Hi everyone!

Here’s a solo drill to work on the forehand slice, a key control shot to break the rhythm or slow things down against a powerful opponent.

The goal of this exercise is to develop good command of the slice in defensive or neutral phases, aiming for a low, skidding trajectory to control the tempo of the rally.

How to run the drill:

• Place the ball machine at the back of the court and set it to send deep balls, alternating between lower and higher trajectories, with little spin.
• Set an interval of about 3 seconds between each ball to maintain rhythm and focus.
• Stand slightly behind the baseline in a neutral position.
• On each ball, keep the strings slightly open, get well under the ball and perform a smooth motion from high to low, finishing forward.
• Don’t look for speed; focus instead on accuracy and depth of shot.
• Hit 8 to 10 shots, then take 20 seconds of rest before starting again.

(Image created with the ETDM software – Download it here)

This exercise helps you better handle tight rallies and vary the pace of the point while still keeping control of the game.

Pro tip: On a neutral/holding slice, always guide the ball forward to ensure depth and avoid having it float too much.