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Any knowledgeable observer of professional tennis will notice that the vast majority of players are lacking an extremely valuable
weapon in their arsenal of strokes-the slice backhand. The slice backhand was a basic element in the games of the greatest champions
in tennis history: Bill Tilden, Don Budge, Jack Kramer, and Pancho Gonzales, to name a few.
The lack of an effective slice is one of the main reasons for the death of serve and volley and attacking tennis. It is my belief
that the great champions of the past with their aggressive, net rushing style would easily dominate the one-dimensional players in
the modern pro game.
Without an effective slice this attacking style of play is literally impossible, and as we shall see, there are fundamental
reasons why it is so uncommon in the modern game.
Why the Slice Backhand is So Valuable
Why is the slice so valuable? First, it is by far the best shot to use from a defensive position, particularly when a player is pulled wide off the court. In this situation the sole objective is to hit a shot that gives you time to return to the center of the court….
