Sure, Ryan, will keep that in mind for future articles.

Hi Hui,

Since we want a long “slice” into the net, there will be slight angle before the real contact would happen and after the real contact.

Racquet would only be perpendicular for a split moment when it’s right beside you.

So just focus on making a long slice on the net and keeping the same angle / plane of the racquet while you’re slicing the net.

Hi Fernando,

I have tried this same idea with topspin shots and it tends to go wrong.

With top spin shots the racquet must LAG behind the arm until the contact point but this drill encourages the player to go forward with the wrist too fast and also to close the racquet too much.

The feel for top spin shots is much more about keeping the racquet face steady through the contact zone.

You could perhaps use this approach to help someone feel how to brush the ball for a short cross court shot.

Thanks

Hui from vancouver, bc

I think that for tennis players that are looking forward to improve technique these feel drills are just what we need to work on. Please keep delivering them!

I have a good one hand topspin backhand, but I am not happy with my slice. In the video, it is amazing that the girl improved her slice with this drill after only 5 minutes. I am looking forward to try it myself.

You have another video where you teach to roll the ball over the bench to feel how to hit it with topspin. While watching this slice video I remembered that “how to hit the ball” video. Do you think that scratching the net is also a good feel drill for the topspin stroke?

And here’s a slow motion video on Youtube of Ken Rosewall hitting that slice:

As the start of his swing forward he drops the racquet he starts to bring his racquet forward he lowers racquet to waist level and opens it to the sky. Because of this approach he’s able to swing basically on a horizontal path and as he approaches contact he closes the racquet head to close to but not quite perpendicular to the ground.

Only after contact does he reopen the racquet head. This is similar to Steffi Graff who get extra pace on her slice would actually have the racquet head lower than her racquet hand at one point of her swing adding kind of a pendulum acceleration to her swing.

I believe that it’s the closing of the racquet as you bring it forward that can give backhands their bite. It means that the incline of the swing has to be less steep to ensure that the ball makes it over the net.

Thanks for the feedback, John, stay in touch.