The Tennis Slice Serve

Tennis is a beautiful sport. It requires not only athleticism but also tactical thinking and strategy. One of the most important aspects of a tennis game is the serve. If you have a perfect serve, you can dictate the course of the game, putting your opponent on the back foot from the get-go. One serve that is underrated, but highly effective is the tennis slice serve. Here I will delve deeper into the tennis slice serve and explain why you should learn it.

Use the slice serve to force your opponent wide and open up the court.

Understanding The Slice Serve

The slice serve is a type of tennis serve that involves using sidespin to cause the ball to move sideways. This can make it difficult for your opponent to return the shot. The key to the slice serve is to get the ball to bounce low and for it to move sideways, making it more difficult for your opponent to return.

How To Execute It

To execute a slice serve, you need to start in the same position as a traditional flat serve. You should hold the racket in a continental grip. The most important part of the serve is the contact with the ball. Toss the ball up and a little bit to the right (if you are a right-hander) or left (if you are a left-hander). Your racket should sweep across the side of the ball, creating sidespin. This will cause the ball to have a curving motion. Ensure that your body weight is transferred forward towards the net while making the shot.

Easier To Learn

Learning the slice serve is relatively easier compared to the kick serve, which has a more complex motion. Naturally, most players will tend to hit with some slice on their serves, even if they don't realise it.

Get Your Opponent Out Of Position

When you hit your slice serve well, the angle of the ball can take your opponent out of position, opening up the court for you to hit a winner in your next shot. The sidespin on the ball will also cause the ball to have a low bounce, making it more difficult for your opponent to return.

Spinning The Ball Into Your Opponent's Body

With the slice serve, you can get the ball to spin into your opponent's body. This makes it more difficult for your opponent to return, as they need to step away quickly to create space to swing at the ball. Taller players, in particular, will have greater difficulty returning a service ball that is spinning towards their body, as they require more space to swing since they have longer limbs.

Variety Is Key To Keeping Your Opponents Guessing

The slice serve is a great way to add some variety to your serve game. By adding this serve to your repertoire, you are effectively keeping your opponent guessing and off balance. The slice serve is slower than a flat serve and has more spin, making it trickier for your opponent to return. By using a combination of flat serves, kick serves, and slice serves, you can keep your opponent guessing and force them into errors.

Practising The Slice Serve

When you practice, start by serving without much power and focus on the side spin. Be aware of the trajectory of the shot and how it behaves once it bounces on the court.

The slice serve is a great way to add some variety to your game. With practice, you can learn how to control the spin on the ball and make it difficult for your opponent to return. By mastering this skill, you will be able to dictate the course of the match from the get-go by forcing errors out of your opponents with cleverly spun shots that take them out of position or cause them difficulty when they attempt their returns. If you want an edge in tennis, learning how to execute a perfect slice serve should definitely be at the top of your list!