Specialty Shots (Slice)

France's Amelie Mauresmo getting

ready to put some serious spin on this slice

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You have a bad backhand and everyone knows it. They hit shot after shot at your backhand ALL DAY. The longer the rally goes, the more confidence you lose. You wish there was a simpler way to hit a backhand that will not take so much concentration!!! Well there is, it’s called a slice.


Roger Federer (Switzerland) at the top. Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) at the bottom.

Detailed Youzhny Backhand Slice

Many people pick up a slice for a backhand because it is easier for them to hit one. But if you have a decent backhand then the slice can add variety to your strokes. It can also help you if you have a two handed backhand that doesn’t work well on the run. When you hit the slice, make sure you:

1. Use continental grip (like you are holding the hammer)
2. Swing from high to low
3. Step on the same side foot (right hand slice, right foot)

Some people don't use a continental grip for a slice. They use a one handed backhand grip instead. There is nothing wrong with that. Whatever works for you is good. But if you are just starting to use the slice, continental is easier because there are many more examples to learn from.

Mike "the Cannon" showing
off his backhand grip slice

With the slice in your arsenal you will find that your net game will elevate and your backhand will be more solid.

Some slow mo links if you want more examples:
Roger Federer Slice
Justine Henin Slice
Amelie Mauresmo Slice

Specialty Shots (intro)

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The next series of strokes that I feel is worth talking about are specialty shots. A specialty shot occurs out of necessity most of the time. Sometimes people use specialty shots too much and it is discouraged by most teachers. However, these shots are not to be taken lightly.

For instance, we all practice one forehand. But in order to sustain a rally we might have to create or learn a VARIETY of them. The ball is not going to come to you the exact same way every time. You need an answer.

I used to watch tennis matches for my answers. I would pick a player that I thought was efficient at something (like Andre Agassi is efficient at hitting the ball right after the bounce) and I would watch a match on youtube or preferably BUY a tennis match (by the way I have a big library) and look for the instance that helps me.

The thing that makes one stroke weaker than the other is usually the lack of variety. Someone might have a really hard and fast forehand but it isn’t a weapon if he has to have perfect conditions to let rip.

The list of specialty shots are as follows:
Slice
Drop Shot
Reverse Forehand
Jumping Two Handed Backhand
In Betweener
American Twist Serve
The Dip Drive
Over the shoulder
The High Volley

Adding some of these to your arsenal will make you a force to be reckoned with.

The Doubles Formations (Aussie and I)

The last two formations are based only on holding your service games. So you would not do them when returning serve. Well...you CAN I just don't know how well they would work for you.

Aussie Formation

Say you are playing one up, one back style. You serve the ball to this team and they keep ripping the shot back crosscourt so much you don’t even want to serve anymore. They are in the groove and you are ready to give them a different look altogether.

Time for Australian Doubles. The Aussie style is simple. If you serve in the deuce court, you cover the AD court after you serve. Your partner is at the net on the same side you are serving off of (deuce). Once you serve you can either stay back or come to the net.
If you should stay back, he should stay where he is and cut off crosscourt balls. But be aware: if the net guy hits anything short crosscourt that the opposing team can get to, there will be a big gaping hole between you. So make sure you put that ball away down the middle or beat up the net guy.

If you should come in, your partner should move diagonally into position for the two up formation. The only problem with this is that the other team has a higher percentage lob as an option. The crosscourt lob. So it will be an easier shot to execute if they have it in their arsenal.

“I” Formation
The I formation is similar to the Aussie formation. But the I formation is an all out attack. You serve where ever and your partner couches in the middle very close or on the “T.” So that you have to serve over him most likely. You agree on which way the net man is going to jump after the serve (using hand signals or talking) and the server goes the other way.



This is a net rushing formation meant to put more pressure on the returner than just plain two up formation. If it is working, then you will speed through your service games quickly. If not then abandon this plan unless you have faith that you will get better as the match goes on.

The Doubles Formations (2 back)

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You and your partner for some reason are volleying badly and cannot get comfortable. The other team seems to be volleying well. Your trust in volley is deflated. You do have another option.

Two back is the opposite of two up. It is a defensive position that a lot of professional doubles teams are using because they might not be natural volleyers but they can hit great groundstrokes.

Here is how it works:

1. Your partner stays at the baseline with you while you serve of return.
2. You try to create a short ball you can attack by hitting the ball low or without pace.
3. Once you get the short ball, attack with a good approach shot and close in together.
4. Finish at the net. Draw the error. Or hit the winner.
The trick to this style is that you are buying yourself time. So you have to make sure that you take the time to make the shots effective. Either you blast the opponents, place the ball at their feet or go over their heads.

Recently, I have seen some professional players, who are normally net rushers, use this formation during their return games.

This style is not an aggressive style and not many people teach it. But I have seen it done well and have seen matches won with it. If you lose the first set badly, don’t be afraid to get your ugly face on.

The Doubles Formations (2 up)

Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka won the
Gold Medal for doubles in the 2008 Olympics

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Say you have been doing one up one back the whole set and lost pretty bad because the other team’s crosscourt groundstrokes are just plain better. They are very good at taking your partner at the net out of the game. You need a change in the second set to make it a contest.

One of your choices is to crash the net. Two up is usually talked about by tennis pros as a classic style of tennis. Getting to the net with both of your players is a great choice if the other team likes to hit a nice rally ball. You can rush your opponents and put them on their heels.

Here is the way it works:

1. After the serve or return you immediately start working your way to the net looking to join your partner up in front in one volley.
2. When you are both established you work to throw one of the opponents of balance. Once one person is off balance, it usually creates an opening to hit into.
3. At that point, you and your partner work to keep the other team off balance enough to draw an error or have a ball that is easy to finish the point with (a put away).

That is the ideal situation. Things that will throw YOU off balance are as follows.

• The other team is adept at lobbing (hitting the ball over your head).
• You and your partner have not agreed who will take the ball if it goes in between you.
• The other team doesn’t give you pace and in turn, your volleys are not crisp.
• Your opponents seem to find your feet too easily.
• One of you is not a very CONSISTENT volleyer.

This style takes more communication and teamwork than one up and one back. But not much more. You just need to come to an agreement with your partner on who is accountable for special situations.

Many professionals say that this is the best style to have. But all styles have their weaknesses. Once people know how to exploit your style, it could make it a rough day for you.