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A slice forehand can have either pure backspin or a mixture of backspin and sidespin, but most slice forehands have much more backspin than sidespin. The slice forehand shown here is fairly typical. It has almost pure backspin.

Slice forehands are used much less frequently than slice backhands, mostly because the forehand can hit topspin comfortably on a much wider range of ball heights than the backhand can.

For hitting hard with safe clearance over the net, topspin is preferable, so the forehand slice is used mostly for specific tactical situations.

On very short, high balls, it's often easier to control a slice drive than a topspin. Slice also makes an excellent approach shot, because its low bounce can prevent your opponent from hitting topspin that would make the ball dip as you try to volley it. (A high or rising ball is usually easier to volley.) Slice also carries farther in the air than any other spin, which, along with its slowing the ball more on the bounce, can disrupt your opponent's timing and positioning. Variety is good, and slice is, in most ways, the exact opposite of topspin.

Key points:

• Grip: An Eastern forehand grip, with your palm centered on the plane of your handle parallel to the string bed, is usually best for the slice, but a small percentage of players use a Continental or Semi-Western grip. The slice drive is the one forehand groundstroke where a Continental grip offers decent support of the racquet. The Semi-Western is awkward for slicing, but for players who don't like to switch grips on their forehand groundstrokes, it can work.

• Footwork: Take several small steps to fine-tune your positioning. Take a larger final step toward the ball with your front foot to initiate your forward weight transfer. Most of the power on this stroke results from linear, forward motion.
• Square stance: Align your feet so that a line from the back foot through the front foot runs parallel to the sideline.
• Backswing: Bring the racquet back and up, so that your racquet hand is slightly behind and above your head. The long axis of the racquet will be nearly horizontal, with the tip of the racquet pointing more or less behind you.
• Swing path: Swing forward toward your target and, at the same time, slightly downward. If your video player allows stop-motion or slow-motion, you'll see that the swing path does not drop steeply until after the ball is struck. Swinging mostly forward gives you more power and greater certainty of clean contact. Swinging more sharply downward would increase your backspin, but it's usually not worth the trade-offs.
• Point of contact: Meet the ball 1-2 feet forward of your front hip.
• Follow through: While your feet should remain fairly square, the force of a hard slice drive will usually cause your upper body to rotate almost 180 degrees. The early part of your follow through will take the racquet head below your waist or even below your knees, but the pendulum effect will carry it back up to roughly shoulder height.

Related videos:
Basic One-Handed Topspin Backhand

Basic Eastern Forehand

Eastern Topspin Forehand with Run

Tennis Forehands Central