Swing an Axe to Slice the Ball

For an effective slice serve, think about how you would throw an axe over the net.

You can’t have a solid game if you lack a dependable slice serve. And developing one may be easier than you realize. Just think of swinging the racquet the way you’d swing an axe over your head.

The slice serve should be hit with a brushing motion. That’s what puts the spin on the ball, pulling it down safely in your opponent’s court where it then veers off to the side.

The key to getting that spin on the slice serve is to snap your wrist as you meet the ball. That does two things. First, it gives extra acceleration to the racquet just before impact. And second, it imparts the brushing motion to the ball that you want.

Some players have trouble mastering the wrist snap. But if you think of the action as just like the one you’d use … if you were throwing an axe end over end towards the net … you’ll find that’s just the motion you need to hit a slice serve.