Backhand Slice Grip

The slice backhand relies on a grip that keeps the racquet face slightly open through contact without any wrist manipulation. Most players use a continental grip, the same one used for serves and volleys, or a grip very close to it. This grip naturally presents an open face when the arm swings on the high-to-low path that defines a slice. The racquet face brushes under and across the back of the ball to create backspin rather than topspin. Slicing with a topspin-oriented grip, such as a full eastern or semi-western backhand grip, forces the wrist to compensate to open the face. That is both less consistent and physically taxing to repeat.

The continental grip is shared with the volley and serve. Players who already use it for those strokes often find the switch to the slice backhand grip seamless. That is a real advantage during fast net exchanges or transition points, where there is no time for a grip change. The grip alone does not create a good slice. It must be paired with a high-to-low swing path and a stable wrist. But starting from the correct grip removes one major source of inconsistency before the swing path is even addressed.