The Backhand Slice Drive

The slice drive is a great offensive shot at all levels. When I watch players today, they seem to treat the slice backhand as a second class citizen. I've always thought of the slice as a versatile shot that can be used for either offensive or defensive. Now I rarely see the players use it in an offensive manner. I think the emphasis when kids are young on hitting topspin from both sides, and hitting backhands with two-hands, has resulting in a loss of understanding learning about the value of the slice. I think that it's a shot which you need to have in your arsenal. Maybe it's not as important now as when players used wood rackets, but it's important. Even when I watch the players like Roger Federer who do hit the slice, it looks to me like they're taking that word "slice" way too literally. They have a very open racket face at the start of the swing and they're hitting way too much high to low. When you swing downward so much you're taking the pace off the ball to an extreme degree. Also notice how far Federer finishes around and to his side. Again this...