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Original source: Your Online Tennis Coach
This video from Your Online Tennis Coach covered a lot of ground. Streamed.News selected 8 key moments and summarises them here. Everything below links directly to the timestamp in the original video.
Convert your opponent's second serve into an offensive opportunity. Here is the 'chip and charge' play that pressures the server and sets you up for an easy volley at the net.
How to Turn a Second Serve Return into an Attacking ‘Chip and Charge’
The forehand slice can be used to attack an opponent's weak second serve with a tactic known as the "chip and charge." A player should use a slow, deliberate backswing, timing its movement with the server's toss. In singles, the optimal play is to slice the return down the line, which cuts down the opponent's angles for their next shot and provides the clearest path to the net.
This strategy immediately flips the dynamic of the point, turning a defensive return into an offensive action. It is super important that the player starts the motion slowly and accelerates through contact, giving themself time to follow the shot to the net and positioning themself to volley the next ball.
"If you're doing this for singles, what you want to do is approach down the line. That's a rule that you should try not to break because if you approach crosscourt, you're going to end up having to cover more court."
Why a Penetrating Slice Depends on Your Legs, Not Your Arm
The primary function of the legs in a forehand slice is to transport the body to the ball, ensuring the hand can maintain the ideal distance at the point of contact. It is super important to think of the legs as part of the follow-through. By taking several small steps through the hitting zone—a technique described as "walking through the ball"—a player adds body weight and momentum to the shot.
This concept reframes the slice as a full-body movement rather than just an arm stroke. Proper footwork not only ensures a clean hit but is the key to creating a more penetrating ball that stays low and skids, transforming the shot from a defensive tool into an offensive weapon.
"The more you can use your legs to walk through the ball, the more penetrating that ball is going to become."
Proper Backswing Technique Maximises Slice Potential
For an effective forehand slice, the backswing should begin with the tip of the racket pointing up toward the sky. This high starting position should be held for as long as possible. As the player moves to make contact, the racket tip gradually drops, allowing the player to hit down and through the ball, which generates backspin.
The higher the racket starts, the more opportunity there is to impart slice. This contrasts with the common mistake of starting the backswing with the racket head already low or level, which encourages a scooping motion and results in a weak, floating ball.
"The higher the racket starts, the more slice you're going to have at the end. You want to have that V between your racket and your arm."
Use a Slice to Neutralise a Hard Serve Return
The slice forehand is a highly effective tool for returning powerful serves, especially those with a heavy kick. Your goal is not to hit a winner, but to neutralise the server's advantage by using a short backswing to block and absorb the incoming pace. Keeping the racket face open, the player can use the opponent's power against them.
This strategic mindset turns a defensive situation into, at minimum, a neutral one. By absorbing the serve's energy and placing the return intelligently, such as down the middle in singles or between opponents in doubles, the returner can immediately reset the point and prepare for the next shot.
"Rather than thinking defensive, I want you to think that you're going to neutralize your opponent by blocking that ball, absorbing the ball that's coming, and applying your own power."
How to Handle Low, Short Balls With a Slice
For low balls that bounce short inside the service court, the slice is the ideal response. A player has two primary tactical choices: hit a deep slice back to the middle of the opponent's court to reset the point, or use the slice as an approach shot to attack the net. In either case, the stroke should start slow and accelerate through contact, with the legs driving forward as part of the follow-through.
This demonstrates the slice's tactical versatility, offering both a patient and an aggressive option from the same difficult ball. The key is to transform a potentially awkward, low-bouncing ball into a clear strategic advantage.
"Start slow, build the speed as you develop that stroke and get some legs on that stroke. Your legs are going to become part of your follow through."
The Continental Grip Is the Foundation of a Forehand Slice
The ideal foundation for a forehand slice is the Continental grip. Players can find this grip by imagining they are holding a hammer, chopping an object, or bouncing a ball with the edge of the racket. It is super important that the grip remains loose, as tension in the hand travels up to the wrist, elbow, and shoulder, hindering the stroke.
Using the correct grip is the essential first step, as it allows for proper mechanics without forcing unnatural compensations throughout the kinetic chain. The bottom fingers should secure the racket, while the top two fingers are used to direct the ball and impart spin.
"When the grip gets really tight, your wrist gets tight, your elbow gets tight, and your shoulder gets tight."
Unlock a Better Slice by Loosening Your Hips
The function of the upper body during a slice is to rotate and support the arm through the hitting motion. This rotation, however, is impossible without loose hips. If a player's hips are tight or locked, they physically block the torso from turning, which shortens the arm's path and diminishes the quality of the shot.
This shows how a powerful, controlled slice is the result of a full kinetic chain, not just arm action. The key is to keep the hips relaxed to enable the upper body's rotation, which provides the necessary support and space for the arm to execute the stroke correctly.
"If your hips are not loose enough, then they're not going to allow the upper body to rotate."
Use an ‘L’ Shaped Path for a Running Forehand Slice
When pulled wide for a running forehand, a player should use a slice with a short backswing to regain control of the point. The key is to avoid panic and use specific footwork: instead of running parallel to the baseline, the player should imagine drawing an "L" shape. The path involves moving toward the sideline and then turning forward into the shot.
This tactical footwork pattern is crucial for turning a defensive scramble into a controlled, stable shot. The "L" path helps the player get their body weight moving toward the target, providing a more balanced platform than simply reaching for the ball while running sideways.
"When you get to the ball, I want you to imagine that you're drawing an L. So, you're running to the ball and then you're going forward."
Also mentioned in this video
- The slice forehand as a smart way to control a point and outlines the… (0:00)
- The first and most important concept for the slice forehand is intention (0:45)
- The follow-through, emphasizing a relaxed wrist to maintain racket angle and… (4:06)
- The presenter demonstrates separating the top from the bottom of the racket,… (5:56)
- The different functions of the forearm and back of the arm in the stroke, with… (7:29)
- The presenter advises aiming for the net tape to keep the ball low and pushing… (13:15)
- The presenter advises to start directing the ball, aiming one ball to the right… (17:16)
- The presenter reinforces the importance of moving out of the way, picking the… (30:13)
- The presenter concludes by reiterating the slice as a favorite and underrated… (33:12)
Summarised from Your Online Tennis Coach · 34:07. All credit belongs to the original creators. Streamed.News summarises publicly available video content.
