Photo Lesson: How to Hit the Heavy Slice Serve

Elbow Up, Racquet Down

(C)2006 Jeff Cooper licensed to About.com, Inc.

• Legs have driven upward.
• Upper body has uncoiled.
• Racquet dropped low maximizes swing length to create high racquet-head speed.
• Upper arm not as vertical as on topspin-slice serve, because swing will be somewhat less upward and more to the right.
• Elbow bent at a little more than 90 degrees.
• Relaxed wrist lets racquet hang at 90 degrees from the line of the forearm.

• Grip, Toss Hold, and Stance
• Knee Bend and Body Coil on Wind-up
• Elbow Up, Racquet Down
• Swing Begins Edge-First
• One Frame Before Contact
• Contact
• One Frame After Contact
• Follow-Through
• Where Ball Lands
• Where Sideward Bounce Carries Ball