Slice wars: a competitive backhand slice drill

The ability to hit a quality slice backhand, whether attacking, defending or simply neutralising, is one of the most versatile skills a player can have. This competitive drill builds it under pressure.

The rules

Both players rally cross-court using only slice backhands. The point is played out competitively. Players can go short, deep, wide, fast or slow, as creative as they wish, but no drop shots are allowed. That restriction keeps the rally honest and forces players to find variety within the constraints of the shot itself.

What it builds

The drill develops several things simultaneously. First, slice consistency under competitive pressure. The margin for error on a slice is smaller than on a topspin shot, and the cross-court angle demands control of direction and depth. Second, court coverage. Because the variety of incoming shots is high, the player has to move laterally, forwards, backwards and diagonally, often in quick succession.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, it builds creativity. Within the confines of a single shot type, players discover what the slice can do: varying the pace, the depth, the angle, the height over the net, and the amount of spin. That range of options is what makes the slice such a valuable weapon in match play.