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View Full Version : How to drop straight?


ALI
08-23-2000, 09:18 AM
<html>Hi. I'd like to know how to execute a fast, straight drop by 'slice'. By using slice drops, I could drop crosscourt easily, but I couldn't drop straightly.<p>Is it that I have to use a smaller racquet angle to create a straight slice drop? Could I hit a straight slice drop with plenty of power (I could hit crosscourts powerfully, and the result is faster and it falls shorter).I hope that you could help me with this because I prefer slice drops over to conventional fast drops for it falls shorter and is more deceptive. Thanks.
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Steplantis
01-11-2001, 11:17 PM
Ali,

To change the direction of your slice drops depends mainly on the direction your racquet arm goes when your hitting the shot. I guess at the moment when you play a cross slice, from the rear forehand court for example, you move back as normal and getting a good shoulder turn play the slice cross court shot to the front forehand area of your opponents court.
What happens when you`re playing this shot is that your arm is moving in a straight line, at 90 degrees to your body but your stopping the wrist turn ( or follow through) and this makes the shuttle "slice" in that direction.
To get a straight slice drop you do the same movement to the back, the same shoulder turn ( you want your opponent to have no idea what shot you`re playing) but this time instead of throwing the racquet arm at 90degrees, try and aim for about 30-45 degrees to your body and again stop the wrist turn. This may sound a little weird but it definitely works.
It`s important to think of this as your arms direction, or degree to the body, rather than than racquet angle as you can then still hit with the same power and just concentrate on the arms direction - the wrist will follow naturally.
I find that doing this it takes a bit of practice until you can confidantly hit with the same power on the straight slices as the cross ones, but you should have them working in no time
I was taught this technique by a European international player - no claims on it being an original idea!!