The Ultimate Weapon: Why You Must Master the Slice on Grass

On a hard court, the slice is often seen as a defensive, “change-of-pace” shot. On a clay court, it’s a useful-but-rare tool, as the high bounce can make it sit up for your opponent.

On a grass court, the slice is the single most effective offensive weapon you have.

If you learn to master the slice on grass, you transform yourself from a player who is surviving on grass to one who is attacking it. The ball doesn’t just bounce; it skids, it “bites,” and it stays treacherously low. It’s the shot that grass was made for, and the one your opponents will learn to hate.

Why the Slice Dominates on Grass

A topspin shot is designed to hit the court and jump up with pace. A slice is the opposite. It’s hit with backspin, which causes the ball to “float” or “hang” in the air before skidding low after the bounce.

On grass, this effect is dramatically amplified.

A well-hit slice doesn’t bounce at all—it shoots forward, barely coming off the ground. For your opponent, this is a nightmare.

• It Forces a Weak Reply: It is physically challenging to hit an aggressive shot off a ball that is at your shins. Your opponent is forced to hit up, which means they are either “scooping” the ball (leading to a weak, floating shot you can attack) or hitting the net.
• It Robs Them of Time: The slice looks slow in the air, but it accelerates after the bounce. This “1-2” tempo disrupts your opponent’s timing and often leaves them late on the shot.
• It’s a “Catch-22” for Their Footwork: To hit a low-bouncing ball, your opponent must get incredibly low (our Tip #1). This is physically exhausting and difficult to do on every point.

How to Hit the “Knifing” Slice

Stop thinking of the slice as a “chop.” A chop is a defensive hack. You want to hit an aggressive, “knifing” slice.

• The Grip: You must use a Continental grip (the “hammer” grip). This is non-negotiable. It’s the same grip you use for serves, volleys, and overheads.
• The Swing Path: This is the key. Do not swing down. You must swing forward and through the ball. Your racket should be moving horizontally, “cutting” through the back of the ball as if you were knifing off its bottom third.
• The Racket Face: Keep the racket face open and stable. Think of “holding a tray of drinks.” Your strings should be angled slightly up as you swing forward.
• The Finish: A good slice has a long, extended finish out toward your target. This ensures you are driving the ball, not just chopping at it.

The goal is to create a shot that has just enough pace to penetrate the court and just enough backspin to skid.

When to Use Your New Weapon

Once you are comfortable with the technique, you can use the slice in a variety of tactical situations.

1. As a Neutral Rally Ball: On grass, a deep, low backhand slice is better than a neutral topspin rally ball. It keeps your opponent pinned back and uncomfortable.
2. The “Chip and Charge”: This is the classic grass-court play. Hit a deep slice return or approach shot and follow it to the net. Your slice buys you time to get in, while its low bounce forces your opponent to pop the ball up for an easy volley.
3. On the Return of Serve: A “chipped” return is one of the most effective ways to neutralise a big server. It gets the ball back low, forces the server to hit their “Serve + 1” from their shoelaces, and gives you time to get back into the point.
4. As a Defensive “Reset”: If you’re pulled wide, a high, floating slice can buy you time to recover. But on grass, a low, skidding defensive slice is often even better, as it’s hard for your opponent to attack.

If you add no other shot to your grass court game, add this one. A good slice is the key to the kingdom. It’s your all-access pass to controlling points, frustrating opponents, and truly playing grass-court tennis the way it was meant to be played.

Go here for more information on how to play faster tennis on grass. Register here to access everything on the Grass Tennis Club site.