Been thinking a lot about the slice backhand. Where will the shot be in 10 years? Are young players getting away from it? Modern string tech has improved ability to hit quality drives from low contact points... Many of the best two-handers ATP side basically scrap the slice.

Most of these elite two-handers get away with it, but I still see importance for slice on grass: deal with low balls in midcourt, draw opponents in, aid drop shot development, quicker backswing option to absorb rushing pace, keep defense low. Will be tracking at SW19.

Same thing on the women's side, but even less slice frequency and slice competency as a whole. I always look for Jabeur and Muchova to profit off this. They can create the low midcourt balls with their own slices that so many of their opponents aren't equipped to respond to.

Alcaraz, tiafoe, Musetti are 3 youngsters who play it well. In 10 years it’s importance will still be there assuming the game doesn’t change meaningfully due to tech. Under-rated shot

@BenRothenberg The seldom is becomes, the deadlier it will get because players won't know how to react to it. So it's kinda cyclical in a way.

probably because it gives more time to run around and hit a forehand , a shot that gained a lot of speed and acceleration in the last couple of years so its better to take time away and rush the opponents fh or make them hit a backhand

ash barty shows that it can be deadly. i wish i had a better slice. little physical demands on the hitter of a slice, while the opponent needs to bend the legs and get lower to hit a good ball

You have to develop if you want to succeed in fast surfaces, specially on grass. Variety is what matters, slice give you huge opportunities specially to attack the new model tennis player. But of course not like Mateo, just have as an extra tool, not all the time.

If the opponent's ball is low enough, no level of string tech is going to make it easier to answer than with a slice of your own. It's just like the need for good volleys didn't disappear just because people can hit much harder from the baseline nowadays.

@BenRothenberg Rune’s got it. Shelton’s got it. Maybe it skipped a generation to the Next-Next.

Djokovic also has a really good one!