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Key points:
Assume a right-handed hitter.
- Stance: Stand with your right foot parallel to the baseline and your left foot pointing roughly toward the right net post.
- Grip: A Continental grip will probably work best for you, but you can move your grip toward the Eastern backhand for more spin or toward the Eastern forehand for more impact.
- Toss: Hold the ball in your fingertips. Start the ball roughly waist-high, and without lifting your arm, gently toss it to your right and about as far forward as your front foot. The toss will go upward only a few inches out of your hand.
- Wind-up: As you begin the toss, start pulling the racquet back and up so that your arm is extended behind you at roughly the height of your head, and your racquet is above your head.
- Swing: Swing out to your right, forward, and fairly sharply downward, so that your racquet will cut under and across the ball from right to left.
- Point of contact: Meet the ball a foot or so above the ground, roughly three feet to your right, and approximately even with your front foot.
- Striking the ball: Strike the ball diagonally downward, forward, and right to left. The leftward part of this racquet path creates sidespin; the downward and forward parts, backspin.
- Follow-through: Follow through over your left shoulder. The rotational energy of the swing will usually turn you slightly toward the left sideline.
Topspin-Slice First Serve - Video and Analysis
Slice Serve - Video and Analysis
