, I think old-schoolers like me can always learn and improve parts of their games by adopting small doses of today’s game that can help them (particularly against the heavy topspin ball these friggin kids hit today😉)and today’s players might consider using a continental grip sometimes for some touch shots in “no-man’s land”, around the net, some defensive lobs when the ball’s gotten behind you, countering slice with slice on both sides, and sometimes driving approach shots and slice also on the forehand side. Basically, just be Roger Federer and you’re all good😎
After watching this video , analyzing why I hit slices , with the ball contact point was always at the front , I felt that it was comfortable for me to contact in such manner due to my swing path , directing the ball to where I intended to , but it has caused the ball to fly. I think because my stance was too open. I hv to close my stance as if I m hitting a text book backhand , enabling to delay the shot (with conti grip ., And hit down , instead of trying to follow through under the ball like I m used to . (Unlike the normal back hand drive , you can hit the ball at the front bcos you can change the grip and brush the ball still ). . I m reminding myself here . I hope I m right . Can't wait to try this . All the tips are inside this video . Again , this is a great video folks . Thks coach .
I would have loved to have this kind of coaching when I played tennis at an earlier age. This guy loves the sport and you can see his energy radiating off of him.
Great video Nick !!! Can't wait to try this out. This technique looks so much easier than some of the other videos on slice that you see saying to go forward into the ball and use a "safe motion" with both arms and have the racquet face up at the end. Shamir picked it up so quick !!!
Man, this is so critical, i see people all the time and they don't really know how to hit through the ball but also don't know how to slice or think it is not an effective offensive shot. Crap back in the day my hitting partner and I trained forehand to backhand slice several times a week, of course really focusing on getting the ball deep and low but we also worked on even chip and charge of of big flat first serves. damn, what has happened to Tennis in the States? thanks for the vids, at least that's a help.
Great coaching!!! Nik's slice backhand is awesome in the video. I just want to add something on Shamir's slice backhand... he has to copy Nik's left hand and both shoulder blades to separate in opposite direction at the end of the follow through just like how Nik was doing.
Awesome instructions! I have the same issues on my backhand slice that Shamir had at the beginning of this video. Can't wait to try out your tips the next time I hit. 👍🏻
Well, he already has a one-handed topspin backhand, so he is a step ahead of the game (and playing like an enlightened and elegant player). I love when two-handed backhand mouth breathers struggle to do a decent slice backhand.
@@lukas.540 It's not bad, per se, just clumsy and inelegant looking. I always say, 'the two-handed backhand is to tennis what snowboarding is to skiing.'
Thank you for showing us this great technique and drills! I have noticed that hitting the ball "latter" is also an advantage when you are facing a tuff situation at the court, being attacked by your opponent. Indeed, this gives you a little bit more time to rebound the ball in a very aggressive/defensive manner.
Great lesson but the grip also needs to change like you said - Continental grip is key - delayed contact back results in down the line, forward contact cross-court. Topspin was very hard to create with wood rackets, slice was more natural (I know, I'm that age - played with wood racket in college/on tour. Again, excellent information. JS
"The more rotation you create the lower the ball bounces" - now I know this it makes perfect sense. It seems I need to become more aggressive. Thanks for that awesome lesson.
@@stefakker9175 the only time it is a liability is if you play against an aggressive net player and you have to pass off of the backhand. Slice is hard to lob and pass with.
Nice vid, I will try this lesson. I find using a heavy racket such as prostaff 90 really improved the slice, as oppose to using pure aero where my slice always float.
Excellent video Nick, thanks! I would also be interested someday in a video about the forehand slice: when to use it and why it's not as common as the backhand slice. By the way, training on the wall a lot has improved my slice tremendously.
Great lesson and this might be silly but THANK YOU for using a proper microphone. Most tennis channels have so much wind noise in their videos when they’re talking that I can impossibly watch them without getting a headache :)
That is incredible. Of course Shamir is a better player than me but, to learn the slice so quickly! I have been trying to hit my slice like that for years!!!
I haven't managed to try it in a game yet, but I practised some slices against the wall yesterday, after watching a number of Meike Babel's videos on the slice. After utterly failing at slicing the day before, when my coach was explaining it, I got amazing results. Great power - which I'm not used to, probably my most powerful shot now - and actually quite accurate. It's insane what difference a good explanation makes. The timing you mention in this video is a great point, though. I don't know if Meike didn't mention it or if I just missed it, but that is something I will keep in mind going forward. I've made some slice-adjacent shots in games before, mostly as a kind of "deep dropshot", aimed at catching my opponents off guard. It is effective at my level, but I don't like it - it's very dangerous against an opponent who can read it. Now I can hopefully hit some proper slices.
Nick, so who decided to hit the slice going across the ball. Federer? Just curious who first started hitting like this. Ken rosewall had one of the best backhands ever. THey say he hit so hard it almost knocked peoples rackets out of their hand. I think it might depend on height of ball whether to hit across or thru. THoughts??? low ball more sidespin but high balls thru.
