“The difference between good sliders and bad sliders is the good ones slide into the ball and the bad ones, in general, keep sliding after the shot—and they are the hard court players…”
Sliding on clay. You must learn to plant your foot a little sooner than usual, so you slide into the ball, not past it. Have your racquet ready, keep your eyes on the ball as you move, and stay on your toes. Your weight must be going into the stroke. It’s impossible to slide if your weight is on your heels.
As you approach the ball, plant your left foot (right foot for lefties) and prepare to propel yourself forward. Stay loose in the knees and light on your feet. The ball of your right (sliding) foot, not the heel, should land on the ground first. If you land hard on your heel, you’ll dig into the clay and won’t slide very far. You want to lead with your toes and land softly.
As your lead leg slides forward, your back leg should slide, too. Keep your legs flexed and your back toe pointed and on the ground so your foot can drag. The spacing between your feet will be wider than normal, but don’t worry. Your back leg is going to narrow the gap once your front leg stops. Whatever you do, don’t fight the slide. Many beginners lean back as they start to slide because they feel as if they’re going to fall. If you jerk back, you’ll stop short or hit a weak, off-balance slice.
You should be coming to a stop when you make contact with the ball. On a sliding slice, it’s especially important to use your off hand to maintain balance. As your racquet carves through the ball and extends toward your target, your off arm should simultaneously swing back. This will keep you from stumbling and give your shot more power and spin. Once your follow-through is complete, quickly return to your ready position.
Katrina Adams, a former WTA tour pro, is a commentator for Tennis Channel.
Originally published in the June 2010 issue of TENNIS.
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